A windmill with an overcast sky. Residents in Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Childress, King and Motley counties will be able to have their well water tested and learn the results at a Texas Well Owner Network event on March 18-19,
Residents in Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Childress, King and Motley counties will be able to have their well water tested and learn the results at a Texas Well Owner Network event on March 18-19. (Texas Well Owner Network photo)

The Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, is hosting a well water screening event on March 18-19 in Paducah.

The event allows residents in Cottle, Childress, Foard, Hardeman, King and Motley counties to have their well water screened and learn the results of the screenings.

John Smith, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist, Bryan-College Station, said the TWON program is for Texas residents who depend on household wells for their water needs.

“The TWON program was established to help well owners become familiar with Texas groundwater resources, septic system maintenance, well maintenance and construction, and water quality and treatment,” he said. “It allows them to learn more about how to improve and protect their community water resources.”

Water samples will be screened for contaminants such as total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen and salinity.

Water sampling and meeting information

  • Cottle County: March 18, water samples can be dropped off from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office in Cottle County, 805 9th St., Paducah.
  • Childress County: March 18, water samples can be dropped off from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office in Childress County, 100 Ave. E. Northwest #9, Childress.
  • Foard County: March 18, water samples can be dropped off from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office in Foard County, 101 S. Main St., Crowell.
  • Hardeman County: March 18, water samples can be dropped off from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office in Hardeman County, 308 Main St., Quanah.
  • King County: March 18, water samples can be dropped off from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office in King County, 800 S. Baker St., Guthrie.
  • Motley County: March 18, water samples can be dropped off from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office in Motley County, 707 Dundee St., Matador.
  • Gateway Groundwater Conservation District: March 18, water samples can be dropped off from 8:30-10 a.m. at the GCD Office, 223 S. Main St., Quanah. Gateway Groundwater Conservation District will cover the costs of all samples within the district for this water screening event.

The follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be from 1-2 p.m. on March 19 at the AgriLife Extension office in Cottle County, 805 9th St., or online via Zoom at https://tx.ag/TWONResultsMeeting.

Sampling instructions

Smith said area residents wanting to have their well water screened should pick up a sample bag, bottle and instructions from the local AgriLife Extension office or the groundwater conservation district office before the date of the event.

“It is very important that only sampling bags and bottles be used, and all instructions for proper sampling are followed to ensure accurate results,” he said.

Private water wells should be tested annually, he said. The samples will be screened for contaminants, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen and salinity.

Smith said it is essential for those submitting samples to be at the appropriate follow-up meeting to receive results, learn corrective measures for identified problems and improve their understanding of private well management.

Well water contaminants concerns

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

The presence of nitrate-nitrogen in well water is also a concern, and water with nitrate-nitrogen at levels of 10 parts per million is considered unsafe for human consumption, he 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,” Smith said. “Infants less than 6 months of age are most susceptible to this.”

Salinity, as measured by total dissolved solids, will also be determined for each sample, he said. Water with high levels may leave deposits and have a salty taste. Using water with high levels for irrigation may damage soil or plants.

To learn more about the programs offered through the network or to find additional publications and resources, visit https://twon.tamu.edu. For more information on the water screening, contact Joel Pigg, AgriLife Extension specialist and TWON coordinator, Bryan-College Station, at 979-321-5946, or [email protected], or Smith at 979-204-0573 or [email protected].

The screenings are presented by AgriLife Extension and Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, in partnership with the AgriLife Extension offices in Cottle, Childress, King, Motley, Foard and Hardeman Counties and the Gateway Groundwater Conservation District.

Funding for TWON is through a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) nonpoint source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The project is managed by TWRI, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

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