Have a well? Get it tested
During August, McHenry County Department of Health will offer reduced fee water testing for individual well water users. For more than 20 years, MCDH has worked to educate the public about improvement and protection of drinking water sources by offering reduced rates on water analysis. Residents can have their well water sampled for coliform bacteria and nitrate for $18.
Since many contaminants are colorless and odorless, testing is the only way to determine whether well water is safe to drink. Water from a public or municipal water system is regularly tested for contaminants regulated by federal and state standards.
As a well owner, it is up to you to maintain your well and have it tested regularly. For a nominal charge, MCDH will also sample private wells for fluoride and nuisance chemicals resulting in water hardness, iron, discoloration and odor.
Sampling kits can be picked up at MCDH in Woodstock or at one of eight drop-off centers. These centers will accept water samples from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday mornings.
• Algonquin Township Office, 3702 Route 14, Crystal Lake, (847) 639-2329
• Dorr Township Office, 140 Newell St., Woodstock (815) 338-0125
• 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
• City of Harvard, Police Department, 201 W. Front St., Harvard (815) 943-4431
• Richmond Township Office, 7812 South Route 31, Richmond (815) 678-0077
• Grafton Township Office, 10109 Vine St., Huntley (847) 669-3328
Bacteria and chemicals can contaminate well water in different ways, with some occurring naturally. Contaminants such as nitrate can come from animal waste, wastewater, flooded sewers, polluted stormwater runoff, fertilizers, agricultural runoff or decaying plants. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause illness in young children and pregnant women.
For more information about your private well water, call MCDH's Environmental Division at (815) 334-4585.