The Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, is hosting five upcoming events in south Texas May 20-23 to allow residents to have their well water screened: a “Well Educated” water well screening in Falfurrias and four “Well Informed” water well screenings in Benavides, Robstown, Kingsville and Zapata/Rio Grande City.
Joel Pigg, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist and TWON coordinator, 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, arsenic, nitrate-nitrogen and salinity.
Water sampling and meeting information
— Robstown area: May 20, water samples can be dropped off from 8-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Nueces County, 710 E. Main Ave, Suite 1, Robstown. There is no cost for the water screening.
On May 22, the follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be at 3:30 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension office in Nueces County, 710 E. Main Ave, Suite 1, Robstown.
— Falfurrias, Alice, and Hebbronville areas: May 20, water samples can be dropped off from 8-10 a.m. at the: AgriLife Extension office for Jim Hogg County, 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; or Brush County Groundwater Conservation District, 732 West Rice, Falfurrias. There is no cost for the water well screening.
The follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on May 22 at Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District Office, 732 West Rice, Falfurrias. Please RSVP to the Brush Country GCD office as they will be providing a lunch for participants: brushcountrygcd.com/contact.htm.
— Kingsville and Sarita areas: May 20, water samples can be dropped off from 8-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Kleberg County and Kenedy County, 729 East Yoakum Avenue, Kingsville, or the Kenedy County Groundwater Conservation District, 365 La Parra Blvd, Sarita. There is no cost for the water well screening.
The follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be at 4 p.m. May 23, at the AgriLife Extension office in Kingsville.
— Zapata and Rio Grande City areas: May 20, water samples can be dropped off from 8-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Zapata County, 200 E. 7th Avenue, Suite 249, Zapata County Courthouse, Zapata, or the AgriLife Extension office for Starr County, 500 N. Britton Ave, Rio Grande City. There is no cost for the water well screening.
The follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be at 6:00 p.m. May 29 at the Zapata County AgriLife Extension office or at the Starr County AgriLife Extension office.
— Benavides area: May 21, water samples can be dropped off from 8-10 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Duval County, 131 West Main Street, Benavides, or the Duval County Groundwater Conservation District office, 231 East Railroad Ave, Benavides. There is no cost for the water screening.
On May 23, the follow-up meeting to explain the results of the screenings will be at 10 a.m. at the Duval County GCD office, 231 East Railroad Ave, Benavides.
Sampling instructions
Pigg said area residents wanting to have their well water screened should pick up sample bags, bottles and instructions from their local AgriLife Extension or groundwater conservation district office.
“It is very important that only sampling bags and bottles be used, and all instructions for proper sampling are followed to ensure accurate results,” he said.
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 County, Jim Wells County, Jim Hogg County, Brooks County, Zapata County, Starr County, 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, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
