Water testing is available for owners of private wells Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District

The Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District is promoting groundwater safety by sponsoring a Water Testing program to test private wells for nitrates, various pesticides, volatile organic chemicals, and metals.

A $45 test kit checks water samples for nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, chloride, sulfate, soluble phosphorus, silica and specific conductivity. A pesticide screen for $70 will indicate the present of triazine herbicides and Lasso, Dual or Harness. A test for 46 different volatile organic chemicals is $75, and the test for 23 different metals in $90.

Water test kits are available from the Soil and Water Conservation District or Kane County Farm Bureau through Friday, Feb. 20. Water samples must be returned Monday, Feb. 23. Kits must be purchased upon pickup. Heidelberg College Water Quality Laboratory in Tiffin, Ohio will perform the water testing. Results are mailed in four to six weeks directly to participants. All results are confidential.

For details about the program, call the Soil and Water District office at (630) 584-7961, ext. 3.