Pikeville, KY—The Pike County Judge/Executive’s Office would like to inform Pike Countians that water testing kits are available free of charge to those who rely upon well water in areas where the wells may have been flooded.

The water testing kits are being made available by Appalachian States Analytical, LLC. They should arrive at water distribution points throughout the county by Monday evening, May 11. Water distribution points throughout the county include:

Belfry High School
Pike County Central High School
Hurricane Creek FD
Island Creek FD
Johns Creek FD
Big Creek FD
Belfry Courthouse
Kimper FD
Phelps FD
Blackberry FD
Phyllis Church of Christ (at Grapevine) located at 18563 Grapevine Road **This is church between Upper Camp Branch and Lower Camp Branch**

The kits contain directions for taking water samples, as well as directions for decontaminating a well. Residents must first decontaminate their well before taking the water sample.

Once residents have followed the procedures for sampling their water, they must bring the samples to Appalachian States Analytical as soon as possible so that they can be tested. The company’s address is 181 Longview Drive, Pikeville, Kentucky, 41501. The company is located six miles south of Pikeville on US 23. It is located one half mile past the intersection of US 460 and the new Food City, next door to the Shelbiana Post office. Samples must be brought for testing within 30 hours of collection, or the testing is no longer valid. Analysis of the samples takes 24 hours. Those who may need an alternate drop-off location due to lack of transportation may contact the company at (606) 437-5616.

Ama Bentley of Appalachian States Analytical would like to warn citizens who may have once relied upon private wells but are now connected to municipal water systems not to hook back to their wells if they are presently without municipal water. “Once people have converted, they can’t just hook back up to their wells. Those wells may have been flooded before, and they have a high risk of contamination. Wells that have not been used for some time will require decontamination and water testing before they can be used to supply drinking water.”