Salem — The Department of Public Health will be distributing free well water testing kits at the Salem Free Public Library from 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 26 as part of a Private Well Water Fair.

The fair, held in conjunction with the Uncas Health District, is part of a state project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote the testing of private drinking water wells and to educate well owners on the need to regularly test their wells. It is open to all area residents who own private wells.

The free water test kits can detect arsenic and uranium, two elements that occur naturally in bedrock. Both are tasteless and odorless, so testing is the only way to detect their presence. The tests are conducted at the DPH laboratory in Rocky Hill, and all participants will receive a report explaining the results.

Private well owners can also bring in a photo of their well cap to be examined for problems. Water samples brought to the fair will not be tested.

The Salem Free Public Library is at 264 Hartford Road. For more information about the fair, call the CT DPH Private Well Program at (860) 509-7296 or the Uncas Health District at (860) 823-1189.