UCo Health has well testing kits for west side
By Terry Murry on Friday, June 24th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – Umatilla County Public Health has received funding to begin a domestic well-water testing program on the west side. Current funding allows the pilot program to provide the tests to residents of Echo, Hermiston, Stanfield, and Umatilla zip codes.
Those communities are part of the Lower Umatilla Basin Area for groundwater management. Morrow County is also in that area and is grappling with high nitrate levels in well water. The water tests Umatilla County has test for arsenic and coliform in addition to nitrate levels.
The test kits can be picked up at KTL-KUO Laboratories, 1300 Sixth Street, Suite J, Umatilla; UCo Health, 435 E. Newport, Hermiston; or UCo Health, 200 SE Third Street, Pendleton. Instructions come with the tests as well as details on how to get them back to the lab in Umatilla.
The program is currently only funded to handle residents in the 97826, 97838, 97875, and 97882 zip codes. UCo Health said the expansion and continuation of it is contingent on receiving additional funding.
