The Olmsted County Soil and Water Conservation District and Olmsted County Public Health Services will do free water testing at the Olmsted County Fair for households that rely on private wells for drinking water.
The nitrate testing will be available from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the Conservation Building at the fair.
Nitrate is a compound that naturally forms when nitrogen combines with oxygen or ozone. While nitrogen is essential for all living things, high nitrate levels in drinking water pose risks, especially to infants and pregnant women.
For testing, participants should collect a cup of water from their well in a clean plastic bag or glass container and bring it to the fair at Graham Park.
The test takes about 15 minutes.
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Olmsted County staff will be available to answer questions and recommend solutions if elevated nitrate levels are detected in the sample.
