Hanover VAHWQP-2013-2016

Household Water Quality

The Virginia Household Water Quality Program provides affordable water testing and education through local Extension offices to the 1.7 million Virginians who rely on wells, springs or cisterns for their household water supply.

Hanover County 2013-2016

Visit us online!

What's in your water?

Municipal water supplies are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which mandates routine testing and treatment. Maintenance and testing of private water supplies (wells, springs and cisterns) is the responsibility of the owner. Virginia Cooperative Extension offers water testing and education for private water supply users across the state

Drinking water clinics are held in county Extension offices each year. Here's how it works:

Participation is voluntary and open to anyone with a well, spring or cistern. Participants pick up a sample kit and receive instructions about how to collect the samples from their household tap and where and when to drop off their samples.

Following directions carefully, participants collect their samples and complete a short questionnaire. Samples are dropped off locally, so shipping is unnecessary. We coordinate getting the samples to Virginia Tech's campus for analysis.

Samples are analyzed for total coliform and E. coli bacteria, nitrate, lead, copper, arsenic, fluoride, sodium, hardness, iron, manganese, total dissolved solids, pH, and sulfate. The cost for one sample kit in 2017 was $55. Confidential results are prepared and returned to the Extension office.

Results are returned to participants and explained at a local interpretation meeting. Information is provided about addressing water quality problems, routine care, and maintenance of private water supplies.

Kickoff Meeting

Sampling

Analysis

Results

Europe

Rest of world

Water Systems in Hanover County (2013- 2016)

148 samples analyzed Serving 193 people Well depth: 20-500 feet Well age: 1-65 years

54% of participants reported having treatment installed. The most common device was a sediment filter.

Treatment

Seven percent of participants did not know what type of system they had. The most common source reported was bored wells.

Systems

Contaminants in water may be health-related (e.g., bacteria) or a nuisance (e.g., hardness causing scale) and can come from a variety of sources. Some contaminants originate from geology, the sediment or rock where the water is stored. Others are a result of land usage or activities on the earth's surface, such as lawn fertilizer, animal waste, or chemical spills. Proper construction of a well can protect household water quality by preventing surface water, which may carry many contaminants, from entering the groundwater supply. Wells should be constructed with proper casing, grout seal, and a sealed well cap. Contamination sources, such as livestock and septic systems should be at least 50 feet away from the well head. Treatment devices and plumbing components can also influence water quality by adding contaminants or changing water chemistry.

Landuse and nearby activities

Plumbing materials and water treatment

Well construction and location

Hydrogeology

Where do contaminants come from?

Household water quality

The most common contaminants found in household water in Hanover County were total coliform bacteria, low pH, copper, lead, sodium and manganese. Total coliform bacteria presence is an indication that surface water may be entering a well and other more harmful microorganisms may be present. Total coliform was found in 62% of the Hanover County samples. E. coli were found in 9% of the samples and are a sign that human or animal waste is entering the water supply. Low pH (<6.5) can occur naturally in parts of Virginia geology. pH below 6.5 was found in 53% of samples. Although not a concern in itself, low pH can be a driver of how corrosive the water is. Once the water enters the house it can result in metals such as copper and lead leaching into the water from plumbing components that contain these metals, such as brass fittings or copper pipes. Lead was found in first draw samples exceeding 0.015 mg/L in 24% of samples, and copper exceeding 1 mg/L in 24% of samples

Household water quality in Hanover County: Common Contaminants

Total coliform bacteria

Sodium

For more information about other common contaminants, please visit our Resources Page.

Lead

Low pH (<6.5)

Copper

Manganese

www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu

Special thanks to the residents of Hanover County who participated in the Virginia Household Water Quality Program drinking water clinics. Extension agent Laura Maxey-Nay, among other partners, were instrumental in the program's success.

Virginia Household Water Quality Program Email: [email protected] Ph: 540-231-9058