Do you know what is in your private well water? 

Find out for free by applying for our private well sampling program!

Valley Water Collaborative (VWC) was formed to address nitrate contamination of groundwater in private domestic wells used for drinking water. VWC provides replacement water or water treatment systems for nitrate contamination to all qualifying applicants, regardless of income level.

One year after starting the program, VWC received a California state grant* that expands the water testing beyond nitrate to other common groundwater contaminants**. While well testing continues to be free for all qualifying applicants, this grant only provides replacement water or a water treatment system for households that meet the income parameters set by the State. Households that exceed the income limits are responsible to pay for solutions to address exceedances of the other contaminants. VWC does not cover this cost (VWC only covers free well sampling and solutions for nitrate).

Application details include:

  • Qualified applicants are residences located in the Modesto or Turlock Groundwater Basins and who rely on a private domestic well or small water system well for drinking water.
  • If your application is approved, you will receive an email or phone confirmation. Our laboratory will then contact you to schedule a time to sample your well. It usually takes 1- 2 weeks to receive the test results.

* State Water Resources Control Board, Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resiliency (SAFER)
** May include: arsenic, 1,2,3-TCP, DBCP, EDB, Total Chromium, uranium. Testing may also include perchlorate.

Services available depend on your well test results – see below:

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If nitrate is the only contaminant that exceeds drinking water health standards:

  • Free bottled water delivery or water treatment system
  • Service long term
  • Available to all income levels
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If other contaminants exceed drinking water health standards, but not nitrate:

  • At or Below Grant Income Limitations: The grant will pay for bottled water delivery until the grant ends in 2025 or a new water treatment system including two years of service/filter replacement.  Once the services conclude, the household is responsible to pay for all water replacement services.
  • Above Grant Income Limitations: household is responsible for bottled water and/or water treatment and service
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If nitrate and other contaminants are both in exceedance of drinking water health standards:

  • Free bottled water delivery
  • Bottled water delivery service long term
  • Available to all income levels

OR

  • Free water treatment system for nitrate contamination, service long term
  • May need additional water treatment paid for by the resident, or free for a limited term for those who are at or below Grant Income Limitations.

For additional questions about program participation, please visit

Frequently Asked Questions

Valley Water Collaborative

1201 L Street, Modesto, CA 95354

contact@valleywaterc.org

 (209) 750-3867