One water source, multiple tests

The lab’s work spans three critical areas: drinking water, wastewater, and well water. Each requires different testing protocols, from bacteria detection to chemical analysis. For well owners, the stakes are personal. “We talk with people every day about what they’re seeing or smelling in their water,” said Lab Manager Katrina Alsum. “Our job is to make sure they have safe drinking water.”

In this case, the property owner was motivated by a move-in deadline. Alsum noted that rental and real-estate situations often lead people to choose a simple testing package focused on the biggest health concerns — typically bacteria, nitrate, and lead.

There are many individual laboratory tests available for a fee, and several water quality testing packages available that bundle commonly needed and annual tests. Weld County well owners also have an option to get a volatile organic compound (VOC) test at no charge.

Since bacteria testing was in the customer’s testing package, that test was prioritized because microbiology tests have a strict 30-hour window from collection to analysis. That time pressure is part of what the public rarely sees: the lab isn’t just testing for contaminants; it’s also racing natural changes that can occur after water is collected. “We want to get the sample into the incubator right away,” Alsum explained, “to prevent any degradation that could interfere with results.”

Technology that can do more than a request form

Because the testing package included lead, the sample was sent to certified Lab Chemists Sarah Schweickart and Augustin Yu to be analyzed on the county’s new Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) an instrument that can scan for many metals at once with remarkable accuracy and far more efficiently than older lab equipment.

“Our old instrument could only run one metal at a time,” said Lab Specialist Carly Ruble Stanfield, who is currently being trained to run the ICPMS. “Now, we can analyze nearly all of them in a single run, saving time and improving detection limits.”

This is where the customer’s simple test request came to a turning point. In this case, lab staff noticed the issue wasn’t limited to the single metal the customer was concerned about, but instead the ICPMS showed there were actually five metals over the EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) limit.

In other words: the ICPMS didn’t just confirm what the property owner asked about, it uncovered what the customer didn’t know to ask about. “Even if a customer only asks about sodium or lead, we can alert them if other metal levels are high,” Alsum said. “That’s huge for public health.”

The lab also provides guidance when such problems arise, such as disinfection protocols for wells contaminated with bacteria. For the property owner, that meant a direct call from the lab and additional information added to the report: multiple additional metals were elevated, and treatment should be considered. While treatment decisions rest with the customer, the lab ensures clear, timely information the customer could act on.

This leap in technology isn’t just about speed; it’s about depth. The ICPMS allows the lab to identify contaminants that could pose serious health risks, even at trace levels. And soon, a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) system will bring VOC testing in-house, eliminating the need to send samples to Denver and cutting turnaround times dramatically.

Where science meets service

For Ruble Stanfield, the technology is awe-inspiring, but the human connection matters most. “I love knowing where the water comes from and why it’s important,” she shared. Sometimes, especially with bacteria, a straightforward water quality test turns into an ongoing back-and-forth with retests, troubleshooting, and problem-solving until a well finally tests clean. “We’re not just running tests; we’re helping people stay healthy.”

Alsum agrees: “I get to do science, which I’m passionate about, and work with people, which I’m also passionate about. That combination is what makes this job so meaningful.”

The landlord’s bottle is just one among many, but it shows what modern lab testing looks like in real life: a single sample moving through multiple pathways and interpreted by people who understand the numbers lead to real information for residents to make decisions about the water they drink every day.

As Weld County grows, so does the demand for water testing. Population increases mean more samples, more regulations, and more pressure on systems. By expanding its technological capacity and training staff to keep pace, the Weld County lab proves that technology isn’t just transforming water testing, it’s safeguarding public health, one drop at a time.