CADILLAC — This week, NanBop Farm director Jason Abraham demonstrated the required seasonal drinking water sampling process, including quarterly coliform testing and annual nitrate testing, before the farm’s busy growing season begins.
During the demonstration, Abraham said the farm was due to submit its quarterly coliform sample and chose to also submit its annual nitrate sample so both requirements would be completed for the season.
Coliform testing is required once a quarter, nitrate testing is required once a year and nitrite testing is required every three years.
The nitrate sample was taken from a tap near the farm’s expansion tank before the water had been treated. Untreated, or raw, water was required for the nitrate sample.
The sample was collected in an opaque bottle provided for the test. The bottle lid should be handled carefully to avoid contamination and the sample line should be purged beforehand to remove residue that could affect results.
For the coliform bacteria sample, the farm used a bathroom sink. Bleach was applied to the mouth of the spigot before the water was left running for at least three minutes to purge the line. The sample was then collected to the marked fill line in a separate bottle.
After collection, both bottles were placed in a small cooler with frozen ice packs for transport. Abraham said keeping the samples cold during transit was critical because temperature changes could cause an automatic test failure.
The samples will be dropped off at the Cadillac testing facility along with a submission form listing the expansion tank as the nitrate sample location and the bathroom sink as the coliform sample location. The farm planned to obtain a signature from the receiving party and pick up new bottles for future testing.
According to the demonstration, paperwork is available at the Cadillac lab for business owners submitting drinking water samples. Abraham also said forms can be emailed by the lab upon request, but an online form is available for download.
Abraham explained the letter from the health department outlining the farm’s sampling schedule, which said the farm’s annual nitrate sample would be complete after this submission and that the next quarterly sample must be submitted within the April, May and June compliance window.
Abraham said the farm keeps water testing records on-site for up to three years and described the testing as mandatory for public safety. The script said the testing helps ensure water used to wash farm-grown vegetables is safe for consumption.
Abraham said the timing was ideal because plants had already been started in the basement, the snow was nearly melted and farm work was expected to intensify soon.