McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is celebrating National Groundwater Awareness Week by encouraging homeowners to have their well water tested during the week of March 12-22. The observance brings attention to the importance of groundwater as a valuable resource and stresses the need for yearly water testing to prevent waterborne illness. Water samples will be tested for coliform bacteria and nitrate for $23. Sampling kits can be picked up at MCDH in Woodstock or at one of eight drop-off centers.
Testing your well regularly is the only way to determine whether well water is safe to drink as many contaminants are colorless and odorless. Water from a public or municipal water system is regularly tested for contaminants regulated by Federal and state standards.
Bacteria and chemicals can get into well water and contaminate it in different ways. Some bacteria and chemicals occur naturally. Contaminants such as nitrate can come from animal waste, wastewater, flooded sewers, polluted storm water runoff, fertilizers, agricultural runoff, or decaying plants. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause illness in young children and pregnant women. Coliform bacteria are microbes found in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, in soil, on plants, and in surface water.
Samples can be dropped off for testing on Tuesday mornings between 9:00am and 12:00pm at the following centers – Algonquin Townships Office, Dorr Township Office, McHenry Township Office, Nunda Township Office, 1 City of Marengo, City Hall, City of Harvard, Police Department, Richmond Township Office, or Grafton Township Office (see press release for addresses).
For more information, contact MCDH’s Environmental Health Division at 815-334-4585 or visit www.mcdh.info.
A really interesting article, when using groundwater it is really important to make sure water testing takes place. The results that you get from it really can help to determine how safe it is. Water is our life source so it is so important that we make sure that we monitor the water quality to make sure that it is not harmful.