The Chautauqua County Health Department maintains its own water bacteria testing laboratory. The laboratory is New York State and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved and certified to test potable (drinking) water and non-potable (lakes, ponds, streams) for Total Coliform and E.coli bacteria.

The Health Department routinely tests all community (cities, villages, mobile home parks) and non-community (restaurants, hotels) water supplies to ensure that Total Coliform and E.coli levels are absent.

The Health Department also tests private water systems (homes and businesses) primarily when the homes are being sold or when a private homeowner requests a bacteria test be performed.

The Health Department routinely tests public bathing beach water, lakes, pond and streams for a safe level of the Total Coliform and E. Coli bacteria.

Water test results will be available within 48 hours of sample submimssion.