October 07, 2005 Private Water Well Testing in Lafayette and Lake Charles Area
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, - Baton Rouge - The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Louisiana Rural Water Association is offering the public free bacteriological testing (for total coliforms and E. coli) for their private drinking water wells and systems.
If a homeowner’s water well was flooded, the well must first be disinfected with a chlorine bleach solution, then thoroughly flushed. Finally, a sample of water must be collected for analysis by the laboratory. Until the sample results are shown to be negative for coliform bacteria, water should not be used for potable purposes unless it has been boiled or chemically disinfected.
LDH is responsible for regularly testing public drinking water systems; however, following Hurricane Rita, the department is temporarily expanding its testing to include homeowners with a private well system to ensure they have access to safe drinking water.
To obtain this service, homeowners may pick up sampling supplies and instructions on disinfecting, flushing and how to collect the sample from a sanitarian at the parish health unit.
Once the sample has been collected it must be refrigerated or kept on ice and delivered to the local parish health unit within 20 hours of collection. The health unit will accept samples between the hours of 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on designated collection days. This service will begin the week of October 10, 2005. Homeowners should contact their local parish health unit for information about the designated collection days for their parish.
Currently, the health unit is Calcasieu Parish is closed. At this time, these services will be provided at the Office of Southwest regional office located at 707-A East Prien Lake Rd. For more information, please call 337-475-3200.
Drop off points are:
Acadia Parish Health Unit Iberia Parish Health Unit
530 W. Mill St. 121 W. Pershing St.
Crowley, LA New Iberia, LA
337-788-7507 337-373-0021
Lafayette Parish Health Unit St. Martin Parish Health Unit
220 W. Willow St. Bldg. A 303 West Port St.
Lafayette, LA St. Martinville, LA
337-262-5616 337-394-3097
Vermilion Parish Health Unit Jefferson Davis Parish Health Unit
401 South St. Charles Street 403 Baker Street
Abbeville, LA Jennings, LA
337-893-1443 337-824-2193
Allen Parish Calcasieu Parish
Police Jury Building OPH Southwest Regional Office
602 Court St. 707-A East Prien Lake Rd.
Oberlin, LA Lake Charles, LA
337-639-4328 337-475-3200
Beauregard Parish Health Unit
216 Evangeline St.
DeRidder, LA
337-463-4486