University of Maryland Extension will be hosting monthly webinars on various water quality related topics. Join Andrew Lazur, Water Quality Specialist, as he dives into water topics that affect us all. These webinars will take place via Zoom on the dates shown below, allowing time for Q & A at the end.
On scheduled Wednesdays (below) from 12:00- 12:40 PM
Drinking Water – to Filter or Not Filter - November 20, 2024
Whether it be an unpleasant smell, scale, or a health risk contaminant, fortunately there are numerous water filtration units to effectively treat these contaminants. This webinar will present options for homeowners to treat their drinking water.
Click here to register.
Impacts of Deicing Salt on Water Quality - December 18, 2024
The negative impacts of deicing salts on the environment, road infrastructure, cars, and home appliances, and drinking water quality can be significant. An overview of these impacts with emphasis on drinking water, and recommendations will be presented.
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Best Ways to Protect Your Septic System and Save Money - January 15, 2025
A septic system is the most expensive appliance or system in a home! There are several practices you can do to help your system work effectively, last longer, and therefore save you money. We will discuss these practices.
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Common Drinking Water Contaminants and How to Treat Them - February 19, 2025
There are many contaminants that can occur in drinking water depending on the source. We will discuss the most common ones including bacteria, metals, nutrients; where they come from and how to know if they are present and how to treat them. The quality of water we drink is important to our health and this webinar will discuss key steps to ensure good drinking water quality.
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Flooding and Sea Level Rise Impacts to Wells and Septic Systems – March 19, 2025
Seems we are hearing more about floods in recent years due to extreme weather and the damage they cause to buildings and road infrastructure. What we don’t see often with flooding is the damage to underground systems such as wells or septic systems. In these situations, the damage can be to our health due to contamination. This webinar will discuss issues with increased flooding, the impacts to our home water and wastewater systems and strategies to reduce risks.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ensuring Good Drinking Water Quality – April 16, 2025
Tune in to hear answers to the most frequently asked questions on drinking water quality. You can also ask your own questions during the registration process or during the webinar. Learn from what others ask!
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Stormwater Management– May 21, 2025
Stormwater runoff originates during precipitation events when water flows over the ground. Hard surfaces such as streets and rooftops increase runoff by preventing water from soaking into the ground. Water running over these hard surfaces can pick up sediment, chemicals, debris, and toxins which are carried to local streams. These pollutants prevent waterways from being fishable and swimmable. Learn about ways to manage stormwater at your home and community.
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strong>Advantages of Upgrading your Septic System – June 18, 2025
Is your septic system old and in need of replacement? Join this webinar to learn more about how advanced treatment units (ATU) can provide benefits to the environment and public health. Also, learn about Maryland’s Bay Restoration Fund grant program to help replace septic tanks with advanced treatment units or best available technology (BAT). The increased treatment and nitrogen reduction and operation of these systems greatly reduces the risks to groundwater and helps to extend the lifespan of a drainfield.
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The Latest on PFAS and How to Protect You and Your Family - July 16, 2025
PFAS is a huge global pollution issue that will be with for many decades or longer. These ‘forever chemicals’ are also everywhere and are causing human health issues and impacting our environment. There are dozens of research studies ongoing to help us know more about the risks of PFAS and also how to reduce our exposure. Tune into this webinar to hear the latest on this contaminant and what you can do.
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Common Issues with Ponds and Management Tips - August 20, 2025
Ponds of any size and type are dynamic aquatic ecosystems. Warmer water temperatures may create additional concern for ponds and water quality. Excessive aquatic plant growth, and low oxygen are a few examples. This webinar will present basic pond management principles and practices to keep ponds healthy.
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Exposure to Microplastics and Reducing Risks - September 17, 2025
Plastics have been around for decades and as they break down into small particles, micro and nano plastics pollution is everywhere. This includes air, rain, surface and groundwater, animals, plants, some of the foods we eat, and even in human body tissue. Tune into this webinar to learn more about how we can reduce our exposure while being better stewards of our environment.
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New to a Septic System – What You Should Know to Protect Your System - October 15, 2025
If you have just bought or moved into a home that has a septic system, there are important things you need to know to help keep the system functioning properly and as long as possible. This webinar will discuss the basic system types and the recommended maintenance practices to follow.
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On a Well? Basics Tips to Ensure Good Water Quality - November 29, 2026
Wells are a significant source of drinking water for Americans. Well water is not regulated as are public water supplies, and therefore the well owner is responsible to test, if necessary, treat the water. This webinar will cover basic well design and types, wellhead protection measures, how to test your well and review basic water filtration.
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Salinization of our Waters – What Can We Do - December 17, 2026
The use of deicing salts and rising sea level is increasingly making our surface and ground water more saline. This issue has major implications on aquatic ecosystems and the numerous species that depend on them. In addition, increasing salinity can increase corrosion with subsequent infrastructure damage and releasing toxic metals in our drinking water. This webinar will discuss the impact of this issue, ways to reduce impacts and protect drinking water quality.
Click here to register.