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

Penn State Extension has received funding from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide no-cost drinking water testing to a limited number of homeowners using private water wells, springs or cisterns in Lycoming County. The testing is for private water supplies that are actively being used for drinking water in the household. Camps or seasonal households that are not continuously used are not eligible for this program. The commercial value of this water testing would be $130.

This testing is limited to the first 45 households using a private well, spring or cistern that register at https://extension.psu.edu/safe-drinking-water-in-lycoming-county

Once you register, you will receive information on a Safe Drinking Water Webinar on Monday, July 20 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. You will need to participate in the webinar in order to receive the free water testing.

After participating in the webinar, you will receive your water test kit from the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab with instructions on how to take the water sample. Each water test kit includes a pre-paid UPS mailer to ship your water samples back to the laboratory on either August 3 or August 17.

Individual water samples will be analyzed for numerous drinking water parameters including total coliform bacteria, E. coli bacteria, pH, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, hardness, corrosivity, nitrate, arsenic, copper and lead. You will receive your water test results by mail or email approximately two to three weeks after you ship your water sample to the lab. Penn State Extension will provide a follow-up webinar on September 1 at 7:00 p.m. where you can learn more about your water test results and get answers to your questions.

If you have any questions about this no-cost testing program contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570-296-3400 or ptw3@psu.edu

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