Testing

Testing

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you to have a general water chemistry analysis of your household water performed and treatments made, free of charge, for the following: iron, manganese, sulfur, sodium, copper, aluminum, zinc, lead, chloride, nitrates, hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids, saturation index to determine corrosivity and acidity (ph).”

Since there is also the potential for bacterial contamination of household water supples due to septic tank drainfields and animal wastes, participants are encouraged to submit an additional water sample for a bacterial analysis for which there will be $12 lab fee.

Should you choose to participate in this program, Mr. Williams explained, you will collect your own water sample and deliver it to the Rappahannock County Extension 'Office from where it will be forwarded to the Agricultural Engineering Water Quality Laboratory at Virginia Tech to be tested for the above-named constituents.

An informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 11 at 7 ,p.m. at Rappahannock County High School for the general public to explain about the grant, threats to groundwater, how the water samples will be taken, the collection dates in May and June and the fol: low-up meetings in June and July. ■ Speakers at the April 11 meeting will include Tommy Williams and Helen Smith, local Extension agents, and Dr. Blake Ross and Dr. Janice Woodard from Virginia Tech, coordinators of the 1990 USDA Extension Water Quality Initiative grant, who will address threats to our groundwater and the health effects of drinking water contaminants.

In addition, Jan Pickrel from the State Water Control Board will discuss the hydrogelogy of Rappahannock County and DRASTIC mapping.

The grant will provide- funds to test 200 wells in Rappahannock County for the general water chem' istry analysis.