Health Department to offer private well testing
During the month of September Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) is partnering with University of Nebraska Lincoln researcher Shannon Bartlet-Hunt as part of a community water project to provide free testing to private well owners in southwest Nebraska. The tests will look at nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate levels.
Drinking water quality is important for the health of you and your family. Many factors can change the condition of well water.
Events such as heavy rainfall, agricultural products like fertilizers and pesticides, or even the condition of the well can result in contamination of drinking water. Many common well water contaminants do not change the color or taste of the water and cannot be detected without testing. SWNPHD recommends that private wells used for drinking should be tested once every year for bacteria, nitrates, and pH levels.
To get your well water tested, follow these steps:
• Visit one of the following locations near you between September 2nd and the testing date for that location to pick up a collection kit and instructions.
• Take a sample of your well water.
• Then return with the water sample to the same location on the testing date listed below (next page).
The purpose of this program is to increase awareness and accessibility of well water testing. It is not affiliated with or under the direction of any regulatory body, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Sample results will be used anonymously for the purpose of mapping well water contaminants throughout Nebraska, but each well will not be registered or tracked in any database. You may choose to submit the water sample for testing without finding out the results.
For more information about well testing recommendations contact SWNPHD at 308-345-4223. Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins, and Red Willow counties.
The website swhealth.ne.gov contains many resources and additional information helpful to prevent disease, promote and protect health.