The Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, will host four upcoming events in South Texas July 16-18 to allow residents to have their well water screened.
Water samples will be screened for contaminants, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen and salinity.
“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,” said Joel Pigg, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist and TWON coordinator, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
The program allows well owners to learn more about improving and protecting their community water resources.
There is no cost for these water well screenings.
Water sampling and meeting information
Residents in the Falfurrias, Alice and Hebbronville areas can drop off water samples July 17 from 8-10 a.m. at these locations:
- Jim Hogg County AgriLife Extension Office, 109 E. Santa Clara St., Hebbronville
- AgriLife Extension office for Jim Wells County, 200 N. Almond St., B110, Alice
- AgriLife Extension office for Brooks County, 219 Calixto Mora Avenue, Courthouse Annex, Falfurrias
- Brush County Groundwater Conservation District, 732 West Rice, Falfurrias.
The follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be from 1-2 p.m. on July 18 at Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District Office, 732 West Rice, Falfurrias.
Residents in the Kingsville and Sarita areas can drop off water samples July 17 from 8-10 a.m. at these locations:
- Kleberg County & Kenedy County AgriLife Extension Office, 729 East Yoakum Avenue, Kingsville.
- Kenedy County Groundwater Conservation District, 365 La Parra Blvd, Sarita.
The follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be at 4 p.m. on July 18 at the AgriLife Extension office in Kingsville.
Residents in the Zapata and Rio Grande City areas can drop off water samples on July 17 from 8-10 a.m. at:
- Zapata County AgriLife Extension office, 200 E. 7th Avenue, Suite 249, Zapata County Courthouse, Zapata.
- Starr County AgriLife Extension office, 500 N. Britton Ave, Rio Grande City.
The follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be online July 24 at 6 p.m. at the Zapata County AgriLife Extension office or at the Starr County AgriLife Extension office.
Residents in the Benavides and Laredo areas can drop off water samples July 16 from 8-10 a.m. at:
- Duval County AgriLife Extension office, 131 West Main Street, Benavides.
- Duval County Groundwater Conservation District, 231 East Railroad Ave, Benavides.
- Webb County AgriLife Extension office, 7209 E. Saunders St. Suite 5, Laredo.
- Jim Wells County AgriLife Extension office, 200 N. Almond St, B110, Alice.
On July 18, the follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be at 1 p.m. at the Duval County GCD office, 231 East Railroad Ave, Benavides.
Sampling instructions
Private water wells should be tested annually, he said. The samples will be screened for contaminants, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen, arsenic and salinity.
Pigg 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
John Smith, AgriLife Extension program specialist, Bryan-College Station, said research shows 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 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,” Pigg said. “Infants less than 6 months of age and young livestock are most susceptible to this.”
Long-term consumption of arsenic in water, Smith said, increases the risk of skin cancer and cancer in the liver, bladder and lungs. In addition, chronic exposure to arsenic may lead to gastrointestinal irritation and cardiovascular disease.
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 twon.tamu.edu. For more information on the water screening contact Pigg at 979-321-5946 or j-pigg@tamu.edu.
The screenings are presented by AgriLife Extension and Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, in partnership with the AgriLife Extension offices in Duval, Jim Wells, Jim Hogg County, Brooks, Zapata, Starr, Webb, Kenedy and Kleberg counties. Additional support provided by Duval County GCD, Brush Country GCD and Kenedy County GCD.
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. The project is managed by TWRI, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research unit that combines expertise across The Texas A&M University System.
