The City of Lubbock warns that some with private wells could have unsafe levels of arsenic in their drinking water.

The cause of the unsafe levels could be due to contamination from farming operations, or as a result of the natural geology of the area, as arsenic occurs naturally.

Anyone concerned with the levels of arsenic in their private well water has the option of sending off a sample to a local lab for testing.

To have your water tested:

  • Open a sealed bottle of commercially bottled water and pour out the water.
  • Turn on your faucet and let it run for 2 to 3 minutes to flush the line.
  • Fill the bottle with tap water from your faucet, and re-cap tightly.

Take the water sample to Trace Analysis, located at 6701 Aberdeen Avenue, behind the former Albertson’s building on Slide Road. The company is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday. They can be contacted by phone at 806-794-1296, and are the only lab in the Lubbock area certified to test for arsenic. The cost of the test is $35.

If unsafe levels of arsenic are found, use an alternate source of water to drink and cook with, or contact a company that provides water purification and filtration.

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