News Flash

To help owners better understand their private well and get a baseline reading for nitrates in their well water, the City of Wayne, in conjunction with the Wayne County 4-H, will hold a Test Your Well Night on Thursday, May 17, at the Wayne Fire Hall from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

• Bring a sample of your private well water in a clean container
• It will be tested for nitrates at no charge.
• Results will remain confidential.
• Municipal water will NOT be tested.

Did You Know - Well MaintenanceWell owners are advised to have their water tested, generally for nitrates and bacteria, by a state certified laboratory at least once a year. There are no laws or regulations that require private well owners to test their well water, but there are many good reasons to do so.

• Well owners should do an annual inspection of the area around a well and visually inspect the well for problems, such as a cracked casing.
• If a well owner is concerned about the odor or taste of their water or if water users are experiencing unexplained illnesses, the water should be tested.
• Mortgage lenders often require that well water be tested for contaminants prior to loaning money to a property buyer.
• It is important that unused wells be decommissioned. Unused wells are direct paths for contaminants to reach an aquifer, and larger, open wells may be dangerous to small children and animals.

What Can You Do

• Well owners are advised to have their water tested by a state certified laboratory once per year, or more often if they are concerned about the odor or taste of their water, or if water users are experiencing unexplained illnesses.
• Municipal water users can learn more about how their drinking water source is protected from contamination, and how water is treated and monitored by their water utility.
• If you choose a home water treatment system, be sure it is certified to treat the particular contaminant you're concerned about. Maintain the system according to instructions.
• Join with others in your community to prevent contamination of drinking water sources.