For years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has monitored well water quality across the U.S. Their focus is to sample wells that also provide domestic water supply, i.e. drinking water, to local communities. From their tests and studies, USGS is able to determine which communities may need groundwater treatment systems and also to gauge if current regulatory programs that aim to protect groundwater quality are working efficiently.
Now, from fall 2020 through March 2021, USGS is providing free water quality tests for well owners in the Modesto, Turlock and Merced areas.
The opportunity to receive a free well water quality test may be especially advantageous for growers who have not yet – or need their second year of – testing drinking water wells on their property, a task that is required under the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP). Starting in January 2019, growers within the East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition were required to monitor their well water for nitrates levels, specifically. Tests must be conducted annually, and if growers have acceptable levels for three consecutive years then thereafter tests sampling nitrate levels only need to be conducted every five years.
Asking USGS to come out and conduct a free test is a simple way to check a box under ILRP requirements, and to ensure you remain complaint with current rules (though please note that USGS will monitor for more than nitrates)
Criteria to determine if your operation is eligible for USGS’s free well testing is available on their website. Growers interested in learning more about how to obtain a free well test are also welcome to contact USGS’s Jennifer Shelton at 916-278-3068.
