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Water testing available, but can be costly Where would you go in Medford to get water tested for excessive toxins and what would the charge be? � Christina C., Medford There is a small pool of local firms that offer various types of water testing, Christina. But you could sink deep into debt if you request a test for every toxin under the sun. We checked with Neilson Research Group in Medford which has the largest private lab of its kind in Southern Oregon. That firm, established in 1981 by owner John Neilson, offers a test package of its "Top 20" toxins, all of which have been identified as a concern by local homeowners over the years. The Top 20 package, and a separate bacteriology test, costs a little under $200, Neilson said. "That�s what a majority of homeowners want," he said. "We�ve had a lot of clients ask for that over the years." But an open-ended test could cost much, much more, he warned. "If someone says, `Test for everything,� you could be talking $15,000 or $20,000," Neilson said, adding that testing for one chemical toxin alone could cost several hundred dollars. The problem is that toxins come in many different forms, he said, noting they could be bacterial or chemical. "It really depends on what kind of toxin the client wants us to look for: herbicide or pesticide residue, industrial wastes, natural contaminants." he said. He advices anyone wanting to test water for toxins to try to boil the number of tests down as much as possible. ``They should first talk to the lab about their specific needs and concerns,�� he recommended. ("Since You Asked'' is a daily feature in the Mail Tribune that answers questions from readers on virtually any topic of general interest. To submit a question, e-mail us at [email protected] Please include your name, address and phone number for verification. If you have specific questions about our Web site or other questions about the Mail Tribune, please send them to [email protected] ) Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA