Valley Center ? State environmental officials say they plan to step up water testing around the site where a Barton Solvents tank farm caught fire in July after explosions.

They are responding to complaints from neighbors about conditions near the site.

The fire on July 17 caused a widespread evacuation and burned or spilled 660,000 pounds of oils, industrial solvents and fuel additives.

Officials with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment have toured the solvent plant site along with residents, Valley Center City Council members and other community leaders.

Resident Darrell Jarman approached City Council members recently and showed them the water from a well in his yard. He had the water in a mason jar.

“Why don’t you start selling it for spring water?” said Jarman of the murky water and black sediment in the jar.

Gary Blackburn, director of KDHE’s Bureau of Environmental Remediation, said officials will be doing a full screening of Jarman’s well.

Health officials say the sediment could be residue from the Barton Solvents fire, a naturally occurring bacteria or a mineral such as manganese that can blacken groundwater.