The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Texas Well Owner Network (TWON) program has scheduled several trainings and screenings in July.
Dr. Drew Gholson, AgriLife Extension program specialist, said TWON was developed for Texas residents who depend on household wells for their water needs, allowing them to learn more about how to improve and protect their community water resources.
TWON provides “Well Educated” trainings and “Well Informed” screenings to help private well owners manage their wells. Both programs provide opportunities to screen water samples for nitrates, total dissolved solids, E. coli and coliform bacteria.
A Well Educated training has been scheduled for July 26 in Bellville.
The training, which is free and open to the public, will be from 1-5 p.m. at Bellville VFD Station 1, 511 W. Main St. It is being offered to area private water well owners through collaboration with the Mill Creek Watershed Partnership.
He said participants may bring well-water samples to the training for screening for nitrates, total dissolved solids and bacteria. The cost is $10 per sample, due when samples are turned in.
Well owners who would like to have their well water sampled can pick up two sample containers from the AgriLife Extension offices in Austin or Washington counties. Bringing water samples to the training is not required, Gholson said, but those wanting to have water samples analyzed must attend.
Gholson said space is limited, so attendees should register as soon as possible online or by calling 979-845-1461.
The network will also offer several trainings and screenings in July in the Panhandle.
The Texas Water Resources Institute is partnering with AgriLife Extension and TWON on these programs. Events are also in collaboration with the Panhandle and North Plains Groundwater Conservation Districts and Hemphill County Underground Water Conservation District.
A Well Educated training will be held July 19 from 8 a.m.-noon at the Bushland Research Center, 2300 Experiment Station Road in Bushland.
Well owners wanting their well sampled can pick up two sample containers from the AgriLife Extension offices for Potter County, 3301 E. 10th Ave. in Amarillo; Randall County, 200 N. Brown Road in Canyon; Oldham County, 110 S. Main St. in Vega; or Armstrong County, 100 Trice St. in Claude.
The cost is $10 per sample, due when samples are turned in. Gholson said bringing water samples to the training is not required, but those wanting to have water samples analyzed must attend.
Space is limited, so attendees are requested to register online or by calling 806-468-5543 as soon as possible.
At Well Informed screenings, participants have their well-water samples tested. A separate one-hour explanation of the screening results follows, along with recommendations for remediating well contamination if needed.
“Private water wells should be tested annually and our Well Informed screening provides that,” said John Smith, AgriLife Extension program specialist, College Station.
He said well owners submitting samples should use only sampling bags and bottles from their respective AgriLife Extension office and follow the included instructions carefully to ensure accurate results.
A $10 per sample fee will be collected when bags and bottles are picked up by participants. Sampling items will be available at least a week before the turn-in dates.
Dates, times and locations for the Well Informed screenings will be:
- July 17 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Ochiltree County, 402 Expo Drive in Perryton. A follow-up meeting to explain screening results will be held at 7 p.m. July 18 at the same location.
- July 17 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Lipscomb County, located in the courthouse basement at the intersection of 1st Main and 1st Avenue in Lipscomb. A follow-up meeting to explain screening results will be held at 7 p.m. July 18 at the AgriLife Extension office for Ochiltree County.
- July 17 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Sherman County, 701 N. Third St. in Stratford. A follow-up meeting to explain screening results will be held at 6 p.m. July 24 at the same AgriLife Extension office.
- July 17 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Hansford County, 223 Main St. in Spearman. A follow-up meeting to explain screening results will be held at 7 p.m. July 18 at the AgriLife Extension office for Ochiltree County.
- July 18 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Hemphill County, 10865 Exhibition Center Road in Canadian. A follow-up meeting to explain screening results will be held at 6 p.m. July 19 at the same location. This screening is in collaboration with the Hemphill County Underground Water Conservation District.
- July 18 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Roberts County. 122 Waters St. in Miami. A follow-up meeting to explain screening results will be held at 6 p.m. July 24 at the same location.
- July 18 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office Wheeler County, 7939 U.S. Highway 83 in Wheeler. A follow-up meeting to explain screening results will be held at 6 p.m. July 24 at the same location.
To learn more about programs offered through the Texas Well Owner Network or to find additional publications and resources, visit its website.
Funding for the Texas Well Owner Network 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 the Texas Water Resources Institute, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the AgriLife Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
Read the AgriLife Today story about the Bellville training and the AgriLife Today story about the Panhandle events.