Monitoring your well system and your drinking water protects your family’s health
by Lon Nordeen, MLSA Secretary
Michigan has over one million private residential wells. These wells serve over 2.6 million people, statewide. That is nearly 30% of Michigan residents!
- A private residential well supplies water to a single-family home.
- Water is pumped from groundwater using a water well.
- Most lakes are closely linked to what are known as aquifers, i.e. geological formations in which groundwater circulates. Depending on the hydrogeological properties of the aquifers and the climatic context in which they are located, the connections between lakes and groundwater can vary in time and space.
Since 2013, the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) has supported well water testing for nitrates and other contaminants for Washtenaw County farmers and landowners, and since 2015, the Washtenaw County Conservation District has collaborated with Eastern Michigan University to reach more well owners. These events have expanded over the years and have become a very beneficial opportunity to educate Washtenaw County residents about the importance of water quality and potential threats. These events also provide a first screening for levels of nitrate contamination, and if high levels are detected, more thorough testing will be suggested. In addition, potential sources of excess nitrates such as overfertilizing lawns/fields, defective septic systems and runoff from livestock lots can be identified and solutions recommended.
Eastern Michigan University (EMU) Students gain hands-on experience at Community Well Water Testing Event
A group of students in Eastern Michigan University Professor Chris Gellasch’s CSIE/ENVI 125L2 Contaminants in Groundwater course spent Saturday, October 5th helping rural residents by testing their well water for potential contaminants. The event was run in conjunction with the Washtenaw Country Conservation District and County Health Department at their building on North Zeeb Road in Ann Arbor. The Conservation District staff advertised the event through social media to inform the public.
During the six-hour event students analyzed 142 well water samples for nitrate, turbidity, pH, and electrical conductivity and discussed the results with the residents. If any of the results were cause for concern, residents were provided with information to have their water tested more thoroughly by the State of Michigan laboratory. Students also created educational materials and interacted with the residents while they waited for their test results. Feedback from the residents and the County staff was very positive and the students were excited to take their skills and knowledge out of the classroom and interact with the public. Dr. Gellasch commented, “This is the sixth time I have run the water-testing event and it continues to grow in terms of samples tested and positive community feedback. This type of local community engagement is what makes an EMU undergraduate education so meaningful.”