Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Department of Biological Systems EngineeringVirginia Cooperative ExtensionRoss, Burton BlakeSmith, Helen W.Seay, William W.Thaxton, J. P.Irvin, K. C.McClenny, L. C.Eberly, EricLee, A. O.Baker, Scott M.White, R. C.Sanderson, R. L.Parrott, Kathleen R.Bourne, Amanda C.2013-11-152013-11-151999-05http://hdl.handle.net/10919/24175During 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.vi, 34 pagesapplication/pdfen-USCC0 1.0 UniversalVirginia Cooperative Extension materials are available for public use, re-print, or citation without further permission, provided the use includes credit to the author and to Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University.Water quality -- Virginia -- Amherst CountyLD5655.A522 A345Water quality -- Virginia -- Bedford CountyWater quality -- Virginia -- Appomattox CountyWater quality -- Virginia -- Campbell CountyExtension publication