On April 21, the Penn State Extension will host an in-person Private Water Supply Education and Water Testing Workshop at the Penn State Extension Office in Carlisle, Cumberland County from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Do you live in one of the more than one million homes and farms in Pennsylvania that get their drinking water from a private well or spring?

Do you know what is in your drinking water and how to keep it safe for you and your family?

Would you like to have your water tested for free?

The Private Water Supply Education and Water Testing event is designed for people who manage a private drinking water supply.

The Workshop will cover how to test and protect your well or spring and when water treatment might make sense.

It will also discuss well and spring system inspection and maintenance so you know how to protect your family, your property, and the groundwater we share.

Only one test is permitted per household. Water testing supplies will be distributed to participants after attending the event. Using a pre-paid mailer, participants must return their water samples by a specified date.

The following parameters will be tested: bacteria, pH, nitrate, manganese, lead, copper, barium, sodium, and arsenic.

All these tests are related to potential health risks and can only be detected through water testing. A Department of Environmental Protection Accredited Laboratory will do all testing.

Who is this for?

-- Residents of Pennsylvania with a private water supply (well, spring, cistern)

What will you learn?

-- How to test and protect your well or spring

-- When water treatment makes sense

-- Well/spring system inspection and maintenance

Click Here to register and for more information.

Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn more about many other educational opportunities.

Action Item

-- Private Well Owners Needed For Dept. Of Health Focus Group

Related Extension Articles:

-- PA Master Well Owner Network, Penn State Extension Updates Online Drinking Water Results Interpretation Tool [PaEN]

-- Registration Open! Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium May 6-7 In Harrisburg [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Stewards Take Part In Winter Salt Stream Snapshot [PaEN]

-- Rain Barrel Kits Now Available At Select Master Watershed Steward Program Offices [PaEN]

-- Preserving The Farming Legacy With Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program

-- Strategies For Preventing Algae, Aquatic Plant Problems In Farm Ponds

-- Showcase Your Skills At Water Resources Educator Dive Deeper Summit Sept. 25

-- February Celebrates World Wetlands Day

Upcoming Extension Events

March 3-- Penn State Extension Ag Water Series Webinar: Practices To Mitigate Flooding & Drought.  Noon to 1:00 p.m.

March 4-- Penn State Extension Webinar On Residential Stormwater Solutions - Rainwater Catchment Systems. Noon to 1:00 p.m.

March 5-- Penn State Extension Woods In Your Backyard Series (Part 8 of 9)  - Converting Lawns to Natural Areas (Meadows and Woods). 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

March 6-- Penn State Extension Hosts Lawn To Meadow Conversions Webinar. Noon to 1:00 p.m.

March 10-- Penn State Extension Ag Water Series Webinar: Tile Drainage In Pennsylvania. Noon to 1:00 p.m.

March 11-- Penn State Extension (7 of 10) Pennsylvania Forests Webinar Seminar Series - Hazard Tree Analysis.  Noon and 7:00 p.m.

March 11-- Penn State Extension Webinar On Lawn Care For Clean Water.  Noon to 1:00 p.m.

March 12-- Penn State Extension Woods In Your Backyard Series (Part 9 of 9)  - Putting Your Knowledge To Work - What’s Your Plan?  Map it Out. 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

March 13-- DCNR, Penn State Extension Forest Health, Insect, Disease Update Webinar, 8:30 to 11:00 a.m.

March 17-- Penn State Extension Ag Water Series Webinar: Where Does Water Go?  Watersheds & Mapping. Noon to 1:00 p.m.

March 19-- Penn State Extension Hosts Webinar On Green Infrastructure's Many Functions.  Noon to 1:00 p.m. 

March 19-- Penn State Extension Pond Management Series (1 of 4). Noon to 1:00 p.m.

March 24-- Penn State Extension Ag Water Series Webinar: Countywide Clean Water Plans - Beyond 2025. Noon to 1:00 p.m.

March 26-- Penn State Extension Pond Management Series (2 of 4). Noon to 1:00 p.m.

March 29-- Penn State Extension In-Person Rain Barrel Discovery Workshop, Lebanon County 11:00 to Noon

April 1-3-- Penn State ACAP Ag Conservation Con 2025 - Harrisburg

April 2-- Penn State Extension Pond Management Series (3 of 4). Noon to 1:00 p.m.

April 8--  Penn State Extension (8 of 10) Pennsylvania Forests Webinar Seminar Series - Forest Resilience Scorecard for PA.  Noon and 7:00 p.m.

April 9-- Penn State Extension Pond Management Series (4 of 4). Noon to 1:00 p.m.

April 21-- Penn State Extension In-Person Private Water Supply Education, Water Testing Workshop, Carlisle, Cumberland County, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

April 28, April 29-- Penn State Extension, PA Sea Grant In-Person Educator Workshops On Watershed Literacy & Tree Plantings In Lancaster County

May 6-7-- Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium, Harrisburg

May 13-- Penn State Extension (9 of 10) Pennsylvania Forests Webinar Seminar Series - Tree Nuts in Pennsylvania.  Noon and 7:00 p.m.

May 13-15-- Save the Date: DCNR Watershed Forestry Summit

June 10-- Penn State Extension (10 of 10) Pennsylvania Forests Webinar Seminar Series - The Use of Slash Walls to Exclude Deer and Regenerate Native Forest Tree Species.  Noon and 7:00 p.m.

September 25-- Penn State Extension Dive Deeper Summit For Water Educators. Harrisburg.

[Posted: February 25, 2025]

3/3/2025