The health and livelihood of Americans depend on the availability of a safe drinking water supply. In some portions of the nation drinking water is a scarce resource, while in other areas abundant water supplies are available. Community water systems now supply drinking water to over 80 percent of the U.S. population. Other citizens drink water from private sources, mostly wells. Increasing water demands from a growing population, economic expansion and increasing use per capita mean that we need to emphasize the wise use, proper management and protection of this resource.

Both community and private sources of drinking water are susceptible to a myriad of chemical contaminants, biological pollutants and nuisance water problems that may vary depending on site conditions and other factors. Some of the more common chemical pollutants include pesticides, fertilizers, petroleum products, and industrial solvents. Some problem organisms, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and algae cause nuisance problems with taste and odor while others are potential pathogens. Threats to drinking water quality come from animal and plant production agriculture, industrial activities and even activities around our businesses, residences, recreational areas and transportation systems. Many citizens are becoming more concerned about potential health risks and nuisance problems associated with their drinking water.

great lakes overview

Water resources in the Great Lakes region are part of complex natural systems that are increasingly viewed as being at risk due to a variety of chemical and biological pollutants. Paramount to this issue are potential health threats to drinking water and ultimately human health. Contaminants such as arsenic, nitrate, and E. coli are being found in both surface waters and groundwater and regulations are being revised to address the problem.The Safe Drinking Water Act required EPA to revise the existing 50 parts per billion (ppb) standard for arsenic in drinking water to 10 ppb in January 2006.  Many surface waters have fish consumption advisories due to mercury and other pollutants. As recently as March of 2004, the Food and Drug Administration and the EPA issued a unified consumer advisory on mercury in fish and shellfish for young children, nursing mothers, pregnant women, and women who may become pregnant. According to the EPA National 303d list of water quality impairments, out of the 40 percent of the nation's rivers and streams that are not meeting water quality standards, mercury ranks highest with a total of 8560 impairments reported nationwide followed by pathogens, sedimentation, metals and nutrients (USEPA 2004). With people in the Great Lakes region depending on a safe water supply for both drinking and recreation, it is critical to protect these waters by conducting quality research, disseminating results, and educating citizens concerning the wise use and management of these waters.

social dimensions of private well water testing

Why do people test – or not test – their water? Researchers have some guesses, but they may not be accurate or complete. This project is working in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to characterize the social dimensions of private well testing and identify barriers or challenges that prevent or discourage well owners from getting a water test. Accomplishments to date include establishing state advisory groups to contribute stakeholder perspectives and ensure that results are used, and designing and conducting a tri-state survey that generated 1,687 completed surveys (62% return rate).
The approach has already been shared at two professional conferences (one national) to increase the awareness of the project. The tri-state survey will allow examination of results within and among states and lead to recommendations for how to increase private well testing rates for at risk wells or populations.

Contacts:

Barbara Liukkonen
University of Minnesota Extension
Water Resources Center
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: (612) 625-9256
Email: liukk001@umn.edu

Lori Severtson
University of Wisconsin
Clinical Science Center
Phone: (608) 263-5311
Email: djsevert@wisc.edu

Ruth Kline-Robach
Michigan State University
Institute of Water Research
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
Phone: (517) 355-0224
Email: kliner@msu.edu

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building volunteer capacity to monitor E. coli in surface water

This initiative builds the capacity of volunteer monitoring programs to understand and use the most appropriate E. coli testing protocols and watershed-based sampling strategies. As part of this effort, a variety of test methods used by volunteers have been compared to certified laboratory analyses and recommendations have been made as to which kits perform well when used by citizens. As a result of this project, citizen volunteers have a better understanding of sources and modes of transport of E. coli bacteria in the environment. They have increased knowledge and awareness about what the presence of E. coli bacteria in the environment means to their own health and to community health. Finally, they have gained skills that enable them to address local water quality concerns related to E. coli bacteria, by being able to conduct the monitoring to assess the water in a safe and scientifically valid manner. In short, this project combines the best of the research and Extension missions of Land Grant Universities to support well-informed community involvement in water quality issues.

Contacts:

Jerry Iles
The Ohio State University
OSU-Extension
Piketon, Ohio 45661
Phone: (740) 289-2071
Email: Iles.9@osu.edu

Lois Wolfson
Michigan State University
Institute of Water Research
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
Phone: (517) 353-9222
Email: wolfson1@msu.edu

On the web:
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/regionalwaterquality/Flagships/Volunteer.htm

Publications:
E. coli fact sheet – http://www.uwex.edu/ces/regionalwaterquality/publications/factsheets/ecoli07.pdf
Citizens Monitoring Bacteria – A Training Manual for Monitoring E.coli
                 http://www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer/Ecoli/Manual.htm
The Volunteer Monitor Newsletter – Volume 18(1) –
                 http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/newsletter/volmon18no1.pdf

assessing the impacts of arsenic on midwestern dairy operations

Led by the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center, this project is being conducted by the University of Minnesota Extension Service, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Animal Science, as well as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and University of Wisconsin- Extension.

Previous research has shown that there are elevated arsenic levels in groundwater and well water in western Minnesota, Wisconsin, and other Great Lakes states. With funding from the Extension Great Lakes Regional Water Program we conducted an initial study (2004-2005) on dairy cattle from four farms (in MN and WI) with high arsenic concentrations in well water (>50 ppb). We identified that urine serves as a reliable biomarker of arsenic exposure in dairy cattle and that arsenic was not detected in bulk milk from the four farms. Additional funding from the University of Minnesota’s Agricultural Rapid Response program allowed us to further explore the effects of arsenic on dairy products and beef from dairy cattle exposed to arsenic in drinking water. Feed, mineral supplements, bulk milk, urine, and meat from cull cows was sampled from 18 farms, and cheese was made from milk at farms with high and low arsenic concentrations.

Arsenic was not detected in milk or whey (at 5 ppb detection limit) or in cheese (at 50 ppb detection limit). Arsenic was not detected (at 50 ppb detection limit) in meat samples or organ tissues, except kidney. Work continues to verify kidney arsenic levels and to explore additional funding to characterize animal health risks.

Contact:

Barbara Liukkonen
University of Minnesota Extension
Water Resources Center
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: (612) 625-9256
Email: liukk001@umn.edu

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The public is demanding increased water quality monitoring to ensure our waters are protected from agricultural and urban runoff that leads to elevated pathogen levels in the water. At the same time, citizens and volunteers often gather and distribute water quality sample data without an understanding of pollutant sources or proper sampling techniques. To address these concerns, a comprehensive training program on bacteria sampling for volunteer monitors was initiated. The program included an evaluation of test kit methods (based on usability, accuracy and preference) when used by volunteer monitors.

This project builds upon the strengths of Cooperative Extension Volunteer Monitoring programs in six states in the Upper Midwest ( Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio) to train citizen volunteers specifically in the collection of water samples for bacterial analysis. A multi-state Steering Team is currently evaluating results, building in-state support, and have created training materials in order to build the capacity of volunteer monitoring networks to properly collect bacteria water quality data. Nationally, only 8 of the 26 Volunteer Monitoring Programs sponsored or co-sponsored by Cooperative Extension monitor for bacteria (National Volunteer Monitoring Facilitation Project, 2003). This project benefits existing bacteria monitoring efforts nationally, and provides a wealth of data that can be transferred to the other programs that wish to expand their Volunteer Monitoring programs. The strong link between this project and the National Volunteer Monitoring Facilitation Project will enable this sharing and capacity building to occur. The goals of the project are to:

• Build the capacity of Volunteer Monitoring programs to understand and use the most appropriate E. coli testing protocols (test kits) and watershed-based sampling strategies with their volunteers.
• Develop a comprehensive training program for volunteers on E. coli testing in targeted watersheds in a six-state area.
• Develop and disseminate educational materials about
  E. coli and its associated health risks, sources and reasons for monitoring.
• Increase awareness and acceptance of the use of volunteer-collected water quality data in various watershed programs, including watershed assessments and TMDL development.
• Share results of our work with other states across the country, primarily via the National Volunteer Monitoring Facilitation Project efforts.
• Demonstrate how to set up an appropriate watershed-based E. coli sampling strategy utilizing volunteer networks and begin collecting usable data.

The Project Team was launched with leveraging funds from the Great Lakes Water Quality Leadership Team. The team has also supported the group with additional funds to help with additional monitoring and travel costs.

In 2004, trained volunteers in Indiana and Iowa collected grab samples to evaluate the accuracy, reliability, and usability of several commercially available E. coli test kits. Test kits chosen for this project included Coliscan â Easy Gel (incubated and not incubated), 3M Ô Petrifilm Ô, Coliscan â MF Method, and IDEXX COLISURE™. Samples analyzed by the volunteers were compared to split samples sent to a laboratory certified in E. coli analysis. Following the sampling season, volunteers were surveyed to determine the usability of the various test kits. Based on statistical comparison of the test kits results with lab analysis, the Project Team identified and recommended the test kit methods that best combine accuracy, user-friendliness, and reasonable costs.

In 2005 and 2006, volunteers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio began using two of the test kits while Iowa and Indiana continued using all methods. Similar protocols were followed by all states and volunteers were trained with methods consistent across the six states. All volunteers sent split samples to certified testing labs for E. coli analysis.
A pre-training questionnaire was used to establish the basis of participant knowledge with respect to water quality and bacterial contamination issues. Volunteer knowledge and proficiency in the use of the test kits were tracked over time, and training methods were assessed and revised when necessary. A training manual, website, and training curriculum were also developed.

With over 1100 samples processed, three year's worth of data are now being analyzed to determine the effectiveness and reliability of the test kits in comparison to certified lab results and their usability by volunteers. Results and recommendations will be provided through presentations at national meetings, the website, and a published paper.

This project has resulted in the establishment of informal partnerships with state agencies involved with bacteria monitoring and collaboration with University Extension at each of the six participating states as well as the Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring National Facilitation Project. The information provided will also be transferable to other regions.

This project would not have been accomplished without Section 406 Extension Education funding. From initial start-up funds received through the Great Lakes Water Quality Leadership Team to the main portion of Project funds, 406 funding has enabled the team to conduct this Extension Education project. It will help build credibility of volunteer monitoring by creating a strong research foundation on which programs function.

Contacts:

Barbara Liukkonen
173 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: (612) 625-9256
Email: liukk001@umn.edu

Kris Stepenuck
445 Henry Mall
Madison, WI 53705
Phone: (608) 265-3887
Email: kris.stepenuck@ces.uwex.edu

Project Website: http://www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer/EColi/index.html

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