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McDuffie County
UGA Extension Office

Testing Services

Soil Testing

Cost - $10 per sample for routine test. Cash or check accepted.                                                                               

Soil samples can be dropped off at the UGA Extension McDuffie County office 337 Main Street, Thomson, GA, (706) 595-1815. Our office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

We are closed for lunch from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm.

How to take a sample for home lawns and gardens for successful results. Turnaround time for test results is approximately ten working days. The soil analysis can be either e-mailed or mailed. A routine soil test will provide the following results:

  • pH W Potassium (k) Zinc (Zn)
  • Lime requirement (pH b) Calcium (Ca) Manganese (Mn)
  • Phosphorus (P) Magnesium (Mg)
  • Other tests are available at additional costs. Please contact the McDuffie County Extension Office, (706) 595-1815, for more information.

Water Testing:

We recommend collecting all drinking water samples from the first draw water out of the kitchen faucet or from the faucet used most often for drinking water. Please follow the three basic protocols when collecting a drinking water sample:

  1. A first draw water sample will be collected after a minimum of six (6) hours, but at most a twelve (12) hour period, during which there was no water usage before the sampling. The GA-EPD recommends that early morning or evening upon returning home are the best sampling times to ensure the necessary stagnant water condition exits.
  2. A kitchen or bathroom cold-water faucet is to be used for sampling. If the primary concern is the well pump, draw the water from as near the wellhead as possible.
  3. Place a clean lab bottle below the faucet and gently open the cold water tap. Fill the sample bottle.
  • Basic Water Test -  Cost is $24.00. Mineral tests can determine if the mineral content of your water is high enough to affect either the health or the aesthetic and cleaning capacities of your water. A mineral test may include calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, etc. An abundance of these minerals can cause hard water, plumbing, and laundry stains or bad odors.
  • W2 Expanded Water Test -  Cost is $64.00 - Household well - drinking water (required for water treatment design)
  • New Home Loan Closing test - The cost for this test is $95.00 - You must come to the office and pick up the test kit. The cost of overnight shipping is included in the price. When taking this sample, make sure there are no filters where you are taking the sample. If there is a filter, it will give you a false negative reading for the Bacteria part of this test. A third party must take this water sample for this test. Have someone take the sample around 1 pm and bring it to our office by 2 pm to send overnight to the UGA lab. Completing this test takes approximately 7 to 10 business days. At this time, we are not able to expedite any testing.

Bacteria Water Testing

Samples are accepted for analysis on Monday through Wednesday ONLY. Please take the sample around 1 p.m. and return it to the office before 2 p.m. The cost for this sample is $46.00. Payment is due upon receipt of the sample unless prior arrangements are made. 

  • If you have shock-chlorinated your well, you must wait until the chlorine has dissipated before collecting the sample.  You should wait 5 to 7 days before you test your well again.
  • Select an inside faucet that is clean and not leaking.
  • Remove faucet attachments such as filters, aerators, screens, splash guards, or water-saving valves.
  • Sanitize the faucet inside and out by dipping the faucet neck into undiluted chlorine bleach (do not use color-safe bleach)

Bring the water sample back to the UGA Extension McDuffie County office, Monday - Wednesday, by 2:00 p.m. We do not accept samples on Thursday, Friday, or the day before a holiday, as no one in the lab will process the samples on the weekend or on the holiday. You will receive your results in approximately ten working days via mail or email.

Forage Samples: 

  • Hays & Silage (NIR + nitrate, excluding minerals): $24.00
  • Hays & Silage (NIR + nitrate,  + minerals): $44.00

For more information on other available tests and pricing, please get in touch with our office at 706 595-1815, or you may contact us by email at uge3195@uga.edu.