To help ensure an abundant supply of safe water for people, crops and livestock, Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has launched a water-testing program, which will be administered by the college's Agricultural Analytical Services Lab.

"About 3.5 million rural Pennsylvanians rely on more than one million private wells for their drinking water, and about 20,000 new wells are drilled each year," says Bryan Swistock, water resources senior extension associate. "We hope by encouraging people to get their water tested, we can help them to improve their water quality and to safeguard their health."

Swistock points out that private water supplies in Pennsylvania are not regulated by the state or federal government, and well owners are responsible for maintaining the quality of their own water. "However, about half of the state's wells that have been tested fail to meet at least one drinking-water standard," he says.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established primary and secondary drinking-water standards. Primary standards apply to contaminants -- such as coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead -- that cause health problems. Secondary standards address iron, manganese, chloride and other pollutants that cause aesthetic problems, such as stains, odors or off-tastes. Penn State's program will provide well owners with reports detailing how their water-test results compare to these EPA standards.

Similar testing will be done for water used for livestock consumption. "When dairy and livestock producers are trying to diagnose performance problems with their animals, water is one nutrient that often is overlooked," says Virginia Ishler, nutrient-management specialist in dairy and animal science.

"It's not uncommon for aesthetic problems, such as odors and tastes, to cause water intake in cattle to drop, which in turn can reduce milk production," Ishler says. "Less frequently, bacterial contamination can adversely affect animal health. Offering this testing program will give us a chance to help producers diagnose and correct problems that might be limiting productivity and profitability."

Two testing programs for irrigation water -- for greenhouses/nurseries and for turf -- will be offered. The greenhouse/nursery testing protocols will focus primarily on nutrient content, according to Rob Berghage, associate professor of horticulture.

"Water quality and fertility are critical to greenhouse and nursery operators," he says. "Managing nutrient content is especially important for growers using recirculating systems. Too much or too little nutrients can harm plant health."

Berghage explains that contamination issues also can be a concern, particularly in "beneficial re-use" systems where water is being recycled from sewage or industrial plants. In addition, he says, knowing what's in irrigation water can help growers manage nutrients and chemicals in run-off, minimizing their environmental impact and helping to enhance water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

To submit a water sample for testing, customers first must obtain a free water-test kit from Penn State's Ag Analytical Services Lab or from a participating county office of Penn State Cooperative Extension.

The kit includes shipping materials, instructions on how to take a sample and a submission form. Residents will choose from a range of testing options available for each water type (drinking, irrigation or livestock) and will send the kit, with the appropriate fee, to the lab. Test results and relevant fact sheets or recommendations typically will be returned in two to three weeks.

For more information, contact your county Penn State Cooperative Extension office or the Ag Analytical Services Lab at 814-863-0841 or send email to: aaslab@psu.edu .

NewsClip: Penn State Launches Water-Testing Program

7/27/2007