Water Quality Investigations

08/27/2026

Aerator Checkpoint! If you're seeing this, take a moment to remove your aerator and send us a picture!

Aerators are the last point of contact for drinking water. Intended for maintaining water flow and preventing excessive splashing, aerators often experience biofilm and sediment build-up. This seemingly innocuous water system component can have profound impacts on water quality and is one of the reasons bacterial sampling from faucets (i.e. total coliform and E. coli testing) requires aerators to be removed prior to sampling. One of the easiest ways to help improve your water quality is to remove and clean the aerator on a regular basis.

When was the last time you removed and cleaned your aerator(s)?

Want to learn more about what you can do to improve your water? Check out our website: https://wqinvestigations.com/

08/18/2026

Winter is coming. Have you checked your well's water quality?

As temperatures drop, it becomes increasingly difficult to perform work on wells and projects can end up delayed until spring when the weather improves. Get ahead of the colder months and the conditions impacting your water quality - schedule your well assessment today to see if your well needs maintenance.

www.wqinvestigations.com

08/11/2026

If you have a summer home, you know preparing for colder months is an important part of regular maintenance, but have you thought of the impact low occupancy has on your home? The less frequent water usage typically seen in secondary homes during colder months leaves your water system especially susceptible to water quality issues. As you prepare for the end of summer, add a home water quality assessment and water system maintenance to your To Do List.

Each system and its usage is unique. Every water system has unique needs that might not be adequately addressed with the above practices. WQI offers a home water quality assessment that profiles the conditions within your plumbing systems that can contribute to water quality issues during extended periods of stagnation and tailors water system maintenance to your system's needs. This information is crucial for making sure your home's water system is ready for winter... and ready for regular usage in the spring.

Schedule your end-of-season water system assessment with WQI today: https://wqinvestigations.com/services/

08/06/2026

This is something no one wants to see: positive coliform bacteria results from a well. On the left is a sample from the borehole region of the well. On the right is a sample from the aquifer supplying the well. These results give us the information we need to address the client's coliform problem, which was linked to the aquifer itself.

Comparing coliform and E. coli results from multiple points in the well and aquifer is a routine part of our well investigations. Combining the quantified IDEXX Colilert™ Quantitray results with our Biofilm Indication Test (BIT)™, we are able to determine the source of coliforms (and E. coli) in water pumped from a well and give the client the insight they need to truly address the issues impacting their well. This approach has helped us solve a variety of coliform and E. coli issues, including recommending water treatment solutions for wells drawing from impaired aquifers and creating well rehabilitation plans for wells that were considered a lost cause.

Do you have repeat coliform and E. coli issues in your wells? Tell us about them!

Learn more about WQI's well assessment options: https://wqinvestigations.com/services/

07/27/2026

Safe water is cool water.

If your building has a cooling tower or evaporative water condenser, you need a water management plan to reduce the risk of Legionella growth and transmission. Maintaining these systems to avoid biofilm accumulation is key to any water management plan, but water quality and the potential for Legionella begins in the water leading up to the cooling tower/evaporative condenser. Minimizing water age and the accumulation of debris and biofilm in the plumbing system leading to these systems is critical and requires periodic monitoring to determine effectiveness of water management activities.

Wondering if your water system is putting your cooling systems at risk? WQI's Legionella Indication Test (LIT)™ helps validate water system conditions, determine potential for concerns in plumbing systems before Legionella is even detected, and provides actionable maintenance steps to reduce your risk.

Contact us to learn how we can give you the peace of mind: www.wqinvestigations.com

07/22/2026

Palatable water means hydrated cows, and hydrated cows mean more milk produced.

As a Wisconsin-based company, we remain dedicated to helping dairy farmers ensure their water is safe and palatable for their animals. From source to tap, we have worked with farmers to address the following issues:
💧 Improve pumping capacity of existing wells
🐄 Reduce the presence of nutrients and metals that can make water unpalatable for livestock
💩 Addressing coliform and E. coli positives that can set farmers back

Wondering how WQI can help your farm? Contact WQI today: https://wqinvestigations.com/contact-2/

07/14/2026

If you have an ice machine, you should be factoring it into your water management program. Many practices focus on filter maintenance and preventing contamination of the ice and ice machine surfaces, but proper water management begins upstream of the ice machine and its filter(s). Biofilm in the plumbing leading to the ice machine can continually seed the filter(s) and ice machine with organic material, increasing the risk of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens entering and contaminating the ice machine.

Wondering if your water system is putting your ice maker at risk? WQI's Legionella Indication Test (LIT)™ helps validate water system conditions, determine potential for concerns in plumbing systems before Legionella is even detected, and provides actionable maintenance steps to reduce your risk.

Contact us to learn how we can give you the peace of mind: www.wqinvestigations.com

07/07/2026

Heat got you down?

Before you install a comfort misting system, make sure your water management practices are up to date and being implemented. Misters aerosolize water droplets, potentially exposing those nearby to Legionella and other waterborne pathogens in systems that are not adequately maintained. A good water management program emphasizing water hygiene can minimize this risk.

Wondering if your water system is ready for a misting system? WQI's Legionella Indication Test (LIT)™ helps validate water system conditions, determine potential for concerns in plumbing systems before Legionella is even detected, and provides actionable maintenance steps to reduce your risk.

Contact us to learn how we can give you the peace of mind to chill out this summer: www.wqinvestigations.com

07/03/2026

Just a reminder....

07/01/2026