Water Quality Information

We have several good publications on water quality and well water information.
Visit our website - www.thomascountyextension.com, then choose "family and consumer science" on the left hand navigation and scroll down to choose "Water, Energy, Waste" under Publications.

We also do water tests if you are interested in testing you water for minerals, metals, etc. Cost vary, and you will need to bring in a sample in a clean one gallon screw top plastic bottle. I would recommend you obtain a one gallon plastic water jug from your local store, use the water in it, then place the water you need tested in this clean jug.

Samples take 5 to 7 business days on average to obtain the results. You can drop off water samples at our office along with your payment.

4-H'ers learn value of water

The Albany Herald

Thursday, June 4, 2008
Ethan Fowler

ethan.fowler@albanyhearld.com

4-H'ers learn value of water ALBANY - Dougherty County 4-H member Keana Jones' thorough answer impressed Department of Natural Resources' Adam Kaeser.

Kaeser asked the assembled students at his presentation titled "Fish Ecology of the Flint River" what three things do fish need to survive in the river.

Jones responded: "Water, food and shelter."Jones and about 50 other 4-H members from Dougherty, Mitchell, Worth, Thomas, Baker and Decatur counties participated in the 4-H20 Camp at the Flint RiverQuarium Wednesday. The three-day camp concludes today in Dothan, Ala.

The camp covers everything about water, from conservation, the water cycle, careers involving water resources and the biology of watersheds. 4-H members, who range in age from 9-18, paid $25 to participate in the event.

This was the first year Southwest Georgia 4-H clubs came together for the camp. Mitchell County 4-H did the camp by itself last year.

Dougherty County Extension Agent Rad Yager is hoping that every Southwest Georgia county participates in the camp next year.

"Typically a (three-day) program like this costs $60 per child, but we're only charging $25 and a grant is supplementing the rest through Mr. (Charles) Stripling," said Melissa Martin, education manager at the RiverQuarium. "We're paying for lunch all three days, T-shirts and little mementos. I think it's kind of neat the kids took three days out of their summer to come to this camp and (I'm) really appreciative of the counties' 4-H leaders for providing transportation."

Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers' Steve Rainey presented a program titled "Water Detectives." The 4-H members went down to the Flint River and sampled the water, as well as handled a crawfish that Rainey caught in a ditch to use as an example.

He said crawfish were the "mice of the river because everybody eats them."

"I've learned how the crawfish lives, how it grows back its body parts and how to sample the river's water," Worth County student member Mary Beth Amrowski said. "I appreciate that the adults come out and take time to tell us about the river.

"Eight-year Thomas County 4-H Program Assistant Amanda Carter participated in 4-H as child for four years."I hope that the kids learn about the importance of water quality and how important it is in our everyday lives," Carter said. "(4-H) is a learn by doing organization. Both of my kids are involved in 4-H and they enjoy every minute of it, whether it's shooting sports, public speaking contests, community service opportunities and 4-H camps."

Household Water Quality Information

If you are having issues with your well water or municipal water supply, check out these publications. They may help you identify your problems.

You can also bring samples of water to us for testing. We have guidlines for bringing in water for testing, and there are fees associated with water testing. Please call the office for more info or keep posted to our website for information on the fees.


1 Protecting your Well and Well Head (HACE 858-1)http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/Wellhead.pdf

2 Testing for Water Quality (HACE 858-2) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/TestingWaterQuality.pdf

3 Home Water Quality and Treatment (HACE 858-3) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/HomeWater.pdf

4 Shock Chlorination (HACE 858-4) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/ShockChlorination.pdf

5 Nitrate in Water (HACE 858-5) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/Nitrate.pdf

6 Pesticides (HACE 858-6) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/Pesticides.pdf

7 Coliform Bacteria in Your Water (HACE 858-7) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/Coliform.pdf

8 Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfate (HACE 858-8) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/HydrogenSulfide.pdf

9 Corrosion or Scaling Water (HACE 858-9) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/Corrosion.pdf

10Lead and Copper (HACE 858-10) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/LeadCopper.pdf

11Iron and Manganese (HACE 858-11) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/IronManganese.pdf

12Arsenic in Your Water (HACE 858-12) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/Arsenic.pdf

13Mercury in Your Water (HACE 858-13) http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/Mercury.pdf

Well water has rotten-egg smell? You can fix that...

I have had a few question on well water smelling like sulfur or rotten eggs. If you read below, Jim Crawford does a good job explaining why this happens and how you can fix the problem. Just for your information, you can get bacteria tests done by your county health department (typically).

By Jim Crawford
University of Georgia

Back when I was in junior high school, nothing tasted as good as cold water after track practice. But the rotten-egg smell of that "sulfur water" was enough to make a fellow go thirsty.

This is a fairly common condition in privately owned deep wells. Bacteria cause the smell. But don't be alarmed. Not all bacteria are the coliform type that poses a health hazard. Different species can cause odors without threatening the quality of your water.

If you have rotten-egg water, first check your wellhead to make sure you're not getting contaminated water into the well from any sort of runoff. If the top is secure, you can still get bacteria in the system. Many experts used to think the subsurface earth served as a giant filter to trap bacteria before it could enter the groundwater. That's not true.

We know now that many types of bacteria are native or adapted to saturated sediments and rock. Given time and a route, these bacteria will eventually find a way into the water system and can easily cause odors and off-taste.

The most common way to sanitize a well is with shock chlorination. Just use household bleach from any grocery or hardware store. But don't use scented chlorine products. Make sure you warn everyone in your home not to use the water during the treatment.

Depending on the amount of water in your well, the process can take many hours. You might want to arrange for an alternative source of drinking water for several hours or time the treatment for when you're asleep. Calculate the amount of bleach you'll need by figuring the amount of water in the well. Just subtract the depth to the water from the total depth of the well. Multiply that by 0.65 for a 4-inch well or 1.47 for a 6-inch well. Then add another 100 gallons for the tank and hot water heater. Use 3 pints of chlorine bleach for every 100 gallons. But you may want to double this amount if you have a really bad odor problem.

The odor is caused by hydrogen sulfide, which tends to neutralize chlorine. Fill the water tank, and be sure it's pressurized. Remove the well cap on the wellhead and pour in a 50:50 mixture of chlorine and water, or alternate pouring fresh water and chlorine into the well.

Hook a garden hose to the outdoor faucet nearest the well and place the end of the hose inside the well. Turn it on full force to circulate the water. Thoroughly rinse the sides of the well casing during this recirculation process.

When you can smell chlorine, stop and turn on the cold water taps in your kitchen and bathrooms until you smell chlorine from them, too. Flush the toilets. Then let the water stand in the system for at least 8 hours (12 to 24 is better). After this time, run the water outlets until the chlorine smell is gone.

Don't allow more than 100 gallons of chlorine-treated water to enter the septic system. A slight residual chlorine taste and odor will likely remain in the water for a couple of days, but it shouldn't be a problem.

Even after shock chlorination, the sulfur smell may return. Sometimes it's from the bacteria reacting with the anode rod in electric water heaters. You can solve recurring problems with sulfur-smelling water after shock chlorinating with a treatment system designed to remove hydrogen sulfide.

To learn more, get the circular, "Your Household Water Quality: Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfate," at your nearest University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office (1-800-ASK-UGA1). Or get a copy online at aesl.ces.uga.edu/publications/watercirc/HydrogenSulfide.pdf.


Thanks to Jim Crawford for this, and I hope you can get rid of the smell.
- R.J.

2008 Sport Fish Pond Management Workshop

Spend a day learning and understanding pond biology and proper management techniques from experts in the field. This program is for all pond owners, managers, and others interested in pond management, fishing, and the best natural resource management practices.

Topics and Demonstrations include:
· Water Quality
· Choosing a Fish Stocking Program
· Beaver Control Methods
· Weed ID and Management
· Pond Liming and Fertilization Methods
· Pond Shocking

Where: Camp Piney Woods,
233 HWY 84W Bypass,
Thomasville, GA 31792

GPS Coordinates: 30˚52’24.04”N 84˚02’18.03”W
Download a Map

When: Friday, September 26th,
8 A.M. to Noon, check in starts at 7:30

Cost: $25 by September 25th, $35 after.
Includes refreshments, meal and a workbook.

You can register by calling the Thomas County Extension Office, or by mailing in your payment to the Address below, and include your Name, City, Phone Number, Email Address, and how you heard about the workshop.

For more information and to register, contact R.J. Byrne, CEA

Phone: 229.225.4130
P.O. Box 49, Thomasville,GA 31799
Email: rjbyrne@uga.edu

Landscapers learn about irrigation audits

Landscapers spent the afternoon on March 18, 2008 learning about performing irrigation audits on irrigation systems. Previous studies have shown that 90% of irrigation systems surveyed could save an average of 20% in water savings. Participants learned the basics of irrigation audits from Dr. Kerry Harrison (UGA Ag and Biological Engineering), R.J. Byrne (UGA Thomas County Extension), and Jake Price (UGA Lowdnes County Extension). Data collected in the field can be analyzed with the use of software, and provide the user with a map to identify problems in irrigation systems. This information will help identify problem areas and allow the irrigation owner savings in both water use and also cost savings on a water bill. After the class and hands on demonstrations, participating landscapers agreed that on average they could reduce irrigation water use by +20% after conducting an audit on an irrigation system.