Human health can be greatly affected by the quality of our surface and ground water, particular those waters that serve as sources of drinking water or are used for recreational purposes. Contaminants come from human and livestock waste

Helping communities and individuals protect their sources of drinking water from contamination is a role that Extension Water Qualtiy programs do. By providing information, offering training and facilitation, and conducting research are ways that Extension helps protect human health. Below are several examples of Extension education and research programs.

Indiana

E. Coli and Indiana lakes and Streams. E.coli, a common pathogen (disease-causing organism) found in livestock and human waste, is a concern in many Indiana lakes and streams. Concerns about E. coli center on the threat to recreational activities such as swimming, wading, or boating caused by the presence of these bacteria, and potentially other harmful organisms. Purdue University Extension provides individuals and communities with information on sources of e.coli, potential health effects, and ways they can reduce E. coli numbers. Additionally, researchers in the College of Agriculture and Biological Engineering, in partnership with the E. coli Interagency Task Force are conducting studies to help identify sources of e.coli within a watershed. This research aims to better enable watershed managers and communities to identify sources of e.coli that impact their water resources so that better control and management practices can be implemented.

The Onsite Sewage Treatment Program at the University of Minnesota is dedicated to protecting public health and the environment through proper onsite wastewater treatment. Program staff includes engineers, soil scientists, extension educators and university faculty. Specific objectives of our program are to:

• Teach proper system operation and maintenance,
• Teach proper design, installation and inspection,
• Provide information about new and existing technology, and
• Assist local governmental units with regulations and planning.

A part of this program includes specific research on standard and alternative on-site sewage treatment systems. Partnering with several agencies, the University of Minnesota evaluates various individual sewage treatment systems (ISTS). Conventional ISTS do not remove groundwater contaminants such as nitrogen, particularly in geologically sensitve area, and failing ISTS in areas with high water tables can lead to non-point source pollution. Research results can be found on the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program web page.

Ohio

The Soil Erosion Technology Learning Lab offers several workshops for a variety of audiences including rural communities and townships, contractors, designers, installers and private homeowners. The SETLL serves to test appropriate wastewater treatment technologies and teach practices through workshops, field days and graduate student programs.