Free drinking water well screening

The Washtenaw County Conservation District will accept drinking water well samples for nitrate screening Tuesday, August 4, from 8:30am to 4:30pm at 705 N Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor. The screening is sponsored by the Washtenaw County Conservation District and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). There is no fee to participants for this service.

Samples from drinking water wells will be screened for nitrate and nitrite. The screening is open to everyone who uses a personal well for drinking water; however, the total number of samples that can be tested is limited to 30. For information about the screening and instructions for collecting samples, visit https://www.washtenawcd.org/well-water-testing.html.

This service is for private drinking water wells only. Public water supplies are tested regularly so samples from public or non-drinking water sources cannot be accepted. You do not have to use a special bottle for this screening. Any small, clean jar will work—one ounce of water is enough. Free sample bottles are also available at the District Office.

All results are confidential and participants will be mailed a copy of their results in 6 to 8 weeks, with information about what to do if the concentration of nitrate or nitrite is too high.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.