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(28) Post-Program Evaluation of Drinking Water Testing and Education Programs
John Exo, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Baraboo, Wisconsin
Session: Concurrent session B2: Evaluation Tools
University of Wisconsin-Extension has offered a Drinking Water Testing & Education program to private well owners for over 20 years. As with many educational programs, participants in this program typically complete an immediate post-program evaluation indicating their preferences for the program components. However, rarely have organizers of this program conducted a post-program evaluation to determine actions taken by well owners.
In the program participants are invited to have their wells tested and then receive their results at an evening educational program. More than half of participants typically attend the educational offering, at which basic groundwater concepts are taught, along with interpretation of results and actions well owners can take to protect their water.
Surveys were sent in July, 2007 to 118 participants of a Drinking Water Testing and Education program which was conducted in February, 2006 in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Response rate for the survey was 76%. Due to the confidentiality of participants’ results, the survey relied on respondents’ recollection of contaminant levels. Results show that outcomes are mixed. Short-term educational results are positive. Respondents’ reported a high level of confidence about making well water-related decision using their water test results. Even higher numbers believed it was easy to understand their drinking water test results. Cross-tabulations show that significantly more actions were taken by owners of wells reporting high/unsafe levels of contaminants versus those reporting normal results.
Long-term impacts of the program appear somewhat mixed. Low numbers had re-tested their wells within the recommended fifteen months since the program test. High numbers reason that since their test showed no problem, no further testing is necessary. This suggests that overall the program succeeds in raising levels of awareness but may not motivate the actions required to maintain healthy drinking water in future years and educational emphases may need review.
John Exo
University of Wisconsin-Extension
505 Broadway
Baraboo, Wisconsin, 53913, USA
Phone: (608) 355-3554
Fax: (608) 355-3550
john.exo@ces.uwex.edu
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