Evaluation of household water quality in Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia

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.