Weld County recognizes Groundwater Awareness Week

Published on March 10, 2026

The Weld County Board of Commissioners proclaimed March 8 through14 as Groundwater Awareness Week, recognizing the essential role groundwater plays in supplying drinking water for communities and thousands of private wells in rural Weld County.

Groundwater from private wells is not federally or locally regulated in Colorado, which means the responsibility for ensuring safe drinking water rests with well owners and users. While most well water meets recommended drinking water standards, regular testing helps confirm water is safe to drink and can identify potential concerns early.

To support well owners, the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment laboratory offers private well water quality testing, including microbiology and chemistry testing, and a free Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) screen every six months for qualified residents who use well water as their main drinking water source.

“Last year, our staff of eight sampled water for 19 entities and ran over 11,000 tests on various types of water, putting information in the hands of residents to make decisions about their water,” said Lab manger Katrina Alsum. “And this year, in partnership with CSU, we are launching a survey of well users in Weld County to determine their knowledge and beliefs so that we can best serve their needs.”

As part of Groundwater Awareness Week, the board of commissioners encourages residents who rely on private wells to test their well water annually and to learn best practices for maintaining and treating their wells. For information about well water testing and resources for private well owners, visit www.weld.gov/go/lab.