More than 8,600 households in McKean County get their drinking water from a private source. These residents are responsible for testing and treating their own water. About half of the private water systems in Pennsylvania fail at least one drinking water standard, but many pollutants have no obvious indicators. The only way to be certain that water is safe to drink is to have it tested routinely by an accredited laboratory.
Penn State Extension will offer a Private Water Supply Education and Water Testing Program at 3 p.m. Feb. 25 at the McKean County Department of Emergency Services 911 Center, 17175 Route 6, Smethport.
This program will cover how to protect, maintain and test private water supplies. With funding from a Pennsylvania Department of Health cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control, Environmental Health Capacity building initiative, no-cost drinking water testing will be provided to program participants.
Each water supply will receive testing through a PA DEP state accredited water testing laboratory for coliform bacteria, E.coli bacteria, nitrate, manganese, arsenic, lead, copper, barium and sodium. Registration will be limited to approximately 20 households that use a private well, spring or cistern for their drinking water supply. Registration and further information for this testing program is available online or by calling (877) 345-0691. Contact Danielle Rhea at (814) 849-7361 or drs5277@psu.edu with questions.
