Browsing by Author "Ross, Burton Blake"
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- Assessing the Contamination Risk of Private Well Water Supplies in VirginiaBourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Tech, 2001-07-18)When well water becomes contaminated to the extent that is does not meet EPA drinking water quality standards, it is considered unsafe for consumption. Nitrate and total coliform bacteria are both health contaminants and are both regulated in public water systems. A nitrate concentration of 10 mg/L or higher is considered unsafe, as is the presence of total coliform bacteria. Well degradation, inadequate well construction, and aquifer contamination can all result in contamination of well water. Factors such as well type, well age, well depth, treatment devices, population density, household plumbing pipe materials, and nearby pollution sources may affect household water quality. The specific objective of this study was to determine which factors influence nitrate levels and total coliform presence/absence of household well water. If possible, these influencing factors would be used to develop a relationship that would allow household residents to predict the nitrate level and total coliform presence/absence of their well water. As a result, a means of predicting the contamination risk to a specific well water supply under a given set of conditions, in addition to increasing awareness, could provide the homeowner with a rationale for further investigating the possibility of contamination. Existing data from the Virginia Cooperative Extension Household Water Quality Testing and Information Program were assembled for analyses in this project. The data consisted of 9,697 private household water supplies sampled from 1989-1999 in 65 Virginia counties. Initially, the entire state of Virginia was analyzed, followed by the five physiographic provinces of Virginia: the Blue Ridge, Coastal Plain, Cumberland Plateau, Ridge & Valley, and Piedmont. Ultimately, Louisa County was investigated to evaluate the possibility that better models could be developed using smaller land areas and, consequently, less geological variation. Least squares regression, both parametrically and non-parametrically, was used to determine the influence of various factors on nitrate levels. Similarly, logistic regression was used to determine the influence of the same parameters on nitrate categories, presence/absence of total coliform, and risk categories. Using stepwise model-building techniques, based primarily on statistical significance (p-values) and partial coefficient of determination (partial-R2), first and second-order linear models were evaluated. The best-fitting model only explained 58.5% of the variation in nitrate and none of the models fit well enough to be used for prediction purposes. However, the models did identify which factors were, in a statistical sense, significantly related to nitrate levels and total coliform presence/absence and quantified the strength of these relationships in terms of the percent of variation explained.
- Assessing the feasibility and potential expansion of large-scale riparian irrigation in VirginiaTaylor, Daniel B.; Ross, Burton Blake; Vellidis, G.; Lanier, Alan B. (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985-09)The purpose of this study was to develop a method, using readily available information, for evaluating the feasibility of t he expansion of large scale riparian based irrigation. This report represents the first in a series of reports addressing this issue. Its primary purpose is to document the methods which were employed in the feasibility analysis. Microcomputer irrigation system design models were developed to calculate the annual costs of installing and operating center pivot, traveling gun, big gun, and portable pipe irrigation systems. The information generated by these design models was summarized by estimating a series of equations using ordinary least squares regression techniques. These equations can be employed by planners and policy makers in Virginia to evaluate the potential of future conflicts in riparian water use arising from irrigation. An example using the equations in a benefit-cost analysis was presented for Havover County where it borders the Pamunkey River. It was recommended that this procedure be further refined to increase its flexibility , that data bases be developed for the areas of potential riparian based irrigation, and that the entire evaluation procedure be computerized and made more user friendly to facilitate its use by water use policy makers and planners.
- Best management practices for irrigation: abatement of nonpoint-source pollution from agricultural irrigationLambert, J. David; Ross, Burton Blake (Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, 1985-07)Irrigators can take positive measures to prevent irrigation from contributing to nonpoint-source pollution.
- Comparison of 1-D and 2-D modeling approaches for simulating runoff and sediment transport in overload areasHong, Seonggu (Virginia Tech, 1995-10-26)One-dimensional and two-dimensional modeling approaches were compared for their abilities in predicting overland runoff and sediment transport. Both the I-D and 2-D models were developed to test the hypothesis that the 2-0 modeling approach could improve the model predictions over the 1-0 approach, based on the same mathematical representations of physical processes for runoff and sediment transport. Runoff processes were described based on the St. Venant equations and the sediment transport was based on the continuity relationship. The finite element method was employed to solve the governing equations. The nonlinear, time-dependent system of equations obtained by the finite element formulation was solved by the substitution method and the implicit method. The models were verified by comparing the analytical solutions presented by Singh and Regl (1983) and the solution by the Izzard method (Chow, 1959). The comparison showed that both the 1-0 and 2-D models provided reasonable estimations of runoff and sediment loadings. Evaluation of the models was based on four different hypothetical case studies and two experimental studies. The hypothetical case studies investigated the effects of the discretization level, cross slopes, and the size of the field area on the model predictions. The two experimental studies provided a comparison of model predictions with observed data. The results of the hypothetical case studies indicated that the maximum differences in the model predictions at the outlet were about 30% between the two modeling approaches. When the discretization level was sufficient to reasonably describe the shape of the surface, the 1-0 model prediction were almost the same as the 2-D model predictions. Even though cross slopes existed in the field, the differences in the model predictions at the outlet were not significant between the 1-0 and 2-0 models. The differences in the model predictions of runoff and sediment loading were not affected by the changes in the size of the field. Since the 2-D model resulted in 10 to 20% differences in model predictions when different boundary conditions were used and the 1-D model predictions were also affected by the choice of element length, the differences in model predictions at the outlet, shown in model application results, which were less than 30% in most cases, could not be considered significant. The model applications to the experimental studies also showed that no substantial differences existed in the model predictions between the I-D and 2-D models. Even though the spatial distributions of the flow depth and sediment concentration were significantly different, runoff volumes and sediment yields at the outlet showed less than 10% differences. Compared with the I-D model, the 2-D model required much more computational time and effort to simulate the same problems. In addition, convergence problems due to negative flow depths limited the 2-D model applications. The 2-D simulations required more than twice the computational time needed for the I-D simulations. As long as the model predictions at the outlet are concerned, the much greater computational costs and efforts could not justify the use of the 2-D approach. Based on the simulation results from the selected hypothetical case and experimental studies, the 2-D model provided better representations of spatial distribution of flow depths and sediment concentrations than the I-D model. However, no substantial differences in predictions of total runoff volume and sediment yield at the outlet area were found between the I-D and 2-D models.
- Effects of tillage system, crop residue level, and fertilizer application technique on losses of phosphorus and pesticides from agricultural landsMostaghimi, Saied; Shanholtz, Vernon O.; Dillaha, Theo A. III; Kenimer, Ann Lee, 1964-; Ross, Burton Blake; Younos, Tamim M. (Virginia Water Resources Research Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1987-09)A rainfall simulator was used to study the effectiveness of three best management practices - no-till, residue level and fertilizer application technique - for reducing sediment, phosphorus, and pesticide losses from agricultural lands. Simulated rainfall was applied to 12 experimental field plots, each 0.01 ha in size. The plots were divided into conventional and no-till systems. During phase I, the effectiveness of two fertilizer application methods - subsurface injection and surface application - were investigated for the two tillage systems. In phase II, three crop residue levels - 0, 750, and 1500 kg/ha - were studied within each tillage system. Granular fertilizer was applied at the rate 46 kg/ha. Atrazine and 2,4-D were applied at the rates of 2.24 and 0.56 kg/ha active ingredient, respectively. Fertilizer and herbicides were applied 24 to 48 hours before the start of rain simulation. Water samples were collected from the base of each plot and analyzed for sediment, nutrient, and pesticide content. No-till was found to be very effective in reducing runoff and sediment losses. No-till with high residue level produced the greatest reductions in runoff and sediment losses, and the highest reduction for both runoff and sediment occurred with no-till and 1500 kg/ha crop residue level. No-till reduced sediment loss by 98% and total runoff volume by 92%. The injection fertilization method reduced 0-P losses by 39% for no-till and 35% for conventional tillage. Reductions in T-P losses due to no-till practice were 89% and 91 % for surface and injection fertilizer application methods, respectively, compared to the conventional system. Averaged across all fertilizer treatments, an equivalent of 0.9% and 8.9% of the total-P fertilizer applied to the plots was lost from no-till and conventional tillage plots, respectively. Concentrations of atrazine and 2,4-0 in runoff and sediment were greater from the no-till plots than from the conventional plots, but total losses were less. Water was the major carrier for both herbicides, although the concentration of 2,4-D in sediment was higher than that of water. Averaged over all plots, the atrazine losses were 2.9% of the applied amount for conventional tillage and 0.3% for no-till. The corresponding values for 2,4-0 were 0.3% and 0.02%.
- Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Skimmer Versus the Perforated Riser in Sedimentation BasinsHoechst, Lisa Marie (Virginia Tech, 1997-12-04)Erosion, transportation, and deposition of sediment into receiving waters can have substantial environmental and economic impacts. Sedimentation basins are a remediation technique used to limit sediment transport from earth disturbance activities. Retention efficiency is used as a measure of a sedimentation basin's effectiveness. Several factors influence retention efficiency including the type of principal spillway used. The most common spillway is the perforated riser which dewaters the basin throughout its entire vertical profile. However, a relatively new outlet device, the skimmer, has been developed, which dewaters the basin from the water surface. A laboratory study was conducted to compare the skimmer with the perforated riser for three different soil types and determine if there were any significant differences in the trapping efficiencies of the two outlets. The test basin dewatered over a three hour period. The parameters observed were dewatering rate, effluent sediment concentration, sediment loss rate, and retention efficiency. The skimmer treatments consistently had higher values of sediment retention efficiencies. A statistical analysis performed on the retention efficiency data showed that retention efficiency was not influenced by any combination of outlet and soil type and that outlet was significant at the 5% level. Overall, the skimmer outperformed the perforated riser for all soil types tested. Additionally, retention efficiencies were predicted for shorter dewatering times. The results indicated shorter dewatering times may have smaller impacts on the retention efficiency of basins where the skimmer is utilized rather than the perforated riser.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Accomack and Northampton Counties, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Allison, L. S.; Belote, J. N.; Diem, J. F.; Holden, B. E.; Kellam, P. M.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2000-11)During Fall1999 in Accomack and Northampton Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these two counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the projects, 353 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these two counties as iron/manganese, total dissolved solids, and bacteria. Additionally, a number of samples were determined to have concentrations of sodium high enough to possibly lead to health complications for at-risk segments of the population. Following completion of the program, a survey was mailed to the 353 participants. One hundred and ninety-seven participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. Nearly two-thirds of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Ten percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or more of the following actions: purchase or rent water treatment equipment, use bottled water drinking/cooking, and contact a state agency for further assistance.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Amelia and Powhatan Counties, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Burke, K. W.; Henry, M. L.; Hobbs, F. C.; Pessner, E. D.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 1999-09)During Summer/Fall 1998 in Amelia and Powhatan Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these two counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the projects, 309 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these two counties as iron/manganese, corrosivity, and bacteria. Additionally, a number of samples were determined to have concentrations of nitrate high enough to possibly lead to health complications for at-risk segments of the population. Following completion of the programs, a survey was mailed to the 309 participants. Ninety-five participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. Nearly two-thirds of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Thirty percent of all participants had, or planned to, shock chlorinate the water system.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell Counties, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Smith, Helen W.; Seay, William W.; Thaxton, J. P.; Irvin, K. C.; McClenny, L. C.; Eberly, Eric; Lee, A. O.; Baker, Scott M.; White, R. C.; Sanderson, R. L.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 1999-05)During Spring/Summer 1998 in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these four counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the project, 490 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these four counties as iron/manganese, corrosivity, and bacteria. After the completion of the general water testing program, water supplies from 12 households were resampled for the testing of 16 pesticides and other chemical compounds. None of the samples had a concentration of any of these contaminants exceeding EPA Health Advisory of Maximum Contaminant Levels. Furthermore, there were no detections of any compound observed. Following completion of the programs, a survey was mailed to the 490 participants. Two hundred and fifty-six participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. More than two-thirds of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Fifteen percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or both of the following actions: shock chlorinate the water system and purchase or rent water treatment equipment.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Augusta County, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Campbell, C. L.; Swisher, Jerry M.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2000-07)During Summer 1999, a program of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, was conducted in Augusta County, Virginia. Participation in the water quality program was made available to any Augusta County resident who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the project, 153 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chlorid fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total colifor and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in Augusta County as iron/manganese, hardness, total dissolved solids, and bacteria. Additionally, a number of samples were determined to have concentrations of sodium high enough to possibly lead to health complications for at-risk segments of the population. After the completion of the general water testing program, water supplies from 5 households were resampled for the testing of 23 pesticides and other chemical compounds. None of the samples had a concentration of any of these contaminants exceeding EPA Health Advisor or Maximum Contaminant Levels. A total of five detections were observed in three separate samples. Following completion of the program, a survey was mailed to the 153 participants. Ninety-four participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason being concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. More than one-half of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Ten percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or all of the following actions: purchase 1 rent water treatment equipment, improve existing water treatment, and shock chlorinate the water system.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Bath and Highland Counties, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Leech, Rodney; Campbell, C. L.; Whitmore, S. A.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2001-04)During Fall 2000 in Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these two counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the projects, 60 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E.coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these two counties as iron/manganese, hardness, and bacteria. Following completion of the programs, a survey was mailed to the 60 participants. Thirty-one participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. Nearly three-fourths of the households who reported having at least one water quality of their water supply. Twenty percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or more of the following actions: shock chlorinate the water system, improve the physical condition of the water source, and contact a state agency for further assistance.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Bland and Giles Counties, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Danner, D. R.; Scott, J. A.; Barnes, L. Dawn; Childers, L. A.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2000-01)During Spring 1999 in Bland and Giles Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these two counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the projects, 153 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria.These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these two counties as iron/manganese, hardness, and bacteria. Additionally, a number of samples were determined to have concentrations of sodium and nitrate high enough to possibly lead to health complications for at-risk segments of the population. Following completion of the programs, a survey was mailed to the 153 participants. Seventy-two participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason( s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. Nearly three-fifths of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Ten percent or more of all participants had, or planned to, take one or more of the following actions: shock chlorinate the water system, purchase or rent water treatment equipment, and contact a state agency for further assistance.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Brunswick and Nottoway Counties, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Gregg, Cynthia L.; Morris, J. L.; Brydie, R. S.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2000-12)During Spring 2000 in Brunswick and Nottoway Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these two counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the projects, 115 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these two counties as iron/manganese, corrosivity, and bacteria. Following completion of the programs, a survey was mailed to the 115 participants. Fifty-seven participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. Two-thirds of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Fourteen percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or more of the following actions: shock chlorinate the water system, use bottled water drinking/cooking, and temporary disinfection, such as boiling water.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Buckingham, Cumberland and Nelson countiesRoss, Burton Blake; Austin, Edith A.; Hanes, E. A.; Lachance, Michael W.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 1999-10)During Fall 1998 in Buckingham, Cumberland, and Nelson Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these three counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the projects, 238 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these three counties as iron/manganese, corrosivity, and bacteria. Additionally, a number of samples were determined to have concentrations of nitrate high enough to possibly lead to health complications for at-risk segments of the population. Following completion of the programs, a survey was mailed to the 238 participants. Ninety-one participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. More than four-fifths of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Ten percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or more of the following actions: purchase or rent water treatment equipment, contact a state agency for assistance or additional information, and shock chlorinate the water system.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Dinwiddie and Prince George Counties, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Parrish, Michael J.; Schmidt, W. W.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 1999-12)During Fall 1998 in Dinwiddie and Prince George Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these two counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the projects, 520 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these two counties as iron/manganese, corrosivity, and bacteria. Additionally, a number of samples were determined to have concentrations of nitrate high enough to possibly lead to health complications for at-risk segments of the population. After the completion of the general water testing program, water supplies from 27 households were resampled for the testing of 25 pesticides and other chemical compounds. Only one of the samples had a concentration of any of these contaminants exceeding EPA Health Advisory of Maximum Contaminant Levels. Furthermore, a total of only seven detections were observed in four separate samples. Following completion of the programs, a survey was mailed to the 520 participants. One hundred and eighty-four participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. Four-fifths of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Ten percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or more of the following actions: shock chlorinate the water system, purchase or rent water treatment equipment, and use bottled water for drinking/cooking.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Essex, King and Queen, King William, and Middlesex Counties, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Balderson, T. Keith; Lawrence, C. L.; Moore, David M.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2000-03)During Spring 1999 in Essex, King and Queen, King William, and Middlesex Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these four counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the projects, 342 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these four counties as iron/manganese, corrosivity, and bacteria, although the occurrence and extent of these problems varied across the four counties. Chloride and total dissolved solids were particular problems only in Middlesex County. Additionally, a number of samples in all four counties were determined to have concentrations of sodium and nitrate high enough to possibly lead to health complications for at-risk segments of the population. After the completion of the general water testing program, water supplies from 15 households were resampled for the testing of 29 pesticides and other chemical compounds. None of the samples had a concentration of any of these contaminants exceeding EPA Health Advisory or Maximum Contaminant Levels. Furthermore, a total of only five detections were observed in five separate samples. Following completion of the programs, a survey was mailed to the 342 participants. One hundred and seven participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. Nearly three-fourths of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Thirteen percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or both of the following actions: shock chlorinate the water system and use bottled water for drinking/cooking.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Floyd County, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Barnes, L. Dawn; Gardner, D. L.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 1999-02)During Spring 1998, a program of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, was conducted in Floyd County, Virginia. Participation in the water quality program was made available to any Floyd County resident who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the project, 101 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in Floyd County as iron/manganese, corrosivity, and bacteria. Following completion of the program, a survey was mailed to the 101 participants. Forty-nine participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason being concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. Nearly two-thirds of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Fourteen percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or more of the following actions: improve existing water treatment equipment, shock chlorinate the water system, and purchase or rent water treatment equipment.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Louisa County, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Riddell, J. E.; Robinson, P. H.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2000-07)During Summer and Fall 1999, a program of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, was conducted in Louisa County, Virginia. Participation in the water quality program was made available to any Louisa County resident who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the project, 383 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in Louisa County as iron/manganese, corrosivity, and bacteria. Following completion of the program, a survey was mailed to the 383 participants. One hundred and sixty-three participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason( s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason being concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. More than three-fourths of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Eleven percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or more of the following actions: shock chlorinate the water system, pump out septic tank, contact a state ageny for additional assistance, and purchase or rent water treatment equipment.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Richmond and Westmoreland Counties, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Tabulenas, T.; Johnson, Sam; Liddington, Kelly J.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 1999-04)During Spring 1998 in Richmond and Westmoreland Counties, Virginia, programs of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, were conducted. Participation in the water quality programs was made available to any resident of these two counties who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the projects, 135 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in these two counties as iron/manganese, corrosivity, and bacteria. Additionally, a number of samples were determined to have concentrations of sodium and nitrate high enough to possibly lead to health complications for at-risk segments of the population. After the completion of the general water testing program, water supplies from 7 households were resampled for the testing of 23 pesticides and other chemical compounds. None of the samples had a concentration of any of these contaminants exceeding EPA Health Advisory of Maximum Contaminant Levels. Furthermore, a total of only four detections were observed, all of which were trifluralin. Following completion of the programs, a survey was mailed to the 135 participants. Forty participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason( s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason was concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. More than one-half of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Ten percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or more of the following actions: use bottled water for drinking/cooking and shock chlorinate the water system.
- Evaluation of household water quality in Rockingham County, VirginiaRoss, Burton Blake; Bendfeldt, Eric S.; Dransfield, M. G.; Whitmore, S. A.; Parrott, Kathleen R.; Bourne, Amanda C. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2000-08)During Summer 1999, a program of household water quality education, which included water sampling, testing, and diagnosis, was conducted in Rockingham County, Virginia. Participation in the water quality program was made available to any Rockingham County resident who utilized a private, individual water supply. During the course of the project, 300 households submitted water samples which were analyzed for iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, pH, saturation index, copper, sodium, nitrate, and total coliform and E. coli bacteria. These analyses identified the major household water quality problems in Rockingham County as iron/manganese, hardness, total disolved solids, and bacteria. Additionally, a number of samples were determined to have concentrations of sodium and nitrate high enough to possibly lead to health complications for at-risk segments of the population. After the completion of the general water testing program, water supplies from 16 households were resampled for the testing of 23 pesticides and other chemical compounds. None of the samples had a concentration of any of these contaminants exceeding EPA Health Advisory or Maximum Contaminant Levels. A total of eleven detections were observed in seven separate samples. Following completion of the program, a survey was mailed to the 300 participants. One hundred and thirty-eight participants returned survey forms on which they identified their reason(s) for participating in such a program; the primary reason being concern about safety of their water supply. Returned survey forms also provided insight into measures participants had already taken, or planned to take, to improve the quality of their water supply. More than one-half of the households who reported having at least one water quality problem had taken, or planned to take, at least one measure to improve the quality of their water supply. Fifteen percent or more of all participants had taken, or planned to take, one or both of the following actions: purchase or rent water treatment equipment and shock chlorinate the water system.
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