The Texas Well Owner Network (TWON) has scheduled several free Well Educated trainings for November for private water well owners who depend on household wells for their water needs.
Joel Pigg, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist and TWON coordinator, College Station, said 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.
“It allows them to learn more about how to improve and protect their community water resources,” he said.
The dates, times and locations of the trainings are:
- Nov. 5 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on the Wharton County Junior College campus, 4000 Avenue F in Bay City. Well owners who would like to have their well water sampled can pick up two sample containers from the AgriLife Extension offices in Matagorda County, 2200 7th St. in Bay City or Wharton County, 315 E. Milam St. in Wharton.
- Nov. 7 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Gatesville Civic Center, 301 Veteran’s Memorial Drive in Gatesville. Sample containers can be picked up from the AgriLife Extension offices in Coryell County, 303 Veteran’s Memorial Drive in Gatesville or Hamilton County, 101 E. Henry St. in Hamilton.
- Nov. 14 from 1-5 p.m. at the Limestone County Courthouse, 200 W. State St. in Groesbeck. Sample containers can be picked at the AgriLife Extension office in the Limestone County in Grosebeck.
- Nov. 19 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Community Hall, 1066 Main St. in Lincoln. Sample containers can be picked up from the AgriLife Extension offices in Lee County, 310 S. Grimes St. in Giddings or Bastrop County, 901 Pecan St. in Bastrop.
Pigg said participants may bring well-water samples to the training for screening at a cost of $10 per sample, due when samples are turned in.
“Water samples will be screened for nitrates, total dissolved solids and bacteria,” Pigg said.
Pigg said bringing water samples to the training is not required, but those wanting to have water samples analyzed must attend.
Attendees can register online or by calling 979-845-1461.
“These trainings are being conducted statewide through the Texas Well Owner Network project.” Pigg said. “The core content of this program is the same, but the information is tailored to local water quality issues and aquifers.”
More than a million private water wells in Texas provide water to citizens in rural areas and increasingly to those living on small acreages at the growing rural-urban interface. Private well owners are independently responsible for monitoring the quality of their wells.
“They are responsible for all aspects of ensuring their drinking water system is safe — testing, inspecting and maintaining it,” Pigg said. “This training will help private well owners to understand and care for their wells.”
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 the Texas Water Resources Institute, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.
