Forest Service contracts drinking water testing at eight Chugach National Forest sites

The Forest Service has hired a contractor to test drinking water at eight Chugach National Forest sites, for about $31,600 over five years if every scheduled test is ordered. Tech O R LLC of Dearborn, Michigan, won the contract Sept. 30. The base year runs through Aug. 31, 2027, with four option years extending into 2031.

Five sites, Begich Boggs Visitor Center, Portage Bunkhouse Well, Glacier Ranger District, Spencer Campground and Broadview Guard Station, will receive coliform and nitrate tests. Kenai Lake Work Center gets those same tests plus lead, copper, arsenic, volatile organic compounds and other inorganics during option years.

Childs Glacier wells No. 2 and No. 3 are tested for nitrate only, at $635 to $715 per test once round-trip shipping to Cordova is included. Equivalent tests elsewhere in the contract run $135 to $152.