WORKSHOPS OFFERED TO TRAIN PRIVATE WELL OWNERS

Pennsylvania is home to over one million private water wells and springs but it is one of the few states that do not provide statewide regulations to protect these rural drinking water supplies.　 In 2004, Penn State Cooperative Extension and several partner agencies created the Master Well Owner Network (MWON), a group of trained volunteers who are dedicated to promoting the proper construction, testing, and maintenance of private water wells, springs and cisterns throughout Pennsylvania.　 Since its inception, hundreds of MWON volunteers have been trained in 64 counties throughout Pennsylvania.　 These volunteers have, in turn, educated tens of thousands of private water system owners across the state.　

In 2012, area residents interested in becoming a trained Master Well Owner volunteer will have two opportunities.　　 An online MWON volunteer training will occur between February 6, 2012 and March 19, 2012.　 Volunteers in the online training receive weekly emails containing links to relevant reading in the MWON handbook (A Guide to Private Water Systems in Pennsylvania), a 45-minute video presentation for each chapter, and a short online exam.　 Participants in online training will largely be able to determine their own training schedule. Volunteers with questions can attend one optional live online meeting at the end of the course.　 Participants must score a cumulative 70% on all of the online exams to be certified as a MWON volunteer. Registration for the online course is limited to 25 participants. More information on the online course is available at: http://extension.psu.edu/water/mwon/volunteer/online-mwon-volunteer-training

Residents of McKean and surrounding counties will also be offered an opportunity to attend a training workshop on how to properly manage their home’s private water system (wells, springs, or cisterns). This workshop is offered as part of the "Master Well Owner Network".　 In return, the volunteers must go out into their local community to educate others about the importance of proper management of private drinking water supplies.　 "During the training, we’ll cover proper well location, construction, and maintenance, land-use activities associated with individual pollutants, drinking water standards, water testing, and water treatment," says Jim Clark, Penn State Extension Educator.

All volunteers will receive a handbook and other educational materials, a free lunch, a certificate for completion of the training workshop, access to Penn State Water Experts, and an invitation to the Pennsylvania Groundwater Association summer conference.

Resource professionals such as Penn State Cooperative Extension, the Pennsylvania Ground Water Association, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency will offer this training on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the 911 Training Center in Smethport, PA, McKean County.　

To become part of this network or for more information, please contact Jim Clark at 814-887-5613 or by email at jac20@psu.edu. Information and a volunteer application can be found at http://extension.psu.edu/water/mwon.　 Space is limited and advanced registration is required.