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Newsletter #115 for July 2025 |
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See Us at NEHA's AEC This Month! |
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Are you attending the National Environmental Health Association's Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition this month in Phoenix? If you are, be sure to include time with our Program Director Steve Wilson and our Environmental Public Health Specialists Sallie Dolan & Sarah Manderbach in your conference plans.
Steve will be helping to lead the pre-conference session "Beneath the Surface: Advanced Insights into Groundwater, Soil, and Wastewater Systems for Private Water Protection" beginning at 8 am on July 14. Sallie will be presenting the session "Empowering Private Well Owners: The first year of the Private Well Class Hotline and Help Center" at 11:30 am on July 16. We will also be bringing our booth to the exhibition hall, so please stop by and chat with us there!
There are several other sessions on well, septic, and groundwater topics in the educational agenda as well, so make sure you've got them all on your calendar. Take a look at the entire conference schedule here, and register now if you still need to!
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Keep an Eye on This Summer's Drought Conditions
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Staying informed of drought conditions is important for everybody as consumers of water; but is also particularly smart for water professionals who rely on a sufficient supply of water in order to do their jobs. While drought can happen in any season, summer weather conditions can exacerbate the risk.
The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), found at drought.gov, is a great place to go for the latest drought information, data, and outlook across the country. Currently, the NIDIS Drought Monitor map shows drought widespread in the West, the Upper Midwest, and Florida; with the most intense drought in the Southwest.
The NIDIS also has regional drought update notices, a schedule of upcoming webinars covering drought conditions in different regions of the country, an archive of past regional webinars, and sector-specific explanations of drought impacts. |
| Visit NIDIS » |
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From the Tap Talk Archives:
TT003 – Mastering Well Owner Education
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Let's dive back into our Tap Talk archives and revisit our third episode, featuring Bryan Swistock, Water Resources Extension Specialist at Pennsylvania State University! Bryan chatted with Steve and Jennifer about his experiences in outreach, education, and research at Penn State Extension, which has one of the oldest and most robust private well programs in the country.
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| 🎧 Listen here 🎧 |
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From the Help Center |
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What are counterfeit water filters, and how can I avoid accidentally buying one?
Counterfeit water filters are everywhere. Read how to avoid them in this article at our Help Center!
For additional articles and resources for private well owners, explore our Private Well Help Center. |
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Upcoming Webinars & Recent Recordings |
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Septic Systems 101
July 9, 2025 | 1 PM CT
Hosted by PrivateWellClass.org
In this free webinar training, you'll learn about septic system management as part of a larger strategy to protect the water in your private well.
Register »
We would love your support in distributing this information. Please feel free to share this link.
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Is My Water Safe to Drink? -
Common Questions about Private Wells
August 5, 2025 | 1 PM CT
Hosted by PrivateWellClass.org
Drinking water wells don't have to be a mystery! This webinar will answer common questions such as how to get well water tested, how to take care of a well, and signs of a well's susceptibility to contamination.
Register »
We would love your support in distributing this information. Please feel free to share this link. |
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Well Care 101 -
What You Need to Know to Protect Your Family
Recorded on June 12, 2025
This webinar recording features answers to questions about water quality, caring for private wells, and best practices to protection water supplies from contamination. Learning the basics of well care helps protect families' health.
Watch Recording »
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What Private Well Owners and Well Professionals Need To Know About PFAS
Recorded on May 29, 2025
This webinar provided information and support for environmental health professionals and homeowners dealing with PFAS issues. Topics included occurrences in private wells, how PFAS gets into well water, common findings, why and when to test, and situations where it is more likely that there may be a PFAS issue in well water.
Watch Recording »
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‘Forever chemicals’ detected in 65% of sampled private wells in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University
New research from Penn State, conducted over a three-year period, found per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (also called PFAS or forever chemicals) in 65% of private wells tested. Additionally, 18% of the sampled wells had PFAS levels that exceeded the maximum contaminants levels set by the US EPA. The highest concentrations of the contaminants were found in southeastern Pennsylvania, while the majority of wells that tested clean were in the central and western portions of the state. |
| Read here » |
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Partner Events & Workshops |
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PFAS in Private Wells: Key Influencing Factors
July 2 | 1 pm ET | Online
Hosted by Penn State University Extension
Discover how environmental conditions and socioeconomic factors influence PFAS contamination in private wells during this informative presentation. Focusing on rural and semi-rural communities, the session highlights disparities in PFAS exposure and examines the complex interplay of land use and hydrology in determining contamination risks. Learn how these findings can guide more effective, targeted outreach and sampling strategies to protect vulnerable populations and ensure safer drinking water.
Register here. |
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Ask the Experts: Radionuclides and Private Water Systems
July 7 | 3 pm ET | Online
Hosted by the Private Water Network
Radionuclides are naturally occurring radioactive elements that can seep into groundwater, especially in areas with specific geologic formations. While they’re invisible to the eye, prolonged exposure—especially through drinking water—can lead to serious health effects. This Q&A session will feature an expert toxicologist addressing how to overcome these health issues.
Register here.
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Penn State Water Wednesday Series
July 9, July 16, July 30 | 1 pm ET | Online
Hosted by Penn State University Extension
Penn State Extension is holding a series of Water Wednesday webinars starting this month. July's session include:
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July 9 » Hard Water Issues
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July 16 » Keys to Wellhead Protection
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July 30 » Understanding Your Test Results
Click on the date of each session to register for the webinars individually. |
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Rhode Island Private Well Water Workshop
July 9 | 6 pm ET | Charlestown, RI
Hosted by University of Rhode Island Home-A-Syst
At this Private Water Well Workshop put on by the University of Rhode Island, attendees will learn about regular water testing, well water protection, and good housekeeping practices to protection drinking water quality.
To register, call Cross Mills Public Library at 401-364-6211.
See the event listing here » |
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Virginia 2025 Drinking Water Clinics
Beginning July 9 | Various locations
Hosted by the Virginia Household Water Quality Program & Virginia Cooperative Extension
The yearly Virginia Household Water Quality Program drinking water clinics begin for 2025 on July 9. The clinics will be held in 35 cities and counties through November 19, and provide homeowners a chance to have their well water testing at a reduced rate.
Find the full list of dates, locations, and registration information here. |
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The Latest on PFAS and How to Protect You and Your Family
July 16 | 12 pm ET | Online
Hosted by University of Maryland Extension
PFAS is a huge global pollution issue that will be with for many decades or longer. These ‘forever chemicals’ are also everywhere and are causing human health issues and impacting our environment. There are dozens of research studies ongoing to help us know more about the risks of PFAS and also how to reduce our exposure. Tune into this webinar to hear the latest on this contaminant and what you can do.
Register here. |
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Septic Systems and Sea Level Rise in Maryland: The Where, the How, and the So What
July 22 | 12 pm ET | Online
Hosted by SERCAP and additional partners
Coastal Maryland faces growing challenges as rising seas and frequent flooding threaten thousands of septic systems, particularly in low-lying areas like Dorchester and Somerset counties. This webinar brings together researchers and practitioners to explore the spatial extent of septic vulnerability, health and environmental risks from system failures, and the socioeconomic impacts on affected communities. Presenters will share new analyses on flood exposure projections, public health data, and the trade-offs of infrastructure solutions, such as sewer expansion.
Register here.
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Being a Private Well Owner
July 22 and July 29 | 1 pm CT | Online
Hosted by Communities Unlimited
Private well owners, technical assistance providers, and all other interested parties are welcome to attend these trainings which will provide information for well owners regarding well design, well records, well testing recommendations, well disinfection techniques, the major components of a well, ways to navigate an emergency, where our water comes from, and contamination prevention.
Register for Part 1 on July 22 »
Register for Part 2 on July 29 »
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Private Water Supply Education and Water Testing
July 23 | 6 pm ET | Online
Hosted by Penn State University Extension
These events are designed for people who manage a private drinking water supply. They will cover how to test and protect your well or spring and when water treatment might make sense. They will also discuss well and spring system inspection and maintenance so attendees know how to protect their families, properties, and the groundwater we share. The events for residents of Pennsylvania who use a private water supply (well, spring, cistern) in their primary residence.
Register here.
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Septic System Operation and Maintenance
July 24 | 2 pm CT | Online
Hosted by Communities Unlimited
This training for homeowners, septic installers, and decentralized wastewater operators will cover the different components of a septic system and their maintenance needs.
Register here.
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Presenting on Decentralized Wastewater at the Private Well Conference 2025 |
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Our DecentralizedWastewater.org team had the opportunity to present two educational sessions at our sister program The Private Well Class’s conference last month. Check out our recent blog post to learn about what we covered, and how you might be able to present on similar topics at future Private Well Conferences!
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| Read it here » |
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Protecting Workers from the Effects of Heat
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
This factsheet from OSHA provides information on how to recognize and respond to symptoms of heat illness, the risk factors for heat illness, and methods to mitigate heat hazards in both indoor and outdoor workplaces. Dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill due to heat exposure in the workplace every year. Hazardous heat exposure can occur indoors or outdoors and during any season, not only during the summer or in heat waves. Heat exposure may result in serious illness or even death, both of which are preventable.
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| View the factsheet » |
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Featured Video:
Filter It Out Campaign |
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This video, brought to you by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, is a campaign video for the public education Filter It Out campaign, which seeks to inform consumers about the significant problem of counterfeit and falsely labeled water filters. While this particular video is primarily focused on refrigerator filters, counterfeit filters for private well systems are also a prevalent issue. For more information about the Filter It Out campaign, visit filteritout.org.
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| Watch the video » |
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PrivateWellClass.org is a free, grant-funded service to support private well owners and the professionals that work with these wells. The program seeks to raise awareness of private well issues and help well owners understand their responsibilities to be a good steward of their well and water source. The Private Well Class, developed at the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is a collaboration with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership with funding from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Call us at 1-866-945-0699 for assistance. |
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Visit our other websites: |
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Click here to unsubscribe | Sent to: _t.e.s.t_@example.com
Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, United States |
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