Residents in Longview, Marshall, and Mount Pleasant are invited to have their well water screened for contaminants, such as coliform bacteria, E-coli, and nitrate-nitrogen.
The Texas Well Owner Network, or TWON, plans on holding two events on April 24th to allow those who rely on household wells to have their water tested. For $15 a sample, residents can pick up a sample bag, bottle and instructions from their local AgriLife Extension office. In a press release from the TWON, they state “It is very important that only sampling bags and bottles from the AgriLife Extension offices be used, and all instructions for proper sampling are followed to ensure accurate results.”
They state well water should be tested annually, as contaminants can be dangerous to those consuming it. E. coli can cause diarrhea, cramps, and nausea. Nitrate-nitrogen can disrupt the ability of blood to carry oxygen through the body.
There are a number of places for citizens to drop off their samples. For those in Mount Pleasant, samples can be dropped off from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office. For Titus County, 1708 Industrial Road, Mount Pleasant; Morris County, 501 Crockett St., Suite 2, Daingerfield; Camp County, 115 Dr. M.L. King Ave., Suite D, Pittsburg; or Franklin and Delta counties at 200 N. Kaufman St., Mount Vernon.
The Mount Pleasant follow up meeting to discuss results of the screenings will be held April 27th at 8 a.m. located at the AgriLife Extension office in Titus County.
For those in Longview and Marshall samples can be dropped off from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Gregg County, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Suite 101, Longview, or the AgriLife Extension office for Harrison County, 102 W. Houston St., Marshall.
The Marshall and Longview results will be discussed at 6 p.m. on April 25th at Gold Hall, 101 Elm Street, Hallsville.
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