The Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, is hosting upcoming events in the Alpine area July 20-21 to allow residents to have their well water screened.
Water samples will be screened for contaminants, including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen, arsenic and salinity. The screening costs $15 per water sample.
“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.”
Well owners are encouraged to bring water samples from all wells on their property. They should also bring sample from before-and-after samples from water treatment systems attached to the wells.
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 County, 2101 FM 1703, Alpine. Or, the Brewster Groundwater Conservation District office, 201 W. Ave E, Alpine.
- Presidio County: Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District office, 300 N. Highland (Courthouse, 2nd floor), Marfa.
- Jeff Davis County: Jeff Davis County UWCD office, 112 State Street, Ft. Davis.
On July 21 at 9 a.m., the follow-up and results meeting will be at the Judge Val Beard Building, 207 N. 7th Street, Alpine. This program will explain water well basics, aquifer basics, septic systems, water treatment and the results of the water quality screenings. There will also be a rainwater harvesting presentation at this time and location.
Sampling instructions
Those submitting samples are asked to follow the water sample instructions available at twon.tamu.edu, and must complete a water sample form for each sample.
AgriLife Extension and the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) present the screenings. TWRI is 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 j-pigg@tamu.edu, or visit twon.tamu.edu.
