The Rockbridge Extension office is offering private water source testing (wells, cisterns, and springs) through Virginia Tech’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering.
Those interested must preregister by Thursday, Feb 19, as space is limited.
Registered participants should then plan to pick up their sample kit at the Rockbridge County Administrative Building, Main Street entrance, 150 S. Main St., Lexington.
Sample kits consist of four small bottles with instructions in a zip lock bag. Participants can pick up sample kits at the following designated times: Monday, Feb. 23, 3 to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Feb. 24, 7 to 10 a.m. or 3 to 6 p.m. Anyone needing to schedule a different time to pick up their kit should contact the Rockbridge Extension office.
Participants should plan on collecting their water samples first thing Wednesday morning, Feb. 25, keep their samples cool and drop them off at the same location between 7 and 10 a.m.
Samples are analyzed at Virginia Tech. Participants will receive their confidential results, an explanation of what they mean, and information about addressing any problems via email about five weeks after the sample dropoff.
Testing measures iron, manganese, bacteria (total coliform and E. coli), arsenic, sodium, copper, lead, nitrate, hardness, pH, total dissolved solids, and 16 other metals and elements.
Cost is $70 per sample kit (comparable analysis at a private commercial lab would cost more than $300). This analysis is reliable for taking corrective action to improve your water’s quality. However, this laboratory analysis is not certified for the purposes of real estate transactions, litigation, or other legal proceedings.
Register and pay online by going to https://tinyurl.com/ VAHWQP-RB. If you do not have computer or e-mail access, you can still participate. Call Tom Stanley through the Rockbridge Extension Office at (540) 463-4734 to discuss registration and payment options.
