Pennsylvania is home to over one million private water wells and springs but it is one of the few states that do not provide statewide regulations to protect these rural drinking water supplies. As a result, homeowners using a private well or spring must understand proper water supply management practices to ensure safe drinking water for their family.
In 2004, Penn State Extension and several partner agencies created the Master Well Owner Network (MWON) – a group of trained volunteers who are dedicated to promoting the proper construction, testing, and maintenance of private water wells, springs and cisterns throughout Pennsylvania.
Since its inception, over 600 volunteers have attended Saturday training workshops to be certified as Penn State Master Well Owners. The next MWON volunteer training course will be held on Saturday, December 14th, from 9:00am to 3:30pm at the Neshaminy Manor Center, 1282 Almshouse Road, Doylestown. Prospective volunteers need to submit an application and be accepted into the program.
The December 14th training workshop will be limited to the first 30 accepted applicants. To be eligible for this program, volunteers must NOT have any financial interest in private water supplies (i.e. work for water well drillers, water testing labs, water treatment companies, etc.) and they must be willing to share what they learn with their neighbors, friends, and co-workers.
Volunteers who successfully complete the training course and pass a short exam will receive a free copy of the 80 page publication, “A Guide to Private Water Systems in Pennsylvania,” a coupon good for a 10% discount on water testing through the Penn State water testing lab, and access to various MWON educational materials.
To learn more about the program and to complete an application, visit the following website: http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/water/mwon/volunteer or contact Bryan Swistock at 814-863-0194 or brs@psu.edu.
