The U.S. EPA announced $99,795 to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to expand the Know Your Well Project and promote groundwater stewardship.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will use the funding to expand the Know Your Well Project and develop a science curriculum that will be rolled out to over 100 rural Nebraska high school students with the goals of increasing science literacy, awareness of agricultural practices, and groundwater stewardship.
Know Your Well is a project that trains high school students how to sample and test well water quality. It aims to test over 300 private wells for nitrate, nitrite, metals, pesticides, and coliform bacteria in collaboration with the University of Nebraska Water Sciences Laboratory.
“We look forward to adding curriculum to the set of tools currently available to teachers involved in the Know Your Well program,” said Nebraska Water Center Assistant Director Rachael Herpel. “This will help us build capacity and eventually expand the program beyond Nebraska.”
The funding was part of a selection of 33 organizations to receive over $3.1 million in funding for projects under the Environmental Education Grants program.
Nationwide, the funding will range from $50,000 to $100,000 to organizations that provide environmental education activities and programs. This year’s grantees will conduct project activities in 27 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Among the grant recipients are four Minority Serving Institutions.
EPA anticipates providing funding for these projects once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
