Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- April 19, 2005

Program to help private well owners maintain water quality (:51)

[Click here to listen, or right-click to download and save MP3 audio file]

Suggested Intro:

ABOUT 3-AND-A-HALF MILLION PENNSYLVANIANS GET THEIR WATER FROM A PRIVATELY OWNED WELL. A PROGRAM OFFERED BY PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES WILL HELP THEM KEEP THAT WATER SAFE TO DRINK. MORE FROM CHUCK GILL:

Story:

(:13) IF YOU GET YOUR WATER FROM A PRIVATE WELL OR SPRING, MAINTAINING WATER QUALITY IS UP TO YOU. TO HELP WELL OWNERS KEEP THEIR WATER SAFE AND PLENTIFUL, PENN STATE'S MASTER WELL OWNER NETWORK WILL SPONSOR A STATEWIDE SATELLITE WORKSHOP AT 7 P.M. ON MAY 3.

(:10) PENN STATE WATER RESOURCES SPECIALIST BRYAN SWISTOCK SAYS MORE THAN HALF OF THE STATE'S ESTIMATED ONE MILLION PRIVATE WELLS FAIL TO MEET DRINKING WATER STANDARDS FOR ONE OR MORE CONTAMINANTS:

Swistock Actuality:
(:18) "BY FAR THE MOST COMMON WOULD BE COLIFORM BACTERIA. THAT COMES IN SURFACE WATER, AND FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND ANIMAL WASTE. WE HAVE ABOUT HALF OF THE PRIVATE WATER SUPPLIES IN THE STATE HAVE SOME MEASURABLE AMOUNT OF THAT. OTHER COMMON ONES ARE THINGS LIKE LOW-PH WATER THAT MIGHT BE CORROSIVE, OR IRON, OR SULFATE."

(:10) THE MAY 3 VIDEOCONFERENCE WILL BE OFFERED AT NEARLY 30 COUNTY PENN STATE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OFFICES. FOR THE NEAREST SITE, CALL 814-865-22-50. I'M CHUCK GILL.

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To learn more, follow these links:

Penn State's Master Well Owner Network

PENN STATE SATELLITE PROGRAM OFFERS ADVICE FOR PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY OWNERS (news from the College of Agricultural Sciences)

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