STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Private well owners in five coastal Mississippi counties may participate in a free water-testing program offered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

A collaborative project between MSU Extension, the University of Alabama and Northeastern University will help coastal residents determine if their water wells have been negatively affected by Hurricane Ida by testing for bacteria and a wide range of metals, including lead and arsenic. Participants will receive five separate sample bottles with different instructions for each type of test available.

Sampling bottles and instructions can be picked up Sept.14-17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following MSU Extension offices:

• Greene County: 414 Oak St., Leakesville
• Hancock County: 856 Suite B., Hwy. 90, Bay St. Louis
• Harrison County: 9229 Hwy. 49, Gulfport
• Jackson County: 4111 Amonett St., Suite E, Pascagoula
• Pearl River County: 204 Julia St., Poplarville

Participants should collect their water samples on Sept. 20 and deliver them to the Extension office that same day from 8-11 a.m. The Extension office in Harrison County will be open at 6:30 a.m.

For more information, contact Jason Barrett at 662-325-1788 or the participating Extension offices.