Have you wondered how you can help keep Van Buren County’s water, land, and air healthy? If so, we hope you’ll join us at the Van Buren Conservation District’s “Healthy Water Week” event to be held from 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM Monday, August 1 through Friday, August 5 at the Van Buren Conservation District Office (USDA Center), 1035 E Michigan Ave., Paw Paw, MI 49079. The event is free and open to the public, and we will provide information, snacks, and take-home activities for kids.
“We’re highlighting some of the actions people can take in their homes and yards to
keep their environment clean and healthy,” says Erin Fuller of the Van Buren
Conservation District. “People don’t always know how to properly dispose of household chemicals, test their well water or maintain their septic systems, so [we’re here] to help with some of these less-than-fun tasks.”
Giveaways will include tote bags, reusable straws, jar openers made from recycled tires, snacks, and more. Staff will also perform free well water screening for nitrates and nitrites on site. Nitrates and nitrites in drinking water can be dangerous to health, especially that of infants and the elderly. The screening is open to all Van Buren County residents that are on private water systems (non-municipal wells) for drinking water.
To sample your well please follow these directions:
- Pick a tap that supplies water that has not run through any treatment devices (water softener, carbon filter, RO system, etc.). An outdoor faucet often works well.
- Run the water for 20-30 minutes before collecting the sample to flush the water pressure tank and plumbing so you can collect a valid sample. Do not sample through a hose.
- Any clean container can be used for sample collection. Rinse the sample bottle and lid thoroughly in the water to be sampled, then fill and cap the bottle.
- Label the bottle with your name, date, and the well name (ex. main home, back yard, barn) using a waterproof pen.
- Keep the sample dark and cold for up to 24 hours before bringing it to the office for screening.
If you have questions, please call the Van Buren Conservation District at 269-657-4030×5.