Drew Gholson, Diane Boellstorff John Smith, and Ryan Gerlich Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference July 26, 2016 TEXAS WELL OWNER NETWORK PROTECTING GROUNDWATER RESOURCES AND HUMAN HEALTH TEXAS WELL OWNER NETWORK PROTECTING GROUNDWATER RESOURCES AND HUMAN HEALTH Funding provided by TSSWCB through a Clean Water Act §319(h) grant provided by the US EPA.
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Drew Gholson, Diane BoellstorffJohn Smith, and Ryan Gerlich
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual ConferenceJuly 26, 2016
TEXAS WELL OWNER NETWORK PROTECTING GROUNDWATER RESOURCESAND HUMAN HEALTH
TEXAS WELL OWNER NETWORK PROTECTING GROUNDWATER RESOURCESAND HUMAN HEALTH
Funding provided by TSSWCB through a Clean Water Act §319(h) grant provided by the US EPA.
Two Program Types – “Well Educated”
• All day, 4 ‐ 6 hour training program
• Water sample screening• 8 chapter topics
TWON EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS
– “Well Informed” • 1 hour educational program• Water sample campaign• Screening result interpretation • Wellhead protection
“Well Educated”
Aquifer 101Aquifers of Texas
Water Treatment Options
Onsite Wastewater Treatment
Water Quantity
Watersheds and Aquifers
Private Water Well Basics
Water Quality and Testing
Protecting Your Water Supply
“Well Informed” 1 hour program – Water Sample Screening
• E. coli bacteria• Nitrates• Total Dissolved Solids• Arsenic (location driven)
– Education Program• Explanation of results• Wellhead protection• Stimulate initial interest and responsibility
TWON EDUCATIONAL TRAINING
Texas Well Owner Network Program – 6,264 Participants As of June 18, 2016
2‐phase evaluation approach:1. Pre‐test/post‐test2. 6 mo. delayed questionnaire
To evaluate:– Knowledge gained– Satisfaction with program– “Intentions to change”– What actions have they adopted
PROGRAM EVALUATIONS
Who is our audience?
Rural Property
<10 Acres43%
Farm or Ranch 10‐100 Acres29%
Farm or Ranch >100 Acres19%
Town Under 10,0004%
Town or City > 10,000 5%
Primary Place of Residence
Domestic69%
Livestock21%
Irrigation8%
Other2%
Primary Water Use
• > 80% of participants have never tested their water or have only tested it once
• Private water well samples have been screened for fecal coliform or E. coli, nitrate‐nitrogen and salinity since 2010.
• Overall, primary (health risk) or secondary (for aesthetics only; minimal health risk) water quality standards were exceeded in about 51% of samples.
• ~ 10 % had E. coli present
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
EVALUATION RESULTS
• Knowledge Change– 30% score increase
• Satisfaction with the program– 99%
• Intentions to adopt BMPs– Test my water once a year – 85% – Pump septic system regularly – 83% – Remove possible hazards from well house – 95% – Plug or cap any abandoned well on your property–85%
6 MONTH FOLLOW‐UP RESULTS• 90% of those needing to clean out hazards from their well house had done so.
• 74% of participants with wells near contamination sources had moved or removed the sources.
• 38% of participants who needed to, plugged their unused/deteriorated wells.– additional 38% planning to pump soon
• 54% of those with septic tanks needing pumping had pumped their tanks, and– additional 30% planning to pump soon.
• 76% had shared TWON resources/ materials with others not at the program
N= 272
RESOURCES OFFERED BY TWON
RESOURCES OFFERED BY TWON
Social Media and Email Contacts
Diane Boellstorff and Drew Gholson
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
twon.tamu.edu
TEXAS WELL OWNER NETWORK PROTECTING GROUNDWATER RESOURCESAND HUMAN HEALTH
TEXAS WELL OWNER NETWORK PROTECTING GROUNDWATER RESOURCESAND HUMAN HEALTH
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