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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2026

Safe Drinking Water Funding Available for Private Well Owners

Is your private well providing safe drinking water? Clean water starts with knowing what’s in it. Regular well testing helps ensure your water is safe and can identify potential problems before they become serious health risks.

Thanks to funding from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, Horizon Public Health, in collaboration with the Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens, and Traverse Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offices, has received grant funding to provide private well water test kits at a reduced cost.

Test kits are available for $91.50 (50% off) while supplies last.

Funding is available for eligible water treatment systems if test results indicate contamination concerns. This program helps address common well water contaminants, including arsenic, coliform bacteria, lead, manganese, and nitrate. Assistance is subject to funding availability and program eligibility requirements.

These contaminants are commonly found in private well water and may pose health risks:

• Arsenic: A naturally occurring element that can increase the risk of cancer and other serious health problems with long-term exposure.
• Coliform Bacteria: An indicator that water may be contaminated with pathogens that can cause gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea, cramps, and vomiting.
• Lead: Often enters drinking water through plumbing materials. Even low levels of exposure can affect brain development in children and contribute to health problems in adults.
• Manganese: A naturally occurring mineral that, at high levels, may affect the nervous system, particularly in infants.
• Nitrate: Commonly found in agricultural areas. High nitrate levels can reduce the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and may cause methemoglobinemia, also known as “blue baby syndrome,” in infants.

Take the first step toward safer drinking water by purchasing a test kit today.

Contact: Whitney Lund, Phone: 320-762-3071, Email: whitneyl@horizonphmn.gov

For media inquiries, please contact: Jessica Peterson
Email: jessicap@horizonphmn.gov