Lower Yakima Valley Groundwater Management Area Safe Drinking Water Initiative

Starting July 1, 2025 Washington State Department of Health received funding to continue offering free well testing to residents in the Lower Yakima Valley and Western Benton County. If you are interested in well testing please sign up here. Residents with nitrate levels at or above 10 mg/L may be eligible for bottled water pickup until a reverse osmosis filtration system is installed.

Please reach out to Anchee Nitschke Durben at anchee.nitschkedurben@doh.wa.gov or Rob Eastman at robert.eastman@doh.wa.gov or 360-236-3357 with any questions or concerns.

Program through Yakima County, ended June 30, 2025
This program is no longer active through the Safe Driving Water Initiative. The free private well testing and nitrate treatment offer for Lower Yakima Valley residents ended on June 30, 2025.

Background (for reference only)

Yakima County, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health and the Yakima Health District, is offering free nitrate testing for private and shared drinking water wells in the Lower Yakima Valley Groundwater Management Area (LYV GWMA). Eligible households may also receive a free nitrate treatment system.

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Past Actions

Between January 2024 and May 2024, homeowners and renters living in one of the seven phases on the map received a packet in the mail with information about the project and a nitrate test strip to test their well water.

If you received a packet and returned your Nitrate test card results to us, you will receive one of the following Nitrate response letters based on your results. Each letter contains important information to help you and your family maintain a safe drinking water supply.
1. Nitrate results between 0-4
2. Nitrate results between 5-9
3. Nitrate results 10 and above

Still not sure if you're eligible?
Please call 1-866-886-7117 to see if you are eligible.

Lower Yakima Valley Groundwater Management Area Safe Drinking Water Initiative

Program through Yakima County, ended June 30, 2025
This program is no longer active through the Safe Driving Water Initiative. The free private well testing and nitrate treatment offer for Lower Yakima Valley residents ended on June 30, 2025.

Background (for reference only)

Past Actions

Between January 2024 and May 2024, homeowners and renters living in one of the seven phases on the map received a packet in the mail with information about the project and a nitrate test strip to test their well water.

click HERE for our interactive map

GWMA Nitrate Test Results: Metric Report as of 6/30/2025.

Additional Information

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information on nitrate, visit:

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Lower Yakima Valley Groundwater Management Area Safe Drinking Water Initiative

Program through Yakima County, ended June 30, 2025This program is no longer active through the Safe Driving Water Initiative. The free private well testing and nitrate treatment offer for Lower Yakima Valley residents ended on June 30, 2025.

Background (for reference only)

Past Actions

Between January 2024 and May 2024, homeowners and renters living in one of the seven phases on the map received a packet in the mail with information about the project and a nitrate test strip to test their well water.

click HERE for our interactive map

GWMA Nitrate Test Results: Metric Report as of 6/30/2025.

Program through Yakima County, ended June 30, 2025
This program is no longer active through the Safe Driving Water Initiative. The free private well testing and nitrate treatment offer for Lower Yakima Valley residents ended on June 30, 2025.