By Scout Nelson
Safe drinking water remains an important issue for many families in northwest Minnesota. While the region is known for its rich soils and natural beauty, naturally occurring elements such as arsenic and manganese can sometimes be present in private wells.
The University of Minnesota supports efforts to improve awareness of private well water testing and highlights the importance of monitoring water quality.
Many private well owners do not test their wells as often as recommended, creating concerns about possible health risks from naturally occurring contaminants.
In November 2023, concerns about private well water quality became a key topic during the annual meeting of the University of Minnesota Extension Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP).
Members of the natural resources work group decided to take action and created the Well Aware program to encourage more residents to test their wells.
“Our board and work group volunteers represent a wide and varied sector of the northwest,” explains Crystal Rayamajhi, Northwest RSDP outreach specialist. “The combination of folks with a background in hydrology, conservation, education and recreation inspired a unique coalition that launched what became the Well Aware program.”
Team members Nicole Bernd and Brent Mason recognized that many residents had questions about private wells but often did not know where to find reliable information.
“The first thing we did was contact entities in other parts of Minnesota to learn from their experiences,” says Mason. “Our conversation with Carver County Soil and Water Conservation District was especially helpful. They recommended creating a pledge for participants to sign, a promise that when they take home a well-testing kit, they will also return it. This seemingly simple act had a profound effect on our participation rates.”
To find the best locations for testing clinics, RSDP staff worked with AmeriCorps member Jacob Hansen to create GIS maps.
The maps identified areas with higher arsenic, nitrate, and chloride levels, along with communities that included more vulnerable residents, such as children under nine and adults over 65.
Testing clinics were then organized at rural grocery stores in Fosston, Mahnomen, and Grygla. Community response was strong, with testing kits distributed quickly and return rates reaching 60% to 80%.
The effort later expanded through partnerships with the Private Well Water Education program. Clinics held in Clay County and Barnesville distributed nearly 100 drinking water testing kits and achieved an impressive 98% return rate.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zms
Categories: Minnesota, Rural Lifestyle