Assisting rural residents and communities with managing their drinking water
Our community-based well water testing and Water WELLness education programs are organized in collaboration with our Wisconsin community partners to:
Provide a convenient opportunity to have private wells tested for common health-related contaminants and aesthetic concerns (ex. taste, color, and odor)
Educate participants about local groundwater quality and the water safety of individual homeowner wells
Collect baseline data on well water quality in the Town, Village, Watershed, Lake District, or other region where the testing was offered
What we do
Work with community partners to:
Establish program goals and timeline
Develop an advertising and recruitment strategy
Facilitate water testing logistics with the Water and Environmental Analysis Lab
Deliver well water test results and interpretive information to participants
Provide a follow-up Water WELLness education program
We work in coordination with our community partners to ensure an efficient, successful, and educational well water testing program for participants and the community.
Organizing a Well Water Testing Program
Programs are commonly organized in partnership with county staff (Extension offices, land conservation departments, health departments, etc.) or local governments at a town level. However, we have worked with other organizations (ex. lake districts/associations, farmer-led watershed groups, etc.) as well. Participation is voluntary and costs of well sampling are usually the responsibility of the participants. While not necessary to organize a successful program, some communities have designated funding or obtained grants to offer reduced cost or free testing to participants.What is a water WELLness education program?
Water WELLness educational programs are designed to empower individuals relying on private well water to make well-informed decisions about managing their water supply–and their health. Attendees of a program will also have the opportunity to ask a Groundwater Specialist questions about their results, wells, and groundwater quality in the area. Programs are open to all members of the public. The primary topics reviewed in a Water WELLness presentation include: Groundwater Basics: where does well water come from? Understanding individual test results General groundwater quality in the geographical area the program was held Well construction and how it influences water quality Ways to improve well water qualityHow to get started
Schedule a consultation with our outreach specialist to: Determine your goals for the well testing program Help design your program Discuss pricing and sample packages that will be offered Set a date and determine a project timeline Contact Cayla Cavey at (715) 346-2229 or ccavey@uwsp.edu to schedule a consultation.
Please plan ahead, programs are most successful when they begin planning at least 6 months in advance.