Materials | Local Resources | Background Info. for Instructors | Handouts | Websites | Homework Assignment

Lesson 2 - Resources
Acknowledgement: Taken from "Living on the Land 2001"

Materials/Supplies To Be Requested From Participants Before Class Starts

• Map they have made of their property

• Notebook with forms and exercises done to date

• Copies of any records they have on their drinking water quality (water test reports)

• Calculator, paper, writing utensils, rulers

Materials/Supplies Needed For Class

• Flip chart and markers (or dry erase board, chalk board or overhead projector)

• Overhead or PowerPoint computer projection system

• Pointer

• Refreshments (Top)

Local Resources Needed For Class

• Map of local watershed (check with USGS) and topo map of local watershed; make copies that participants can draw on.  Topo maps can be downloaded from www.topozone.com

• Information on common local drinking water problems (call the Health Department or Bureau of Health Protection Services, State Ground Water Program, etc.)

• State drinking water standards; make sure you have the most recent EPA standards as well (available on the web at www.epa.gov)

• List of local laboratories that are certified for drinking water analysis

• Regulations governing septic systems and well installation; state mandated separation distances, etc.

• Information on local well drillers/repair services and septic pumping services (for example, copy the yellow pages) (Top)

Background Information For Instructors

1. Alth, M and Alth, C.  1992.  Wells and Septic Systems.  TAB Books (McGraw Hill).

2. Cobourn, J. and Donaldson, S.  1995.  Small Ranch Manual:  A Guide to Green Pastures and Clean Water.  University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, EB-95-02.  Downloadable at http://www.extension.unr.edu/SmalRnch/SmallRanch.html

3. Eagan, D.J. (editor).  1997.  Home*A*Syst:  An Environmental Risk-Assessment Guide for the Home.  University of Wisconsin and Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service NRAES-87.  Call (607) 255-7654 for information, or contact your state Home Syst coordinator.

4. Olsen, K, Gustafson, D., Liukkonen, B., and Cook, V.  1997.  The Septic System Owner’s Guide.  Minnesota Extension Service, PC6583-5 and EP-6769-S. Contact the Minnesota Extension Service Distribution Center at 1-800-876-8636.  Order # PC-6583-OF2 $4.00 or access on the web at http://www.bae.umn.edu/~septic/Homeowner/index.html

5. Stuve, M.J. and Johnson, R.W.  2001.  Principles and Design of Onsite Waste Disposal with Septic Systems.  Purdue University.  Available for download at http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/septics/src/title.htm

6. University of Wisconsin, Information for Homeowners, Onsite Sewage Treatment Program (many useful fact sheets) http://www.bae.umn.edu/~septic/Homeowner/index.html

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Handouts Needed For Participants

1. Powerpoint presentation outlines as a lesson summary, if desired

2. Drinking Water Well Management Activity Sheet

3. Water Testing Activity Sheet

4. Domestic Well Maintenance Record Activity Sheet

5. Septic System Preclass Evaluation Form Activity Sheet

6. Septic Systems Activity Sheet

7. Septic Systems Maintenance Record Activity Sheet

8. Public Drinking Water Supply Standards Information Sheet

9. Test Your Drinking Water Information Sheet

10. Interpreting A Mineral Analysis Information Sheet

11. Recommended Minimum Separation Distances Between Wells and Potential Sources of Contamination Information Sheet

12. How Can I Protect My Private Water Supply Information Sheet

Note:  Assessment tables #2, 3, and 6 reproduced or adapted with permission from Home*A*Syst:  An Environmental Risk-Assessment Guide for the Home, NRAES-87, developed by the National Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Program in cooperation with NRAES, the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service.  Permission to use these materials was granted by NRAES based on an agreement with the University of Wisconsin, the copyright holder.

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Handouts Needed For Participants (in addition to lesson handouts)

1. PowerPoint presentation outlines as a lesson summary

2. State drinking water standards, if different from EPA standards

3. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office for publications on wells and septic systems, or access documents on the Internet (see the website list)

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1. American Water Works Association, Drinking Water Week, 2001: http://www.awwa.org/dww/
2. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Service Small Acreage Management: http://www.cnr.colostate.edu/RES/rc/small.htm
3. Home*A*Syst: http://www.uwex.edu/homeasyst/
4. National Drinking Water Clearinghouse: http://www.estd.wvu.edu/ndwc/ndwc_homepage.html
5. National Small Flows Clearinghouse: http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/nsfc/nsfc_homepage.html
6. National Well Owners Association: http://www.wellowner.org/
7. North Dakota State University Water Quality and Pesticide Information: http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/pesth2o.htm
8. NSF International – assessment of water treatment systems, bottled water: http://www.nsf.org/
9. Oregon Small Acreage Website: http://www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/pas/factsheet.htm
10. font-family:Arial">Septic Information Website:  http://ww.inspect-ny.com/septbook.htm
11. University of Nebraska Lincoln Cooperative Extension Acreage and Small Farm Insights: http://acreageinsights.unl.edu/index.htm
12. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Small Ranch Manual: http://www.extension.unr.edu/SmalRnch/SmallRanch.html
13. University of Wisconsin, Information for Homeowners, Onsite Sewage Treatment Program (many useful fact sheets):  http://www.bae.umn.edu/~septic/Homeowner/index.html
14. U.S. EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water:  http://www.epa.gov/safewater/
15. U.S. EPA, Safe Drinking Water Act: http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/sdwa/sdwa.html
16. Washington State University Cooperative Extension and Clallam County Small Farm Decision-Makers Guide: http://clallam.wsu.edu/waterquality/decision.html

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1. Find your septic tank and leachfield.  Map their locations on the septic system maintenance record form.  Determine when your tank was last pumped.  If needed, schedule pumping and record on the form provided.

2. Check for leaks in your house.  Dyes can be used in toilet tanks overnight.  Fix any leaky faucets, toilets, etc.

3. Map the location of your wellhead.  Go out and inspect the wellhead.  Do you see any cracks or defects in the area around the well?  Does the soil slope away from the well?  Is there any runoff across the wellhead area?  If you push on the pipe, does it move?  (Fill out the checklist.)

4. Call your local certified drinking water lab for sample collection instructions, and have your water tested if it has been more than one year since the last test.

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