Rim Country Water Testing will host a talk on the private sector’s role in protecting and helping private well owners on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 at 10 a.m. The talk will be held at Bullion Plaza Museum as well as online through Zoom.

It is estimated that over 300,000 Arizona residents receive their drinking water from private wells. These wells do not have any regulatory sampling requirements. There are a few state programs designed to help well owners. While these programs are a great resource, they are limited by funding, staffing, large areas to cover and in some instances a mistrust of the government.

For those who want to know more about their domestic water quality there is the do it yourself route (search the web) or working with a private entity. There are a few private water testing companies in central Arizona that can meet the needs of private well owners. In many cases what prompts a sampling event is a real estate transaction, a noticeable change in water quality or someone who consumes the water becoming sick. Water testing companies can report what is in their water and provide guidance in obtaining treatment. One of the greatest challenges is how to make private well owners aware of the importance of sampling their wells and why working with an expert is beneficial, leading to long-term safe drinking water.

Don Ascoli formed Rim Country Water Testing (RCWT) in 2007 and became the public water system water operator for his small community of Verde Glen, 15 miles north of Payson. The responsibility of being the certified water operator for one public water system has grown to being the water operator for 15 small water systems. Over the years Ascoli saw a need to look at and test private wells in the area. Since RCWT was formed, the company has tested over 200 private wells and built a database full of private well water quality data.

There is only room for 10 attendees (attendees must be masked, and their temperature will be checked) at Bullion Plaza. Otherwise, the public is welcome to sign up for the Zoom meeting. Register in advance for the meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrceuhqDgoGNIgjXXn8bkaQBRzpprczd2S. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting

Please sign up for this informative talk!