How can I get my water tested?

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SpruceRI

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The water supply to my horses' winter field trough comes from an underground spring which the farmer pumps out through a series of plastic pipes and into my trough. His pump is set to pump only when the water gets to a certain level, so only get water through during wet winters and summers. Rest of the time I take water down in 25 litre drums. In the summer I can drive to the trough but in winter it's hard cos I have to drive across a field to get to mine and my car gets stuck...and so does the wheelbarrow! So this water pumping thing was the result of my request and need for a water supply!

A couple of years ago I went all round the houses trying to find a company who could test it for me as I was worried the that the water would contain field chemical run-off. The land next to my field is a hay field. Farmer occasionally sprays it with fertiliser pellets though he says it's nothing nasty (not entirely sure that any fertiliser isn't nasty?)

Anyway, after contacting about 50 people I did in the end find a company who were willing to test for a couple of nasties such as nitrates for £50, then promptly lost the info!

Have been filling up trough in another field with tap water all summer and now we're back to winter field, I've got that same sense of worry about this water.

My neds have lived in this field for 3 years and never sick so am I worrying too much?
 
If it tasted horrible would the horses refuse to drink it?

I've got a big bucket of water out and the trough filled at the mo. I could tell my Shettie had drunk out of the trough as there was fluffy white hair floating in it! So I take it he thinks it's nicer than the tap water?
 
No idea where you are but asking Environmental Health is a good place to start
Any laboratory which tests drinking water or a 'rivers' lab will be able to do it for you
Do dairy cows drink any of this water--if so it will need to reach a certain standard
In Scotland SEPA laboratories or Scottish Water
In England http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterquality/?lang=_e
and whatever water authority or company supplies your tap water at home
 
Thanks for that. No cows drinking the water. Just my ponies and no doubt the deer, though I did once find a Kestrel swimming about in it. He'd obviously stopped for a drink and fallen in!
 
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