STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Private well workshops in four counties this fall will help homeowners improve their drinking water sources.

The Mississippi Well Owner Network, a program of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, will hold workshops at Extension offices in Neshoba County Aug. 30, Jackson County Sept. 25, Pearl River County Oct. 9 and Marshall County Oct. 23.

A grant from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership is funding the workshops and 180 water screenings. The first 45 workshop registrants at each of the four locations will receive free bacterial sample analyses for their wells. Screenings for others are $25.

Well owners in Neshoba County can pick up sample bottles and collection instructions Aug. 20-24 and Aug. 27-29 at 12000 Highway 15 North., Suite 2 in Philadelphia. Sample bottle pickup dates for Jackson County residents are Sept. 17-21 and Sept. 24 at 4111 Amonett Street, Suite E in Pascagoula.

Pearl River County well owners can get these materials Oct. 1-5 and Oct. 8 at 417 Highway 11 North in Poplarville. Pickup dates in Marshall County are Oct. 15-19 and Oct. 22 at 120 South Spring Street in Holly Springs.

Well owners can attend the workshops, just get the screenings, or do both, but registration is required for free screenings. Anyone planning to attend a workshop can bring his or her water sample at that time. For best results, use the sample bottles provided by the MSU Extension county office.

Screening results will be mailed to each well owner, along with a publication explaining how to interpret the results. Participants will receive free MSU Extension publications with information on private wells and septic systems.

Preregister for the workshop at http://gcd.msstate.edu/register or by calling 662-325-1788.