Eric Schindler of Vermillion County Soil & Water told commissioners the department tested water from 63 households at the county fair for bacteria, nitrates and metals (including arsenic, copper and lead). He said the metals reports will be emailed to participants who provided an email address and mailed to those who did not.

Schindler said the Soil & Water District is using Clean Water Indiana grant funds to offer free retests for participants who need bacterial retesting (retests that would ordinarily require payment). He also described ongoing grant projects in which landowners are converting mowed lawn to native grass and pollinator habitat; Soil & Water is cost‑sharing installation at 75% of the installation cost for participating property owners.

Commissioners and residents who asked were told how to follow up: the Soil & Water office will distribute results and the office can be contacted for information about cost‑share and rewilding opportunities.

Why it matters: The Clean Water Indiana funding enables free bacterial retests for participants and provides a financial incentive for landowners to convert turf to native habitat, potentially reducing mowing and improving pollinator habitat.

No formal action was required or taken on this update.