July 1st: All About Well-Testing!

Watershed Wednesday: July 1st

In our second Watershed Wednesday, Torie of the Gallatin Local Water Quality District (GLWQD) talks about all the reasons why it is important for you to get your well regularly tested.

When you are a private well owner, your water is not monitored by the city, state, government, or any municipal agencies. It is best to sample routinely even when there no apparent declines in the quality of our drinking water. Not properly maintained septic systems or events like storms or floods can contaminate your wellhead.

MSU Extension Water Quality, the GLWQD and the Gallatin Conservation District (GCD) work together to organize and promote the Montana Well Educated program. The program helps prevent ground water contamination from private wells through well owner education. Several testing packages are available. For more information, visit:  Well Testing Parameters and Package Costs.

Testing kits are free and can be picked up at the following locations:

Gallatin Conservation District Office
120 S. 5th Street, Suite B104
Manhattan, MT

Gallatin Local Water Quality District Office
215 W. Mendenhall Street, Suite 300
Bozeman, MT

To make well testing even more affordable for the landowner, GCD offers a 75/25 cost share opportunity. This opportunity reimburses Gallatin County residents up to 75% of their well testing costs using the Well Educated Program. Visit GCD’s website for more information.

The Montana Well Education Program also has many other informative videos listed on their website!