Water well screenings in Brewster, Jeff Davis, Presidio counties set for July 20-21
Residents can receive low-cost well water screenings, results and rainwater harvesting education
The Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, is hosting private water well screenings and a rainwater harvesting presentation for residents in Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties July 20-21.
The cost of the screenings is $15 per sample. Water samples will be screened for contaminants, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen, arsenic and salinity.
“The TWON program serves residents who depend on household wells for their water needs,” said Joel Pigg, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist and TWON coordinator, Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
“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 sampling and meeting information
Water samples can be dropped off at the following locations on July 20 from 8:30-10 a.m.:
- Brewster County: AgriLife Extension Office for Brewster-Jeff Davis County, 2101 Farm-to-Market Road 1703, Alpine; or Brewster Groundwater Conservation District, 201 W. Ave. E, Alpine.
- Jeff Davis County: Jeff Davis County Underground Water Conservation District, 112 State St., Fort Davis.
- Presidio County: Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District, 300 N. Highland, Marfa.
The results meeting will be held on July 21 at 9 a.m. at the Judge Val Beard Building, 207 N. Seventh St., Alpine. This program will explain water well basics, aquifer basics, septic systems, water treatment and the results of the water quality screenings. The rainwater harvesting will be a part of this program.
Sampling instructions
Those submitting samples are asked to follow the water sample instructions available at twon.tamu.edu. A water sample form must be completed for each sample.
In partnership with the AgriLife Extension offices in Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties, the screenings are presented by AgriLife Extension and the Texas Water Resources Institute, a unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Research that combines expertise across The Texas A&M University System
Funding for TWON is provided through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
For more information on the water screenings, contact Pigg at 979-321-5946 or [email protected].
