MOSES LAKE - State-mandated testing of the groundwater beneath the Grant County Fairgrounds began Wednesday.

The testing is part of the process to obtain permits for the septic systems at the fairgrounds. Officials are trying to determine whether nitrogen and phosphates from the systems are traveling to the groundwater and going into Moses Lake.

The state-approved plan from GSI Water Solutions to monitor and permit the large on-site septic systems at the fairgrounds called for three wells. One placed "upstream" and two "downstream" of one of the most used septic systems, according to the plan.

The county hired Redmond-based Gregory Drilling for $36,329 to construct the three wells. Each are placed near the rodeo arena.

"The sampling pump was a little more (expensive) than the original plan, but I think in the end it's going to pay for itself," Fairground Manager Jerry Gingrich said. "We're looking at three hours of labor for the sampling each time versus nine to 10."

Officials from the state Department of Health, along with a hydrogeologist from GSI Water Solutions, fairground staff and Commissioner Carolann Swartz were present during the first test.

"You have to pump out five times the volume of the test you're taking," Gingrich said. "So we basically have to take five gallons from each well."

Fairgrounds staff will send one gallon to Kuo Testing Labs in Othello, he said. The lab told Gingrich they can have most of the results back within 24 hours. One of the nitrogen tests takes longer and the lab expects to have results within seven days.

The samples will be tested for nitrogen, nitrate, ammonia and orthophosphate, according to the testing plan. The plan calls for testing for about two years with the bulk of the tests following the 2012 Grant County Fair.

Gingrich hopes the testing won't need to go on as long as called for in the plan, he said.