The Henrico County office of Virginia Cooperative Extension will offer a three-part clinic to help residents test their private wells, springs and cisterns for potentially dangerous levels of contaminants.
After registering online, participants will pick up a testing kit from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 6 at the Extension Office in the Human Services Building, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive. Each kit will include a link to a virtual presentation on how to draw water samples for testing.
Participants will drop off their samples from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 8 at the Extension office. In about five weeks, they will receive by mail or email their test results and a link to a virtual presentation explaining how to interpret the findings. Staff also will be available to discuss the results privately by phone.
All tests will be conducted at Virginia Tech and will include an analysis of the presence of iron, manganese, nitrate, lead, arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium, copper, total coliform bacteria and E. coli bacteria.
“Wells and other private water supplies are not regulated in Virginia,” said Ed Olsen, Henrico’s Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. “Homeowners are responsible for testing the water quality, maintaining the water system and addressing any problems that arise. Henrico Extension is pleased to offer affordable, confidential water tests and information to our residents.”
The cost to participate in the clinic is $60 per water sample, with registration and payment due by noon, Friday, May 27.
For more information, call (804) 501-5160. For information on the Virginia Household Water Quality Program and private water systems, go to wellwater.bse.vt.edu.
