ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES DAY PLANNED AT CLAY COUNTY FAIR

Iowa Lakes Community College’s Environmental Studies Program will be presenting a special program at the Clay County Fair which will deal with well water pollution problems. 

The Environmental Studies Program booth will be located in the Stables, west of the barns on the fairgrounds.  As part of the program, Professor Gary Phillips will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to answer questions regarding the impact of ground water pollutants on farm well water supplies.  Those with questions concerning the safety of farm well water are invited to stop by and discuss concerns with Professor Phillips.

Also, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., freshmen Environmental Studies students will be available to test well water samples.  Students will test the samples for total coliform bacteria, total hardness, total iron, and nitrate nitrogen.  This water testing will be offered free to the first 200 individuals who bring their water samples to the Environmental Studies booth.  In addition, those who complete a post card at the booth, can have the results of their water testing information sent to them.  Because the testing process takes 24 hours for the bacteria test, students will forward results via the post card after the procedure is complete.

Individuals wishing to have their water tested are asked to bring a water sample to the fair in a glass jar which has been cleaned with boiling water.  The students will need approximately one pint of water for the test they will be performing.  Water samples should be taken from a faucet as close as possible to the well.  The water should be run for several minutes before the sample is taken.  Individuals are asked not to take samples that have gone through any type of water purification or softening systems.  Also, samples of water from municipal or regional water supply systems will not be tested.