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 Pennsylvania . Action
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:
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
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