MSU Extension hosts well testing discussion

Attention Private Water Well Owners and Users!

Montana State University Extension Water Quality, in cooperation with many local Extension and Health Department offices across the state, is offering a drinking water test opportunity for private well water users.

Information about drinking water tests will be shared during a Lunch and Learn session at the Sanders County Extension Office on Friday, March 8, from noon to 1 p.m. The session is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch.

Unlike public water supplies, which are routinely tested for drinking water quality, most private well water supplies are infrequently tested. In most cases such testing is a homeowner responsibility. Past testing in most locations in Montana has found private well water supplies to be of good quality. However, rapid population growth in some counties in Montana has resulted in many new private well installations. Homeowner knowledge of the quality of their drinking water is valuable information to have on file.

The Well Educated program offers choices between different testing packages. The most basic package includes nitrate and presence/absence of coliform bacteria which should be tested every year by well owners. Testing costs start at $20 and run up to $75 depending on the package. Sample shipping is an additional $3-$5. More information will be available at the March 8 Lunch and Learn discussion.