Southeastern Minnesota Water Analysis Laboratory

(SEMWAL)

Providing drinking water and surface water analysis to Southeastern Minnesota since 1983.

Pick up a test kit at Olmsted County Public Health Building at 2100 Campus Drive SE, Rochester, MN 55904.

Lab Services and Fees

To view fee information, please use the Fee Finder on the Olmsted County Fee webpage and search for the fee you are inquiring about.

Sample Acceptance Requirements

  • Sample must arrive at the lab within 28 hours of being collected.
  • Sample must arrive Monday – Wednesday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or Thursday by Noon. Be aware lab hours may change during major holidays.
  • Sample must arrive in bottles supplied by the lab.
  • The sample bottle must be labeled with name, sampling date, and time.
  • The water test request form must be completed and arrive with the sample.
  • The sample should arrive on an ice pack.
     
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Water Sampling Information

Before sampling

Southeastern Minnesota Water Analysis Laboratory Sample Acceptance Policy

Last revised January 2023

SAMPLE HANDLING AND PROCESSING
Individuals in Minnesota may obtain a water test kit online or from the Olmsted County Public Health front desk. They may also obtain a water test kit from their own county public health or environmental resources department.

The Southeastern Minnesota Water Analysis Laboratory (SEMWAL) is responsible for the use and updating of this policy. In general, SEMWAL staff attempts to resolve issues before the laboratory must reject a sample.

When SEMWAL staff notes a sample does not meet the conditions for acceptance for accurate testing, staff will contact the responsible party for instructions. SEMWAL defines the minimum level of acceptability by the terms required in Minnesota state laws and regulations, the TNI standard or agreements established for particular projects.

When SEMWAL staff are not certain of the category for acceptance for a particular sample (i.e. the collector did not provide the project identification or indicate specific tests), they will use the most stringent criteria to assure that the data are usable. For missing items that do not affect the outcome of the analysis (e.g. collector name), SEMWAL staff will leave the information blank or contact the customer if necessary.

The following items may result in your sample being rejected or placed on hold in the laboratory until our staff receives the necessary information and authorization from you to proceed.

  • The paperwork submitted with the samples does not match the information on the sample container.
  • The laboratory receives the samples after the specified holding time.
  • A water test form was not provided, or the form supplied is incomplete.
  • We cannot read the sample labels.
  • The collector did not use the correct sample containers for the tests requested.
  • The samples were not maintained at the proper temperature to prevent deterioration.
  • The sample containers were broken in shipment or the containers are leaking.
  • We did not receive enough sample volume to perform the tests you requested.
  • We received excess sample in the bacteria bottle results in inadequate headspace.
  • Samples were not returned to the lab within 28 hours of sampling.

DATA PRACTICES
According to Minnesota’s Data Practices laws, all information gathered from sample request forms and the test results must be considered public data and will be provided at the discretion of Olmsted County Public Health Department leadership to ensure appropriate data security and privacy policies are followed. Occasionally researchers seeking water quality trend data about aquifers or well types, or an individual planning to purchase a particular piece of property may request such data. Typically, water test data is aggregated and summarized with other data to help policy makers monitor and make planning decisions important to land-use, aquifers and groundwater protection.

If you have questions or comments about the water sampling instructions, sample acceptance policy, or about samples you have submitted to our laboratory, please contact laboratory staff at 507-328-7495.

After sampling

Not sure what your water test results mean? Try out a new tool that allows you to type in your water test results and get a short explanation of what they mean and what recommendations we have. You can enter your email and get a PDF version of the meaning of your results sent to your inbox.

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Helpful links and resources:

Lab Certification

Contact

Phone: 507 328-7495
Email: waterlab@olmstedcounty.gov