Northeastern Section - 51st Annual Meeting - 2016

Paper No. 8-4
Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM

PROTECTING GROUNDWATER & HEALTH OF RHODE ISLAND, ONE WELL AT A TIME!


SHAIKH, Mahrukh, Geosciences, University of Rhode Island, 9 E. Alumni Ave, Woodward Hall,, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881-0816, mahrukhshaikh@my.uri.edu

Twenty six percent of Rhode Island depends upon groundwater for their drinking needs. Ten percent of this drinking water is used by private well owners. In Rhode Island, it is the responsibility of the private well owners to test, and maintain the quality of their drinking water. The quality of the well water is affected by natural processes, anthropogenic activities and bedrock constituents of the area. Using farmers’ markets in the well-relying areas of Rhode Island, information was provided using attractive informational displays, award winning brochures, workshops, and answering questions of well owners. The effectiveness of each market was checked using the total number of interested private well owners. The information collected helped in scheduling future markets, and in identifying the areas where more effective outreach needs to be provided.