Michigan State University coordinates the Drinking Water and Human Health
Theme for the Great Lakes Regional Water Quality Program.
Regional Overview ----- Great Lakes Overview ----- Links
Featured Initiatives
Building Capacity of E. coli Monitoring by Volunteer Networks:
A Multi-state Effort
 A comprehensive training program on bacteria sampling for volunteer monitors, including an evaluation of test kit methods, is underway across the Great Lakes Region.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. 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. Read more...
Assessing the Impacts of Arsenic on Midwestern Dairy Operations
The USEPA’s decision to lower the standard for arsenic in drinking water from 50
to 10 ppb has elevated public concern about potential health risks from naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater. In west central Minnesota, over 50% of wells sampled in an earlier study had arsenic concentrations greater than 10 ppb; about 8% were over 50 ppb. Three dairy farms in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin were tested for arsenic in well water; bulk milk; feed and forage; and hair, hooves, blood, and urine from five cows on each of the four farms. Read more...
Social Dimensions of Private Well Water Testing Read about this project...
Opportunities for Collaboration
Water research and outreach that begin in a single state are often the foundation for collaborative, multi-state programs and projects. The following are just a few single-state initiatives that contribute to the Drinking Water and Human Health Theme. If you are interested in collaborating on a related program, please contact Lois Wolfson, Ruth Kline-Robach or Pam Hunt (see contact info at left).
Safe Water for the Future
Indiana's “Safe Water for the Future” website features Drinking Water FAQs and compilations of often-requested information on public water supplies. Visit the site at http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/SafeWater/
Sourcewater Protection
Michigan has hosted groundwater, source water and wellhead workshops for water resources and health department and state and local agency staff. Read more....
Groundwater Education, Research, and Technical Assistance
The UW-Stevens Point and UW-Extension Groundwater Center, which is affiliated with the Center for Watershed Science and Education, helps citizens and governments manage Wisconsin's groundwater wisely, through education, public information, applied research, and technical assistance. Please visit the Groundwater Center at http://www.uwsp.edu/CNR/gndwater/
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