Have you Tested Your Well Recently?
Why Test My Well?
Testing your well is important, simple, and inexpensive.
Most local groundwater comes from rain that has fallen nearby, within a few miles or closer. Sinkholes and fractures often allow surface water to mix with groundwater with little or no filtration. The sources of pollution that could harm our wells are often located in our neighborhood or even on our own property.
Experts recommend testing wells for bacteria annually and for harmful chemicals every 2-3 years. The city also recommends testing your well after work is done on the system if it runs dry and comes back, if someone in the household becomes pregnant, or if you experience issues such as flooding or other land disturbances near your well.
How Do I Test My Well?
Call your county health department for regional details. In Greene County, the number is 417-864-1673, and the Springfield Greene County Health Department website has a list of tests, prices, and illustrated step-by-step instructions:
- Get a testing kit
- Collect a sample
- Submit test and payment
What if My Results are Unsatisfactory?
The City of Springfield has many useful resources for mitigating contamination here.
How to Maintain a Healthy Well:
To prevent spills or leaks, never store materials in your well house or near a well.- Be careful to prevent back-flow: never submerge hoses in wash basins, stock tanks, or swimming pools.
- Have your well tested for coliform bacteria and nitrates at least yearly. Keep a record of these tests, which screen for possible pollution.
Click here to report abandoned wells or other well-related environmental concerns.
Check out our infographic for more information:
https://watershedcommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/ProtectYourWell_updated.pdf