The 4th National Private Well Conference Was a Great Success!
The Private Well Conference Was Held Virtually, May 24-26.
The 4th Private Well Conference took place virtually from May 24-26, 2022. Private well professionals in attendance included drillers, federal agencies, state and local government, regulators, researchers, laboratories, cooperative extension, and educators. There were 143 registrants and over 90 attendees at the three day virtual event. The conference included 17 presenters, a driller's panel, a flash mastermind event, and three 5-minute lightning talks. If you missed the conference, we recorded all of the talks and expect to have the videos online by the end of summer.
We would especially like to thank our presenters and attendees for their participation, questions, and interaction which help make the conference such a worthwhile event.
New TapTalk Episode
On May 15th, we released the 23rd episode for season 2 of “Tap Talk: The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast.” In one of our recent episodes, we chatted with Dr. MacDonald Gibson about her work at the intersection of environmental health and public policy. There are several disparities that private well users in disadvantaged communities face, even when there is a public water system in close proximity.
Check out all of the episodes from Season 2 and don't forget to subscribe!
As drought conditions worsen in the Southwest, private water well owners may be at risk KKCO
Drought conditions are continuing to worsen across the southwestern United States and the National Ground Water Association is urging those who rely on private wells to ensure that their wells are at appropriate water levels, and that the wells remain clean and safe to drink.
The NGWA states that lower water tables, deeper wells, and extreme drought may lead to higher levels of unsafe contaminants in the groundwater. Wells should be tested annually for bacteria, nitrates, and contaminants like heavy metals or radioactive elements should be tested for every 3-5 years.
Is My Water Safe to Drink? - Common Questions about Private Wells
June 7, 2022 at 1PM CT Hosted by PrivateWellClass.org
This free, live web-based class from PrivateWellClass.org will help homeowners understand the basics of well care as well as how to determine whether their water is safe to drink. Participants will learn maintenance best practices and receive answers to common questions. There will be an opportunity to submit questions in advance as well as live on the webinar. The event will be recorded.
We'd love your support in distributing this information, please feel free to share the following link: http://privatewellclass.org/safe
Septic Systems 101
July 7, 2022 at 1PM CT Hosted by PrivateWellClass.org
In this free 90-minute webinar training, you'll learn about septic system management as part of a larger strategy to protect the water in your private well. Topics covered include what is safe to flush down the drain, if additives are necessary for your septic tank, and how to prolong the life of your system. The webinar will include a question and answer session with a septic system expert who will be joining us online.
NEHA 2022 Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition
June 28-July 1, 2022 Hosted by National Environmental Health Association
Join NEHA for the hybrid Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition in Spokane, WA. The theme for this year's conference is "Safeguarding the Road Less Traveled." Private Well Class staff will be presenting "Assessing Private Well Vulnerability: A Tool and Guide to Support Private Well Investigations" during the conference on Thursday, June 30th in the Water block.
Private Well Water Workshops
Dates in June and July Hosted by University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension
The University of Rhode Island Home*A*Syst Water Quality Program is hosting several Private Well Water Workshops in various locations throughout Rhode Island in June and July. During the workshops, you will learn about regular water testing, well water protection, and good housekeeping practices to protect your drinking water quality.
Water Webinar Series
Multiple dates in June and July Hosted by PennState Extension
The Water Webinar Series is hosted by the Penn State Extension Water Resources team. Learn about a variety of private water topics such as common health and aesthetic impacts on drinking water supplies, preventing bacteria contamination, well construction, and septic systems. Each event will include an interactive Q&A session with the presenters!
This event is being offered at no charge to participants. Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar and registrants will also receive access to the webinar recording.
Methane in Well Water Minnesota Department of Health
This document from the Minnesota Department of Health helps answer a lot of questions about methane and private wells. Methane is not known to be a health hazard when ingested, however, methane can be flammable and dangerous in confined spaces. This fact sheet discusses what methane is, health and safety, removal and treatment, and additional resources.
This video, from the Minnesota Department of Health, discusses what to do if you have a private well at your home. It’s important to test your drinking water to make sure it’s safe to make sure it’s safe from contaminants that are common in Minnesota groundwater. This video covers what, when, and how to test.
Have a great video? We're dedicated to bringing you helpful, entertaining, or inspiring videos to you. If your organization has a relevant video to share, let us know!
We Want to Promote Your Program
Does your organization, agency, or unit have any exciting news or other information (webinar, document, etc.) that you want to share? Here is your opportunity to be included!
Please send detailed information to info@privatewellclass.org by June 20, 2022 to be included in the July 1, 2022 newsletter.
