County offers free testing for private well water

Jefferson County is providing an opportunity for private well owners and tenants in the county to have their water tested for certain forms of bacteria, nitrite/nitrate, arsenic and manganese.

A county sanitarian will come and collect water samples free of charge during October and November.

Samples will be sent to the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa for testing. The county sanitarian will send results.

This testing program is part of a study at the University of Iowa and a chance for well owners in Jefferson County to learn more about the quality of water in their wells.

For information, contact Dan Miller Jefferson County Environmental Health Department at 641-472-2561 or jeffcoeh@gmail.com.

Information about the Iowa Private Well Program is available at iowawell.org, 319-467-4503 or shl-gtc@uiowa.edu.