SOUTH TEXAS — The Texas Well Owner Network is hosting a water well screening from 8:30-10 a.m. April 21 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Dimmit, La Salle and Zavala counties.
The screening is to give area residents the opportunity to have their well water tested. It is presented by AgriLife Extension and the Texas Water Resources Institute in partnership with those county AgriLife Extension offices.
The AgriLife Extension office for Dimmit County is located at 303 S. 5th Street in Carrizo Springs. The office for La Salle County is located at 247 Mars Drive in Cotulla. And the office for Zavala County is located at 221 N.1st Ave. in Crystal City.
A meeting explaining screening results for samples brought in to all three county offices will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 22 at the office for Dimmit County.
“Private water wells should be tested annually,” said John W. Smith, AgriLife Extension program specialist, College Station. “It is very important that only sampling bags from the AgriLife Extension offices in Dimmit, La Salle, or Zavala counties be used and all instructions for proper sampling are followed to ensure accurate results.”
The cost is $10 per sample and samples must be turned in by 10 a.m. on the day of the screening. Samples will be screened for common contaminants, including fecal coliform bacteria, nitrates and high salinity, Smith said.
The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in water indicates that waste from humans or warm-blooded animals may have contaminated the water. Water contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria is more likely to also have pathogens present that can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea or other symptoms.
“Water with nitrates at levels of 10 parts per million is considered unsafe for human consumption,” Smith said. “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 plants.
Smith 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.
For more information, contact AgriLife Extension for Dimmit County at 830-876-4216, La Salle County at 830-483-5165 or Zavala County at 830-374-2883.
To learn more about the programs offered through the network or to find additional publications and resources, please visit http://twon.tamu.edu.
Support for the Texas Well Owner Network program is provided through Clean Water Act nonpoint source funding from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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