Valley Water Collaborative will begin accepting applications for its new free well testing and replacement water program for private wells located in five groundwater basins throughout the Central Valley on Feb. 26.
VWC started its free well testing program in the Modesto and Turlock Basins in 2021. Its service is now expanded to five more basins: Yolo, Eastern San Joaquin, Delta Mendota, Merced and Madera.
The program is being offered free to residents living in the five basins who rely on private drinking water wells. VWC provides water testing for a range of groundwater contaminants such as nitrate, arsenic, uranium and 1,2,3-TCP. If the water exceeds State standards, replacement water is provided to those residents who meet program requirements.
In nearly four years of operation in the Modesto and Turlock groundwater basins, VWC has tested almost 800 wells and is currently providing 614 residences with free bottled water or under-sink water treatment systems.
Importantly, the program is not for residents connected to public water systems. Drinking water provided by both small and large cities in the region must meet stringent State standards and is safe to drink.
“Private well owners deserve the same level of protection as those on public water systems,” says Parry Klassen, Executive Director of VWC. “This program expansion encompasses areas where known groundwater contamination has been identified. People are often surprised what is in the water they use for drinking and cooking.”
When VWC started its efforts in 2021, the well testing focus was on nitrate as mandated by the Central Valley Regional Water Board in its Nitrate Control Program. VWC expanded to a broader list of contaminants due to grant support from the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER), a program of the State Water Resources Control Board.
“This is an enormous effort we are undertaking,” VWC chairman Justin Gioletti said. “The VWC board and the participating industries and municipalities are committed to collaboration to ensure access to safe drinking water for impacted communities.”
VWC is actively spreading the word about the program through direct mail, social media community events and by collaborating with other local organizations in the region. More than 15,000 postcards are being mailed to residents, mostly in rural areas, in each of the five basins who use private wells for drinking water.
Applications for the program are available online at www.valleywaterc.org or by calling 209-750-3867. After an application is screened, VWC staff connect the residents with a certified laboratory to arrange the well test. Results are typically available in 10 to 14 days or less. Free replacement water deliveries can be expected within about 1-2 weeks after results are received.
