Have you ever had the drinking water from your well, spring or cistern tested for lead and other health-related pollutants? If not, here’s your chance.

Penn State Extension has received funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Health cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Health Capacity building initiative and with support from the Penn State Master Well Owner Network to provide no-cost drinking water testing to a limited number of homeowners in Schuylkill County using private water wells, springs or cisterns.

Each water supply will receive testing through a PA DEP state accredited water testing laboratory for coliform bacteria, E.coli bacteria, nitrate, manganese, arsenic, lead, copper, barium and sodium. Registration will be limited to approximately 35 households.

Each household must own or rent a primary residence (no camps) in Schuylkill County that uses a private well, spring or cistern for a drinking water supply.

Registrants are required to attend a one-hour initial webinar on April 11 at noon to learn about the testing program. After attending the webinar, homeowners will be able to pick up a water testing kit during business hours any day for the rest of the week and then return it any time between 9 a.m. and noon on April 18. Pickup and drop-off location will be in the Pottsville area and full details will be provided during the webinar. Optional follow-up webinars will be offered to provide interpretation of results and to answer questions. Registration and further information for this testing program is available online at https://extension.psu.edu/private-water-supply-education-and-water-testing-in-schuylkill-county or by calling 877-345-0691.

If you have any questions about this no-cost testing program, contact Jennifer Fetter at 717-921-8803 or jrf21@psu.edu.