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Reduced fee water testing offered in April

In recognition of Public Health Week, April 4-10, McHenry County Department of Health will offer reduced fee water testing for individual well water users from April 1-30. Residents can have their well water sampled for coliform bacteria and nitrate for $18.

Testing your well regularly is the only way to determine whether the 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 system of warm-blooded animals, in soil, on plants, and in surface water.

Sterile sample containers from the department are required and are available at the locations below. Samples can be dropped off for testing from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at these locations.

• Algonquin Township Office, 3702 Route 14, Crystal Lake, (847)639-2329

• Dorr Township Office, 1039 Lake St., Woodstock, (815) 338-0125

• McHenry County Dept. of Health, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock (815) 334-4585

• McHenry County Dept. of Health, 100 N. Virginia St., Crystal Lake (815) 459-5151

• McHenry Township Office, 3703 Richmond Road, McHenry (815) 385-5605

• Nunda Township Office, 3510 Bay Road, Crystal Lake, (815) 459-4011

• City of Marengo, City Hall, 134 E. Prairie St., Marengo, (815) 568-7112

• Harvard Police Department, 201 W. Front St., Harvard, (815) 943-4431

• Richmond Township Office, 7812 S. Route 31, Richmond, (815) 678-0077

• Grafton Township Office, 10109 Vine St., Huntley, (847) 669-3328

The McHenry County Department of Health, 2200 N. Seminary Ave, Woodstock, will accept samples from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 8 a.m. to noon Thursdays.

Questions regarding well water quality should be directed to the Division of Environmental Health. Staff is available to provide education on a variety of topics to individuals, community groups or organizations and students of all ages. Please contact the Division of Environmental Health at (815) 334-4585, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For after-hour and weekend emergencies, call (815) 344-7421. Visit www.mcdh.info.

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