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State offers free well water testing for 2020 wildfire victims

A white picket fence stands in front of the remains of a home in the Santiam Canyon near Gates. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)

People impacted by the Labor Day wildfires in 2020 may be eligible for free well testing to determine if there are harmful bacteria or chemicals in their water.

The Oregon Health Authority is offering free domestic well water testing to about 2,000 households affected by wildfires that rely on wells for drinking water.

The Oregon Legislature allocated funds for free well testing because of the wildfires.

Well users whose properties were affected by wildfires can find steps needed to access the funds at www.healthoregon.org/wells.

If demand exceeds supply, people with low income and communities of color will be prioritized. The health authority is offering one testing voucher per well.

The agency will provide vouchers to well users through May 15, 2023.

Well users can select from a list of approved environmental laboratories in Oregon that will honor the vouchers for testing services. The tests will look for presence of bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, lead and chemicals that are hazardous by-products of fire.

-Saphara Harrell