Water Testing

The City of Troy offers bacteria tests for qualifying businesses, homeowners, and organizations required by the Ohio EPA to test for Total Coliform and E. Coli bacteria. For information about water testing, please contact us at (937) 339-4826.

Water Sampling

Samples must be collected in bottles supplied by our laboratory, and must be returned with a properly completed Microbiological Sample Submission (SSR) Form. Samples can be collected using the following instructions with bottles from the Water Department's lab.

Instructions for the Collection of Microbiological Drinking Water Samples

1. Select the sampling tap.

  • A tap, such as a faucet, petcock, or small valve, is preferable.  Do not sample from hoses or drinking water fountains.
  • Avoid taps with a leak at the stem and taps with a swivel joint.
  • Aerated or screened nozzles may harbor bacteria. The aerator or screen must be removed before collecting the sample.
  • Use/install a smooth-nosed sample tap.

2. Place all carbon filters, sediment filters, and water softeners on bypass unless operated by a public water system. Sanitize the nozzle of the faucet with a chlorine solution. Use a 6% sodium hypochlorite solution, such as Clorox liquid bleach. Do not use chlorine solutions with special scents.

  • To prepare a sanitizing solution, add one ounce of bleach to one gallon of water (or I tablespoon per half­ gallon). Store the mixed solution in a tightly closed screw-capped container. The solution should be discarded and remade 6 months after preparation. Stronger solutions can be used; however, some faucet discoloration may result.

4.  Flush the sample tap to waste for 1 minute. Close the valve.

5. Apply the sanitizing solution (prepared in step 2.) to the nozzle. This can be accomplished by either using a spray bottle or a plastic bag filled with the sanitizing solution.

6. Using a spray bottle, saturate the opening of the tap with sanitizing solution, then wait at least 2 minutes before proceeding, or

7. Place the bag over the nozzle and hold the top of the bag tightly on the tap. Alternately squeeze and release the bag to flush the solution in and out of the tap. Do this for 2 minutes. A fresh solution and bag must be used to sanitize each tap.

8. Flush the tap. The sample to be collected is intended to be representative of the water in the main or private well. The tap must be opened fully and the water run for at least 3 to 5 minutes to allow for adequate flushing of the piping between the tap and the water main or private well.

9. Reduce the flow from the tap. This will allow the sample bottle to be filled without splashing. 

10.Remove the cap from the sample bottle.

  • Grasp the bottom of the sample bottle.
  • Remove the cap and hold the exterior of the cap between fingers while filling the sample bottle. Take care not to touch the mouth of the bottle or the inside of the cap with your finger or the sample could become contaminated.
  • The bottle must be open only during the collection of the sample. 

11. Fill the sample bottles

  • Do not rinse out the bottle before collecting the sample. Do not remove any pills, powder, or liquid from the bottle. The bottle contains a small amount of sodium thiosulfate to neutralize any chlorine in the water.
  • Do not touch the rim or mouth of the bottle during collection of the sample.
  • Do not overflow the bottle. Fill the bottle to just above the indicator fine on the bottle. 

12. Immediately recap the sample bottle tightly.

13.If there is any question as to whether a sample or bottle has become contaminated during collection of the sample, the sample must be discarded and a new sample in a new sample bottle.

14. Samples should be kept cool after collection and during transport to the laboratory. The laboratory must receive the sample so that analysis can be initiated within 30 hours after collection. Allow the laboratory adequate time to analyze the sample. Certified laboratories will not test samples greater than 30 hours old because the results will be invalid.