Free Water Testing For Lake Padgett Homes

LAND O’ LAKES, FL — Lake Padgett residents concerned their well water may have been negatively impacted when a sinkhole opened up on Ocean Pines Drive Friday may be eligible for free testing through Pasco County.

The county announced on Wednesday that it is waiving the fees normally associated with testing for more than 400 homes located along Lake Padgett and Lake Saxon. The county’s environmental lab has already tested 20 wells in the immediate area surrounding the sinkhole. E. coli bacteria was not found in any of the wells sampled, but 17 tests were positive for Coliform bacteria.

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The county said it is “confident the Coliform presence in those 17 wells is not a result of the sinkhole.” Coliform occurs naturally in the environment and is “usually harmless,” a Wednesday email from the county said.

The county’s offer for free well testing is available through Friday, July 28. In order to take advantage of the testing residents must go to the county’s environmental laboratory at 8864 Government Drive in New Port Richey and request a test kit for “Total Coliform,” the county instructed. Proof of residency will be required. Samples must be taken according to instructions and then brought back to the lab. Results generally take two days, the county said.

Homes on the following roads are eligible for testing:

• Bronze Leaf Place
• Canal Place
• Clover Leaf Lane
• Flat Rock Place
• Grove Place
• Heatherwood Lane
• Lake Padgett Drive
• Lake Saxon Drive
• Oceans Pine Drive
• Panther Way
• Peninsular Drive
• Pine Shadow Drive
• Rain Forest Place
• Snook Circle
• Swans Landing Drive
• Wilsky Road

The fee for testing is normally $7. Residents with questions may call the Pasco County Customer Service line during weekday working hours at 727-847-2411.

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