Contact: John Smith, 979-845-2761, jwsmith@ag.tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION — The Texas Well Owner Network will offer water well screenings in May for Llano and Mills counties to give residents the opportunity to have their well water tested.
The screenings are presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in these counties in partnership with the Texas Water Resources Institute.
“Private water wells should be tested annually,” said John W. Smith, AgriLife Extension program specialist, College Station.
He said individuals submitting well water samples should use only sampling bags and bottles from their AgriLife Extension office and should properly follow instructions to ensure accurate results. A $10 per sample fee will be collected when bags and bottles are picked up by participants.
Dates, times and locations for the screenings will be:
– May 11 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the St. James Lutheran Church, Schorlemmer Hall, 1401 Ford St. in Llano. Sample bags and bottles can be picked up at the AgriLife Extension office for Llano County, 1447 State Highway 71, Unit E in Llano. A meeting explaining screening results will be held at 6 p.m. May 12 at the St. James Lutheran Church, Schorlemmer Hall.
– May 13 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Mills County, 1011 4th St., which is in the basement of the Mills County Courthouse in Goldthwaite. Sample bags and bottles can also be picked up at the AgriLife Extension office. A follow-up meeting to explain screening results will be held at 6 p.m. May 14 at the Mills County State Bank, 1101 Parker St. in Goldthwaite. Lisa Prcin, the Lampasas River Watershed coordinator, will also discuss ongoing programs.
Samples will be screened for common contaminants, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrates and high salinity.
Smith said 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 bacteria is more likely to also have pathogens present that can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea or other health issues.
“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 plants.
Smith said it is important for those submitting samples to be at the meeting to receive results, learn corrective measures for identified problems and to improve their understanding of private well management.
For more information for the Llano County screening, call 325-247-5159; for the Mills County screening, call 325-648-2650.
To learn more about programs offered through the Texas Well Owner Network or to find additional publications and resources, go to 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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