Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Clean water is critical for food production on farms, in processing facilities, and for home-basedfood businesses. However, farmers and food entrepreneurs in the Black Belt Region of the southernUnited States often have limited access to municipal water and therefore often rely on private orpublic wells to supply their water. If improperly managed, these wells can interfere with theirability to meet federal and state regulatory requirements for food production and can put users atincreased risk from food- and waterborne hazards. Therefore, the proposed work will create acomprehensive curriculum to assist well users in the Black Belt Region so they can ensure themicrobial and chemical safety of the water they use. This curriculum will be available in twoformats to increase accessibility. First, course content will be paired with a series of demonstrationvideos, animated videos, and online learning tools to engage participants and increase learningoutcomes. Then, the course will be converted to a printed curriculum that can be presented alone orwith elements of the online course, if desired. The overarching goal of the proposed work is tosupport food entrepreneurs and farmers in the Black Belt Region by providing them an interactive,inclusive, and impactful way to learn well water management. The impact of this program could besignificant in areas where the lack of access to clean water is a barrier for entities trying to enter thefood market.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this project is to support food entrepreneurs and farmers that currently have minimal access to resources intended to train them on how to ensure they have safe groundwater for food production. Throughout the southern Black Belt Region, many individuals have limited access to municipal water and must rely on groundwater sources. However, there are few resources related to well management and groundwater use that are specificallytargeting the individuals and the conditions in this region. Therefore, our goal is to decrease a key barrier, the lack of knowledge and resources regarding well maintenance,throughout the Black Belt by engaging key stakeholder groups and producing an engaging, science-backed curriculum addressing key challenges encountered by well users in our region. We will do this by completing two proposed objectives:1) Creating an asynchronouse online course including interactive games and demonstration videos describing best practices for well water safety and management, and2) Adapting the online series into materials for delivery in-person throughout the digital deserts in the Black Belt Region.
Project Methods
Program development will require the project team's cumulative expertise working with food and water systems, as well as robust engagement of advisory committees throughout the project duration. Dissemination will be facilitated by leveraging the team's expansive Extension networks and its close relationships with stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGO; see letters of support). A survey conducted at the outset of the project and shared with the community by our stakeholder partners will be completed and published prior to module creation to ensure all materials are relevent to the target audience.The project team will use the following topics (Table 1) to guide module development. This framework will apply to both online and inperson formats.Table 1. Learning tools breakdown for Managing the Quality of Your Well Water short course.Learning ToolsDescription and Corresponding MediaModule LeadWells 101- How do they work?Animated videoandfactsheetsdescribing why wells are used, how they function, commonly encountered hazards and how to prevent them, and troubleshooting basic problems.DunnParts of a properly constructed wellVideosegmentsandfactsheetsdescribing well equipment, with a particular focus on equipment intended to protect water safety (e.g., backflow prevention devices such as check valves, etc.). Theinteractive modulehas participants properly design a well using the described equipment to ensure functionality, water safety, and protection of the aquifer.HawkinsWater testing and record keepingTest selection and sampling methods for microbial and chemical safety, as well as recordkeeping practices, are described in ananimated videoandillustrated factsheets. This animation discusses frequently encountered water contaminants (with particular focus on the Black Belt), why they are of concern, and solutions. Best practices for individuals relying on community wells will also be discussed.HamiltonHow to shock chlorinate a wellDemonstration videoandstep-by-step illustrated factsheetsshowing what chemicals to use, how to calculate quantity needed, and post-shock flushing. Participants will be walked through the proper steps of chemical addition.CurlAdjacent land and water useAnimated videoandillustrated factsheetsto discuss the impact surrounding activities have on water quality, as well as water rights. This includes assessing the environment and well condition to ensure continued water quality. If the FDA's proposed Water Assessment is finalized during the project, terminology will be aligned with FDA language to facilitate implementation by produce growers under the PSR.RodriguesFirst drafts of all materials and modules will be shared with project partners and community collaborators as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for constructive feedback and material adjustment as needed. Materials will be shared as workshops by members of the project team, by community collaborators that provided letters of support, and through a Train-the-Trainer structure where educators will gain access to materials and learn how to effectively share them with their stakeholders.