Safe, clean drinking water is one of the most basic needs for day-to-day life and Webster County Planning and Zoning has services available to ensure the safety of water in private wells across the county.

Allison Roderick, Webster County environmental health officer, recently began reaching out to homeowners in Jackson Township to encourage them to have their private wells tested at no cost, through the county.

On July 1, the Webster County Planning and Zoning Office took on responsibility of the county environmental health officer — which was previously under the Webster County Health Department’s umbrella.

“We do code enforcement on other aspects like junk vehicles and things like that,” Roderick said. “So it just kind of made sense with the kind of enforcement and permitting we do, like septic permitting, to have it all in one spot.”

Right now, property owners can reach out to Roderick at the Planning and Zoning Office to schedule a well test. Roderick hopes to eventually have all of the wells in the county on a set schedule for annual testing.

Roderick will test for total coliform, which is an indication of bacterial pollution, as well as E. coli, nitrate, sulfate, arsenic and manganese. The process includes taking a sample of water from an outdoor spigot and sending it to a lab to be tested. If a sample’s results come back showing contamination, Roderick will return to take a second sample from inside the home on the property. This is because sometimes outdoor pipes aren’t used as much and can be in rougher shape than the indoor plumbing.

If the second sampling shows contamination, Roderick will recommend the property owner have the well “chlorine shocked” by an Iowa Department of Natural Resources-certified well contractor. Using a DNR-certified well contractor allows the property owner to be eligible for a $300 reimbursement on the cost of shocking the well.

If a well is found to be in need of repair or renovation, the property owner is eligible to receive a $1,000 reimbursement if they use a DNR-certified well contractor.

Abandoned and decommissioned wells are also a problem, Roderick said.

“It’s a safety hazard, so we’d like to have those filled properly,” she said.

Using a DNR-certified well contractor to fill or plug a well will qualify the homeowner to receive up to $500 for reimbursement.

The reimbursements are made possible through the state’s Grants to Counties Program of the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act.

There are roughly 2,000 private wells registered in the county, Roderick said. However, not all private wells have been registered and those that aren’t don’t have any county records of water testing. Roderick will be sending post cards out to residents of properties with known private wells to remind them to schedule a water quality test.

“It’s so important for your health and it’s a service that the county offers, so why not utilize that?” she said..

Even if residents don’t drink the well water, it’s still important to regularly test the water.

“You’re still cooking with it, you’re still bathing with it,” Roderick said. “Even just a little bit can get you sick, especially if you have children.”

Property owners with private wells on their land can go through other avenues to have their water tested, but Roderick just wants to share that the county will test for free.

Though the DNR recommends annual well testing, Roderick said residents who may have concerns about their water can request a well test at any time and don’t have to wait for their annual testing.

Roderick also recommends property owners who may be planning to sell their property to have their wells tested prior to listing the property for sale in order to avoid any delays in closing a purchase.

To schedule a well test, citizens may call 515-227-7156 or text 515-302-4384 or email allison.roderick@webstercountyia.org.