Building Capacity to Educate Private Water Supply Users

The Virginia Well Owner Network and the Virginia Household Water Quality Program

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How do we foster understanding of and long term responsibility for our

water resources?

http://geology.cwru.edu/~huwig/catalog/groundwater.html

Place-based GROUNDWATER Education?

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Out of sight?

Out of mind?

What about GROUNDWATER Education?

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1. Build awareness: What’s in YOUR water?2. Outreach vs. Engagement3. Place-based approach

Private Water Supplies in Virginia

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About 1.7 million people, or 22% of Virginians rely on wells,

springs or cisterns (USGS, 2010)

Decrease in waterborne disease outbreaks overall since the

1980’s, relative INCREASE in outbreaks associated with

private water supplies (Craun, et al., 2010)

Homeowners relying on private water supplies:• Are responsible for all aspects of water system management

• Often lack knowledge and resources to effectively manage

• Usually don’t worry about maintenance until problems arise

Drilled well

Bored well

Roadside Spring

Spring box Craun, G. F., et al. 2010. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 23(3): 507–528.

What is the VAHWQP?

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Established in 1989County-based Drinking Water Clinics

• Coordinated with trained local Extension agents and volunteers• Confidential and affordable• Homeowners collect samples; samples analyzed at VT labs• Interpretation Meeting: test results, interpretation and basic

information about maintenance and addressing problems• 18,900 samples analyzed in 93/95 counties

Drinking water clinics

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•Manganese•Copper•pH•Total Dissolved Solids•Sulfate•Hardness

• Testing for :• Total coliform • E. coli• Nitrate• Fluoride• Sodium

• Arsenic • Lead• Quantification of

bacteria

$50 per sample kit

Virginia Well Owner Network (VWON)

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• Adapted from PA MWON in 2007; mechanism for training Extension agents (to conduct drinking water clinics), volunteers and agency collaborators (VDH and DEQ)• One-day training workshops held across VA; vary regionally• Guest speakers: drilling companies and state agencies

• Topics include: • Groundwater hydrology• Proper well location, construction and maintenance• Land use impacts /wellhead protection• Water testing and interpretation• Solving water problems/treatment

The Hydrologic Cycle

Physiographic Provinces of Virginia

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Augusta County

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KARST LANDSCAPE; LOTS OF AGCARBONATE ROCK – LIMESTONEHIGH CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN SURFACE AND GROUNDWATERSANDSTONE ON RIDGESWELL WATER QUALITY TENDS TO BE:•HIGH IN MINERALS (HARD)•BACTERIA AND NITRATE•NEUTRAL PH•POCKETS OF FE AND MN

Car

bon

ate

Floyd County

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Mountains of the Blue RidgeCrystalline rockFew fractures; affects quantity Well water quality tends to be: •Highly acidic •Low mineral content and tds•As a result, more likely to leach metals (Pb, Cu) present in plumbing into water supply

Cry

stal

line

Northumberland County

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UPPERMOST PENINSULA INTO THE BAYUNCONSOLIDATED SANDY SEDIMENTWELL WATER QUALITY TENDS TO BE:•DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON DEPTH•SHALLOW – HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO NITRATE AND BACTERIA CONTAMINATION•DEEP – PROTECTED, BUT HIGHLY SALINE

sand

Communicating household water quality is complex!

14 Photo credits: Penn State Univ., http://www.banthebagspdx.com/?p=283, USGS; http://www.clker.com/clipart-puzzle-pieces-2.html; http://levahnbros.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/copper-pipe-leak/; http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-670/442-670.html

Local land usesSurface activities

Hydrogeology

Well locationWell constructionWell maintenance

Water TreatmentPlumbing

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Sources of potential contaminants or issues of concern

pH/corrosivity hardness

nitratefluoride

TDS

iron

manganese sulfatechloride

sodium

Surface water contamination: nitrate, bacteria

Source may be plumbing materials or existing water treatment device:sodiumcopperleadbacteria

Some are found in groundwater naturally, or due to human activities on or below ground:

well

Where a contaminant comes from affects how

we can deal with it!

arsenic

VAHWQP status Since 2008:

~6000 samples analyzed serving ~14,200 people 115 clinics held

History Initiated in 1989 by Blake Ross; 12-16 counties per year;

retired in 2003 USDA grant in 2007 (Benham) – revitalized VAHWQP USDA grant in 2011 (Krometis) – focus on rural underserved;

added metals and bacteria quantification; research component Now, program is relatively self-sustaining through VCE

2015: clinics planned in 44 counties Cost of sample kits covers labor, analysis and supplies

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Data highlights Type of private water system Wells average 25 years old (<‘92 regulations) > 80% of participants have never tested

water or tested only once Treatment devices

Most common: water softener and sediment filter

What’s in the water? 73% exceed EPA public health or nuisance

standard 44% total coliform positive; 10% E. Coli

present 19% exceed lead action level in first draw 24% pH outside recommended range

Key Partnerships Virginia Water Well Association

WellCheck initiative Guest speakers, resources, technical assistance

Federal and State Agencies – USGS, Va Dept of Health, Va Dept of Environmental Quality

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Program Research collaboration with faculty and grad students

Bacteria source tracking Metals profiling Student involvement Arsenic risk model

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What’s after water testing and education?What’s after water testing and education?

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At the drinking water clinic, they told me my well should look like

this ….but right now it looks like

this!

WellCheckWellCheck Network – July 2015 Network – July 2015Partnership between VAHWQP and VWWA (well drillers’ group)Goal: Connect homeowners who want to learn more with licensed well drillers who provide standard, easy to understand inspections.•21 drilling contractors participating•44 counties covered•Any licensed driller can sign up

WellCheckWellCheck Future Vision Future VisionWellCheck will be available across the state Homeowners see wells as an important system in their home

that needs care and maintenance. Routine well inspections become a common aspect of owning

a home with a well improved well maintenance and water quality

Drilling contractors have another mechanism for keeping in touch with clientele, and another income stream.

Well inspections become a normal/required part of home and property inspections during property sale.

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Is it working?Drinking water clinics: Intent to Act vs. Action

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N= 500; RR=30% N= 1696; RR=34%

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N= 500; RR=30% N= 1696; RR=34%

Is it working?Drinking water clinics: Intent to Act vs. Action

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N= 500; RR=30% N= 1696; RR=34%

• 70% took some action; 64% took more than one• Action exceeded intent to act.• No significant differences in action between folks withdifferent water quality issues (e.g., low pH vs. bacteria)

Is it working?Drinking water clinics: Intent to Act vs. Action

Lessons learned Household water quality data is effective feedback, and

encourages people to make changes. Build trust! Building programs/relationships/partnerships takes TIME;

but the capacity built is well worth it! Model after existing programs with mentors Seek grant $ to initiate new program directions and build

demand; create plan to sustain Critical evolution: constantly seek to improve, engage new

partners, look for opportunities Refresh approach and resources regularly Reach your audience where they are! Take time to find out.

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Erin Ling (wellwater@vt.edu) Brian Benham (benham@vt.edu)

Virginia Tech Biological Systems Engineering / Virginia Cooperative Extensionwww.wellwater.bse.vt.edu email: wellwater@vt.edu

ph: 540-231-9058