** NEW VIDEO **
In Minnesota private well owners are responsible for testing their wells and for their own drinking water safety. Because of this, it important to be aware of contaminants that could be present in your well. Nitrates and E. Coli are common and important contamination concerns. You may also be concerned about pesticide contaminants, like atrazine. This video will explain some of the ways a well could be contaminated, how to go about taking a sample of your water to be tested for atrazine and what to do if atrazine is detected in your well.
LIST OF LABS THAT CAN TEST FOR ATRAZINE
For Information on:
- Assessing your wells risk for contamination, different types of contaminants, how to check for them and what to do if your water is contaminated.
- Well types, construction, safety, maintenance, testing, treatment and more consult the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Well Owner’s Hand Book , Well Management web pages and Minnesota Department of Agriculture(MDA) Testing Private Drinking Water Wells for Pesticide Contamination web page.
- Minnesota ground water contamination susceptibility visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources State Wide Contamination Susceptibility web page.
- MDH private well testing recommendations visit their web page Protect Your Health - Test Your Private Well Water.
- The low cost immunoassay screen and other medium and high cost quantitative tests as well as labs that will do these tests for atrazine and other pesticides visit the MDA Explanation of Testing Methods web page.
- Understanding your test results and water treatment option visit the MDA web page Laboratories, Understanding Test Results and Home Water Treatment. For another source on home water treatment options consult the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory Well Water Quality and Home Treatment Systems brochure.
- For additional information on atrazine, visit the Environmental Protection Agencies Basic Information about Atrazine in Drinking Water web page, or the MDA Atrazine Information web page.
MDA Contacts
Nila Hines
651-201-6208
nila.hines@state.mn.us
Joe Zachmann
651-201-6588
joseph.zachmann@state.mn.us
Pesticide & Fertilizer Management Division
| 
