Conducting a Drinking Water Clinic

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

2. Overview • Planning for and conducting a clinic • Reporting outcomes and impacts • Agent evaluation form • Follow-up survey of clinic participants • Working with volunteers • Financial assistance for underserved

3. 2008-12 Clinic Stats • 2558 samples analyzed • 43 clinics in 47 counties • $7000+ 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

4. 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

5. Basic Program • Kickoff Meeting • Sample Collection • Sample Analysis • Interpretation Meeting

6. 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

7. 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

8. Kickoff Meeting • Brief presentation covering: • Common water quality problems in the area • Results/turnout from past drinking water clinics • 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

9. 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? • $50. The same analysis a private commercial lab: $150-200. Priceless! • We build in $5 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

10. 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 $50 • DAY and TIME sample is collected are very important – bacteriological analysis must be done within 24 hours of collection

11. 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!

12. Kickoff Meeting 101: Water Sample Collection Sample envelope contains: 3 large bottles 1 small bottle 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.

13. Kickoff Meeting 101: Sampling Instructions Read sample collections completely before collecting samples. Do not run any water in the home after 10 pm the night before collecting samples. Remove any aerators or filters on the faucet. Before ANY water has been used in the home, collect a sample in the bottle labeled FIRST (X on top). After collecting FIRST sample and replacing cap securely, turn water on and wash hands thoroughly. Allow water to run for about 5 minutes to flush out pipes.

14. Kickoff Meeting 101: Sampling Instructions (continued) Adjust water flow to pencil-thin stream. Collect one sample (fill one bottle) at a time. Carefully remove the cap, and hold it while you fill the bottle. Fill the bottle completely; do not allow it to overflow. Replace and tighten cap securely. Repeat with remaining two bottles. If you are not immediately going to drop off your sample, put in refrigerator or cooler.

15. Sample Collection - You • Provide ICE! About 20 lbs per cooler • Collection day • Recommend ~7 am – 10 or 11 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

16. Sample Analysis • Us (BSE Water Quality People) • All samples analyzed for 15 constituents • Reports compiled and printed • Measures to protect confidentiality – IRB approval • Takes a total of 4-5 weeks • You (Agents) • Remind participants of Interpretation Meeting day, time and location

17. 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

18. 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? • Lead agent feedback form • Erin will email – please complete and return • Statewide impact statement template

19. Lessons Learned: Advertising • Best approaches: • Farm Bureau Newsletter • 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

20. Results of Participant Questionnaires • 32.4% response rate total (omits last 5 clinics)

21. Results of Participant Questionnaires • 32.4% response rate total (omits last 5 clinics)

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Working with volunteers • 56 volunteers trained • Application at www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu • Interest; have well, spring or cistern • Not affiliated with a water business • Volunteer expectations and policy • Attend one-day training; minimum of 80% on post-test • Unpaid, volunteer work only • General educational advice – no specifics! • Willingness to try to educate 100 people

26. 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

27. 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 • SAIF Water Wells (Northern Neck) (http://www.saifwater.org/) • Faith-based effort for safer drinking water for rural Virginians • VALUABLE resources/brochures for less-educated homeowners • Provide financial and technical assistance • What is available locally in your area??? Let us know about it!

28. Questions? Discussion?