UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Extension offers educational resources for those who have private water supplies, available in online courses, workshops, webinars, guides, publications and articles.
Penn State Extension offers a variety of publications and guides focused on private water resources, including Spanish options.
- “A Guide to Private Water Systems in Pennsylvania,” This manual is intended as a guide for private water system owners in Pennsylvania. From proper location and construction to recommended testing and treatment strategies, it can help homeowners make educated decisions about their water supply.
- “Water Education Tools for Youth,” This bundle of award-winning water education tools is designed to engage youth in learning opportunities about water, science and technology, and help to create a future generation of water stewards and innovators.
- “Water Tests: What Do the Numbers Mean?” This publication is designed to help homeowners translate their water test report into more understandable terms. Topics include reasons to test your water, how to use a certified laboratory, a typical water test report, drinking water standards and descriptions of common pollutants.
Various workshops, webinars and events will be hosted throughout the year. Workshops currently offered as part of the private water supply resources include:
- “Safe Drinking Water Clinic,” In this workshop, participants can learn how to properly test their water, explore treatment options, and understand essential maintenance and inspection practices to ensure long-term water quality and system reliability. Register here.
- A self-paced, online course, “Private Wells and Water Systems Management,” offers participants the opportunity to learn how to determine the proper location for a well, assess potential pollution sources, determine which types of testing should be completed and how often, and identify possible treatment strategies.
The course includes reading, educational videos and an interactive water well tour. Quizzes are given at the end of each course section to measure learning progress. The course is designed to take around four hours to complete.
More information on private water resources is available on the Penn State Extension website.