Table 2.
Final prioritized list of recommendations with lead organizations.
| No. | Recommendation | Key organizations to lead |
|---|---|---|
| 1a | Create a “nonpublic household water well” designation | KDA, KDHE, KWO, Kansas Legislature |
| 2 | Provide notice when specific groundwater contamination is found and when there is an event potentially impacting groundwater quality | KDHE, Kansas Legislature, LEHP |
| 3 | Establish triggering events to inspect wells and test water quality | KDHE, LEHP |
| 4 | Develop standardized water sampling and analysis protocol and form | KDHE, KDHE-certified drinking water labs, LEHP |
| 5 | Create a statewide group focused on advancing nonpublic household water well quality | KDA, KDHE, KWO, Kansas Legislature |
| 6 | Revise the Kansas Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Act | KDHE, Kansas Legislature |
| 7 | Limit the use of some nonpublic household water wells | KDHE, KWO, Kansas Legislature, LEHP |
| 8 | Create funding mechanisms to offset costs of inspection, water quality testing, corrective action, and/or plugging of nonpublic household water wells for those unable to pay | KDA, KDHE, KWO, Kansas Legislature |
| 9 | Establish a three-part process: permitting, inspection, and water quality testing | KDHE, KEHA, KDHE-certified drinking water labs, LEHP |
| 10 | Standardize environmental health professionals’ training | KDHE, KEHA, LEHP |
| 11 | Track and provide information about abandoned wells in property transactions | KDHE, LEHP |
| 12 | Create standards to determine when connecting to a public water supply must be required | KAC, KDHE, KWO, Kansas Legislature, LEHP |
| 13 | Establish frequency of inspection and water quality testing after an initial triggering event | KDHE, LEHP |
| 14 | Establish licensing requirement for the installation of water well pumps | KDHE, LEHP, water well contractor/driller |
| 15 | Update key nonpublic household water well resources | KDHE, KGS, KWO, LEHP |
| 16 | Develop remediation training and certification standards | KDHE, KEHA |
| 17 | Update county sanitary codes | KAC, KDHE, LEHP |
| 18 | Assess interest in a water well maintenance subscription service | KDA, KDHE, KEHA, KWO, LEHP, water well contractor/driller |
Note: Adapted with permission from University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita (2019). KAC, Kansas Association of Counties; KDA, Kansas Department of Agriculture; KDHE, Kansas Department of Health and Environment; KEHA, Kansas Environmental Health Association; KGS, Kansas Geological Survey; KWO, Kansas Water Office; LEHP, Local Environmental Health Professional.
a
The first recommendation was not ranked as the first priority; however, it is likely the first step that needs to happen chronologically.