FREE well water Nitrate screening at Logan County Fair

[July 26, 2022] 

The Logan County Department of Public Health will be offering free nitrate screenings for drinking water at the annual Logan County Fair at their Environmental Health Booth on Tuesday, August 2nd – Thursday, August 4th 3:00PM – 6:00PM, and Friday August 5th 12:00PM-6:00PM. Since public water supplies are regulated by the EPA, only water from private wells will qualify for screening.

Nitrate is a compound of oxygen and nitrogen that can be found in drinking water and at elevated levels can pose the greatest health threat to infants and women who are pregnant. Sources of nitrate in drinking water can include, but are not limited to, farmland fertilizer runoff, decaying plant debris, animal feedlots, sewage disposal systems and wastewater. It is not uncommon for well water to contain elevated levels of nitrates.

Screening is a good indicator of whether your water contains a safe level of nitrates for drinking. If the screening indicates nitrate levels may be high, the water should then be tested at a state-certified lab. Testing is the best way to confirm nitrate levels in your water, but screening is a good start, and it never hurts to play it safe!

To have your water screened, simply fill a clean, covered jar or container with tap water (at least 3oz.) and bring it with you to the Logan County Department of Public Health Environmental Health booth at the fair. Your sample of water will be screened on site for a quick analysis indicating whether your well water may contain elevated or unsafe levels of nitrate.

For more information, contact the Logan County Department of Public Health at [phone]. For information regarding LCDPH services, you can log onto their website at WWW.LCDPH.ORG.

[Don Cavi, MS, LEHP
Public Health Administrator
Logan County Department of Public Health]