Purpose: The goal of the Virginia Household Water Quality Program is to improve the water quality and health of Virginians with private water supplies, including wells, springs and cisterns. Drinking water clinics are held across the state to give people with private water systems access to affordable water testing, help interpreting their water test results, and information about possible treatment options.
How does it work? Participants attend a short, evening kickoff meeting, where they receive a sampling kit and information about how to collect water samples. At this meeting, participants will be notified of a date, time, and location where they will drop off their water samples. At this collection point, the samples will be iced in coolers and taken to the Biological Systems Engineering Water Quality Lab at Virginia Tech for analysis. Once the analysis is complete, an interpretation meeting is held to distribute the results to each participant. At this meeting, water test results are explained and information is provided about possible treatment options participants may consider. If you are unable to attend the interpretation meeting, results will be mailed to you.
How much does it cost? $49. This payment covers the cost of one sampling kit. Please bring a check to the kickoff meeting for the sampling kit. Please pre-register – space is limited!
For more information about these Cooperative Extension programs, useful resources, and information about private water supplies and water quality, please visit our website: www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu.
All participant information is kept strictly confidential.
What does the test look for in the water?
| Iron | Manganese | Sulfate | Hardness |
| Sodium | Copper | Nitrate | Arsenic |
| Fluoride | pH | Total Dissolved Solids | |
| Coliform bacteria | E. coli bacteria | Lead |
Schedule and Contacts for 2013 Clinics
|
County(ies) |
Important Dates |
Contact Information | ||
|
|
Get Sample Kit | Collect Sample | Results Meeting | |
|
Montgomery |
3/18 or 3/19 |
3/20 |
4/16 |
Erin Ling (wellwater@vt.edu | 540-231-9058) |
|
Floyd |
3/25 |
3/27 |
4/23 |
Dawn Barnes (lbarnes@vt.edu | 540-745-9307) |
|
Albemarle |
4/8 |
4/10 |
5/15 |
Carrie Swanson (horse@vt.edu | 434-872-4580) |
|
Hanover |
4/22 |
4/4 |
5/21 |
Jim Schroering (jschroer@vt.edu | 804-752-4310) |
|
Pulaski |
4/29 |
5/1 |
5/27 |
Scott McElfresh (mcelfres@vt.edu | 540-980-7761) |
|
Roanoke |
5/20 |
5/22 |
6/18 |
Deb Chappell ( dchappell@vt.edu | 540-772-7524) |
|
Page and Shenandoah |
6/10 |
6/12 |
7/29 |
Mark Sutphin (masutph2@vt.edu | 540-665-6659) |
|
Frederick and Clarke |
6/17 |
6/19 |
7/30 |
|
|
Warren |
6/24 |
6/26 |
7/31 |
|
|
New Kent and Charles City |
7/15 |
7/17 |
8/13 |
John Allison (jab10352@vt.edu | 804-652-4743) |
|
Lunenburg and Charlotte |
8/5 |
8/7 |
9/3 |
Donna Daniel (ddaniel@vt.edu | 434-696-5526) |
|
Mecklenburg and Halifax |
8/12 |
8/14 |
9/10 |
|
|
Nottoway |
9/9 |
9/11 |
10/8 |
Haley McCann (hmccann@vt.edu | 434-645-9315) |
|
Pittsylvania |
9/16 |
9/18 |
10/15 |
Jamie Stowe (jnstowe@vt.edu | 434-432-7770) |
|
Franklin |
10/7 |
10/9 |
11/5 |
Cynthia Martel (cmartel@vt.edu | 540-483-5161) |
|
Loudoun |
10/14 |
10/16 |
11/12 |
Corey Childs (cchilds@vt.edu | 703-777-0373) |
|
Caroline |
10/21 |
10/23 |
11/19 |
Catherine Pitts (pudney@vt.edu | 804-633-6550) |
|
Rockingham |
11/11 |
11/13 |
12/11 |
Cristin Sprenger (cristinc@vt.edu | 540-564-3080) |