Contact: Dr. Drew Gholson, 979-845-1461, dgholson@tamu.edu
MARLIN — A Texas Well Owner Network, or TWON, training has been scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in the Falls County Courthouse, 125 Bridge St., County Court Room 110 in Marlin.
The Well Educated training for private water well owners is free and open to the public.
Dr. Drew Gholson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist and TWON coordinator, College Station, said the program is for Texas residents who depend on household wells for their water needs.
“The program was established to help well owners become familiar with Texas groundwater resources, septic system maintenance, well maintenance and construction, and water quality and treatment,” he said. “It allows them to learn more about how to improve and protect their community water resources.”
He said participants may bring well-water samples to the training for screening at a cost of $10 per sample, due when samples are turned in.
“Water samples will be screened for nitrates, total dissolved solids and bacteria,” Gholson said.
Well owners who would like to have their well water sampled can pick up two sample containers from the AgriLife Extension office in Falls County and the AgriLife Extension office in Robertson County, 2458 N. Farm-to-Market 46.
Gholson said bringing water samples to the training is not required, but those wanting to have water samples analyzed must attend.
Attendees can register at http://twon.tamu.edu/training or by calling 979-845-1461.
“Private well owners are responsible for all aspects of ensuring their drinking water system is safe, including testing, inspecting and maintaining water quality,” Gholson said. “This training will help private well owners better understand and care for their wells.”
Funding for TWON is through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The project is managed by the TWRI, part Texas A&M AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.
-30-