Groundwater Awareness Week: March 10-16

CDHD Offers Free Nitrate Water Tests

Just as you check your furnace or smoke detector batteries seasonally, spring is a good season to have an annual water well checkup before the peak water use season begins, according to the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).

Why is it a good idea to have my water well checked annually?

“An annual checkup by a qualified water well contractor is the best way to ensure problem-free service and quality water,” says Mike Reno, Program Manager of Water and Wastewater programs at the Central District Health Department (CDHD). “Nitrates are the biggest problem in our area, so we’re offering to test well water for nitrates as part of Ground Water Awareness Week.”

Those interested in taking advantage of the free nitrate testing should bring a water sample in a clean container, like a canning jar, to one of the locations listed below. The free tests will be offered on Tuesday March 12th only.

CDHD Main Office - 707 N Armstrong Place, Boise.
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
CDHD Mountain Home - 520 E. 8th Street N, Mountain Home.
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
CDHD McCall - 703 North 1st, McCall.
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Horseshoe Bend Senior Center – 109 S Riverside Drive, Horseshoe Bend.
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Garden Valley Senior Center – 261 Middlefork Road, Garden Valley.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Boise Basin Senior Center – 102 Bear Run Road, Idaho City.
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Also, preventative maintenance usually is less costly than emergency maintenance, and good well maintenance — like good car maintenance — can prolong the life of your well and related equipment. CDHD further recommends you test your water whenever there is a change in taste, odor, or appearance, or when the system is serviced.

So schedule your annual water well checkup now!

Wells can provide high-quality drinking water, and about half the U.S. population receives its drinking water from wells. But with well ownership comes the responsibility of keeping the water well in good working order. Private wells are not monitored or regulated by any public agency in Idaho. A check of your well by a qualified water well contractor may include:

A flow test to determine system output, along with a check of the water level before and during pumping (if possible), pump motor performance (check amp load, grounding, and line voltage), pressure tank and pressure switch contact, and general water quality (odor, cloudiness, etc.).
A well equipment inspection to assure it’s sanitary and meets local code.
A test of your water for coliform bacteria and nitrates, and anything else of local concern. Other typical additional tests are those for iron, manganese, water hardness, sulfides, and other water constituents that cause problems with plumbing, staining, water appearance, and odor.

The Central District Health Department also recommends that well owners:

Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil far away from your well, and maintain a "clean" zone of at least 50 feet between your well and any kennels and livestock operations.
Maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, and chemical storage areas.
Periodically check the well cover or well cap on top of the casing (well) to ensure it is in good repair and securely attached. Its seal should keep out insects and rodents.
Keep your well records in a safe place. These include the construction report, and annual water well system maintenance and water testing results.

For more information on ground water visit the CDHD website, or the Department of Environmental Quality website.