In recognition of National Drinking Water Week, the Community Science Institute will be offering tours of the certified laboratory and discounted coliform bacteria testing for residents with private wells. National Drinking Water Week raises awareness about drinking water protection and highlights the importance of the availability of safe drinking water.
Less than one percent (1%) of the Earth’s water is suitable for drinking. Protection of drinking water supplies, including both private wells and municipal sources, is a shared responsibility.
To ensure that private wells are safe for drinking, the New York State Department of Health recommends annual testing for coliform bacteria. Coliform bacteria is broad class of bacteria that can be found in plants, soils, animals, and animal waste. Most coliform bacteria do not cause disease, however, some strains of E.coli can cause serious illness. The test for total coliform bacteria is an indicator test, meaning that the presence of total coliform bacteria is an indication that other pathogenic bacteria may be present. Municipal supplies are regularly tested for coliform bacteria and are treated with chlorine to eliminate the possibility that coliform bacteria is present. If your drinking water comes from a municipal source, it is not necessary to test your water for coliform bacteria.
If your drinking water comes from a private well and you have not tested it within the last year, Drinking Water Week is an excellent reminder to test your water. CSI will provide a 20% discount on total coliform tests for samples dropped off during Water Week. The discounted price is $24.
In addition to discounts, CSI will be offering four Lab Tours during Water Week. If you’ve ever wondered what a certified lab looks like, you can have the opportunity to see chemistry and microbiology tests in action. Tours will be held during the following times:
Monday, May 4th
10-10:30 AM (Chemistry – Stream Samples)
3-3:30 PM (Microbiology – Drinking Water Samples)
Wednesday, May 6th
10-10:30 AM (Chemistry – Stream Samples)
3-3:30 PM (Microbiology – Drinking Water Samples)
You must sign up in advance and tours will be limited to 10 people per time slot, due to limited laboratory space. To sign up for a tour, email Becky Sims, Director of Outreach, at becky@communityscience.org and indicate which time you wish to attend.
