Comment
1. Without predrilling data, it is not possible to comment
on the cause for any water quality problems.
2. Where possible, I have noted situations where elevated
levels of a water quality parameter exists in Pennsylvania .
3. If duplicate analysis provided, I attempted to use the
highest reported value.
5. This is not about cause and effect; it is about a review
of the data.
Well – HW-3
With the exception of the following parameters, the
remaining values were reported as NOT Detected (U)
Anionic Surfactants
– < 0.01 mg/L – the secondary drinking water standard for foaming agents is
0.5 mg/L. (OK)
Barium – 0.832
mg/L – the primary drinking water standard for barium is 2.0 mg/L –– this does
not suggest any specific impact and barium is typically detectable in non-saline
impacted water at a level of less than 1 mg/L. (OK)
Boron –< 0.050
mg/L (Total) – no specific drinking water standard drinking water standard is
available. EPA appears to have a long-term health advisory of 2.0 mg/L, but
other states have limits that range from 0.6 to 1 mg/L. Therefore, this does not appear to suggest
any form of impact. (OK)
Calcium- 29.7
mg/L (Total)– no specific drinking water standard drinking water standard is
available. (OK) – the value seems low.
Chloride –5.36
mg/L (OK) – drinking water standard is < 250 mg/L – this does not suggest any specific
impact.
Chromium- < 0.002
mg/L (D) and the EPA/ PADEP primary drinking water standard is < 0.100 mg/L
(OK).
Copper – 0.0055
mg/L (OK)- the secondary drinking water standard is 1.0 mg/L and the primary
drinking water standard is 1.3 mg/L. (OK)
Ethane – 0.930 mg/L – No specific drinking water standard (OK)
Fluoride – < 0.1
mg/L (OK) – drinking water standard is < 2 mg/L- PADEP drinking water
standard is 2 mg/L.
Iron – 0.711 mg/L (Total) and < 0.1 mg/L (D) – Iron is
regulated as a secondary drinking water standard in Pennsylvania and the action limit is 0.3
mg/L. Therefore, the total iron content
exceeds the secondary drinking water standard.
Since the total value exceeds the limit and not the dissolved, this
suggests that the primary recommendation would be to install a water treatment
system to filter the iron colloids or particles from the water. The water probably has a reddish or brown
appearance. Elevated level of iron is a common water quality problem in Northeastern Pennsylvania . Action
is Recommended, because of an aesthetic issue.
Lithium – < 0.200
mg/L (Total) – no specific drinking water standard drinking water standard is
available, but EPA has recommend a level be below 0.7 mg/L (OK)
Methane – 28 mg/L / 15mg/L– No specific drinking water standard.
(OK).
The
well water above the new action limit of
7 mg/L. The well will most likely
require active venting and additional treatment.
For
more details, go to http://www.water-research.net/methanegas.htm
Magnesium-8.16
mg/L (D)– no specific drinking water standard drinking water standard is
available. (OK)
Manganese– 0.0726
mg/L (Total) and 0.0723 (Dissolved)–
Manganese is regulated as a secondary drinking water standard in Pennsylvania and the
action limit is 0.05 mg/L. Therefore, the
total manganese content does exceed the secondary drinking water standard. (OK)
Nickel – 0.0018 mg/L (T ) – no specific
drinking water standard drinking water standard is available, but
the EPA has
suggest a MCL of 0.1 mg/L. (OK)
Sodium –15.0 mg/L (D) – no specific drinking water standard
drinking water standard is available, but the EPA has added it to the Candidate
List to provide more analysis. The EPA’s
initial value of 20 mg/L has been clearly identified as not realistic. When chloride (salt is sodium chloride) is
present at a concentration of over 250 mg/L, the water can have an “off” taste.
At 400+ mg/L chloride, the water will taste definitely salty. (Source- Dr.
Brian Redmond, Professional Geologist). (OK)
Sulfate –4.82
mg/L (OK) – drinking water standard is < 250 mg/L – this does not suggest any specific
impact.
Strontium – 0.961 mg/L – no specific
drinking water standard drinking water standard is available, but it is on the
EPA Candidate List. The
EPA recommends that drinking water levels of nonradioactive strontium should
not be more than 4 mg/L. The report limit
is consistent with background levels in Northeastern
Pennsylvania . If the
background level was above 4 mg/L, it would be advisable to test for
radiological parameters, especially alpha/beta.
(OK)
Total Dissolved Solids –
158 mg/L – Total Dissolved Solids is
regulated as a secondary drinking water standard by the PADEP in Pennsylvania and the
action limit is 500 mg/L.
Total Suspended Solids - < 10 mg/L –
no standard, but would recommend retesting to obtain a lower detection limit.
Uranium – < 0.001 mg/L (Total) – Uranium is regulated as a primary
drinking water standard by the EPA and PADEP in Pennsylvania and the action limit is 0.030
mg/L. (OK)
Zinc
–0.046 mg/L (Total) – Zinc is
regulated as a secondary drinking water standard by the PADEP in Pennsylvania and the
action limit is 5.0 mg/L. (OK)
Caprolactam- 0.000438
mg/L (J) - < 0.005 mg/L – really not detectable . NJ has a groundwater standard
of 3.5 mg/L. (OK)
“Caprolactam is primarily used in the manufacture of
synthetic fibers. Caprolactam is also used in brush bristles, textile
stiffeners, film coatings, synthetic leather, plastics, plasticizers, paint
vehicles, cross-linking for polyurethanes, and in the synthesis of lysine. The
most probable routes of exposure to caprolactam are by dermal contact and
inhalation of workers involved in the manufacture and use of this compound. Caprolactam
may be released to the environment in emissions and effluents from its manufacturing
and use facilities. Caprolactam has been detected in water. Small segments of
the general population may be exposed by the ingestion of contaminated drinking
water. Caprolactam is a
white, hygroscopic, crystalline solid or leaflets that are very soluble in
water. Caprolactam has a unique, unpleasant odor; the odor threshold has not
been established”
Carbon disulfide – 0.00009 mg/L, there is no drinking
water standard set by the EPA and PADEP, but the California 's Science Advisory Panel has set a limit of 0.16
mg/L. (OK)
Methyl ethyl ketone –
0.00008 mg/L (J) - < 0.002 mg/L- really not detectable ( 2-Butanone)
Methyl
ethyl ketone is a colorless volatile liquid that is soluble in water. The odor
threshold for methyl ethyl ketone is 5.4 parts per million (ppm), with an
acetone-like odor reported. Methyl ethyl ketone is also referred to as
2-butanone. The EPA and PADEP has not
set a drinking water standard, but it appears that Massachusetts has set a level of 4 mg/L.
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/methylet.html
‘
Ethylene glycol – the reported value is < 10 mg/L – there is
no standard, but the EPA has a guidance limit of < 7 mg/L. Other states have lower and higher standards:
At a minimum, I would recommend retesting for ethylene
glycol other other glycol compounds using a method that is more sensitive or
conducting some type of standard additions analysis.
No major problems
1. Methane is elevated and correction action including
active venting and possibly other treatment is needed. The value for methane ranged from 15 to 28
mg/L. The methane to ethane ratio 16 to
30, which suggests a Thermogenic source for the methane gas.
2. No major problem, but follow-up testing should include the organic parameters that were suggested to be present at just at or near the detection limit for the method.
3. Retesting for glycols and total suspended solids using a
more sensitive technique is recommended.
The sample has a total iron and manganese content that exceed the
secondary drinking water standards set by the EPA and PADEP. These limits were set for aesthetic reasons.
Document can not be
copied in whole or part without the expressed written permission of Mr. Brian
Oram, B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. http://www.bfenvironmental.com
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