Residential and hobby farm environmental testing. Accredited lab results. Plain-language reports. Serving Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Lake Country.
Decades of orchard spraying, airport foam use, and municipal compost have left contaminants in Okanagan soils that you cannot see or smell. Lead, arsenic, and PFAS build up over time without any obvious signs.
Because the risks are not abstract. They show up in the food you grow, the water you use on the garden, and the ground your children play on. Most contamination has no smell, no colour, and no warning. The only way to know is to test.
The four situations below are the most common reasons Okanagan property owners come to us.
Lead arsenate sprays used from the early 1900s through the 1950s are still present in many Okanagan soils today. Source ↗
Firefighting foam used at Kelowna International Airport has been linked to PFAS contamination in nearby soil and groundwater. CBC ↗ Report ↗
If you are growing food or have children playing outside, knowing what is in your soil is worth more than guessing.
Larger properties with multiple growing areas often have very different conditions from one zone to the next.
All analysis performed by our accredited laboratory partner, CALA-accredited and ISO 17025:2017 certified. Results in 5 to 9 business days (10 to 14 days if PFAS is included).
In addition to lab testing, APL Environmental offers two property services designed for the specific realities of Okanagan living.
If your property is near Kelowna International Airport, you have used municipal biosolid compost, or your property is supplied by irrigation district water, PFAS testing is worth considering. Health Canada set a drinking water objective of 30 ng/L for PFAS in August 2024.
Properties within about 2km of Kelowna International Airport sit in a known PFAS risk area due to decades of firefighting foam use. Testing both soil and water gives the most complete picture.
OgoGrow is a Kelowna-produced municipal biosolid compost. Clients who have used it in vegetable gardens or lawns should consider PFAS screening, as it is not recommended for food production areas.
The water you use on your garden, to wash down the driveway, or that your kids play in on a hot day comes from somewhere. Okanagan irrigation water can carry PFAS from upstream sources. Testing it alongside your soil gives you the full picture.
Canada's Final State of PFAS Report (March 2025) recommends classifying PFAS as toxic under CEPA. Guidelines are tightening, and testing now documents your baseline.
We currently serve Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Lake Country. If your property is just outside these areas, reach out and we will let you know if we can accommodate you. A remote location surcharge may apply for properties that require significant travel time.
Testing results are typically available within 5 to 9 business days from the time samples reach the lab. If PFAS is included, allow 10 to 14 business days. We will confirm the expected turnaround when you book.
For most visits, yes. We walk the property with you to confirm zone locations and discuss any specific concerns. We ask that a signed engagement letter be in place before any sampling begins.
Your report will include practical, plain language recommendations for each finding: crop adjustments, soil amendments, barrier strategies, and where needed, a referral to a Qualified Professional for formal risk assessment. Most findings have manageable options. Our goal is to give you actionable answers, not just alarming numbers.
The minimum is our Residential Safety Screen + Metals (Package 2): pH, nitrogen, organic matter, and a 37-element metals panel. We strongly recommend adding a PFAS soil screen, as lead arsenate application in the Okanagan frequently co-occurred with other chemical use, and many converted orchard properties have had biosolid compost applied. We will discuss this during intake.
We take payment by e-transfer. A deposit is due at booking, with the balance due when we deliver your report. Full terms are set out in the engagement letter you will receive after submitting the form.
Some properties require additional time to access sampling locations: a long walk across a field, steep terrain, a gated entry, or a remote location far from town. Where these conditions apply, we disclose a small accessibility fee in your quote before you confirm. Standard vehicle-accessible sites have no extra fee.
We wanted to plant a home garden for our kids, but first we wanted to make sure that we were not growing toxic plants. We learned that we had to rehabilitate our soil, so we made it a learning project for our kids instead.
Jan A. · Kelowna
Fill in the form below and we'll confirm your package, quote any applicable fees, and get your site visit scheduled.
This information helps us recommend the right testing package. All fields optional but very helpful.
APL Environmental Ltd. provides residential and hobby farm soil and water sampling services, with laboratory analysis conducted by an accredited laboratory partner (CALA-accredited, ISO 17025:2017). All results and reports are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute a professional opinion, a Phase I or Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, professional engineering advice, or geoscience advice under the BC Professional Governance Act. Where results exceed applicable regulatory guidelines or where a human health concern is identified, APL Environmental may, at its discretion, recommend consultation with a Qualified Professional (QP) under the BC Environmental Management Act. Such a recommendation, if made, is advisory only and does not create any obligation on the part of APL Environmental.
No site visit or sample collection will take place until a signed engagement letter has been received by APL Environmental. Submission of this intake form constitutes a request for a quote only. No binding contract is formed until both parties have executed a written engagement letter. The engagement letter will govern the exact scope of work, fees, payment terms, and any site-specific conditions. In the event of any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and the executed engagement letter, the engagement letter shall prevail.
All fees will be confirmed in the written quote and engagement letter, which form the controlling reference for pricing. All prices are in Canadian dollars and are subject to applicable GST. A deposit is required at booking confirmation, with the balance due on delivery of the final report. Site Accessibility Fees (walk-in site, difficult terrain, gated or escorted access, remote location) will be disclosed in the written quote prior to booking confirmation and form part of the total fee. Rush turnaround, if available, is subject to a surcharge that will be quoted and agreed to in writing by the client before any expedited processing begins.
Testing results are typically available within 5 to 9 business days from laboratory sample submission. PFAS panels are typically available within 10 to 14 business days. All turnaround times are estimates only and are subject to laboratory capacity, shipping conditions, and circumstances beyond APL Environmental's control. APL Environmental does not guarantee specific result delivery dates and shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from delays in delivery of results.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, APL Environmental's total liability to the client for any claim arising from or related to the services provided under these Terms and Conditions shall not exceed the total fees paid by the client for the specific services giving rise to the claim. APL Environmental shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, incidental, special, or punitive damages, including loss of profit, loss of data, or loss of use, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Nothing in this clause limits APL Environmental's liability for death or personal injury caused by its own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. Results are based on samples collected at specific locations and points in time and may not represent conditions across the entire property or at other times. Contamination in soil and water can be heterogeneous and spatially variable; localized issues may not be detected by the sampling conducted.
The client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless APL Environmental Ltd. and its directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to: (a) the client's use of APL Environmental reports or results in a manner inconsistent with the stated scope of service; (b) any decisions made by the client in reliance on APL Environmental reports or results; or (c) the client's breach of these Terms and Conditions.
Reports and results are provided for the client's personal, informational use only. They may not be used as a regulatory submission, filed in any legal proceeding, included in a Property Disclosure Statement under the BC Real Estate Services Act, or provided to any third party without the prior written consent of APL Environmental and independent review by a Qualified Professional. APL Environmental retains all intellectual property rights in its reports, methodologies, and related materials. The client is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the report for its intended personal informational purpose only.
APL Environmental collects, uses, and discloses personal information in accordance with British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). Personal and property information is collected for the purpose of delivering the contracted services and will not be shared with third parties except as required by law, with the client's consent, or as necessary to perform the contracted work (including submission to our accredited laboratory partner). Clients may request access to, or correction of, their personal information by contacting APL Environmental at hello@aplenvironmental.ca. APL Environmental will retain client records for a minimum of seven years following completion of services, after which records will be securely destroyed.
Cancellations received more than 48 hours before the scheduled site visit will receive a full refund of the deposit. Cancellations received within 48 hours of the scheduled site visit, or on the day of the visit, will result in forfeiture of the full deposit. If APL Environmental is unable to complete a site visit due to site conditions, inaccessibility, or hazards not disclosed at the time of booking, APL Environmental reserves the right to retain up to 50% of the deposit to cover documented mobilisation costs, with the remainder refunded to the client.
APL Environmental shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under these Terms and Conditions where such delay or failure results from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to wildfire, extreme weather, natural disaster, laboratory closures, public health emergencies, government orders, or supply chain disruptions. APL Environmental will notify the client as soon as reasonably practicable of any such event and will use reasonable efforts to resume performance.
In the event of a dispute arising from or related to these Terms and Conditions or the services provided, the parties agree to first attempt resolution through good-faith written notice to the other party, allowing a period of 30 days from receipt of that notice to resolve the matter. If the dispute is not resolved within that period, the parties agree to submit the matter to non-binding mediation administered by a mutually agreed mediator before commencing any legal proceedings. Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
These Terms and Conditions are governed exclusively by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein. Any legal proceedings not resolved through the dispute resolution process in clause 11 shall be brought exclusively in the courts of British Columbia, and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts.
APL Environmental may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in effect at the time the client submits this intake form governs the services requested in that submission. Any subsequent engagement will be subject to the Terms and Conditions in effect at that time, as confirmed in the engagement letter.
We'll respond within one business day to confirm your package, quote, and site visit availability.
We'll be in touch within one business day to confirm your package and quote.
APL Environmental Ltd.
hello@aplenvironmental.ca
APL Environmental was founded on a simple belief: that every landowner deserves clear, honest answers about what's in their soil and water, without needing a science degree to understand them. We operate with integrity in everything we do, from the way we collect samples in the field to the way we present results to our clients. We believe we are all stewards of the land we occupy, and that responsible environmental awareness is the foundation of healthy communities and productive properties. Our work is guided by that responsibility.
We believe every landowner has a role in protecting the land they occupy, for themselves and for future generations.
We report exactly what the lab finds. No softening, no surprises in the fine print.
Clear pricing, readable reports, and honest guidance on what your results actually mean.
Being invited onto someone's property is not something we take lightly. We treat every site visit with care.
Our team
Dawn Antle
President
With an international background in marketing and business development across IT and technology, Dawn brings a global perspective to a deeply local mission. She is driven by a conviction that understanding the land we live on is a responsibility, not a luxury. APL Environmental exists to make that knowledge accessible to everyone who calls the Okanagan home.
Alexander Linke BSc
Operations Director, Okanagan
With a background in microbiology, Alexander has a deep appreciation for what happens beneath the surface, both in the lab and in the field. He is passionate about the Okanagan's natural environment and approaches every site visit with genuine curiosity and care. When he is not working, he is usually somewhere in the Okanagan outdoors with his partner and their dog Oliver.