This week on Tap Talk we are pleased to welcome guest Erin Ling, a senior extension specialist at Virginia Tech University who coordinates the Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP). The unique program provides a wealth of services to well owners in Virginia, including affordable testing, educational programming & workshops, water quality data collection & publication, and youth outreach for high school students. In particular, Erin emphasizes the value of the program’s data on Virginia’s private wells, and discusses with Steve and Jennifer how other states might learn from Virginia’s model.
Topics Discussed
- Meet Erin Ling | LinkedIn
- Cindy’s Water Hero: Leigh-Anne Krometis, a colleague at Virginia Tech and professor in Biological Systems Engineering
- How important are private wells as a water source in Virginia?
- What the Virginia Household Water Quality Program does
- The kinds of testing available through VAHWQP, how many samples are analyzed, which constituents of concern most stand out
- What has been learned about the well owners that have gone through the program?
- How the program works with high school students to encourage well water testing
- How the program interfaces with research at Virginia Tech and the impact of research on the well owner program
- Working with the Virginia Department of Health on a CDC project
- The importance of the state’s private well database in developing resources
- Flooding in Virginia and its impacts on wells & septic systems
- Connect with the Virginia Household Water Quality Program
- Connect with Virginia Cooperative Extension
“There are a lot of folks that are not doing what they might do to maintain their wells, and so a lot of wells are compromised —
which probably doesn’t surprise you.”Erin Ling
Go Further
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About the Guest
Erin Ling, in her role as a senior extension specialist at Virginia Tech University, coordinates the VAHWQP, which provides affordable water testing and education to the 1.7 million Virginians who rely on private water supplies. The program reaches 70 Virginia counties every year through the work of extension agents at Virginia Cooperative Extension. Erin also works with collaborators to conduct research with the data collected through the program, pertaining to bacteria, metals, and other contaminants found through the well testing. She holds a B.A. in international studies from Virginia Tech University, and two master’s degrees from Pennsylvania State University: a M.S. in rural sociology, and an M.EPC (Master of Environmental Pollution Control).