June 26, 2023 by Aaron Larsen
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 in July.
Clinic dates are:
July 20, 2023 at the West Otter Tail County Fair (County Fair Booth) from noon to 3:00 p.m.
July 21, 2023 at the East Otter Tail County Fair (County Fair Booth) from noon to 3:00 p.m.
July 31, 2023 at the Ottertail City Community Center from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The clinics will be conducted by the East and West Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Nitrates are the most common contaminants in Minnesota’s groundwater, and a significant number of the state’s wells have high nitrate levels. In 2011, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) found that over 10% of private wells tested across the state had nitrate levels above the safe drinking water standard. In 2017 the MDA targeted several townships in the county for nitrate testing. Final results showed 2.5% of the wells tested were above the drinking water standard. Greater than 5% of the wells tested in Perham, Otter Tail, Compton, Inman, Clitherall, Elmo, and Woodside, were above the drinking water standard. Greater than 10% of the wells tested in Parkers Prairie township exceeded the drinking water 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 Ziploc-type bag to the nitrate testing clinic. To get a good sample, allow the water to run five to 10 minutes before filling the bag. Homeowners with distillators, 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 one sample, either before or after the water passes through the water softener. Only water from private wells will be tested, water from lakes and rivers will not be tested.
Samples should be taken no more than 24 hours before the clinic, and they must be kept cool. To ensure accuracy, homeowners should mark the bags with their name, phone number and a well identification number if more than one well is sampled.
Homeowners may remain anonymous. In that case, they should simply choose another easily recognized number to put on the well samples. It is not necessary to provide information about the well or well location.
Samples are analyzed on the spot, the process usually takes less than five minutes ? and results are 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. For more information on the clinic, contact Don Bajumpaa, 218-228-2383 or Kristie Williams, 218-998-5300.
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