(West Otter Tail SWCD)
Fergus Falls, MN – East and West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) will be conducting free nitrate testing clinics in June.
Nicole Lundeen with East SWCD says that homeowners who rely on private wells for their drinking water supply should test for nitrates on a regular basis.
Private well owners are encouraged to participate at one of three free nitrate testing clinics:
- June 14th, 2024, at the West Otter Tail SWCD Office in Fergus Falls from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
- June 28th, 2024, at the Ottertail City Community Center from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
- July 26th, 2024, at the Prairie Event Center in Parkers Prairie from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Nitrates are the most common contaminants in Minnesota’s groundwater, and a significant number of the state’s wells have high nitrate levels.
In 2017 the Minnesota Department of Agriculture targeted several townships in the county for nitrate testing.
The results showed that 2.5% of the tested wells throughout the County were above the 10-parts per million nitrate drinking water standard.
Out of these townships, including Perham, Otter Tail, Compton, Inman, Clitherall, Elmo, and Woodside, the wells tested were 5% above the 10-ppm nitrate drinking water standard, while over 10% of the wells tested in Parkers Prairie township exceeded the same standard.
If you would like to know more about the nitrate level in your well, please bring at least one-half cup of water in either a clean plastic or glass container, or a Ziploc-type bag to the nitrate testing clinic.
To get a good sample, allow the water to run for five to ten minutes before filling the bag.
Homeowners with distillers, reverse osmosis, or other nitrate removal systems should take two water samples: one before and one after the treatment process.
This will determine if the nitrate removal system is working.
Homeowners with just a water softener need to take only one sample – either before or after the water passes through the water softener.
Samples should be taken no more than twenty-four hours before the clinic, and they must be kept cool.
To ensure accuracy, homeowners should mark the containers with their name, phone number, and a well identification number if more than one well is sampled.
If homeowners wish to remain anonymous, they should simply choose another easily recognizable number to put on their well samples as it is not necessary to provide information about the well or its location.
Samples will be analyzed on the spot (the process usually takes less than five minutes) and the results given directly to the homeowner.
If the nitrate level in a sample is elevated, clinic staff can refer the homeowner to certified labs that will retest the water.
Please also note that only water from private wells will be tested – water from lakes and rivers is not allowed.
(Story Courtesy of West Otter Tail SWCD)