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Main > Regional Themes > Drinking Water & Human Health
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Overview The Southwest States and Pacific Islands Regional Water Quality Coordination Program (also known as the Region 9 Water Program) serves a region of remarkable geographic, social, and economic diversity. Residents in Region 9 receive their water from a variety of sources, including public water systems, private wells, and rainwater harvesting. In each part of the region, households have a strong need for information about drinking water supplies. Objectives Rural water treatment plant operators will obtain information needed to improve skills. Domestic well owners will be able to determine the chemical and microbiological quality of their water supply and select appropriate treatment options. Domestic well owners will understand important aspects of installation and maintenance of treatment devices. Homeowners utilizing rainwater collection systems will understand best designs for collection systems, contaminant detection, and decontamination methods for collected drinking water.
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	Rainwater Catchment Safety Campaign in the Pacific. Palau Community College publishes a rainwater catchment guide adapted from a successful University of Hawaii publication. Extension Specialist Trish Macomber from the University of Hawaii launches a catchment safety series of workshops in the Pacific Islands. Read More >>
Projects Arsenic in Churchill County, Nevada Domestic Water Supplies Mark Walker, University of Nevada, Reno In Churchill County, Nevada, arsenic concentrations in shallow, domestic wells exceed the standards set to protect public health in about 85% of groundwater sources sampled. The Churchill County office of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is developing a comprehensive response to community concerns and inquiries through a senior volunteer program, Nevada G.O.L.D. (Guarding Our Local Drinking Water). Read More >> CONTACT Mark Walker Phone: 775-784-1938 Fax: 775-784-4789 Email: mwalker@cabnr.unr.edu Water Quality Interpreter: An Interactive Web Site Mark Walker, University of Nevada, Reno R. Moore The project is in response to questions from homeowners, especially those served by their own wells, about how to interpret reports from water quality tests. Read More >> WEBSITE: http://www.ag.unr.edu/water/interpreter/ CONTACT Mark Walker Phone: 775-784-1938 Fax: 775-784-4789 Email: mwalker@cabnr.unr.edu Private Well Owner Education Kitt Farrell-Poe, University of Arizona in Yuma Produce new fact sheets and update previously published fact sheets using science-based information to assist private well owners in maintaining the safety and quality of their drinking water. Read More >> CONTACT Kitt Farrell-Poe Phone: 520-621-7221 Fax: 520-621-3963 Email: kittfp@ag.arizona.edu Water Quality Survey on the Navajo Nation Marnie Carroll, Diné College Mark Walker, University of Nevada, Reno The objectives included: 1) Collect samples from unregulated water supplies to evaluate chemical and microbiological quality of water, 2) Work collaboratively with students and faculty from Diné College, in Shiprock, NM. Read More >> CONTACT: Marnie Carroll Phone: 505-368-3556 Fax: 505-368-3550 Email: mkcarroll@dinecollege.edu Shock Chlorination: Use of Chlorine Test Strips as Indicators of Completed Purging Mark Walker, University of Nevada, Reno Ralph Seiler, USGS This project involved shock chlorinating wells to look for disinfection byproducts and metals and to track concentrations of both during purging. Read More >> CONTACT Mark Walker Phone: 775-784-1938 Fax: 775-784-4789 Email: mwalker@cabnr.unr.edu Detection of Leptospira in Water Mark Walker, University of Nevada, Reno Carl Evensen, University of Hawaii Project objectives: To develop a method to detect spirochetes of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in natural water samples. Read More >> CONTACT Mark Walker Phone: 775-784-1938 Fax: 775-784-4789 Email: mwalker@cabnr.unr.edu Carl Evensen Phone: 808-956-8825 Fax: 808-956-6539 Email: evensen@hawaii.edu Evaluation of a Method to Detect Leptospira in Water: Preliminary Results from a Regional Collaboration Ilima Hawkins and Carl Evensen, University of Hawaii Mark Walker, University of Nevada, Reno Detecting leptospires in environmental waters is technically difficult. Although independent studies have had success with DNA-based tests and selective culturing, the general performance of these procedures have not been evaluated, and no standardized protocol exists. Effective management approaches require environmental testing to identify and monitor contaminated waters. This is of special importance for American Samoa, where the disease is still new and the full impact may not yet be felt. Read More >> CONTACT Carl Evensen Phone: 808-956-8825 Fax: 808-956-6539 Email: evensen@hawaii.edu Onsite Wastewater Education Program Kitt Farrell-Poe, University of Arizona in Yuma The objectives of the Onsite Wastewater Education program are to empower the users, installers, maintainers, and regulators of onsite wastewater treatment and dispersal systems to make wise choices to protect human health and the environment. Read More >> CONTACT Kitt Farrell-Poe Phone: 520-621-7221 Fax: 520-621-3963 Email: kittfp@ag.arizona.edu Septic System Installation Comic Book Kitt Farrell-Poe, University of Arizona in Yuma Craig Runyan, and Adrian Hanson, New Mexico State University Bruce Lesikar, Texas A&M University The project adapted appropriate existing materials to develop detailed guidelines to owner-installed septic systems. The format was a conventional comic book style, with cartoon characters illustrating a step-by-step procedure for properly designing and installing the system. English and Spanish versions of the comic book were printed. Read More >> CONTACT Kitt Farrell-Poe Phone: 520-621-7221 Fax: 520-621-3963 Email: kittfp@ag.arizona.edu