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AN EXTENSION INFORMATION PROGRAM TO IMPROVE RESIDENTIAL WELL WATER QUALITY 1
Author(s) -
Gibson George R.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1981.tb02598.x
Subject(s) - water quality , environmental science , nitrate , soil water , test (biology) , hydrology (agriculture) , water resource management , environmental engineering , environmental planning , environmental health , business , environmental protection , engineering , ecology , medicine , geotechnical engineering , soil science , biology
Older inland lake communities in Wisconsin are more likely than many areas to have degraded water supplies. Many home sites are on sandy soils with high water tables and have shallow wells close to their own or a neighbor's septic system. Yet unless major rehabilitation is undertaken, these homes are relatively exempt from local codes and regulations. They also are beyond the application of the federal Clean Drinking Water Act. An Extension education program was created in response to the problem. At a community's request, home drinking water “screening tests” are conducted for at least coliform bacteria, chlorides, and nitrate/nitrite‐N. Test results, together with explanations and recommendations are reported at a local meeting. Public response has been positive, and a surprising number of wells appear to be contaminated to some degree.