AgriLife Extension offers private water well screening in Bexar County on Oct. 7
Bexar County residents can get well water sampled for bacteria, E. coli
The Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, will host a “Well Informed” program for residents and well owners in Bexar County to have their well water screened on Oct. 7, with a follow-up meeting on Oct. 9, in San Antonio.
Water samples will be screened for contaminants, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen and salinity. There will be a $15 fee per sample for the screenings.
The screening of water samples is followed by a one-hour explanation of the results, water well protection practices and a focus on wellhead protection and recommendations for remediating any contamination, said John Smith, AgriLife Extension program specialist, Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
Water sample dropoff will be from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Oct. 7 at the San Antonio River Authority office, 100 E. Guenther St. The results meeting will be at 9 a.m. on Oct. 9 at the same location.
Sampling instructions
A water sample form must be completed for each sample submitted. Follow the directions below for sample collection. Visit https://twon.tamu.edu/ for a printable version of the collection instructions and the sample information sheet.
- Pour the contents of a new 12- to 20-ounce bottle of water out and fill it with a water sample from your private water well.
- Take the sample from the spigot/hose bib nearest the wellhead. Remove the water hose, if one is present, and take the water directly from the spigot/hose bib.
- If an indoor faucet is used, remove the aerator from the faucet before making the collection.
- If possible, wipe the faucet with a Clorox-type towelette or paper towel wetted with a light bleach solution to kill any bacteria present, then allow it to dry before sampling.
- Turn the water on full force and let it run for 2 minutes or until the pump starts running. Reduce the water flow to a small stream, then take the sample.
- The sample should be collected within 24 hours of submission to ensure accurate results.
Refrigerate the sample and transport it to the drop-off location in an ice chest as soon as possible after collection. It is best to collect the sample on the day it is submitted. Otherwise, make sure the sample is kept cool and out of direct sunlight.
For more information on the water screening, contact Smith at 979-204-0573 or [email protected].
The screenings are presented by AgriLife Extension and Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, in partnership with the AgriLife Extension office in Bexar County. Funding for TWON is through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
