The Virginia Well Owner Network and Household Water Quality Program

Private Water Supplies in Virginia

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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

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.

Overview of private water supplies

Photo credit: http://aquariuspump.com/springbox.aspx

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

What is the VAHWQP?

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Established in 1989County-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

Drinking water clinics

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

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

• Arsenic • Lead

$49 per sample kit

VAHWQP Drinking Water Clinics

YEAR of LAST CLINICYEAR of LAST CLINIC

Planned 2014Planned 20142008-2013 2008-2013 2003-20072003-20071996-20021996-20021989-19951989-1995No clinic heldNo clinic held

Virginia Well Owner Network (VWON)

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• 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

VWON Volunteer Policy

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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

VWON Responsibilities

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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

Trained VWON agent and volunteer

Virginia Well Owner NetworkOutreach to improve the water quality and

health of Virginia’s 1.7 million well and spring users.

Trained VWON volunteer or agency collaborator

Trained VWON agent

Lee Scott

Wise

BuchananDickenson

BlandTazewell

Washington

Russell

Carroll

Pulaski

Giles

Smyth

Wythe

Grayson

Alleghany

Craig

Roanoke

Franklin

PatrickHenry

Montgomery

Botetourt

Halifax

Bedford

Pittsy

lvania

Campbell

Mecklenburg

Charlotte

Amherst Buckingham

Prince Edward

Lunenburg

Nottoway

Brunswick

Albemarle

Nelson

Augusta

Highlan

d

Bath

Rockbridge

ArlingtonFairfax

LoudounClarkeFrederick

PageShe

nand

oah

Rockingham

Culpeper

Greene

Madison

Orange

Rappah.

Fauquier

Warr

en

Amelia

Powhatan

Cum

ber

land

Fluvanna

Louisa

Spotsylvania

Stafford

Prince William

Westmoreland

King George

Caroline

HanoverGoochlan

dHenrico

Chesterfield

Prince

George

New Kent

King William

King and

Queen

Essex

Richmond

James

City

Surry

Sussex

Gre

ensville

Dinwiddie

Lancaster

North-umberland

York

Gloucester

Mathews

Middlesex

South

Hampton

Isle of Wight

Accom

ack

Northam

ptonAppomattox

Chs City

Floyd

Rmd

Suffolk(city)

Norfolk

Revised 5/2014

Virginia

BeachCheasape

ake

VAHWQP Supporting Resources

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Virginia Cooperative Extension water quality publications

Website: www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu Impact reporting Evaluation reports Brochures Posters Newsletter Listserv

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

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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

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Comparison to Safe Drinking Water Act Stds

73% exceeded at least one MCL/SMCL

Slides prepared by Kelsey Pieper, PhD candidate, VT-BSE; Data from 2012-13; n = 1683

= Maximum Contaminant Level/health related std= Secondary Max. Cont. Level/nuisance std

Bacterial contamination

44% total coliform (TC) positive11% E. coli (EC) positive

Slides prepared by Kelsey Pieper, PhD candidate, VT-BSE; Data from 2012-13; n = 1683

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

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.

Phone Survey Data

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Est. $310K - $454K invested2009-2010

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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