Penn State Extension has received funding from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide no-cost drinking water testing to a limited number of homeowners in Lancaster County who use private water wells, springs or cisterns. The testing is for private water supplies that are actively being used for drinking water in the household or rental unit. Camps or seasonal households that are not continuously used are not eligible for this program.
This testing is limited to the first 45 households using a private well, spring or cistern that register by visiting https://extension.psu.edu/safe-drinking-water-workshop or by calling Penn State Extension toll-free at 877-345-0691. Once families register, they may pick up drinking water test kits at the Penn State Extension office in Room 140 of the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. Instructions on how to collect the water sample are included in the kit.
The kits must be dropped off at the Extension office between 8:30 a.m. and noon on either Monday, Sept. 30, or Monday, Oct. 14. The exact drop-off date will be provided in the test kit.
Individual water samples will be analyzed for numerous drinking water parameters, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli bacteria, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, alkalinity, corrosivity, nitrate, arsenic, copper and lead. Results will be available during two separate one-hour workshops to be held at 2 and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Penn State Extension office in the Farm and Home Center. Participants will be asked to attend one of these workshops to get their water test results. A 30-minute presentation will also be given, including professional interpretation of results and information on how to solve drinking water problems.
For more information, readers may contact the Lancaster Extension Office at 717-394-6851 or lancasterext@psu.edu.
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