Fergus Conservation District HB 223 Well Educated Program
The Well Educated program is a well water testing program offered to private well owners in Montana. This program was offered to assess nitrate-nitrogen ground water quality in Fergus County and to increase public awareness on the quality of their drinking water. The program provided an array of water quality resources including instructional materials, a test kit package made for easy sampling, a registration sheet containing information on the individual well tested, and an educational well and septic DVD. These educational materials are provided to help homeowners recognize the connection between private well and septic systems and ground water resources. A well documented and mapped record of water quality data for Fergus County will serve as a useful educational tool for the Conservation District, Extension Agent, County Sanitarian, and other public health officials to increase public knowledge about distribution of nitrate-nitrogen in ground water within Fergus County. Through this collaborative effort to offer the Well Educated program, the program partners hope to increase public awareness about ground water quality related to well and septic system maintenance, and awareness of connections between land management and protection of ground water.
Figure1. Nitrate-nitrogen values county wide from the Fergus County Well Educated program 2008-2009, n=51.
Figure 2. Nitrate-nitrogen values in Lewistwon area from the Fergus County Well Educated program 2008-2009, n=19.
Final Report: Fergus Conservation District Well Educated Program
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