Free water testing for total coliform and E. coli for private well owners in areas affected by floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey is being offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Extension’s Texas Well Owner Network in collaboration with Rebuild Texas, Virginia Tech and others.
Dr. Diane Boellstorff, AgriLife Extension water resource specialist, College Station, said water from a flooded well should not be used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or even bathing until tested. Samples will be processed at Texas A&M University in College Station.
Residents can pick up a free water sampling test kit from the Aransas County AgriLife Extension office at 892 Airport Rd; the sample MUST be taken and returned Tuesday, November 21, 8:00-11:00 a.m. Instructions are included with the kits and only one sample kit will be provided per household, there are a limited number of kits. The Extension Office is open M-F, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, closed noon-1:00 for lunch. The phone number is 790-0103.
