The New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Department of Health will conduct free testing of well water for those who depend on private wells. This testing will take place at a public testing event. The event will take place on April 25, 2026, in Silver City. This is part of the Silver City free well water testing initiative.
This event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Silver City Farmer’s Market. During testing, the first 100 people to show up will have their water tested for free as part of the Silver City free well water testing. The standard cost of testing one well water sample is roughly $150.
Residents should also bring basic information about their wells. Furthermore, it is important that people do not wait until they arrive at the testing site to collect their water samples. Instead, they should collect the samples promptly. Then leave them to flow for 2 to 3 minutes before collecting them into a clean container. Additionally, Silver City’s free well water testing requires that samples be collected correctly to ensure accuracy.
Residents should also bring basic information about their wells. This information helps officials analyze the samples more accurately. Such information could include well depth, casing type, distance from septic systems, and well coordinates.
An official from the New Mexico Environment Department said events like this are part of the state’s “water fair” program, which helps residents check whether their drinking water is safe. The program tests pH and nitrate levels in private well water. High nitrate levels can indicate that water may not be safe to drink. Notably, the Silver City free well water testing is a valuable part of this program for the community.
Since fiscal year 2022, the environment department has conducted tests on over 800 private wells at 34 water fairs. The department has held similar testing events across New Mexico. Since 2022, the program has tested more than 800 private wells at 34 water fairs. Officials estimate the total value of these tests at over $123,000 for local communities.
Officials will mail the test results to participants after the Silver City event. Residents should receive the results within 2 to 3 weeks of processing.