Virginia Household Water Quality Program
and
Virginia Master Well Owner Network
Erin James
Virginia Tech
Biological Systems Engineering
Virginia Master Well Owner Network Training
October 29-30, 2008
Harrisonburg Virginia
Welcome
 Thanks for coming!
 17 Agents from 12 counties attending
 Today’s intro:
 Logistics
 Introduction
 Quick overview of this project: Virginia Household
Water Quality Program and Master Well Owner
Network
 On with the presentations!
2
Private Water Supplies in Virginia
 Majority of households in 60 of Virginia’s 95 counties rely on
private water supply systems
(> 1,000,000 households)
 In 52 counties, the number of households using private wells
is increasing faster than the number connecting to public
systems (VADEQ, 2007)
 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
VAHWQP History
 Established in 1989
 County-based Drinking Water Clinics
 Coordinated with local Extension Agents
 Kickoff Meeting
 Homeowners collect water sample
 Samples analyzed at BSE Water Quality Lab
 Analysis results and guidance for addressing problems
provided to homeowner at Interpretation Meeting
• 12,000 samples from 82 counties collected so far
• Water quality resource materials
• 2003 budget cuts reduced program activity
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VAHWQP Resource Materials
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VAHWQP County Evaluation Reports
 Summarized drinking water clinic
process
 Findings included:
 Profile of participants
 Descriptions of household water
from participant surveys
 Information about sources of water
(types, locations, proximity to
potential water quality threats)
 General chemistry and
bacteriological analysis results
 Results of follow-up survey
Various county reports available online:
http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/anrpublications.html#DEPT52CAT44
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Opportunity to revitalize the program
 USDA-CSREES competitive grant (2007-2010)
 Goals:
 Create a network of Virginia Cooperative Extension agents
and lay-volunteers trained in the proper design,
management, and maintenance of private water supply
systems (Virginia Master Well Owner Network—VAMWON).
 Use the VAMWON to educate home owners about the
quality of their water and proper care and maintenance of
their water supply systems
 Revise and write new water quality publications
 Outreach to underserved populations
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Creating the VAMWON
 1.5 day training for VCE agents
 1 day training for volunteers
 Water testing and interpretation
 Common pollutants
 Proper well location, construction
and maintenance
 Drinking water standards
 Groundwater hydrology
 Residential water conservation
 Private water system basics
 Water treatment processes
 Wellhead protection
 Effective public education and
 Land use impacts on ground water
outreach methods
quality and quantity
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Pennsylvania Master Well Owner Network
 Initiated in 2004
 Adapted from Master Gardener Program
 Train screened volunteers about water quality issues and
proper location, construction, and maintenance of wells
 Volunteers agree to try to make 100 educational contacts annually
 293 trained volunteers (in 61 of 67 counties)
 15,000 educational contacts to date
Photo credits: Stephanie Clemens, PA Master Well Owner Network
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VAMWON Responsibilities
 VAMWON Agents
◦ Conduct county-based drinking water clinics
◦ Educate local private water system owners
 VAMWON Volunteers can:
◦ Assist VAMWON agents with drinking water clinics
◦ Make presentations to church, service, and civic organizations
◦ Staff information booths at fairs, clinics, ag and home shows
◦ Maintain own water system as a good practices demonstration site
◦ Contribute to VAHWQP newsletter and website
◦ Share innovative education delivery methods with other agents
and volunteers
◦ Assist with evaluating program impacts
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Drinking Water Clinics
 Contact Erin to schedule – working on 2010 now
 Packet of materials for agent use online
 www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu
 Includes planning information, templates, etc.
 Schedule:
 Kickoff meeting Mon or Tue evening
 Sample collection same week Tue, Wed or Thurs
 Interpretation Meeting (evening)
 350 participants max per clinic
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Strengthening VAHWQP through VAMWON
Sustaining relationships:
building capacity to
improve water quality
• Agents conduct county-based
drinking water clinics
• Agents better informed to address
water quality concerns
Virginia Master
Well Owner
VCE Agents
Private Water
System Owners
Virginia Master
Well Owner
Volunteers
• Community-based outreach
• Peer-to-peer education
• Develop relationships through
collaborative education and
outreach
• Continuing VAMWON training
opportunities
• Share innovative education
delivery methods
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Opportunities for PARTNERSHIPS
Train: 70 agents and 240 volunteers
Build Capacity:
• Agents conduct county drinking water clinics
• Agents and volunteers make educational
contacts
• Establish relationships
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•
•
•
•
DEQ, VDH, VASWCD, EPA, VWWA
Expanded programming (septic, etc.)
Information sharing
Joint grant- writing opportunities
Continuing education for VAMWON
Revitalized!
By 2010
Resources
•
•
•
•
•
Website
Newsletter
Water Quality Resource Expert Panel
Updated VCE water quality publications
VAHWQP Coordinator
o Needs assessment and scheduling of
clinics
o Targeted programming for underserved
populations
o Support for agents and volunteers
• 5,400 + water samples analyzed
• 1,100+ underserved persons
reached
• 18+ drinking water clinics conducted
• Establish capacity to continue
providing drinking water clinics,
education and outreach through
VAMWON.
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