Empowering Virginia's Well and Spring Users: The Virginia Household Water Quality Program

Transcription

1 Empowering Virginia's Well and Spring Users: The Virginia Household Water Quality Program

2 What is Extension? Land grant universities have three critical missions: Research Education Extension extending science based, unbiased information to solve public needs through non formal educational programs Administered through county and district offices: bring land grant expertise to local people Program areas include Agriculture and Natural Resources 4 H Youth programs Family and Consumer Sciences Community viability 2

3 Overview of private water supplies Wells Drilled or bored Range from feet deep Locate at least 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 Inconsistent supply + acidic Contamination concerns from roof materials, birds, etc. Photo credit:

5 Private Water Supplies in Virginia 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 Are not required to test or treat beyond initial permit Roadside Spring 5 Drilled well Spring box Bored well Craun, G. F., et al Clinical Microbiology Reviews 23(3):

6 What is the VAHWQP? Established in 1989 County 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 19,200 samples analyzed in 93/95 counties 6

7 Drinking water clinics Testing for : Total coliform E. coli Nitrate Fluoride Sodium Manganese Copper ph Total Dissolved Solids Sulfate Hardness Arsenic Lead Quantification of bacteria $50 per sample kit 7

8 Virginia Well Owner Network (VWON) 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 8

9 How do we foster understanding of and long term responsibility for our water resources? 9

10 Surface water bodies are places! Extreme Stream Makeover Tree Planting Stream Clean Up Education Fair Lawn Party Splash and Dash 10 Education Fair Photo credits: James River Assn

11 What about GROUNDWATER Education? Out of sight? Out of mind? 11

12 What about GROUNDWATER Education? 1. Build awareness: What s in YOUR water? 2. Outreach vs. Engagement 3. Place-based approach 12

13 The Hydrologic Cycle

14 Physiographic Provinces of Virginia 14

15 Augusta County KARST LANDSCAPE; LOTS OF AG CARBONATE ROCK LIMESTONE HIGH CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER SANDSTONE ON RIDGES WELL WATER QUALITY TENDS TO BE: HIGH IN MINERALS (HARD) BACTERIA AND NITRATE NEUTRAL PH POCKETS OF FE AND MN CARBONATE 15

16 Floyd County MOUNTAINS OF THE BLUE RIDGE CRYSTALLINE ROCK FEW FRACTURES; AFFECTS QUANTITY WELL WATER QUALITY TENDS TO BE: HIGHLY ACIDIC LOW MINERAL CONTENT AND TDS AS ARESULT, MORE LIKELY TO LEACH METALS (PB, CU) PRESENT IN PLUMBING INTO WATER SUPPLY CRYSTALLINE 16

17 Northumberland County UPPERMOST PENINSULA INTO THE BAY UNCONSOLIDATED SANDY SEDIMENT WELL WATER QUALITY TENDS TO BE: DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON DEPTH SHALLOW HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO NITRATE AND BACTERIA CONTAMINATION DEEP PROTECTED, BUT HIGHLY SALINE SAND 17

18 Communicating household water quality is complex! Hydrogeology Well location Well construction Well maintenance Water Treatment Plumbing Local land uses Surface activities 18 Photo credits: Penn State Univ., USGS;

19 Sources of potential contaminants or issues of concern Surface water contamination: nitrate, bacteria well Where a contaminant comes from affects how we can deal with it! Source may be plumbing materials or existing water treatment device: sodium copper lead bacteria Some are found in groundwater naturally, or due to human activities on or below ground: TDS iron arsenic hardness 19

20 VAHWQP status Since 2008: ~6950 samples analyzed serving ~15,900 people 150 clinics held History Initiated in 1989 by Blake Ross; counties per year; retired in 2003 USDA grant in 2007 (Benham) revitalized VAHWQP + VWON 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 held in 44 counties Cost of sample kits covers labor, analysis and supplies 20

21 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 Cistern 1% Spring 5% Unknown 28% Single Type 18% Multiple Types 6% Unknown 29% Well 66% No Treatment 47%

22 Lead concentrations in private systems* Research study with BSE PhD Graduate student (Kelsey Pieper) 19% of systems sampled had lead concentrations 15 g/l in the first draw Flushing for 5 minutes reduced lead concentrations below 15 g/l for most systems, but not all Lead appeared to be leaching from brass components No difference in lead concentrations based on piping materials (i.e. copper vs. plastic) ph is an important variable in understanding lead leaching Lead cannot be identified by smell or taste Correlated with copper and ph, which have noticeable characteristics *Pieper, K., L. Krometis, D. Gallagher, B. Benham, M. Edwards Incidence of waterborne lead in private drinking water systems in Virginia. Journal of Water and Health 13(3):

23 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 23

24 What s after water testing and education? At the drinking water clinic, they told me my well should look like this.but right now it looks like this! 24

25 WellCheck Network July 2015 Partnership 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

26 WellCheck Future Vision WellCheck 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. 26

27 Is it working? Drinking water clinics: Intent to Act vs. Action N= 500; RR=30% N= 1696; RR=34% 27

28 Is it working? Drinking water clinics: Intent to Act vs. Action N= 500; RR=30% N= 1696; RR=34% 28

29 Is it working? Drinking water clinics: Intent to Act vs. Action 70% took some action; 64% took more than one Action exceeded intent to act. No significant differences in action between folks with different water quality issues (e.g., low ph vs. bacteria) N= 500; RR=30% N= 1696; RR=34% 29

30 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. 30

31 Erin Ling Brian Benham Virginia Tech Biological Systems Engineering / Virginia Cooperative Extension wellwater@vt.edu ph: