Conducting a Drinking Water Clinic

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Conducting a Drinking Water Clinic
Erin Ling Virginia Master Well Owner
Network Training
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2008-13 Clinic Stats

• 3825 samples analyzed
• 63 clinics in 84 counties
• 13,000 donations and scholarships contributed
• Farm Bureau
• Soil and Water Conservation Districts
• County
• Private Companies water treatment, testing labs
• Local RCD
• Virginia Water Well Association

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The DWC Agent Packet

• Available at www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu
• Includes
• Information about planning
• Templates for advertising
• Registration list template
• Details so you can answer participant questions
• Evaluation form
• Copies of presentations from this training and
  Interpretation Meeting

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Basic Steps

• Kickoff Meeting
• Sample Collection
• Sample Analysis
• Interpretation Meeting

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Advertising

• 8 weeks
• Consider
• Newspapers
• Fliers
• Letter to homeowners
• Radio
• Home/Ag Shows/Fairs
• Seek donations or sponsors
• At this time, contact others to participate
• VDH Env Health Specialists
• Local SWCD, NRCS, USGS

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Prep for Kickoff Mtg

• Pre-registration
• Minimum of 35 participants
• Can combine counties
• Notify coordinator of anticipated participants
  (2 weeks prior)
• Sample kits prepared at BSE water quality lab
• Four sample bottles
• Questionnaire
• Sampling instructions
• Sample kits and coolers shipped to you 1 week
  prior
• Powerpoint presentation, notes and talking points
  provided

Whats in YOUR water? Drinking water
clinic Wells, springs and cisterns 123 Community
Dr Nov 23, 2012 7 pm
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Kickoff Meeting

• Brief presentation covering
• HOW to collect a drinking water sample
• WHEN to collect the sample and drop it off
• WHERE to drop the sample off
• Consider handing out fliers with sample
  collection day, time and location
• Distribute sample kits and collect payment

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What will analysis include?
• pH, hardness, chloride, fluoride, sodium,
  sulfate, nitrate, iron, lead, arsenic, manganese,
  copper, TDS, total coliform bacteria, E. coli
  bacteria
• How many participants per clinic?
• Limit of about 200 per sample day
• Average of 60 per clinic in 2009-2012 would
  like MORE!!
• How much does it cost?
• 49. The same analysis a private commercial lab
  200
• We build in 2 per kit to cover your mailing and
  printing costs
• How does payment/billing work?
• You collect payment from participants at the
  Kickoff meeting
• WQ lab will bill you for entire amount. Pay with
  TWO Interdepartmental Service Requests
  (ISRs) through Hokie Mart one for
  analysis, one for processing

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Sample Collection - Them

• Instructions
• Stress instructions must be followed carefully or
  results are not accurate
• First draw and flushed samples
• Sampling before vs. after treatment
• Each sample kit is an additional 49
• DAY and TIME sample is collected are very
  important bacteriological analysis must be done
  within 24 hours of collection

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Kickoff Meeting 101First Draw vs. Flushed
samples

• Metals like copper and lead are not usually found
  in groundwater, but may be leached from pipes and
  other plumbing into your water.
• If these metals are in your plumbing, water that
  has been sitting in your pipes for more than 6
  hours will have the highest levels.
• The sample bottle labeled FIRST (X on top) needs
  to be collected first thing in the morning,
  before any water has been used in the home.
• Important!
• Do not use any water in the home after 10 pm
• Collect the bottle labeled FIRST with an x on
  the top FIRST, before running any water!

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Kickoff Meeting 101 Water Sample Collection
Sample envelope contains 2 large bottles 2 small
bottles Questionnaire Sampling Instructions

• Tips
• Do not use water after 10 pm the night before!
• Choose a kitchen or bathroom (non-swivel) faucet.
• Do not remove cap until you are ready to collect
  sample.
• Do not touch inside of sample bottle or cap.
• Make sure sink is clean and dishes are removed.
• Remove all screens, filters, or aerators from
  faucet.
• Collect FIRST (X on top) bottle first!
• Wash hands before collecting other samples.

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Sample Collection - You

• Provide ICE! About 20 lbs per cooler
• Collection day
• Recommend 7 am 10 am collection
• All sample bottles are numbered. Same number on
  the questionnaire. Ice samples immediately.
• Collect all questionnaires in envelope
• Meet halfway between Blacksburg and your county
  at predetermined location to transfer coolers to
  Water Quality Lab staff details via email
• Bring empty coolers and extra kits with you

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Sample Analysis

• Us (BSE Water Quality People)
• All samples analyzed for 14 constituents
• Reports compiled and printed
• Measures to protect confidentiality IRB
  approval
• Takes a total of 3 weeks
• You (Agents)
• Remind participants of Interpretation Meeting
  day, time and location

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Interpretation Meeting

• Conference call to go over results and common
  questions
• At Interpretation Meeting
• Distribute results to participants (only)
• PowerPoint presentation provided
• Overview of results as a group
• Discuss what the numbers mean, compare to public
  standards
• Address eliminating possible sources of
  contamination
• Introduce treatment options
• Answer questions
• Interpretation sheet and evaluation
  form in envelope

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Evaluation and Follow-up

• Follow-up postcard for clinic participants
• Will you test water regularly?
• Will you change your behavior (e.g., reduce
  fertilizer use around well, pump out septic,
  shock well)?
• Will you talk to others about your experience?
• Statewide impact statement template

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Lessons Learned Advertising

• Best approaches
• Newsletters
• Local newspaper column/feature article/press
  release
• Direct mailing
• Word of mouth
• Best time frame
• Start 8 weeks out and intensify 4 weeks before
• Mention pre-registration to avoid rush at end and
  not enough sample kits

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Lessons Learned Message content

• Individuals responsible for care and
  testing of own systems not monitored like
  public systems
• Importance of understanding what maintenance is
  required
• Health effects of possible water quality issues
• Low cost of testing for this opportunity
• All results kept confidential
• Emotion/health and safety-based

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Lessons Learned Key Individuals and Groups to
Involve/Invite

• Local VAMWON volunteers!
• Master Gardener volunteers
• Farm Bureau
• ELC
• Health Department
• Soil and Water District
• Contact from local water testing lab
• County Board of Supervisors
• Local RCD Council

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Lessons Learned Seek additional funding or
sponsorships

• Farm Bureau
• 5 per sample, 20 per sample for members
• Soil and Water Conservation District
• 2 per sample
• 250 divided among attendees
• RCD Council
• 1000 divided among pre-registrants
• Grant funding through FCS agent

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Working with volunteers

• 89 volunteers trained
• Application at www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu
• Interest have well, spring or cistern
• Not affiliated with a water well business
• Volunteer expectations and policy
• Complete online training minimum of 80 on
  post-test
• Unpaid, volunteer work only
• General educational advice no specifics!
• Willingness to try to educate 100 people

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Financial and Technical Assistance

• Virginia Dept of Housing and Community Devt
  (http//www.dhcd.virginia.gov/HousingPreservationR
  ehabilitation/default.htm)
• Emergency Home Repair Program
• Indoor Plumbing Rehabilitation Programs
• Livable Homes Tax Credit
• Virginia Lead Safe Homes Program
• Water/Sewer Programs
• USDA Rural Development Housing Programs(504)
  (http//www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/nofas/index.html)
• Very low to moderate income housing loans
  for
  single or multi-family homes
• Grants for homeowners 62
• Rural rental housing loans

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Financial and Technical Assistance

• Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project
  (http//www.sercap.org/programs/rc_facilities_dev.
  htm)
• Rural Communities Facilities Development Program
  (emergency housing loans to low income
  families)
• Many resources for small community water and
  wastewater systems
• What is available locally in your area??? Let
• us know about it!

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Questions? Discussion?