Knowing the risk associated with your water is the first step to achieving healthy, clean water. Often times well water pollutants are colorless, odorless molecules making detection at home difficult. Water with discoloration or odor may be safe to drink, yet clear, tasteless water may have elevated risk. However, federal law only regulates public water systems, not private wells. A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey reported that 23% of sampled private wells contained contaminants at levels of concern 11. Unlike public drinking water systems, private wells are not regularly monitored for their water quality. Therefore, private well dependent communities must take special precautions and design effective strategies to ensure the safety of their water to minimize threats to public health and the environment. Our next step is, with your participation, can help monitor the quality of your private well.
YOUR PARTICIPATION:
MONITOR YOUR WELL WATER QUALITY WITH PROVIDED TEST KITS
Teach your household all things science with simple sample collection in the comfort of your home.
- You can collect at home 2-3 times per week using test strip kits.
- Results can be entered online via a web portal.
- You can bring your water sample to school weekly to be analyzed at Notre Dame Lab to be compared with your kit results.