New Mexico residents are at risk of being without clean drinking water following the recent wildfires and flooding that has devastated northern part of the state, but the state’s Environment Department is taking steps to help those impacted by offering free test kits starting this coming Tuesday.
According to a a report by KOB 4, the concern is not just limited to the city’s water supply but also private wells. The state is now offering water test kits because the mixture of the wildfires and flooding have led to potentially dangerous bacteria forming in the wells. The plan is to offer 100 free bacteria sample kits for households that own private wells.
“If a person’s well, well house or part of their system that has been submerged by floodwaters there is the potential for their system to, for bacteria to get into their system and then breed and contaminate their private well,” Justin Ball, the bureau chief for the groundwater quality at the New Mexico Environment Department, said in an interview with KOB 4.
Ball said the intent is to provide the service to the community that has been hit hard by the wildfires and subsequent flooding. He said he understands how difficult this impact can be. Ball added that it is important to identify these contaminated wells quickly.
Ball said there are steps that can be taken to eliminate the bacteria through decontaminating the well.
“We would call them and let them know we got the positive result and the well is contaminated. The next steps are to pour an amount of vinegar and bleach into the well to kill the bacteria that is present there and recirculate the water for a little while,” Ball said.
Impacted residents can pick up the test kits on Tuesday, Sept. 13. They are available at the New Mexico Environment Department field offices at 2538 Ridge Runner Rd in Las Vegas from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents are also asked to drop the kits off before noon on Thursday.