Working Well Program Update February 2014 Issue 7 Clean Water. Well Protected. Since 2008 the Working Well program has been delivering community-based workshops and providing well owners with the information and tools they need to properly care for their wells. The Working Well program is helping to ensure safe and secure groundwater supplies for all Albertans. 2012-2013 Program Report IN THIS ISSUE: The Working Well program includes four elements or tools for extending key messages to water well owners: hands-on workshops for well owners, 2012-2013 Program Report 1 interactive activities and exhibits, information resources, and community outreach. Workshops are the cornerstone of the program, and the primary Workshop Facts & Figures 1 tool for engaging well owners. The following is an overview of the information collected and results achieved from the workshops conducted between April 1, Workshop Feedback 1 2012 and March 31, 2013. Participant Reaction, Learning 2 Workshop Facts, Figures and Feedback and Action Evaluation is a key strategic priority of the Working Well program. Workshop statistics, as well as participant and host feedback is collected to: Hosts, Staff and Resources 3 • Track performance of and improve workshops to help achieve Working Well Workshop Locations Map 4 program outcomes. • Maintain accountability and credibility through transparent reporting on program performance. WORKING WELL PARTNERS: • Provide the rationale for continued program support by partners. Alberta Environment and Workshop Statistics Sustainable Resource Development This section summarizes how many workshops were delivered, total number of Alberta Agriculture and Rural participants and average workshop attendance in 2012-2013. Development Summary Workshop Statistics Total Average Total Since 2008 Alberta Health Total workshops requested 30 163 Alberta Health Services Total workshops completed 25 145 Alberta Water Well Drilling Total number of participants 592 4008 Association Average attendance at workshops 25 Alberta’s Counties and Municipal Total delivery staff participating 79 Districts Workshop Feedback CONTACT US: Feedback is actively collected at every workshop from hosts and participants alike. Surveys are also conducted For more information contact: post-workshop with participants who request a follow Ron Stojanowski, Program Manager up call. Here are highlights of the information collected Email [email protected] this past year: Participant Reaction Participant Action As they have since the program began, participants Since the start of the program, hundreds of follow up continue to be supportive of the workshops and surveys have been conducted with workshop participants appreciative of the information provided. Many who provided permission for the program to conduct a participants valued the hands-on element of the draw your follow up call 6 to 8 months post-workshop. More than well exercise, the displays and well model, and the general 150 follow up calls were made to workshop participants in knowledge they gained about how water wells work. 2012-2013. Overall, participants felt the workshops were thorough These follow up calls present an opportunity for the and informative, very well prepared, well presented and program to rec0nnect with participants, and gather worth their time to attend. valuable information on what participants have done with Most participants felt that the workshop was worthwhile what they learned at the workshops. In 2012-2013, of those and provided valuable and useful take-home resources participants who said they would: (i.e. the workshop binder and fact sheets), and they • 93% regularly inspected their well and the area around appreciated having access to knowledgeable, experienced their well. technical experts (including ESRD and ARD staff, drillers • 89% ensured the ground around their well is mounded and Public Health Inspectors). to prevent water from pooling. • 84% kept records of water testing results, well Participant Learning maintenance and treatments. In surveys completed immediately after the workshop: • 94% avoided overpumping their wells. • 97% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that • 95% ensured their well was securely capped. the workshop increased their understanding of how groundwater works. • 98% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that i the workshop increased their understanding of how their well works. • 99% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Did you Know? the workshop increased their understanding of well Since the program started in 2008: drilling reports. • 98% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the • More than 4,000 Albertans have attended a workshop increased their understanding of common Working Well workshop. well problems and contamination hazards. • More than 1200 follow-up surveys have been • Almost all (99%) of respondents agreed or strongly conducted with those workshop participants who agreed that their understanding of well maintenance, requested a follow-up call. monitoring and management increased as a result of • 145 workshops have been delivered in attending the workshop. communities across the province. • Nearly all participants (99%) agreed that the workshop provided information that will be helpful in maintaining and managing their water wells. 2 Workshop Hosts These online modules are available to everyone, but will Workshop hosts play a very important role by helping to be especially valuable to workshop participants who want bring the workshops to their communities. Hosts, which a refresher, or want to learn more about and/or practice include Counties, Municipal Districts and not-for-profit the ‘draw your well’ activity they participated in at the community and agri-environmental organizations, arrange workshops. for venues, advertise and promote workshops, and take This online tool now gives people the ability to learn more registrations. about how their well works from the comfort of their own Hosts continue to be very supportive and appreciative of computers. the information the program provides and the ability to You can find the e-Learning module by going to the bring these workshops to their local communities. Working Well home page, clicking on the “Resources and Related Links” page and then clicking on the “E-Learning Delivery Staff Module - How Your Well Works” link. The workshops would not be possible without the We are currently working on a narrated and animated commitment and participation of our workshop delivery version of the workshop presentation that will be made staff - those individuals from the Working Well partner available on the Working Well website in the near future. organizations, including: Check the Working Well website for updates. • Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Interested in Attending a Workshop? • Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development A workshop is coming to a community near you. Visit • Alberta Health Services http://esrd.alberta.ca/WorkingWell for information on • Licensed Water Well Contractors (Alberta Water Well upcoming workshops. Drilling Association) Pre-registration is required for all workshops. If you are Delivery staff provide help with pre-workshop preparation interested in attending a workshop, please pre-register by and organization, they deliver one or more sections of calling the workshop host. the presentation, and they assist and answer workshop participants’ questions. i Their participation is critical to the continued success of Clean Water. Well Protected. the workshops and the Working Well Program. Working Well offers many information resources, New Working Well Resources free of charge, to people interested in learning how Last year we launched an interactive, online e-learning to protect and maintain their water wells. Find the module called “How Your Well Works.” information and resources you need at: This new, e-Learning has three modules: http://esrd.alberta.ca/WorkingWell 1. How your well works. Have questions? Want more information? 2. Understanding your drilling report. Email us at [email protected]. 3. 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