New Mexico Environment Department offering free well testing in Capitan

CAPITAN, N.M. (KRQE) – The state is offering free domestic well water testing on May 4, 2024, in Capitan, New Mexico. The event coincides with Smokey Bear Days .

The New Mexico Environment Department is offering tests to the first 100 visitors (or while supplies last). Residents will need to bring a water sample.

The event will be at 118 Smokey Bear Boulevard in Capitan. Testing will be from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on May 4.

“Residents with private water well may have questions about their water quality,” Ground Water Quality Bureau Chief Justin Ball said in a press release. “This water fair provides residents in Lincoln County easy and affordable access to information about the quality of their private well water that they would otherwise need to pay for.”

If you plan on bringing a water sample, the Environment Department says you should:

• Let the water run for 2-3 minutes before collecting the sample.
• Fill a clean glass or plastic container without any odors with at least a quart or liter of your well water.
• If the home has a whole house filtration system, collect the water at the well head prior to any filtration or softener systems if possible.
• Fill the container with water as close to the time of testing as possible
• Bring information about the well, such as depth, well casing, location, and distance to the nearest septic tank/leachfield.

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