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Nitrate Clinic for Private Well Owners
Bring private well water samples in a clean container to get your water tested for nitrates. Visit the interactive We are Water MN exhibit while you wait for your results.
Pleasant Hill Library
1490 S. Frontage Road, Hastings
Thursday, Oct. 27, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Opt Outside Day: We Are Water MN
Stop by the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. to stroll along the activity trail or use your GPS or phone app to search for themed geocaches. For older adventurers, take on the annual medallion hunt. This year, the event is part of the We are Water MN Exhibit at Dakota County, a Minnesota Legacy program.
Location
When you arrive, head to the Visitor Center and look for the event information station. Each station includes signs with activity instruction information and take-along guides.
- Visitor Center Trailhead, Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activities
- Water is Life Activity Trail: Explore the activity trail and investigate how critters (and other lifeforms) depend on water in interesting ways. The littlest kids will love this stroller-friendly scavenger hunt, searching for critters along a paved trail. All ages (especially fun for ages 6 and younger).
- Protecting our Waters Geocaching: Search for the multi-cache and become a water saver superhero as you explore how you can help protect water quality. All ages (especially fun for ages 5 and older). Participants must provide their own smartphone with geocaching app or GPS unit for geocaching activity.
- Medallion Hunt: Solve clever riddles in our medallion hunt to find the “medallion” hidden somewhere in the park. All ages (especially for ages 10 and older). Riddles will be posted on Facebook, on the Opt Outside event page Nov. 24-25. Riddles will be posted at 8 a.m. and noon on Thursday, Nov. 24 and noon on Friday, Nov. 25.
Medallion finders must post a selfie near the location of the find to the Dakota County Parks – forever wild Facebook page and call the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center at 651-554-6530 to report their find. A fantastic prize package goes to the winner.
Irrigation Water Testing – Vermillion (city)
Dakota County, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center will be offering farmers who irrigate their crops the opportunity to test their irrigation water for nitrogen. Testing is at no cost.
Participants will receive their results the same day. They will learn how to credit nitrate in their irrigation water for next year’s nutrient management plans. Participants will also walk through the Irrigation Management Assistant (IMA) Tool with a SWCD staff member. The tool helps with irrigation scheduling.
Private well owners can also have their drinking water tested for nitrate. They will receive their results and treatment recommendations, if applicable.
Sampling instructions for irrigators
Samples may be taken the day of analysis or ahead of time. Samples taken ahead of time must be frozen until attending a session to prevent samples from degrading.
Participants may bring in several frozen samples collected over a period of several days to get a more representative result.
Samples can be collected directly from irrigators or by installing a boiler drain to a pivot point or the well itself.
If sampling directly from irrigators:
- Allow irrigators to pump water for at least 15 minutes before sampling.
- Fill a clean 5-gallon bucket, or similar container. Mix before collecting the sample.
- Collect the test sample in a small Ziploc bag or a clean bottle or container. Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing.
Sampling instructions for private well owners
- Collect samples from your primary drinking water source after eight hours of nonuse, preferably first thing in the morning
- Collect your sample in a small Ziplock bag or clean bottle or container
- Do not run the water before sampling — collect the first draw in the container
- Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing, but collecting extra is advised.
Test results
Nitrogen results are confidential. Participants are not required to take any action after testing. They will receive their results and information on nitrogen crediting.
Irrigation Water Testing – Farmington
Dakota County, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center will be offering farmers who irrigate their crops the opportunity to test their irrigation water for nitrogen. Testing is at no cost.
Participants will receive their results the same day. They will learn how to credit nitrate in their irrigation water for next year’s nutrient management plans. Participants will also walk through the Irrigation Management Assistant (IMA) Tool with a SWCD staff member. The tool helps with irrigation scheduling.
Private well owners can also have their drinking water tested for nitrate. They will receive their results and treatment recommendations, if applicable.
Sampling instructions for irrigators
Samples may be taken the day of analysis or ahead of time. Samples taken ahead of time must be frozen until attending a session to prevent samples from degrading.
Participants may bring in several frozen samples collected over a period of several days to get a more representative result.
Samples can be collected directly from irrigators or by installing a boiler drain to a pivot point or the well itself.
If sampling directly from irrigators:
- Allow irrigators to pump water for at least 15 minutes before sampling.
- Fill a clean 5-gallon bucket, or similar container. Mix before collecting the sample.
- Collect the test sample in a small Ziploc bag or a clean bottle or container. Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing.
Sampling instructions for private well owners
- Collect samples from your primary drinking water source after eight hours of nonuse, preferably first thing in the morning
- Collect your sample in a small Ziplock bag or clean bottle or container
- Do not run the water before sampling — collect the first draw in the container
- Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing, but collecting extra is advised.
Test results
Nitrogen results are confidential. Participants are not required to take any action after testing. They will receive their results and information on nitrogen crediting.
Irrigation Water Testing – Marshan Township
Dakota County, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center will be offering farmers who irrigate their crops the opportunity to test their irrigation water for nitrogen. Testing is at no cost.
Participants will receive their results the same day. They will learn how to credit nitrate in their irrigation water for next year’s nutrient management plans. Participants will also walk through the Irrigation Management Assistant (IMA) Tool with a SWCD staff member. The tool helps with irrigation scheduling.
Private well owners can also have their drinking water tested for nitrate. They will receive their results and treatment recommendations, if applicable.
Sampling instructions for irrigators
Samples may be taken the day of analysis or ahead of time. Samples taken ahead of time must be frozen until attending a session to prevent samples from degrading.
Participants may bring in several frozen samples collected over a period of several days to get a more representative result.
Samples can be collected directly from irrigators or by installing a boiler drain to a pivot point or the well itself.
If sampling directly from irrigators:
- Allow irrigators to pump water for at least 15 minutes before sampling.
- Fill a clean 5-gallon bucket, or similar container. Mix before collecting the sample.
- Collect the test sample in a small Ziploc bag or a clean bottle or container. Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing.
Sampling instructions for private well owners
- Collect samples from your primary drinking water source after eight hours of nonuse, preferably first thing in the morning
- Collect your sample in a small Ziplock bag or clean bottle or container
- Do not run the water before sampling — collect the first draw in the container
- Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing, but collecting extra is advised.
Test results
Nitrogen results are confidential. Participants are not required to take any action after testing. They will receive their results and information on nitrogen crediting.
Irrigation Water Testing – Hampton (city)
Dakota County, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center will be offering farmers who irrigate their crops the opportunity to test their irrigation water for nitrogen. Testing is at no cost.
Participants will receive their results the same day. They will learn how to credit nitrate in their irrigation water for next year’s nutrient management plans. Participants will also walk through the Irrigation Management Assistant (IMA) Tool with a SWCD staff member. The tool helps with irrigation scheduling.
Private well owners can also have their drinking water tested for nitrate. They will receive their results and treatment recommendations, if applicable.
Sampling instructions for irrigators
Samples may be taken the day of analysis or ahead of time. Samples taken ahead of time must be frozen until attending a session to prevent samples from degrading.
Participants may bring in several frozen samples collected over a period of several days to get a more representative result.
Samples can be collected directly from irrigators or by installing a boiler drain to a pivot point or the well itself.
If sampling directly from irrigators:
- Allow irrigators to pump water for at least 15 minutes before sampling.
- Fill a clean 5-gallon bucket, or similar container. Mix before collecting the sample.
- Collect the test sample in a small Ziploc bag or a clean bottle or container. Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing.
Sampling instructions for private well owners
- Collect samples from your primary drinking water source after eight hours of nonuse, preferably first thing in the morning
- Collect your sample in a small Ziplock bag or clean bottle or container
- Do not run the water before sampling — collect the first draw in the container
- Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing, but collecting extra is advised.
Test results
Nitrogen results are confidential. Participants are not required to take any action after testing. They will receive their results and information on nitrogen crediting.
