Water well screenings set for Scurry and Mitchell counties Aug. 6 -7
Residents invited to participate in water well screenings and results meetings
The Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, will host private water well screenings for residents in Mitchell and Scurry counties on Aug. 6, with a results and education program on Aug. 7.
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.
Residents can also submit a water sample for comprehensive analysis at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory.
Joel Pigg, AgriLife Extension program specialist and TWON coordinator, Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station, said the Texas Well Owner Network 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 sampling and meeting information
Water samples can be dropped off at the following locations on Aug. 6 from 8:30-11 a.m.:
- Mitchell County: AgriLife Extension office for Mitchell County, 440 E. Second St., Colorado City; or Lone Wolf Groundwater Conservation District, 139 W. Second St., Colorado City.
- Scurry County: AgriLife Extension office for Scurry County, 2605 Ave. M, Snyder.
The follow-up meeting will be held Aug. 7 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Scurry County. Topics covered will include water well basics, water quality and sample results.
Pigg said it is essential for those submitting samples to be at the follow-up meeting to receive results, learn corrective measures for identified problems, and improve their understanding of private well management.
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.
For more information on the water screening, contact Pigg at 979-321-5946 or [email protected].
The screenings are presented by AgriLife Extension and 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 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.
