Montana Environmental Laboratory

At a glance

What it is certified to test

1 of the 9 common well tests on the MT list (see which)

Price

from $17 (Arsenic E200.8), as printed on the lab’s website, read 15 Nov 2026

Turnaround

“our turnaround times are routinely the shortest in the state. 'Rush' service is available at an additional charge of 50% of the analysis ...” (lab’s website)

Homeowner samples

yes (lab’s own website, read 15 Nov 2026)

Lab facts

Listed by

Montana (Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) - Laboratory Services, Water Laboratory Certification Program)

Address

1170 N. Meridian, Kalispell, MT 59904-4363 · Open in Google Maps

Phone

(406) 755-2131

Website

www.melab.us

Not on the state list: found and checked by us, 15 Nov 2026

Certificate

The Montana DPHHS Water Laboratory Certification Program - Certified Laboratories (version page as fetched 2026-11-15 (no date printed)) prints no certificate ID or expiry date for this lab.

Public / homeowner samples

Homeowner samples: yes (lab’s website)

Not stated in the list.

Tests on the state list

• Named on the official list The state list names this analyte (or a column for it) for this lab.
• Group-level certification Certified for a parent group (e.g. 'Inorganics') that includes this analyte. Confirm the specific test with the lab.
• Partial group certification The list marks the group as 'Partial'. Confirm this analyte with the lab.
• Subcontracted The lab sends this analyte to another accredited lab (MDH 'X*').

DPHHS lists this lab under: Chemistry - Inorganic only (Montana Laboratories); Microbiology (Montana Laboratories). The page names no analytes, certificate number or expiry date. Microbiology: the program page says DPHHS certifies labs that analyze Montana's public drinking water supplies for "chemical and microbiological contaminants" under the Safe Drinking Water Act, where the microbiological drinking-water tests are total coliform / E. coli; the page names no organism or method, so bacteria is shown as a certified group, not a named test. Ask the lab which coliform test it runs. "Chemistry - Inorganic only" names no analyte, so no nitrate or metals certification is shown. Ask the lab. DPHHS also prints PO Box 8900 for this lab (under Microbiology).

Homeowner service and turnaround (lab’s own website)

• Takes homeowner samples: yes. The lab’s site says: “Drinking Water Packages ... Residential Loan Package” source
• Who collects: You collect the sample with the lab's bottles. source
• Turnaround (as printed): our turnaround times are routinely the shortest in the state. 'Rush' service is available at an additional charge of 50% of the analysis price. source

From the lab’s own website, read 15 Nov 2026 and re-read by a second checker; next check due by 13 Feb 2027. Certification fields come from the state list only.

Prices the lab prints, compared

• Bacteria (coliform / E. coli) against other Montana labs: median $35 across 5 other labs that print a price on their own site; 3 of them charge less than $37.
• Nitrate: $30 here, $25 less than the state-run lab’s $55 (Basic Screen (coliform and E. coli presence/absence, nitrate + nitrite, specific conductivity); Montana State Environmental Laboratory, Chemistry Testing for Private Well sample submission form, July 2025 ("Prices subject to change"). The form says discounted prices for metals and organics testing are temporarily unavailable, so full prices are listed. Bacteria-only prices are on a separate form that was not read., checked 3 Nov 2026) source.
• Nitrate against other Montana labs: median $28 across 3 other labs that print a price on their own site; 2 of them charge less than $30.
• Lead: $17 here, $7 less than the state-run lab’s $24 (Lead or arsenic by a more sensitive method (each); Montana State Environmental Laboratory, Chemistry Testing for Private Well sample submission form, July 2025 ("Prices subject to change"). The form says discounted prices for metals and organics testing are temporarily unavailable, so full prices are listed. Bacteria-only prices are on a separate form that was not read., checked 3 Nov 2026) source.

Comparison uses the lowest single-test price this lab prints; panels and ranges are left out. For comparison only, not a quote.

Nearest labs that take homeowner samples

No other lab that takes homeowner samples is within 25 miles of this lab; the nearest is 94 miles away. Distances are straight-line from the address on the state list (approx. = ZIP-code centre). “Takes homeowner samples” comes from a state list column or the lab’s own website, as named.

Price and turnaround as printed on each lab’s own website and checked by a second reader; – = not published or not read yet.

Around this lab: Flathead County, MT

• Private wells: about 33,825 people, 35% of Flathead County’s 96,165 residents (USGS, 2015); rank 2 of 56 counties in Montana by people on wells.

• EPA radon zone (indoor air): Zone 1: highest potential (average indoor radon may be greater than 4 pCi/L). EPA says the zone map should not decide whether one home needs testing.
• Arsenic above 10 µg/L (USGS model): about 2,633 private-well users (95% range 2,070 to 3,319; 2010 base), rank 4 of 56 in the state. A screening estimate, not a measurement of any well.
• Older homes (Census ACS 2020–2024): 36% of 51,680 housing units were built before 1980, below the state share of 49%. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead solder or fittings, so test tap water for lead there.
• PFAS in public water nearby (public supply, not your well): 5 public systems serving this county reported EPA UCMR 5 results; 2 had a PFOA or PFOS sample at or above 4.0 ng/L.

County figures describe where the lab is, not the lab. Sources: USGS 2015 water use and 2017 arsenic estimates, EPA radon zones, Census ACS table B25034 (2020–2024), EPA UCMR 5 (2023–2026); details and links on the sources page.

Before you send a sample

Call the lab to confirm it's currently certified for the exact test and method, that it accepts samples from homeowners, and how to collect and ship them. Bacteria samples have short holding times. Status can change between list updates. To check a status, contact the Montana certification program.

Is this your lab?

Labs can ask for corrections through the agency that publishes their state list. Homeowner service, prices and turnaround above come only from the lab’s own website. To ask us to correct or remove this listing, write to us (how we handle listings).