Test your bore water

If you have a private bore on your property, you’re not required by law to test the water quality.

It's your responsibility to ensure that your water is safe to drink and use.

You should test water quality after bore construction, before the water is used, and each year after that.

Tests for bacteria, nitrate and trace metals should be done by a testing laboratory accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).

If you're operating a business that provides drinking water, you must make sure the water is safe to drink.

Read more about managing private water supplies.

Test for trace metals

If you're taking water from an aquifer which includes black shale, you should test your bore for trace metals including arsenic.

Black shale can be naturally mineralised with heavy metals.

Darwin rural area bores that have black shale are:

• Whites formation Acacia Hills - part of the Mount Partridge groundwater system
• Burrell Creek formation, South Alligator.

To find out which groundwater resource your bore is taking water from, read looking after a bore.

Testing laboratories

You should contact a NATA-accredited laboratory to test your bore water.

The Northern Territory (NT) Government and private laboratories offer a range of services.

NT Environmental Laboratories (NTEL)

For chemical and trace metals testing, call 08 8947 0510 or email ntel@intertek.com.

For more information, go to the Intertek website.

NT Government laboratories

Choose the type of testing you need and call a government laboratory near you.

Darwin - Berrimah Farm

For chemical testing, call 08 8999 2194.

For microbiological testing, call 08 8999 2347.

Alice Springs - AZRI Building

For microbiological testing, call 08 8951 8110.

For more information on NT Government water laboratory testing, services and charges, go to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.