How to sample your soil

Ecology or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may have already sampled your soil for arsenic and lead. You might also qualify for free soil sampling. If not, we provide instructions on how to sample your property's soil for arsenic and lead.

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See if my soil has been sampled

If you live in King, Pierce, Thurston, or Snohomish counties you might qualify for free soil sampling. Or your soil may have already been sampled through our Everett or Tacoma Smelter Plume programs. Search our interactive map to find out.

If you live in Stevens County, the EPA may have sampled your soil during past cleanup actions. Contact Robert Tan, EPA project manager, to see whether your property has been sampled. You may also visit our upper Columbia River Lake Roosevelt site for more information.

If you live in Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Spokane, or Yakima counties, contact Rhonda Luke for more information. You may qualify for free soil sampling if you live on former orchard lands.

If you are not eligible for soil sampling, or want to sample your own soil, read on

Soil sampling is not difficult, and the tools you need can be found around the home. Depending on the number of samples, an average residential property should cost $80-$300 (prices checked in 2017).

This is a brief summary — for more detailed information, please download our Soil Sampling Guidance.

Illustration of a yard and a suggested soil sampling plan. The most important areas to test are high use areas such as play areas, play structures, and vegetable gardens. — Example plan of where to sample the soil in your yard. It is good to sample areas where kids play and any other locations they could be exposed to dirt.

Steps to sample your own soil for arsenic and lead

Pick a lab — Search to find a certified lab — Select by Analyte: Arsenic.
Plan — Use our guide to decide how many samples you need and where to take them.
Collect — Take soil samples and don’t forget to always follow healthy actions.
Analyze — Send or take your soil samples to the lab.
Compare — See if your arsenic and lead levels could cause health risks. Follow our healthy actions to prevent health risks.

Contact information

Justin Zakoren
Tacoma Smelter Plume Outreach Coordinator
Justin.Zakoren@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6790

Erika Beresovoy
Upper Columbia River/Lake Roosevelt Public Involvement Coordinator
Erika.Beresovoy@ecy.wa.gov
509-385-2290

Sandra Matthews
Everett Smelter Project Manager
Sandra.Matthews@ecy.wa.gov
425-649-7206

Rhonda Luke
Former Orchards Project Coordinator
FormerOrchards@ecy.wa.gov
509-406-6931

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How to sample your soil

I want to...

If you are not eligible for soil sampling, or want to sample your own soil, read on

Steps to sample your own soil for arsenic and lead

Related links

Contact information