MONROE — An opportunity to learn about drinking water is being offered to all residents with private wells in the Towns of Cadiz, Jordan and Monroe. 

Others in Green County may also take advantage of the opportunity to test their drinking water. If you are interested in learning more about drinking water and the quality of your water, this program is an opportunity to have your well water tested at a reduced cost and learn of the results during an educational program with a drinking water expert. Groundwater specialists encourage rural residents to test their water at least once every two years.

This program is neither mandatory nor regulatory. It is completely voluntary. Those who participate will receive the results of their water tests during a free, 90-minute educational seminar the evening of April 16. Everyone will have the opportunity to ask questions, and individual results will be kept confidential. Those who are unable to attend this program to obtain complete results can have them mailed.

Special bottles are required for these tests, and there is a cost for this testing. You may choose one or more of the testing packages described below.

Options for well testing: Homeowner Package (includes tests for nitrate, coliform bacteria, pH, alkalinity, and hardness.) Cost: $55; Metals package (tests for arsenic, lead, copper, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, potassium, and sulfate) Cost: $52; Triazine Screen (includes tests for triazine type pesticides like atrazine) Cost: $33

For all three packages, the cost is $132. 

For bottle pickup locations and times, contact Victoria Solomon, Community Resource Development Educator at the Extension Green County office 608-328-9440 or via e-mail at Victoria.Solomon@wisc.edu.