Joining Forces to Assess Water Quality in Rural North Dakota February 10, 2009 Roxanne Johnson Water...

Joining Forces to Assess Water Quality in Rural

North Dakota

February 10, 2009

Roxanne JohnsonWater Quality Associate

Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringNDSU Fargo, North Dakota

North Dakota

President Theodore Roosevelt

The Roughrider State

90,995

49,32136,567

16,718

55,53216,010

14,940

15,527

State Population 642,200

Rural Water Systems

Needs Assessment

Spring Conference

2008

Needs Assessment ResultsConfidence in responding to WQ questions

Importance of Water Quality

Rank of Importance

Human Water QualityLivestock Water QualityHuman Water QuantityLivestock Water Quantity

Needs Assessment Results

1. BMP’s on rangeland2. Small acreage ownership3. Urban/agriculture interface

Public Concern as Stated to County Agents

Needs Assessment Results

1. Salinity issues (soil & water)2. Livestock drinking water quality3. Nutrient impacts to surface and ground water

County Agents Response to BMP’s & Production Agriculture

Needs Assessment Results

1. Industrial water use (biofuels, oil)2. Water Conservation3. Water permitting process

Water Conservation and ProtectionWater Policies

Needs Assessment Results

Permitting process – somewhat concernedWater discharge – somewhat to not concerned

Agricultural Water Conservation and ProtectionTile Drainage

Needs Assessment Results

1.Testing water2.Quality of water3.Understanding the test result

Livestock Drinking Water

Needs Assessment Results

1.Quality of water2.Contamination of water source3.Understanding test results

Human Drinking Water

Our Response

• Proposal to Research Center Directors• News releases developed for state and local papers

Test Water Samples at Field Days Across the State

Our Response

• Agreement with private laboratory for reduced bacteria test pricing

• Sent packets to each county including sterile bottles and sampling information

Test Water Samples at Field Days Across the State

Field Days 2008

Field Days 2008Comments:Very hard waterSmelly, bad color, bad odorBacteriaReplace faucets often, yellows laundryWhite spots on grassBrownCauses throat pain

Field Days 2008Sample source:BarnHouse – pre & post treatmentSloughDamWellRural water system

Field Days 2008Nitrates (NO3-N)Hach colorometric

Human drinking water - 10mg/LLivestock - <90mg/L

Our findings: 0->50mg/L2 samples in SW ND 10mg/L1 sample in central ND at >50mg/L

Field Days 2008TDSHand held EC meter

Our findings: <100 – 16,000mg/L

Recommended levels:Human drinking water - < 500 mg/LLivestock water - < 5,000mg/L2 blind cows

Field Days 2008

pHHandheld meter

Our findings 7.0 – 10.3

Most in the 8-9 range

Field Days 2008HardnessHach titration method

Largest water quality complaint

Our findings – majority >25 grains

ConclusionsMore education needed for private well users. More education needed for county staff in sampling

and understanding results and treatment.Speed up process by purchasing new equipment for

next year. Keep samples for future educational opportunities.Work more closely with counties on advertising.Share data with MPU’s.

ImpactsFace to face +150 people

livestockprivate well ownersrural waterirrigation

Children watching with great interest!!!

Impacts

Interviews with TV, radio, news papers.

Raised awareness of county agents, experiment stations and staff…some even brought in samples from the experiment stations!

Questions?