The Health and Environmental Applications Laboratory (HEAL) at ISWS provides advanced analytical services to support critical water resource research and monitoring across Illinois and beyond. HEAL collaborates extensively with researchers at the Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois colleagues, state agencies, and local communities to deliver precise, timely data for informed decision-making.
Analytical Services
HEAL specializes in a variety of environmental and water chemistry analyses, including:
- Wet deposition chemistry
- Drinking water chemistry
- Groundwater, surface water, and brine analysis
- Microbiological testing (total coliforms and E. coli)
Analytical Support
Much of HEAL’s work measures metals, nutrients, and other inorganic components to support studies on groundwater quality, watershed health, well contamination, atmospheric deposition, and lake systems. The lab is equipped to manage high-volume sample processing — typically several hundred samples per week — without compromising precision or turnaround time.
Collaborate With Us
If you’re planning a research project and need lab support, we welcome early conversations. Please review our current rates and then contact Evan Rea or call 217-300-8295 to learn more about our methods and how we might support your work.
For Private Well Owners
HEAL no longer provides testing services for individual households. If you are a private well owner looking for guidance on water safety and testing options, we recommend the Private Well Class Pledge to Test program, which includes a discount on well testing supplies for participants.
Current Rates
The following table shows the types of analysis and fees for University of Illinois colleagues (internal rate) and for researchers outside the U. of I. (external rate).
Note: Rates marked with an asterisk(*) require digestion, and the fee is added per sample.
Rates effective 5/1/26.
| Standard Operating Procedure Title | Method Reference | Analyte | MDL | Units | Internal Rate | External Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alkalinity and pH by Electrometric Titration | USGS-1030-85 | Alkalinity | 2.2 | mg/L | $23.59 | $30.86 |
| Total Dissolved Solids Dried at 104 and 180C | SM 2540 C | TDS | 8 | mg/L | $17.80 | $23.28 |
| Total Suspended Solids | SM 2540D | TSS | 1.96 | mg/L | $17.80 | $23.28 |
| UV254 absorbance by Spectrophotometer | SM5910B 2013 | UV254 | 0.001 | abs. | $18.95 | $24.79 |
| Determination of Organic or Inorganic Carbon, High Temperature Combustion | SM 5310 B | NPOC | 0.37 | mg/L | $20.11 | $26.31 |
| | | | | | | |
| Determination of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen by Semi-Automated Colorimetry | USEPA 351.2, Rev. 2.0 | TKN | 0.143 | mg/L | $20.85* | $27.27* |
| Determination of Total Phosphorous by Semi-Automated Colorimetry | USEPA 365.4 | TP | 0.035 | mg/L | $20.85* | $27.27* |
| Determination of Orthophosphate by Semi-Automated Colorimetry | USEPA 365.1, Rev. 2.0 | PO4 | 0.002 | mg/L | $20.85 | $27.27 |
| Determination of Ammonia Nitrogen by Semi-Automated Colorimetry | USEPA 350.1, Rev. 2.0 | NH3 | 0.01 | mg/L | $20.85 | $27.27 |
| Determination of Trace Elements by Stabilized Temperature Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption | USEPA 200.9, Rev. 2.2 | | | | | |
| May require digestion depending on sample matrix | | As | 0.60 | µg/L | $44.94 | $58.78 |
| May require digestion depending on sample matrix | | Pb | 0.70 | µg/L | $44.94 | $58.78 |
| | | | | | ||
| Determination of Inorganic Anions by Ion Chromatography | USEPA 300.0, Rev. 2.1 | | | | $41.88 | $54.78 |
| | | F | 0.04 | mg/L | ||
| | | Cl | 0.14 | mg/L | ||
| | | Br | 0.06 | mg/L | ||
| | | NO3 | 0.02 | mg/L | ||
| | | SO4 | 0.11 | mg/L | ||
| | | | | | ||
| Determination of Metals and Trace Elements in Water and Wastes by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Atomic Emission Spectrometry May require digestion depending on sample matrix | USEPA 200.7, Rev. 4.4 | | | | $57.36 | $75.03 |
| | Al | 0.0298 | mg/L | | ||
| | | As | 0.0201 | mg/L | ||
| | | B | 0.0238 | mg/L | ||
| | | Ba | 0.0004 | mg/L | ||
| | | Be | 0.0001 | mg/L | ||
| | | Ca | 0.0109 | mg/L | ||
| | | Cd | 0.0043 | mg/L | ||
| | | Co | 0.0022 | mg/L | ||
| | | Cr | 0.0016 | mg/L | ||
| | | Cu | 0.0011 | mg/L | ||
| | | Fe | 0.0062 | mg/L | ||
| | | K | 0.0155 | mg/L | ||
| | | Li | 0.1060 | mg/L | ||
| | | Mg | 0.0134 | mg/L | ||
| | | Mn | 0.0007 | mg/L | ||
| | | Mo | 0.0042 | mg/L | ||
| | | Na | 0.0606 | mg/L | ||
| | | Ni | 0.0208 | mg/L | ||
| | | P | 0.0307 | mg/L | ||
| | | Pb | 0.0191 | mg/L | ||
| | | S | 0.0763 | mg/L | ||
| | | Sb | 0.0529 | mg/L | ||
| | | Se | 0.0815 | mg/L | ||
| | | Si | 0.0103 | mg/L | ||
| | | Sn | 0.0219 | mg/L | ||
| | | Sr | 0.0001 | mg/L | ||
| | | Ti | 0.0004 | mg/L | ||
| | | Tl | 0.0389 | mg/L | ||
| | | V | 0.0161 | mg/L | ||
| | | Zn | 0.0038 | mg/L | ||
| | | | | | ||
| Sample Digestion Fee (per sample) | | $12.70 | $16.62 | |||
| Sample Difficult Matrix/ Extra Handling/ Filtration Fee | | $21.61 | $28.27 | |||
| Sample Disposal Fee (if discarded after 12 months with no agreement) | | $15.67 | $28.27 |