ANOKA, Minn – (July 28, 2016) – The Anoka County Community Health and Environmental Services (CHES) Department, in cooperation with 13 municipalities, is encouraging residents to check the safety of their private well water.
County residents may pick up a well water test kit at participating city and township offices (listed below) or in the Environmental Services Unit, Suite 600 of the Anoka County Government Center, 2100 3rd Avenue in Anoka. Water samples can be submitted to the county’s Environmental Services Unit for analysis every Monday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon. The well water testing kit includes details about water collection and submission. A laboratory fee of $30.00 will be charged for coliform bacteria and nitrate-nitrogen analysis.
Residents are encouraged to perform an annual sanitary analysis to determine the concentration of nitrate-nitrogen and the presence of coliform bacteria in their drinking water supply. Unlike public water utilities, private well water is not treated with chlorine to prevent bacteria growth. Simply looking at the appearance of drinking water is not a reliable indicator of whether it is safe to drink. An annual coliform bacteria test is a good way to ensure that your drinking water continues to be free of bacteria.
Nitrate-nitrogen occurs naturally in groundwater and wells at concentrations below one milligram per liter (mg/L). Nitrogen can seep into private wells from a variety of sources including septic systems, nitrogen fertilizers, animal feedlots, and landfills. The Minnesota Department of Health has established a Health Risk Limit (HRL) for nitrate-nitrogen at 10 mg/L. Levels above that point may pose an immediate risk to infants and pregnant women.
The testing of private wells used for drinking water is the responsibility of individual owners. There are an estimated 25,000 private wells in service throughout Anoka County. Only a small percentage of them are tested annually.
In addition to testing for nitrate-nitrogen and the presence of coliform bacteria, the CHES Department also can provide analyses for arsenic, lead, fluoride, iron, chloride, and total hardness. For more information about well water testing, call the Environmental Services Unit at 763-422-7063.
