Soil and Water Testing

Need help testing your soil or water? Routt County Extension staff are happy to assist.

Soil Test Kits

Testing your soil is the best way to check the growing potential of your garden and better understand which nutrients are lacking and, sometimes more importantly, which nutrients may be too abundant. 

Over-fertilizing is a common gardening problem. It’s not only expensive but may harm your garden’s production and your environment.

Routt County Extension uses ServiTech for all soil testing needs. Soil-testing kits can be picked up at the Routt County Extension office M-F between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

A person places a small plant in the garden

Water Testing

Routt County Extension uses ServiTech for water testing.  Water-testing kits can be picked up in the CSU Extension office Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Pricing information:

  • Drinking Water Suitability Test ($55): LNS*
  • Irrigation Water Suitability Test ($80): LNS*
  • Livestock Water Suitability Test ($55): LNS*
  • 13 Parameter Test ($94): LNS*
  • Coliform Bacteria Presence/Absence Test ($30): SCS required**
  • Coliform Bacteria Colony Count ($35): SCS required**
  • Nitrate-Nitrogen Test ($14): LNS*
  • Coliform Bacteria and Nitrate-Nitrogen ($44): Uses both LNS* and SCS** containers.
  • Add-ons ($31 each):
    • Nuisance Bacteria
    • Iron-Related Bacteria
    • Sulfate Reducing Bacteria

*LNS: Large, non-sterile container may be used.
**SCS: Small, clear, sterile container only.

Why Should You Test Your Water?

Lead

If you’ve received a letter from the Water District alerting you to possible lead in your home, use the guidelines below to determine whether you should have your water tested.

  • Lead isn’t in the water but can be “leached” out of fixtures and solder joints.
  • The government outlawed the use of lead in these cases in 1986; homes and buildings built after 1986 have a very, very low chance of having any issues with lead.

If your home was built before 1986 and you want to test, fill a one-liter bottle with water from your oldest faucet that has had no remodeling since 1986 (i.e. you’re looking for the most likely culprit). Let the faucet sit without running water for 24 hours, then put the first water in the bottle. Bring the bottle to our office a we’ll send it to ServiTech. 

Pricing:

  • Lead test only: $26
  • Drinking water test (without coliform): $69

Bacteria

Do you want to know if your water is safe for human consumption and free of bacteria? Tests can be conducted to determine if coliform is present in your drinking water. Coliform bacteria are found in the intestinal tracts and fecal discharges of humans and all warm-blooded animals. To determine if your water is bacteriologically safe to drink, contact the Routt County Department of Environmental Health at (970) 870-5588. There are special collection techniques that need to be followed in order to perform a valid test.

Learn more:

Related CSU Extension Resources