CITIZEN SCIENCE: SOLVING GROUNDWATER ISSUES IN NEW ENGLAND

Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulates public water systems, private drinking water wells are monitored by the landowner. Approximately 15% of Americans use private drinking water. This number increases to approximately 20% in New England (USEPA 2008). Without state and federal regulations, maintenance and testing does not always occur. Water quality is difficult to determine by sight, taste, or smell which makes testing critical. Some contaminants of concern include the following: microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and radionuclides (USEPA 2008). Specifically, studies in New England have indicated the following contaminants: methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MtBE), radon, and arsenic (USEPA 2008). This poster will present efforts to address these concerns. Four watersheds in New England were selected to investigate water quality in drinking water wells. Testing will proceed via a comprehensive groundwater quality curriculum, Groundwater Education through Water Evaluation & Testing (GET WET!). GET WET! will be implemented in K-12 schools and 4-H afterschool programs. These students will evaluate and test private well waters for nitrates, hardness, chloride, pH, salinity, conductivity, and iron bacteria. The poster will present a comprehensive evaluation plan to examine the differences in knowledge, attitude, and behavior pre- and post- GET WET! participation among household members, students, teachers, and administrators. Overall, this research project will provide a new well water monitoring program to communities, and determine the effectiveness of citizen science within the study sites.