Homeowners are responsible for maintaining their water well and preventing it from contaminating the ground water. This includes not only properly locating your well site, but also maintaining the integrity of the well and protecting it from contamination.
For information on properly maintaining your well, see the Barnyards and Backyards article:
You are responsible for the quality of your domestic well water
Testing your water
It is also important to regularly test your well water. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality recommends testing every other year. To help with this, the district offers well water testing at 50% cost share. And, in 2021 the district expanded their well water testing program to include additional test options. We are now offering a 50% cost share on the tests listed below:
| OPTION | TEST DESCRIPTION | NEGOTIATED RATE | YOUR COST |
| 1 | Annual Well Maintenance – Bacteria Coliform Presence/Absence, Nitrate + Nitrite as N, Total Dissolved Solids. | $90.00 | $45.00 |
| 2 | Domestic + bacteria test – Bacteria/E-Coli Coliform Presence/Absence, Sulfate, Total Hardness, Nitrate, Nitrite, Sodium, Total Dissolved Solids, pH, Fluoride, Chloride | $107.00 | $53.50 |
| 3 | Livestock & irrigation suitability test – Alkalinity, Chloride, Fluoride, Sulfate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Nitrate + Nitrite As N, Conductivity, Hardness, pH, Sodium Absorption Ratio, Total Dissolved Solids | $87.00 | $43.50 |
| 4 | Livestock Suitability test – Sulfate, Nitrate + Nitrite as N, pH, Total Dissolved Solids | $62.00 | $31.00 |
| 5 | Irrigation Classification test – Metals, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Conductivity, Sodium Adsorption Ratio | $57.00 | $28.50 |
Testing Important Dates: September 2021
How does it work?
- Choose what test is right for you
- Pre-register by Friday, September 10 by calling the office at (307) 746-3264, ext. 111
- Pick up the sample kits between September 20-24 at the district office
- Sample your water within 24 hours of dropping off
- Samples due September 28 to:
- WCNRD Office by 10 am
- Upton Town Hall by 11 am
- The District will deliver the samples to Energy Labs in Gillette the same day
Please refer to these sampling instructions to ensure you collet an accurate sample: Water Sampling Procedures and Testing Form Instructions
Results
- If your sample tests positive tests for bacteria, you will be notified within 48 hours and provided next steps
- Final test results will be sent out within about 2 weeks
Sample results interpretation
Well Educated: Understanding Your Test Results
Water Quality Interpretation Tool, courtesy of Colorado State University
Get your test kit today!
