Conducting a Drinking Water Clinic

1. Conducting a Drinking Water Clinic Erin Ling Virginia Master Well Owner Network Training

2. 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 RC&D • Virginia Water Well Association

3. 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

4. Basic Steps • Kickoff Meeting • Sample Collection • Sample Analysis • Interpretation Meeting

5. 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

6. 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 What’s in YOUR water? Drinking water clinic Wells, springs and cisterns 123 Community Dr Nov 23, 2012 7 pm

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Kickoff Meeting 101:‘First 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!

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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 RC&D Council

19. 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 • RC&D Council • $1000 divided among pre-registrants • Grant funding through FCS agent

20. 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

21. Financial and Technical Assistance • Virginia Dept of Housing and Community Dev’t(http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/HousingPreservationRehabilitation/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

22. 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!

23. Questions? Discussion?