This webinar is part of the Virginia Master Naturalist Continuing Education series.

Description: About 1.7 million Virginians (22%) use private water supplies such as wells, springs and cisterns. This presentation will provide an overview of a Virginia Cooperative Extension program, the Virginia HouseholdWater Quality Program (VAHWQP), which provides affordable water testing and education to these individuals.  We will summarize impacts, key partnerships, lessons learned, and provide an overview of water quality analysis results.  Overall, since 1989, the program has resulted in analysis of about 20,000 samples.  Primary findings of concern include total coliform bacteria presence (in about 40% of samples), E. coli bacteria (found in 9% of samples) and lead (high levels found in 20% of first draw samples). 

Presenter: Erin Ling is a Senior Extension Associate in Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech.  She coordinates the Virginia Household Water Quality Program, which provides affordable water testing and education to the 1 in 5 Virginians who rely on wells, springs and cisterns for their household water.  Erin has a BA in International Studies from Virginia Tech, and Masters degrees from Penn State University in Environmental Pollution Control and Rural Sociology.  In her spare time, she likes being outdoors with her husband, kids and 3 dogs, yoga, and gardening.

This webinar was presented on 9 August 2016.