MANAGING WATER WELL: ENHANCING WATER QUALITY TO FOSTER FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FARM FOOD SAFETY

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.