The non-profit Water Systems Council (WSC) has received a grant worth more than $200,000 to provide educational assistance to well owners.

The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the WSC $211,794 out of $1.7 million earmarked for “Improving Water Quality through Training and Technical Assistance to Private Well Owners.” The grant flows through the Rural Community Assistance Partnership from the EPA.

"Since 1932, WSC has been committed to ensuring that Americans who depend on water wells have safe, reliable drinking water," said Margaret Martens, executive director of the WSC. "The EPA grant will enable us to expand our efforts to educate well owners, consumers and policymakers about water wells and the importance of protecting America's groundwater resources."

The WSC will deploy the grant monies over the next 18 months for the following activities:

• Its wellcare hotline, which allows the EPA and others to refer water well owners to the WSC for advice on protecting, testing and maintaining private water wells.
• The HELP System for Emergency Response, which educates private well owners about proper measures to take to protect their wells in case of emergency or natural disaster.
• A new Well Owner’s Manual to offer information on maintenance and water quality.
• Updates to the Who Owns the Water Special Report, a regulatory document that goes to state water agencies and EPA regional offices.
• And well owner outreach.

The Water Systems Council works to protect groundwater and to ensure private well users in the United States have safe, reliable drinking water. For more information, visit www.watersystemscouncil.org.