Those whose property was impacted by the 2020 Oregon wildfires may now be eligible for free private well testing, under a new program run by the Oregon Health Authority.
There are an estimated 2,000 households affected by the 2020 wildfires. Wildfires can lead to domestic well damage, potentially leading to contaminated drinking water.
Curtis Crude of the Oregon Health Authority talks of the different ways in which wildfires can damage wells.
“Those fires and heat could crack the well head, the piping, the well casing itself, and allow surface water to come back down and contaminate the well with bacteria or nitrates,” Crude said.
“Another thing that could happen is the ground could get hot enough that the metal well casing itself could conduct heat down and ruin the pump or any other components that are down there and that could also contaminate the well water.”
The tests detect bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, and lead. Depending on damage assessment results, testing for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) will also be provided.
According to Crude, lead, nitrate and arsenic “aren’t necessarily things you might get from wildfire damage. It’s just a good public health practice to test your system to make sure you’re not exposing yourself to these other common contaminants.”
If testing demands exceed supply, the OHA will prioritize low-income households, people of color, and other historically underserved communities. More information about the program can be found here.
By Olivia Goodfriend
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