On March 8 the Colorado Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the El Paso County cooperative extension office, presented findings from a water survey conducted in 2006. The CDA tested 49 wells throughout El Paso County, including wells in the Upper Black Squirrel.The main wells tested were in the alluvial aquifer areas, where wells are shallow ñ 100 feet or less ñ and more easily affected by surface activities, according to a county news release.According to the county, the survey found that the groundwater quality in the county is ìvery good.î The county released the following statements: ìAll samples underwent analysis at the CDAís laboratory for a full suite of 47 pesticides. The tests revealed no pesticides above the laboratoryís detection limits, and only one sample tested above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate. The well tested at 11.5 parts per million (ppm), which is just above the MCL of 10.0 ppm. Nitrate is a colorless, odorless and tasteless compound that is present in some groundwater in Colorado. It is a naturally occurring form of nitrogen found in soil and is essential to all life.îFor more information on the well water, visit www.coopext.colostate.edu/elpaso/ and click on “Natural Resources,” or contact Gary Hall at 636-8934.
