Garden State Labs Pools & Lakes Testing Page

Garden State Laboratories, Inc.

BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL TESTING

Analytical Excellence Since 1943

For Contact Information click here or call toll free 800-273-8901

Pool and Lake Testing

Garden State Laboratories, Inc. is one of the largest recreational bathing water testing laboratories on the east coast. Recreational bathing waters include public swimming pools, lakes, beaches, whirlpools, spas and hot tubs. Garden State Labs tests for both bacteria and chemical content in recreational bathing waters. If you need testing services please call us at 800-273-8901 or email us.

The New Jersey State Department of Health has set bacterial and chemical standards for swimming pools, lakes, beaches, whirlpools,spas and hot tub waters (N.J.A.C. 8:26-1 et seq). These regulations govern construction, safety, operations and water quality.

These regulations require weekly testing for bacteria by a State Certified Laboratory and testing every two hours for pH and disinfectants, such as chlorine or bromine in swimming pools, whirlpools, spas and hot tubs. Lakes and beaches have to test for bacteria weekly. The bacterial tests are the standard plate count and total coliform in swimming pools, the standard plate count and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in whirlpools, spas and hot tubs, and fecal coliform in lakes and beaches.

The NJDEP is now requiring enterococci testing for ocean beaches. The enterococci result shall not exceed 104 enterococci per 100 ml. In the future E. coli may be used to replace fecal coliform in some natural waters.

The State Regs also require that a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) be hired by recreational bathing facilities to be responsible for operations and safety matters.

Federal OSHA regulations also require that lifeguards be trained to deal with potential exposures to blood and bloodborne pathogens.

With over 65 years of water testing experience we can help you with many types of water quality problems.

We are often asked about bacteria in water, what type of disinfectant to use and what are acceptable levels. If you like you may email us with your questions and we will try to help. Please be as detailed as possible.

For important information about the Care and Feeding of Pool Waters:

Click here for chlorine and other disinfectants

Click here for pH

Click here for chlorine stabilization and cyanuric acid.

There are a variety of pool and recreational bathing pages on the Web. Here are some with information about recreational bathing waters, health and swimming (The information contained on these pages may or may not be accurate, Garden State Labs is not responsible for any information found on these pages);

The New Jersey State Department of Health Public Recreational Bathing Regulations, NJ State Sanitary Code, Chapter IX N.J.A.C. 8:26, Operative Date October1, 2000

The New Jersey State Department of Health Bacterial and Chemical Public Bathing Standard

The Centers for Disease Control's EXCELLENT web site for Swimming Pools/ Recreational Water Safety.

The Centers for Disease Control's instructions on what to do in case of fecal accidents.
The Centers for Disease Control have published Reports on Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis Surveillance in the United States. These reports include exposures in Recreational Bathing Waters and note how there is an increase in these diseases during the summer months.

The National Swimming Pool Foundation has information about pool operations and training. It lists a schedule for Certified Pool Operator (CPO) courses.

The Professional Pool Operators of America supports swimming pool and waterpark operators. It has many informational articles. For an interesting article about chlorine stabilization and cyanuric acid, click here.

If you know of other interesting links relating to recreational bathing waters email us and we may post them.

CONTACTING GSL

Send e-mail to Garden State Labs.

Call us at:
1-800-273-8901

FAX us at:
1-908-688-8966

Or send mail to:
Garden State Laboratories, Inc.
410 Hillside Avenue
Hillside, NJ 07205

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