The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is announcing a special program to help Michigan families know the quality of their well water.
EGLE and local health departments are working together to ensure that safe drinking water is a priority for Michigan families. Last year, the state put $5 million toward free well water testing for Michigan residents who rely on a household or private well for their drinking water.
EGLE says most wells get checked when they are first built; however, wells should be checked more frequently as water quality may change over time. This testing can determine if there have been any water quality changes to your well that could be harmful to those who drink and use that well water.
Many different substances may be found in well water that could be harmful and may cause illness, including bacteria; nitrates; and some metals, such as arsenic. Residents who test through this free program will have the assistance of their local health department to help determine next steps if test results show a problem with their well water quality.
If you have a private well and you want to know if your water is safe to drink, go to the EGLE website Michigan.gov/EGLEPrivateWells. There, you can request a water test. You will also learn more about how to collect a water sample to send to the laboratory.
