2023 Community-Focused Groundwater Sampling invites 547 Eureka Township well owners

The Environmental Resources Department’s Groundwater Protection Unit is providing its fourth round of community-focused private well sampling. This effort provides private well owners an opportunity to have their water tested for common contaminants of concern every five years at no cost. This month, participant request letters will be mailed to 547 private well owners in Eureka Township. Well owners have until April 15 to either return a pre-paid postcard or fill out an online survey to guarantee a water test kit is mailed to them between May and July 2023.

Each kit will contain two sample bottles to collect outdoor and indoor water. All outdoor water samples will be tested for nitrate, arsenic, manganese, and chloride. Indoor samples will also be tested for nitrate, arsenic, and/or manganese if elevated concentrations are found in outdoor samples. Lead will be sampled from all indoor water faucets. This sample design tests how successful in-home treatments (reverse osmosis, water softeners, carbon filters, etc.) are at removing contaminants. Free water testing provides multiple benefits. Well owners learn if contaminants are in their drinking water and understand the related health concerns. It also improves the County’s understanding of communities at risk of groundwater contamination.

This program is in accordance with the Dakota County Groundwater Plan tactic 1A3E and the Agricultural Chemical Reduction Effort (ACRE) tactic 1C.

Contact: Matthew Belanger, Environmental Specialist, Matthew.Belanger@co.dakota.mn.us (952)-891-7132