Saturday, May 5, 2012

HW-6 Dimock Data EPA barium, copper, methane, nickel, thermogenic


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-6

With the exception of the following parameters, the remaining values were reported as NOT Detected (U)

Barium – 0.254 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)

Calcium- 35.3 mg/L (Total)– no specific drinking water standard drinking water standard is available.  (OK)

Chloride – 7.47 mg/L (OK) – drinking water standard is <  250 mg/L – this does not suggest any specific impact.

Copper – 0.0025 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 0.011 mg/L  – No specific drinking water standard (OK)

Methane 2.0 mg/L  – No specific drinking water standard. (OK).
The well water is not above the new action limit of 7 mg/L, but the well should be fitted with a basic vented well cap, but the level of methane is at a level were passive venting is recommended.   For more details, go to http://www.water-research.net/methanegas.htm

The methane/ethane ratio is (2.0/ 0.011) – 181  (Suggests biogenic, but isotopic analysis is needed)

Iron – 0.620 mg/L - 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.  Elevated level of iron is a common water quality problem in Northeastern PennsylvaniaAction is Recommended, because of an aesthetic issue.    Check for MIC and Nuisance Bacteria.

Magnesium- 6.82 mg/L (Total)– no specific drinking water standard drinking water standard is available.  (OK)

Manganese– 0.0316 mg/L (Total)– 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 not exceed the secondary drinking water standard.   (OK)

Nickel - 0.0012 mg/L (Total) – no specific drinking water standard drinking water standard is available, but the EPA has suggest a MCL of 0.1 mg/L.   (OK)

Nitrate+Nitrite- N – 0.699 mg/L, this is well below the EPA / PADEP drinking water limit of 10mg N/L for nitrate-N and would also be below the limit of 1.0 mg N/L for nitrite-N. (OK)

Sodium –13.2 (Total) – 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)

Strontium 0.720 mg/L (Total)  – 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)

Sulfate – 10.6 mg/L (OK) – drinking water standard is <  250 mg/L – this does not suggest any specific impact.

Total Dissolved Solids  25 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.  (Question – this value seems inaccurate or a typo – This should be redone.)

Uranium 0.0045 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  0.0055 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)
  
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:

New Jersey 0.300 mg/L (300 ppb)
Arizona 5.5 mg/L (5500 ppb)
New Hampshire 7.0 mg/L (7000 ppb)
Florida, Massachusetts, and Minnesota14.0 mg/L (14,000 ppb)
Minnesota

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. No major problem.

2. Iron is elevated and exceeds a secondary drinking water standard.

3. Methane/Ethane Ratio would suggest that isotopic analysis is advisable.
origin and the level of methane is well below the action level of 7 mg/L, but at the action level of 2 mg/L were passive venting is recommended.
4.Total Dissolved Solids results seem inaccurate or there is a typo in the draft report.

5. Retesting for glycols using a more sensitive technique is recommended.


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

Do you want to make a positive change in PA - that will cost you NO Money?
Help Support the Citizens Groundwater and Surfacewater Database and Submit Your Baseline Data !

 Free Information on Drinking Water Quality - http://www.water-research.net



No comments:

Post a Comment