BACOG Private Well Water Testing Event

The Annual BACOG Private Well Water Testing Event will be held Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. at The Barrington Area Library. Purchase water testing kits from September 16-30 at your local Village/Township Office. The full list includes: BACOG Office, Barrington Hills Village Hall, Barrington Township Office, Deer Park Village Hall, Lake Barrington Village Hall, South Barrington Village Hall and Tower Lakes Village Hall. Tests will also be available for purchase at the Barrington Hills Fall Fest on Sunday, September 15 (12 noon – 4:00 p.m.). 

 

Most Barrington area residents drink groundwater that is drawn from the shallow aquifer system. While the state requires public water supplies to be tested for a wide range of contaminants on a routine basis, there is no regulation that requires testing of private wells that serve just one or two households. Households with private wells are advised to test for bacteria and nitrates every year to detect these invisible, odorless contaminants. Bacteria and nitrates can result from animal, insect or human waste or fertilizers reaching the well water and can cause illness in humans. On October 1, residents may drop off their water sample kits at the BACOG Event at the Barrington Area Library anytime between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Although primarily a drop-off event, BACOG Staff will be there with information and take-aways, along with the Lake County Health Department representatives, who will be available to residents for water testing questions. Test results will be emailed to homeowners within two weeks. Any homeowner with positive results for bacteria or elevated nitrate levels will be contacted within 48 hours by the Lake County Health Department.