Description
Do you know what's in your well water?
Public water supplies are tested daily for contaminants but most private water supplies, like wells, are rarely tested. Well owners are encouraged to test their water regularly to detect and correct problems early. The Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VHWQP) tests water samples for iron, manganese, nitrate, lead, arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium, copper, total coliform bacteria and E.coli bacteria.
Between 2012 - 2019 in Prince William County, the most common well water quality issues identified included high sodium (45% of PWC samples) and total coliform bacteria (25% of PWC samples), and hard water (17% of PWC Samples).
2023 Testing is available for the low cost of $65.
How does it work?
The Prince William Drinking Water Clinic has 3 parts:
- Attend a Kick-Off Meeting and Collect Testing Kit Materials. During registration you will select from 3 Kick-Off options:
Option 1: In Person, Woodbridge: Board Chambers (1 County Complex Ct, Woodbridge, VA 22192): Monday April 10th 7:00pm - 8:30pm.
Option 2: In Person, Manassas: Jean McCoy Conference Room (Sudley Government Center, 7987 Ashton Ave, Manassas, VA 20109): Saturday April 8th 12:00pm - 1:30pm.
Option 3: Online, through Zoom*: Wednesday April 5th 11:00am - 12:00pm, this session will be recorded and available for later viewing, links for both will be emailed to registrants.
*test kits for this online training option (Option 3) must be picked up at VCE-PW Office (8033 Ashton Ave., Suite 105, Manassas, VA 20109): April 10th - 11th 8:00am - 5:00pm.
- The Sample Drop Off: Wednesday, April 12th from 6:00am - 10:00am ONLY at the VCE-PW Office, 8033 Ashton Ave., Suite 105, Manassas 20109 (follow signs to office).
- Results Interpretation Meeting through (Zoom) on Monday, May 22nd, 7:00pm - 9:00pm. There will be a live Zoom interpretation meeting co-hosted by VCE Household Water Quality Coordinator Erin Ling and VCE-PW staff to explain the report, include a discussion, and answer questions. Zoom link and details will be emailed to all registrants.
The number of kits is limited. Pre-payment is the only way to guarantee you will get a kit.
All participant information is kept strictly confidential
Testing includes:
|
Iron |
Manganese |
Coliform bacteria |
Arsenic |
Sulfate |
|
Sodium |
Copper |
E. coli bacteria |
Lead |
Nitrate |
|
Fluoride |
Hardness |
Total Dissolved Solids |
pH |
|
Cost: $65/sample kit
TO REGISTER
Click on the appropriate Add to Cart button on this page, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete your registration. If you have any trouble with registration, please contact our helpline by email at vceprograms@vt.edu.
Notes
For more information about the program, please email mastergardener@pwcgov.org or call 703-792-7747. You may also want to visit http://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please
contact Christina Hastings, Virginia Cooperative Extension-Prince William at 703-792-6285/TDD* during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.