Water Testing for Nitrates
This program was designed to engage farmers in the nutrient and water quality issues facing agriculture by providing information on possible nutrient losses from their production operations. By comparing their water testing results to other known concentrations and research results, farmers can begin to understand their own impact on water quality and consider management practices which may reduce their losses.
These results are simply a snapshot in time of ambient nutrient levels in water collected from tile drainage, surface runoff or nearby streams. Nutrient levels in runoff water can vary greatly depending on the time of year, temperature, rainfall and in-field practices. A measurement of flow (the volume of water leaving a site) could determine the total nutrient load leaving a site, and a measurement of acreage being drained could show the pounds per acre leaving the field. These test results are just a starting point for learning about practices individual farmers can use to reduce their nutrient losses.
To calculate nitrogen loss over time, and learn how much money you are losing, check out the Water Testing Calculator.
Water testing is available at events noted in blue on our Events Calendar.
Sample Collection Instructions
- Sample containers should be clean and free of any residual chemicals or detergents
- Water samples need to be at least 8 ounces
- Samples should be taken as close to the testing time as possible (within 48 hrs)
- Samples should be kept refrigerated if not being test immediately
- Record the seconds it takes to fill up a 2-gallon bucket (if tile drain sample) so lbs/day loss can be calculated
- Estimate the acres being drained at collection point so lbs/acre/day can be calculated
Water Quality 101
Video: Learn more about the importance of water testing, and see how water samples can be properly collected. Click here to view the series on YouTube.
For more information, call Caroline Wade at 309-231-7440
Water Sampling Locations
See below for dates, times, and contacts for each water sampling location.
Adams County
Contact the County Farm Bureau to schedule an appointment.
ADAMS COUNTY FARM BUREAU - Shawn Valter
330 S 36th St. Quincy, IL 62305
Phone: 217-222-7305
Bureau County
Contact the County Farm Bureau to schedule an appointment.
BUREAU COUNTY FARM BUREAU – Jill Frueh
535 Elm Place Princeton, IL 61356
Phone: 815-875-6468
Champaign County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY SWCD – Jonathon Manuel
2110 W. Park Court, Suite C, Champaign, IL 61821
Phone: 217-352-3536 (Ext. 3)
See flyer for additional details
Christian County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
CHRISTIAN COUNTY SWCD - Tony Hammond
620 N. Webster St., Taylorville, IL 62568
Phone: 217-287-1315 (Ext. 3)
See flyer for additional details
Coles County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
COLES COUNTY SWCD – Terina Coffey
6021 Development Dr # 2, Charleston, IL
Phone: 217-345-3901 (Ext. 3)
See flyer for additional details
DeKalb County
Open houses: 9-11am (April 26, May 3, May 24, May 31 June 21, June 28, July 5, August 2, August 23, August 30, September 20, September 27, October 18, and October 25, 2016)
DEKALB COUNTY SWCD – Dean Johnson
1350 West Prairie Drive
Sycamore, IL 60178
815-756-3237 ext.3
See flyer for additional details
Douglas County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
DOUGLAS COUNTY SWCD – Stephen Miller
900 S. Washington, Suite D
Tuscola, IL 61953
Phone: 217-253-2022 (Ext. 3)
See flyer for additional details
Edgar County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
EDGAR COUNTY SWCD – Tara Hopkins
11757 IL Hwy. 1, Paris, IL 61944
Phone: 217-465-5325 (Ext. 3)
See flyer for additional details
Hancock County
Contact the County Farm Bureau to schedule an appointment.
HANCOCK COUNTY FARM BUREAU - Kristin Huls
544 Wabash Ave, Carthage, IL 62321
Phone: 217-357-3141
See flyer for additional details
Livingston County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
13201 Front St, Wing, IL
LIVINGSTON COUNTY SWCD – Terry Bachtold – beginning March 15th
1510 W Reynolds St, Pontiac, IL 61764
Phone: 815-844-6127 (Ext. 3)
See flyer for additional details
Macoupin County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
MACOUPIN COUNTY SWCD - Aaron Engstrom
300 Carlinville Plaza, Carlinville, IL 62626
Phone: 217- 854-2628
See flyer for additional details
Mason County
Contact the County Farm Bureau to schedule an appointment.
MASON COUNTY FARM BUREAU - Ashley Beutke
127 S High St, Havana, IL 62644
Phone: 309-543-4451
McLean County
Contact the County Farm Bureau to schedule an appointment.
MCLEAN COUNTY FARM BUREAU – Anna Ziegler
2242 Westgate Dr., Bloomington, IL 61705
Phone: 309-663-6497
See flyer for additional details
July 12, ISU Farm in Lexington – Agronomy Day
Montgomery County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY SWCD – Kris Reynolds
1621 Vandalia Rd., Hillsboro, IL 62049
Phone: 217-532-3610 (Ext. 3)
See flyer for additional details
Morgan County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
MORGAN COUNTY SWCD/NRCS – Jill Keeton
1904 W. Lafayette, Jacksonville, IL 62650
Phone: 217-243-1535 (Ext. 3)
See flyer for additional details
Peoria County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
PEORIA COUNTY SWCD – Josh Joseph
6715 N. Smith Rd., Edwards, IL 61528
Phone: 309-671-7040 (Ext. 3)
See flyer for additional details
Sangamon County
Contact the County Farm Bureau to schedule an appointment.
Call Samantha Wassenhove at 309-313-4830
Sangamon County Farm Bureau
2631 Beechler Ct, Springfield, IL 62703
Phone: 217-753-5200
See flyer for additional details
Stephenson County
Contact the County Farm Bureau to schedule an appointment.
STEPHENSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU - Bruce Johnson
210 W Spring St, Freeport, IL 61032
Phone: 815-232-3186
Vermilion County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
VERMILION COUNTY SWCD – Mitchell Killough
1905-A U.S. Rt. 150, Danville, IL 61832
Phone: 217-442-8511 (Ext. 114)
See flyer for additional details
Washington County
Contact the County SWCD to schedule an appointment.
WASHINGTON COUNTY SWCD – Shelly Harre, Sarah Groom
424 E. Holzhauer Dr., Nashville, IL 62263
Phone: 618-327-3078 (Ext. 101)
See flyer for additional details
Winnebago-Boone
Contact the County Farm Bureau to schedule an appointment.
WINNEBAGO-BOONE COUNTY FARM BUREAU - Ann Marie Cain
1925 S Meridian Rd, Rockford, IL 61102
Phone: 815-962-0653
Please note: Testing is available for Farm Bureau members on Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM at the Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau. Please call ahead 30 minutes to ensure the equipment is calibrated prior to your arrival. Please be mindful of property boundaries and do not trespass to collect a water sample. We reserve the right to refuse this service to non-members or those not following trespass rules.
Interpreting water testing results:
The importance of water testing:
