FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, August 23, 2007
The Gallatin Local Water Quality District (GLWQD) requested assistance from the Gallatin City-County Health Department (Health Department) in responding to calls from private well owners in the Wildhorse Trail subdivision in Belgrade. The well samples were performed by the homeowners and indicated that one of the wells had nitrate levels over the drinking water standard of 10 milligram per liter and a few of the wells tested positive for coliform bacteria. None of the sampled wells tested positive for fecal coliform bacteria.
Elevated nitrate levels are a health concern primarily to infants and nursing mothers since it can interfere with the body’s ability to carry oxygen. Other susceptible populations may have adverse health affects from elevated nitrate levels. Coliform bacteria are used as an indicator for assessing water quality and are generally harmless bacteria. Fecal coliform bacteria, which include Escherichia coli (E. Coli.) inhabit the digestive tracts of humans and other warm-blooded animals. The presence of E. Coli in a water supply is an indicator of fecal contamination and can cause disease.
The GLWQD was interested in resampling these and nearby wells in the area to verify the immediate problem. The Health Department assisted in the efforts by providing educational materials to the individual well owners. The Health Department has not received confirmed reports of an increase in gastro-intestinal disease in this general area.
GLWQD testing results should be available in several of days. People concerned with the water quality of their private well should have the water tested by a certified laboratory and should drink bottled water until the test results are received. Again, the test results from the homeowners did not indicate fecal contamination. The Health Department and GLWQD recommend that homeowners, at minimum, test their private wells at least once per year.
The GLWQD is in the process of designing a more extensive groundwater and water quality study in this general area. The results of this sampling episode will be included in that study.
Information on nitrates, coliform bacteria, certified laboratories, water sampling and well decontamination may be found at the GLWQD (www.gallatin.mt.gov/GLWQD) and the Health Department (www.gallatin.mt.gov/health) websites. For additional information, contact either the GLWQD at 582-3148 or the Health Department at 582-3120.
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