About this episode

The episode discusses Vermont's flash drought and its impact on private well users, featuring insights from environmental health engineer Tom DeBell.

For the 80th episode of Tap Talk, we are pleased to talk with Tom DeBell, an environmental health engineer at the Vermont Department of Health. Tom tells Steve and Jennifer about the intense flash drought that Vermont (and other northeastern states) experienced in the summer of 2025, particularly how the drought impacted private well users in the state. They also discuss the steps that the health department took to help well owners maintain their wells and educate the public on obtaining adequate water supplies during the water crisis. Visit drinkingwaterpodcast.org to learn more and find the full show notes for this episode.

People in this episode

Hosts: Steve, Jennifer

Guest: Tom DeBell

Topics covered

• flash drought
• environmental health
• private well users
• water crisis
• public education

Keywords

• flash drought
• Vermont
• private wells
• water crisis
• environmental health
• public education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Vermont Department of Health

Places: Vermont, northeastern states

More episodes of Tap Talk

• TT084 – Leadership in Drinking Water Regulation: Adapting to Modern Needs (Part 2) · July 9, 2026 · 28 min
• TT083 – Leadership in Drinking Water Regulation: Adapting to Modern Needs (Part 1) · July 2, 2026 · 32 min
• TT082 – Understanding This Year's El Niño with the Illinois State Climatologist · June 25, 2026 · 39 min
• TT081 – The Other Side of Vermont's Flash Drought: Stories from Public Water Systems · June 11, 2026 · 39 min
• TT079 - The Septage Catch-22: When Better Maintenance Creates Bigger Problems · May 28, 2026 · 55 min
• TT078 – Building the Future Workforce with Rural Water Apprentices · May 21, 2026 · 46 min

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