joining forces to assess water quality in rural north dakota
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Joining Forces to Assess Water Quality in Rural North Dakota. February 10, 2009 Roxanne Johnson Water Quality Associate Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering NDSU Fargo, North Dakota. North Dakota. The Roughrider State. President Theodore Roosevelt. State Population 642,200. 36,567. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Joining Forces to Assess Water Quality in Rural
North Dakota
February 10, 2009
Roxanne JohnsonWater Quality Associate
Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringNDSU Fargo, North Dakota
North Dakota
President Theodore Roosevelt
The Roughrider State
90,995
49,32136,567
16,718
55,53216,010
14,94015,527
State Population 642,200
Rural Water Systems
Needs AssessmentSpring
Conference 2008
Needs Assessment ResultsConfidence in responding to WQ questions
Importance of Water Quality
Rank of Importance
Human Water QualityLivestock Water QualityHuman Water QuantityLivestock Water Quantity
Needs Assessment Results
1. BMP’s on rangeland2. Small acreage ownership3. Urban/agriculture interface
Public Concern as Stated to County Agents
Needs Assessment Results
1. Salinity issues (soil & water)2. Livestock drinking water quality3. Nutrient impacts to surface and ground water
County Agents Response to BMP’s & Production Agriculture
Needs Assessment Results
1. Industrial water use (biofuels, oil)2. Water Conservation3. Water permitting process
Water Conservation and ProtectionWater Policies
Needs Assessment Results
Permitting process – somewhat concernedWater discharge – somewhat to not concerned
Agricultural Water Conservation and ProtectionTile Drainage
Needs Assessment Results
1.Testing water2.Quality of water3.Understanding the test result
Livestock Drinking Water
Needs Assessment Results
1.Quality of water2.Contamination of water source3.Understanding test results
Human Drinking Water
Our Response• Proposal to Research Center Directors• News releases developed for state and local papers
Test Water Samples at Field Days Across the State
Our Response• Agreement with private laboratory for
reduced bacteria test pricing• Sent packets to each county including sterile bottles and sampling information
Test Water Samples at Field Days Across the State
Field Days 2008
Field Days 2008Comments:Very hard waterSmelly, bad color, bad odorBacteriaReplace faucets often, yellows laundryWhite spots on grassBrownCauses throat pain
Field Days 2008Sample source:BarnHouse – pre & post treatmentSloughDamWellRural water system
Field Days 2008Nitrates (NO3-N)Hach colorometricHuman drinking water - 10mg/LLivestock - <90mg/L
Our findings: 0->50mg/L2 samples in SW ND 10mg/L1 sample in central ND at >50mg/L
Field Days 2008TDSHand held EC meter
Our findings: <100 – 16,000mg/L
Recommended levels:Human drinking water - < 500 mg/LLivestock water - < 5,000mg/L2 blind cows
Field Days 2008pHHandheld meterOur findings 7.0 – 10.3
Most in the 8-9 range
Field Days 2008HardnessHach titration method
Largest water quality complaint
Our findings – majority >25 grains
ConclusionsMore education needed for private well users. More education needed for county staff in sampling
and understanding results and treatment.Speed up process by purchasing new equipment for
next year. Keep samples for future educational opportunities.Work more closely with counties on advertising.Share data with MPU’s.
ImpactsFace to face +150 people
livestockprivate well ownersrural waterirrigation
Children watching with great interest!!!
ImpactsInterviews with TV, radio, news
papers.Raised awareness of county agents,
experiment stations and staff…some even brought in samples from the experiment stations!
Questions?