Berrien County Conservation District

Free Drinking Well Water Screening!

The Berrien County Conservation District and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance program (MAEAP)  sponsor free well water screening by appointment. Pleas Call 269-471-9111 x3 for appointment time.   You will need to bring water samples and sample form to the Berrien County Conservation District office at 3334 Edgewood Road, Berrien Springs.

Samples from drinking water wells will be screened only for nitrate and nitrite. The screening is open to everyone who uses a personal well for drinking water. Forms should be filled out in advance and are available at the Conservation District offices, and online at www.berriencd.org. This service is for private drinking wells only. Public water supplies are regularly tested. Please do not bring samples form public water supplies or non-drinking water sources. Only drinking well water samples will be tested. You do not have to use a special bottle for this screening. Any small clean jar will work-one ounce of water is enough. You will not receive your water collection device back.

Please follow the directions below to sample your well. Collect samples just before getting them to the sample drop-off. Samples must be less than 48 hours old for a valid nitrate and nitrite result.

1. Fill out the water Sample Information Sheet.  Click Here for a Information Sheet 
2. Pick a tap that supplies water that has not run through any treatment devices (water softener, carbon filter, etc.).
3. Run the water for 20-30 minutes before collecting the sample. This will give the pump time to flush the water pressure tank and plumbing so you can collect a valid sample. Disconnect any hoses before collecting the sample; do not sample through a hose. Rinse the sample bottle and lid thoroughly in the water to be sampled; then fill and cap the bottle.
4. Label the bottle clearly with your name, the sampling date, and the well name (cottage well, Mom's well, etc.) using a waterproof pen.
5. Keep the sample dark and cold (on ice or refrigerated) until it is dropped off.

All results are confidential. You can find out your results within minutes.

Please fill out the sample Information Sheet completely and bring it with your water sample.  You can get more information from Berrien County Conservation District at 269-471-9111 ext.3, online at www.berriencd.org or from your local MAEAP stewardship technician, Lisa Kuntz at lisa.kuntz@macd.org.