1. Virginia Household Water Quality Program 2017 Updates
Erin Ling
Brian Benham
Virginia Tech
Biological Systems Engineering
Virginia Cooperative Extension

2. Private Water Supplies in Virginia
About 1.6 million (1 in 5) Virginians rely on wells, springs or cisterns for their household water (Kenny, 2009)
In the US, municipal water supplies are regulated by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which mandates routine testing and 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

3. What is the VAHWQP? Established in 1989
County-based Drinking Water Clinics
Coordinated with trained local extension educators or volunteers
Kickoff Meeting – distribute sample kits
Homeowners collect sample; samples analyzed at VT labs
Interpretation Meeting: test results, interpretation and basic information about maintenance and addressing problems
22,000+ samples analyzed in 93 counties

4. Drinking water clinics
Testing for :
Total coliform
E. coli
Nitrate
Fluoride
Sodium
Iron
Manganese
Copper pH
Total Dissolved Solids
Sulfate
Hardness
Arsenic
Lead
2017: $55 per sample kit

5. 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)
Not a “Master” volunteer program: one-time or occasional
Volunteers support agents in conducting drinking water clinics
One-day training workshops held across VA; vary regionally
Topics include:
Groundwater hydrology
Proper well location, construction and maintenance
Land use impacts /wellhead protection
Water testing and interpretation
Solving water problems/treatment
Potential for continuing education and expanded programming in the future.

6. VAHWQP Timeline Initiated with Ext. SpecialistBlake Ross 1989 2003
Dormant
due to retirement
Agents request return of program in needs assessment
2007
USDA-CSREES grant (Benham):
Create VWON, hire coordinator
2011
USDA-RHSE grant (Krometis):
Add metals, subsidize testing, quantify bacteria, kick off research efforts
present
Program self-sustaining; programs in counties annually, continue research
2005

7. VAHWQP status
Since 2013 supported completely through VCE (Coordinator/Extension Associate position) and fees
Sample kits fund supplies, postage, labor for analysis!
Agents have success with grants, donations to offset costs for participants – always welcome!
Several $ per sample kit also left in the county to cover your venue, mailing, printing costs.
Since 2008:
~9476 samples analyzed serving ~21,700 people

8. VAHWQP status 2017: clinics planned in 55 counties
Often holding collections in multiple counties on the same day
Now that we are no longer consistently grant funded, we want to maximize the number of samples kits we receive each collection day – up to 200 total per day!
Average of 60 per county is good – more is better!
2014 % growth and 2015 % growth
What can we do to help grow your numbers?

9. Publicity and Resources
Updated advertising materials on website
Advertisement template
Press release
Info and timeline
Facebook/social media memes/images
Facebook page
Website tour

10. After participating in a drinking water clinic…
After participating in a drinking water clinic….. Informed homeowners need HELP
I need help figuring out
my options for water treatment!
I need help shock
chlorinating my system!
I need a new well cap!
I need my well repaired!

11. WellCheck Network – February 2017
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.
25 drilling contractors participating
50 counties covered
Any licensed driller can sign up

12. 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.

13. Youth VAHWQP Piloted with two schools in 2015-16:
Carroll County HS STEM Lab
Floyd County HS Biology for Ag Class
One pilot program with 4H – would like to extend
Donation from SERCAP to cover analysis
Parental consent to test well water
Students visit VT campus for tours, presentations, hands- on lab work
Return results to parents; students help deliver interpretation presentation
Also reached ~400 youth through VT summer camps

14. System Characteristics (2008-2016)
Type of treatment device
Type of private system
80% of participants have never tested or tested only once.
The most common treatment devices are for aesthetic contaminants.
Wells are an average of 25 years old.

15. What’s in the water?
*% exceeding EPA standards or recommendations according to SDWA (municipal regulations)

16. “Supplemental” Metals Results
The instrument used to analyze metals and elements reports many additional results beyond what we normally report; usually not present; we do monitor
Can be an overwhelming amount of information for participants to understand (and agents to explain)
Available upon request for any participant
Developing “blurbs” for each contaminant; some don’t have regulations associated with them, which is tricky
Supplemental metals
Aluminum
Silicon
Phosphorus
Chloride
Potassium
Cadmium
Cesium
Titanium
Vanadium
Chromium
Cobalt
Nickel
Tin
Uranium
Zinc
Selenium
Strontium
Molybdenum
Silver
Barium

17. Adding MPN to bacteria results
MPN = Most Probable Number (statistical estimation of the number of bacteria per 100 mL water)
Number (of total coliform and E. Coli) can range from 1 to >2419.
ABSENT: MPN will be < 0.3
TNTC = Too Numerous To Count = >2419 MPN
We can’t say that any number of bacteria is good, but more is worse.
Gives people an idea of the extent of the problem

18. Lead Occurrence ( ) n=6423 samples; 93/95 Virginia counties Homeowner collected; predominantly tap water
% exceeding lead level
Lead level

19. Lead Occurrence ( ) n=6423 samples; 93/95 Virginia counties Homeowner collected; predominantly tap water
First draw (ppb)
1 minute flush (ppb)
Average
9.8
1.34
90th percentile
22.13
2.88
Median
3.02
0.36
% exceeding lead level
Lead level

20. Influence of geology and system type
Drilled, n = 756
Dug/Bored, n = 24
Drilled, n = 1065
Dug/Bored, n = 171
Drilled, n = 338
Dug/Bored, n = 86
Ridge &
Valley
Blue Ridge
& Piedmont
Coastal
Plain
Lead concentrations (µg/L)
0.1 1 10
100
Higher Pb concentrations linked to aggressive water (e.g. low pH)
Lack of buffering in crystalline bedrock
Surface-groundwater interactions and shorter travel times
Wilcoxon, p< 0.05
Pieper et al. (2016) J Environ Health

21. Describe your water…
Pieper et al. (2015) J Water Health 13(3): 897–908

22. Homeowner perception 2.8 2.3 1.7 Noticeable indicators:
Corrosion, pitting, pinhole leaks
Metallic taste
Blue-green staining (from copper)
2.8
2.3
1.7
Pieper et al. (2015) J Water Health 13(3): 897–908

23. Key Partnerships Virginia Water Well Association
WellCheck initiative
Guest speakers, resources, technical assistance
Federal and state agencies – USGS, Dept of Health, Dept of Environmental Quality
Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project
Research collaboration with faculty and grad students
Bacteria source tracking
Metals (lead) profiling
Student involvement in outreach
Arsenic risk model
Emerging contaminants

24. Peer-reviewed journal articles

25. Envision Groundwater Models:
Are amazing teaching tools for all ages
Require a brief introduction to ensure proper use and cleaning – if interested, let me know and we will set up a phone call
Are available around the state for your use!
Are expensive! Help us take care of them and USE them!

26. 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 people with
different water quality issues (e.g., low pH vs. bacteria)
N= 500; RR=30%
N= 1696; RR=34%

27. Erin Ling (wellwater@vt.edu) Brian Benham (benham@vt.edu)
ph: