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The Virginia Well Owner Network and Household Water Quality Program

The Virginia Well Owner Network enhances water quality for 1.7 million Virginians relying on private water sources. Join the VWON for training, outreach, and support. Learn about well maintenance, proper construction, and water testing.

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The Virginia Well Owner Network and Household Water Quality Program

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  1. The Virginia Well Owner Network and Household Water Quality Program

  2. Private Water Supplies in Virginia • About 1.7 million Virginians rely on wells, springs or cisterns for their household water (USGS, 2010) • In the US, municipal water supplies are regulated by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which mandates routine testing and appropriate treatment. • 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

  3. Overview of private water supplies • Wells • Drilled or bored • Range from 20-1000+’ feet deep • Locate at least ~100’ from sources of contamination • Casing, grouting, sanitary well cap protect well from surface water contamination Well cap Casing Grout Photo credit: A Guide to Private Water Systems in Pennsylvania: A manual for Rural Homeowners on the Proper Construction and Maintenance of Private Wells, Springs and Cisterns; Rorrer Well Drilling, Inc.

  4. Overview of private water supplies • Springs • Formed when side of a hill, valley bottom, or other excavation intersects groundwater • Highly susceptible to contamination • Cisterns • Collection and storage of rainwater, often from rooftop Photo credit: http://aquariuspump.com/springbox.aspx

  5. What is the VAHWQP? • Established in 1989 • County-based Drinking Water Clinics • Coordinated with trained local extension educators or volunteers • Kickoff Meeting – distribute sample kits • Homeowners collect sample; samples analyzed at VT BSE lab • Interpretation Meeting: test results, interpretation and basic information about maintenance and addressing problems • 16,000 samples analyzed in 89 counties

  6. Drinking water clinics • Manganese • Copper • pH • Total Dissolved Solids • Sulfate • Hardness • Testing for : • Total coliform • E. coli • Nitrate • Fluoride • Sodium • Iron • Arsenic • Lead $49 per sample kit

  7. VAHWQP Drinking Water Clinics YEAR of LAST CLINIC Planned 2014 2008-2013 2003-2007 1996-2002 1989-1995 No clinic held

  8. Virginia Well Owner Network (VWON) • Includes extension agents, volunteers and agency collaborators (Va Dept of Health and Dept of Env Quality) • One-day (7 hour) training workshops held across VA • 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 • Education and outreach ideas • Water conservation Photo: Penn State

  9. VWON Volunteer Policy • Qualifications: • Attend VWON training and achieve 70% on post-test • Work to support Extension agents in conducting drinking water clinics • Communicate effectively and diplomatically • Not work or own a business affiliated with private water systems • Re-enroll annually • Guidelines: • Unpaid, volunteer work only • Provide general educational information • Do not give professional advice or make specific recommendations • Refer specific questions to qualified professional

  10. VWON Responsibilities • VAMWON Agents • Conduct county-based drinking water clinics • Educate local private water system owners • VAMWON Volunteers • Assist VWON agents with drinking water clinics • Outreach to church, service, and civic organizations • Staff VWON booth at fairs, clinics, ag and home shows • Contribute to VAHWQP newsletter and website • Assist with evaluating program impacts

  11. Frederick Clarke Virginia Well Owner Network Outreach to improve the water quality and health of Virginia’s 1.7 million well and spring users. Loudoun Warren Arlington Shenandoah Trained VAMWON agent in county Fairfax Fauquier Rappah. Prince William Page Rockingham Culpeper Trained VWON volunteer or agency collaborator Madison Stafford Highland King George Greene Orange Spotsylvania Augusta Westmoreland Trained VWON agent Albemarle Bath Caroline Louisa Essex Richmond North- umberland Fluvanna Trained VWON agent and volunteer Rockbridge Accomack Nelson Alleghany Hanover Goochland Lancaster King and Queen King William Cumberland Buckingham Middlesex Amherst Botetourt Powhatan Henrico New Kent Rmd Craig Mathews Northampton Chesterfield Appomattox Gloucester Chs City Amelia Bedford Giles Prince George Roanoke Prince Edward Buchanan York James City Campbell Montgomery Bland Dickenson Tazewell Surry Nottoway Dinwiddie Pulaski Charlotte Isle of Wight Wise Franklin Norfolk Sussex Russell Lunenburg Floyd Wythe Smyth Virginia Beach Pittsylvania South Hampton Halifax Carroll Brunswick Henry Cheasapeake Washington Suffolk (city) Scott Lee Greensville Mecklenburg Grayson Patrick Revised 5/2014

  12. VAHWQP Supporting Resources • Virginia Cooperative Extension water quality publications • Website: www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu • Impact reporting • Evaluation reports • Brochures • Posters • Newsletter • Listserv

  13. Key Partnerships • Virginia Water Well Association • WellCheck • Develop and market program to provide affordable, standardized well inspections to homeowners • Guest speakers, resources, technical assistance • USGS • Virginia Department of Health • Virginia Department of Env Quality • Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists • Research Faculty and Grad students • Bacteria source tracking • Metals profiling

  14. Data highlights • Type of private water system • Wells average 25 years old (pre-1992 regulations) • > 80% of participants have never tested water or tested only once • Treatment devices • Most common: water softener and sediment filter • Drinking water clinic participants: • 91% white (VA: 71%) • 59% over 61 years old; 75% over 51 years old • 68% college-educated or beyond • Relatively high income

  15. Comparison to Safe Drinking Water Act Stds 73% exceeded at least one MCL/SMCL = Maximum Contaminant Level/health related std = Secondary Max. Cont. Level/nuisance std Slides prepared by Kelsey Pieper, PhD candidate, VT-BSE; Data from 2012-13; n = 1683

  16. Bacterial contamination 44% total coliform (TC) positive 11% E. coli (EC) positive Slides prepared by Kelsey Pieper, PhD candidate, VT-BSE; Data from 2012-13; n = 1683

  17. Contamination from corrosion Corrosion may be a concern • 18% with ≥ 15 ppb lead • 11% with ≥ 1.3 ppm copper • 24% with pH outside 6.5-8.5 • 20% below 6.5 Slides prepared by Kelsey Pieper, PhD candidate, VT-BSE; Data from 2012-13; n = 1683

  18. Intent to Act vs. Action • 70% took some action; 64% took more than one • Action exceeded intent to act. N= 500; RR=30% N= 1696; RR=34%

  19. Phone Survey Data Est. $310K - $454K invested 2009-2010

  20. Impacts and Outputs • Virginia Well Owner Network • 80 VAMWON agents • 89 volunteers • 29 agency collaborators (VDH and DEQ) • Coverage 75 counties and 5 cities • Drinking water clinics since 2008 • 101 drinking water clinics • 92 counties • 6000 samples analyzed serving over 12000 people

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