"Stay Connected in The Texas Hill Country" • Current News For Leakey & Surrounding Areas

Submitted By: Joel Pigg County Extension Agent –Ag/NR Real County

3/4/10

Private Water Wells should be tested annually.  The Real, Edwards, Kinney and Kimble County offices of Texas AgriLife Extension and the Real Edwards Water Conservation and Reclamation District are sponsoring a water well screening day for area residents on Tuesday, April 6^th at the Real County Courthouse. Samples must be turned in on the morning of April 6^th and will be run that day. 

             This well screening day is designed to inform private water well owners and users on the condition of their well water of possible contamination from common contaminants.  These contaminants are fecal coliform, salinity and nitrate.  The cost is $5 per sample.

 The presence of fecal coliform in water indicates that feces (bodily waste from humans or animals) may have contaminated the water. Water contaminated with feces have microorganisms present that can cause a number of “waterborne” diseases such as  cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. 

 Nitrates in ground water at levels of 10 milligrams per liter mg/L or parts per million) is considered unsafe for human consumption.  Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L can disrupt the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body.  Nitrate is converted to nitrite which combines with hemoglobin, the chemical that carries oxygen in the blood, to form methemoglobin.  Oxygen can not bind with methemoglobin, therefore, oxygen is not carried throughout the body.  As a result, oxygen starvation occurs.  This condition is called methemoglobinemia. If left untreated, death may result. Infants less that 6 months in age and young livestock are most susceptible.

 Salinity in the form of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) will also be determined on each sample. 

You will need to pick up a sample bag and instructions from the Real, Edwards, Kinney or Kimble County AgriLife Extension office or the Real Edwards Water Conservation and Reclamation District Office. You can contact the Ral County Extension office by calling 830-232-6673 to receive an approved water sampling bag and instructions for taking your well water sample.  It is very important that only sampling bags from the County Extension office or Water District Office be used and all instructions for proper sampling followed to insure accurate results.

 A meeting over Rainwater Harvesting will be held on Tuesday, April 6^th at the Real County Courthouse at 6:30 pm and results will be mailed on April 8^th. 

 Educational programs of Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.  The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.