Willamette Valley well owners are invited to several free nitrate screening clinics to be held this fall.

The first is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Corvallis Saturday Farmers Market, at Riverfront Commemorative Park.

A portion of the southern Willamette Valley has been designated as a Groundwater Management Area by the Department of Environmental Quality due to elevated nitrate levels in well water.

It is especially important for pregnant women or newborns to test any well water used for consumption for nitrate levels because of a rare type of blue-baby syndrome, which can be fatal. However, all owners of private wells should know the level of nitrate they contain.

Those who want their well water tested are asked to bring half a cup of the untreated water in a clean, water-tight container. Participants can either wait for results (the test takes 5 to 10 minutes if the well water clinic is not busy), or leave your contact information for the results to be delivered after the clinic date.

A water quality educator will be available during clinic times to answer questions. For additional information see OSU Extension Service Web site http://extension.oregonstate.edu/benton.

For more information call 541-766-3556.