Situation: Twenty percent of the region’s residents rely on private wells for their drinking water supply. And, in Northern New England, more than 40% of the areas residents rely on private wells. These residents are responsible for their drinking water quality and need to be aware of potential man-made and naturally-occurring contaminant risks to their drinking water sources and how to protect against such risks. Changing property laws and regulations in the region have increased demand for well water testing and educational materials.

NESCI Response : Protecting private drinking water supplies and human health is the purpose of the Northeast States and Caribbean Islands Drinking Water and Human Health focus area.  Extension in the Northeast has a long history of effective programming in education and training for private drinking water supplies.  Support from the USDA/NIFA Regional Water Center has resulted in regional collaboration among Extension programs and our partners in EPA, USGS, USDA’s Healthy Homes Program, state and local drinking water agencies, the Water Systems Council, the American Ground Water Trust, state-based groundwater associations and professionals. Through the integration of research-based knowledge, education and Extension, we empower the region’s residentsto test and protect their drinking water supply and hence, their health and their family’s health.

With our partners we developed and delivered high quality, effective educational materials and programs for both private well owners and professionals working in the field of groundwater and drinking water protection.  Regional collaboration resulted in the development and distribution of educational materials in print, video and on the web.  Focus area members have helped to develop the national eXtension Community of Practice website.  Brochures and factsheets for private well owners were customized to individual states and distributed to wellowners throughout the region.  A series of homeowner factsheets developed in Rhode Island were modified and developed for use in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  After attending community private well workshops held in conjunction with our partners, thousands of private well owners had their drinking water tested.  In addition, private well owners took actions, like properly disposing of household hazardous waste and maintaining their septic system, to protect their drinking water supply at home and in the community. We trained professionals and volunteer organizations like Master Gardeners and 4-H in private well protection practices. Realtors, for example, can refer to the resource guide ‘What Every Realtor Should Know About Private Drinking Water Wells’.

NESCI Extension played a critical role in the Northeast Private Well Water Symposium, a regional biennial event since 2005 that bought together professionals to share strategies for protecting private drinking water wells. Regional and interregional communication, cooperation, collaboration, and joint programming activities in research, education, and Extension have resulted from this event. For example, the social marketing approach for developing a well testing booklet for Maine was adapted for a Rhode Island publication developed in partnership with the Department of Health.

On the Groud Results: NESCI Extension’s work with private well owners and professionals has resulted in: