APWP Materials available to Tallapoosa County Well Water Workshop attendees.
The Alabama Private Well Program (APWP) hosted its second Well Owner Workshop this year on November 29th in New Site, Alabama.
This workshop gave participants in the area an opportunity to learn about well water resources in Alabama and receive a free bacteria screening of their well water.
APWP Coordinator, Jessie Curl, speakers to private well owners in Tallapoosa County. Photo Credit: Eve Brantley
Statewide Workshops for Well Owners
Thousands of Alabama residents rely on private water systems for water used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing. In fact, The Alabama Office of Water Resources reported that 11 percent of the population in Alabama relied on private wells in 2015. Well Owner Workshops are a way to engage communities that rely heavily on a private water supply and get them connected to resources about testing, treatment, and maintenance of well water systems.
AUWRC Director, Eve Brantley, serves up freshly baked cookies at the Tallapoosa County Well Water Workshop. Photo Credit: Jessie Curl
Participants are also guided through the science behind how water makes it from below ground to the taps in our homes. Greg Guthrie, Director of the Groundwater Assessment Program at the Geological Survey of Alabama, provided an overview of geologic features found in Tallapoosa County. Geology plays a key role in well water quality, as water quality may change depending on where you are in the state.
Why should you attend a well owner workshop?
Being proactive is a key component of being a responsible well owner. Workshops are a way to for well owners to network, as well as provide a platform to get questions answered. By attending workshops, well owners learn about water quality impairments, get information searching for well water testing, and learn about the procedures for selecting treatment devices.
The Director of the Groundwater Assessment Program of the Geological Survey of Alabama (GSA), Greg Guthrie, speaks with private well owners. Photo Credit: Eve Brantley
More about the Alabama Private Well Program
The APWP started in 2020 as a way to deliver education and materials to well owners across Alabama. Part of the initiative includes educational workshops intended to educate communities about water testing options for private well owners while also introducing groundwater basics, best practices for well care, and resources on well water testing in the region. Informational resources on how to sample private wells, how to interpret sample results, and what individuals can do to protect their well and its source water from contamination are shared during these events. Well owners are also able to ask questions and meet Jessie Curl, the APWP Coordinator.
For well owners that missed the workshops, be on the lookout for additional meetings. If you have questions about these workshops or about owning a well in Alabama, contact Jessie Curl, APWP Coordinator at jcurl@auburn.edu.
APWP Materials available to Tallapoosa County Well Water Workshop attendees. Photo Credit: Jessie Curl
For resources and upcoming events visit the AUWRC Events Calendar or www.aub.ie/wellwater