Mark Twain National Forest Mill Creek Well Visitors told not to Drink Water

Image via Wikipedia Rolla, Mo. – Mark Twain National Forest Mill Creek Recreation Area visitors should not drink water from Mill Creek’s artesian well.

The artesian well is currently closed to the public for drinking water.

Required water samples are testing positive for Total Coliform Bacteria above the maximum contaminate level for human health consumption.

Testing of the well for water quality has occurred for years in compliance with Missouri Department of Natural Resources Safe Drinking Water regulations, 10 CSR 60.4.025.  Only recently have tests been positive for contaminates.

On June 7, 2011, Mark Twain National Forest began informing the public not to drink the water with signs posted at Mill Creek Recreation Area’s artesian well.

“We’ve tested Mill Creek’s artesian well water for a month on a weekly basis, and tests consistently are showing the artesian well water is not safe to drink,” said Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek District Ranger Kimberly Bittle.

Because this is a free-flowing well, there is no way to treat the water to provide safe public consumption.
“We will be permanently closing the well to all use immediately,” Bittle said. “Closing the well will begin to restore ground water flow to Mill Creek.”

Mark Twain National Forest is the largest public land manager in Missouri with 1.5 million acres in 29 counties in southern and central Missouri. Mark Twain National Forest’s mission is to continue to restore Missouri’s great outdoors and maintain a healthy, working forest.