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Private Water Well Screening

March 8, 2017 @ 8:30 am - 10:00 am

 

Private water well screening set for March 8 in Lampasas

Contact: John Smith, 979-845-2761, johnwsmith@tamu.edu

LAMPASAS— The Texas Well Owner Network is hosting a water well screening from 8:30–10 a.m. March 8 at the Lampasas County Farm Bureau Office, 1793 N. U.S. Highway 281, Lampasas, to give area residents the opportunity to have their well water screened.

For sampling information, contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office for Lampasas County, 409 South Pecan St., Suite 102, in Lampasas.

A meeting explaining screening results will be held at 6 p.m., March 9 at the Lampasas County Farm Bureau office.

The screening is presented by AgriLife Extension and the Texas Water Resources Institute in partnership with the AgriLife Extension office in Lampasas County and the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership.

“Private water wells should be tested annually,” said John W. Smith, AgriLife Extension program specialist. “It is very important that only sampling bags and bottles from the AgriLife Extension office in Lampasas County be used and all instructions for proper sampling are followed to ensure accurate results.”

Smith said area residents wanting to have their well water screened should pick up a sample bag, bottle and instructions from the AgriLife Extension office in Lampasas County. Bottles and bags will be available at least a week before the turn-in date.

The samples must be turned in by 10 a.m. on the day of the screening. Samples will be screened for common contaminants, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen and salinity.

Research shows the presence of E. coli bacteria in water indicates that waste from humans or warm-blooded animals may have contaminated the water. Water contaminated with E. coli is more likely to also have pathogens present that can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea or other symptoms, Smith said.

“Water with nitrate-nitrogen at levels of 10 parts per million is considered unsafe for human consumption,” Smith said. “These nitrate levels above 10 parts per million can disrupt the ability of blood to carry oxygen throughout the body, resulting in a condition called methemoglobinemia. Infants less than 6 months of age and young livestock are most susceptible.”

Salinity as measured by total dissolved solids will also be determined for each sample. Water with high levels may leave deposits and have a salty taste, and using water with high levels for irrigation may damage soil or plant, according to Smith.

He said it is extremely important for those submitting samples to be at the meeting to receive results, learn corrective measures for identified problems and to improve understanding of private well management.

Lisa Prcin, AgriLife Research associate and Lampasas River Watershed coordinator said the Watershed Protection Plan now developed for the Lampasas River will also be discussed. The plan includes several best management practices to reduce pollution in the watershed and potentially lower the bacteria levels in the Lampasas.

For more information, please contact the AgriLife Extension office in Lampasas County at 512-556-8271.

To learn more about the programs offered through the network or to find additional publications and resources, please visit http://twon.tamu.edu.

Funding for the Texas Well Owner Network is through a state nonpoint source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. The project is managed by the Texas Water Resources Institute, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the AgriLife Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

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Details

Date:
March 8, 2017
Time:
8:30 am - 10:00 am

Organizer

Becca Dishman
Phone
512-556-8271
Email
becca.dishman@ag.tamu.edu

Venue

Lampasas County Farm Bureau
1793 N Hwy 281
Lampasas, 76550 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
512-556-8271