The Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, is hosting an upcoming event in Quanah on Oct. 14-15 to allow residents to have their well water screened.
John Smith, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist, 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 samples will be screened for contaminants, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen and salinity.
Water sampling and meeting information
Water samples can be dropped off at these locations on Oct. 14:
- Cottle County: 9:30-11 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension Office, 825 Backus, Paducah.
- Childress County: 9:30-11 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension Office, 100 Avenue E. Northwest #9, Childress.
- Foard County: 9:30-11 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension Office, 107 East Commerce Street, Crowell.
- Hardeman County: 9:30-11 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension Office, 308 Main Street, Quanah or the Gateway Groundwater Conservation District office, 223 S. Main Street, Quanah.
- King County: 9:30-11 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension Office, 800 South Baker Street, Guthrie.
- Motley County: 9:30-11 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension Office, 707 Dundee Street, Matador.
The Gateway Groundwater Conservation District will cover the costs of all samples from within the district for this water screening event. Any samples from outside of the district will have a cost of $15.
The follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be Oct. 15 from 10-11 a.m. at the Gateway Groundwater Conservation District office at 223 S. Main Street, Quanah.
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, said it is essential for those submitting samples to attend 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 tx.ag/TexasWellOwnerHome under the water sample information tabs.
A water sample form must be completed for each sample.
For more information on the water screening contact Pigg at 979-321-5946 or j-pigg@tamu.edu or Smith at 979-204-0573 or john.smith@ag.tamu.edu.
The screenings are presented by AgriLife Extension and Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, 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 source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
