The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Office of Water Quality (OWQ) recently announced that it would offer residential well owners the opportunity to have their water tested for several critical water quality parameters as part of a statewide Ground Water Monitoring Network.

Tests included in the free well water testing program include testing for: metals, nitrate-nitrite, VOCs, SOCs, alkalinity, pesticide degradates, and other general chemistry indicators. The testing will get conducted free of charge for up to 400 qualified private water well owners across the state.

Eligibility for the program: Each well must be get registered in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) water well database and each well must have an untreated spigot located outdoors that IDEM staff can easily access.

If interested in having your well water tested as part of this program, please visit http://www.in.gov/idem/6892.htm or contact Kevin Spindler by phone at 317-234-3243 for additional information.

Why test your well water?

We routinely get emails from folks asking why they should test their well water periodically. They say things like ‘my water looks fine’ or ‘it tastes the same as it has for years’ and we respond by telling them potentially harmful levels of contaminants such as coliform bacteria, nitrates/nitrites, heavy metals, arsenic, etc. impart little or no taste, smell or color to well water… and can infiltrate underground water sources without warning.

Using on-the-spot field tests for nitrates and arsenic, representatives from the IRWA will offer free well water testing and provide information and advice on how local residents can lower contaminants in their drinking water (if present), how to prevent contamination of their water wells, and how to properly maintain their water wells.

How to take a water sample…

In order to get the most accurate water test results we suggest keeping the following tips in mind when collecting your sample:

• Use a container about 16 ounces (1 pint) in size and make certain to wash the container with warm, soapy water first. Thoroughly rinse the container to remove all traces of the soap.
   
• If you have a water softener or water filter installed, make sure you collect your water sample from a line before it enters the softener or filter. Often times a faucet or spigot on the outside of the house may work well for this purpose since many are not tied into the whole house water filtration systems.
   
• Allow the water to run for 20 or 30 seconds before collecting your sample.
   
• Collect your sample as close to the time you intend to leave the house as possible and try not to let the water sit for too long between collection and testing.

Residents of Payette County with questions about the free water testing may contact call Adrianna Hummer at (208) 392-3576.

What if we don’t live in Payette County?

Often times you can check with your local health department to see if they offer free or reduced rate water testing. If that does not work out, our Water Test Kit Store offers simple, at-home drinking water test kits for nitrates and arsenic as well as a number of other potential well water contaminants and critical water quality parameters.