Washington PA Southwest PA Izaak Walton League Marcellus Shale

Working as a Community - Getting the Waters Tested

Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist, and owner of B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. completed an informational session for the Izaak Walton League, Washington Chapter,  in Washington, Pennsylvania.

The Izaak Walton League of America is a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the soil, air, woods, and water of the United States.  The presentation was an informational meeting that included the following topics:

What is the Citizen Groundwater / Surfacewater Database?
What We Know about Baseline Water Quality in Pennsylvania.

nDoes Water Quality Change – if so how? n
What is Baseline Testing? n
What are the Critical Issues? n
What are some of the Key Parameters? n
What is Working as a Community?

It was a lively event, I had a good time, and there was some interesting discussions. A pdf version of the presentation can be found at one of these portals:

http://www.water-research.net/powerpoint/index.htm

http://www.bfenvironmental.com/

Dimock ( I had the job of a group of citizens that the groundwater was not pure) , PA (Video) and Franklin Forks, PA


My Videos Related to Natural Gas

The Drinking Water Helpguide - Free Information on Drinking Water Quality

Arundo donax bioenergy crop Invasive species

"Why Arundo donax is possibly the finest bioenergy crop available for a variety of uses:

Ø High energy content - 8,000-8,400 Btu per lb.

Ø High yield - 20-25 tons per acre

Ø Year round production - 2 harvests per field per year.

Ø Rapid Growth crowds out weeds – significant soil carbon sequestration.

Ø Low Fertilizer requirement- extensive perennial root system.

Ø Perennial – no annual tillage or planting.

Ø No Pesticides are necessary.

Ø No net CO2 emissions – Zero net carbon emissions to atmosphere.

Ø Provides habitat for wildlife.

Ø Prevents soil erosion.

Ø Can be grown on marginal lands in semi-arid conditions.

Ø C3 and C4 Photosynthetic pathway traits

Ø Constant energy ratio/conversion factorization.

The Question of “Invasiveness”

Although there has been a lot of attention given to so-called “invasiveness” of Arundo in the USA, particularly in California, it is quite easily controlled under conventional agricultural management. The “invasiveness” in California was a man-made phenomenon in which Arundo was planted along irrigation channels, rivers and around dams to control erosion of the banks by binding the soils. Fast moving flood waters and the seasonal runoff from such as the Sierra Nevadas have over time, washed away the containing river banks and moved plants down stream where they have lodged and rooted.

Studies have been undertaken to establish best management practices for the cultivation and termination of Arundo under commercial agricultural situations. Two diskings annually around field borders are all that is required to prevent spread of Arundo. In all planned projects,  a minimum of a 20 ft buffer zone around the perimeter of Arundo donax planted for commercial use . Arundo donax does not produce viable seed, has clumping rhizomes, and produces no runners such as with bamboo.

The most extensive studies of Perennial Grasses to determine their suitability as bioenergy crops were undertaken under the FAIR of the EU from 1997 to 2000. Their final report recommended Arundo donax as the most promising of all those grown in trial plots, harvested and then tested as the feedstock for a variety of commercial utilizations including biopower, biofuel & paper fiber as well as the added benefit of phytoremediation (the de-pollution of contaminated soils). At no stage of this most exhaustive program were there any instances of invasiveness and Arundo was stated as “environmentally friendly,” “soil improvements achieved,” “environmentally benign,” and “The champion of future bioenergy crops.”

I

n South Australia, Arundo has been grown for bio-remediation purposes to clean up industrial effluent of contaminated areas and has also been tested and proved effective in eliminating salinity in soils that could then be used for agricultural activities."

Article and information source - Not by Work -http://www.biggreenenergy.com/default.aspx?tabid=4269

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Wetlands, Soils and Hydric Soils - Training and Store
Training for Engineers 

Western Pennsylvania Baseline Water Testing- Corry, PA - My water is black and discolored

I conducted a presentation in Corry, PA - One homeowner brought in a sample of their water.  The water was slightly discolored and had a black precipitate. In addition the water had a very slight sulfur odor.  What did I find- the testing was conducted at my cost and the data is owned by B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.

E. Coli. Slime Bacteria Iron Bacteria	Occurrence #/ml #/ml	Absent no standard no standard	Absent 66,500 (High) 140,000 (High)
pH (field)	units	6.5 - 8.5	6.95
Conductivity (field)	uS/cm	no standard	125
Total Dissolved Solids (field – estimate)	mg/L	< 500	205
Aluminum	mg/L	< 0.2	< 0.1
Arsenic	mg/L	< 0.01	0.008
Barium	mg/L	< 2.0	< 0.3
Cadmium	mg/L	< 0.005	< 0.002
Calcium	mg/L	no standard	38.3
Chromium	mg/L	< 0.1	< 0.010
Copper	mg/L	< 1.0	0.142
Iron	mg/L	< 0.3	0.081
Lead	mg/L	< 0.015	< 0.002
Magnesium	mg/L	no standard	14.03
Manganese	mg/L	< 0.05	0.24 (High)
Mercury	mg/L	< 0.002	< 0.001
Nickel	mg/L	no standard	< 0.020
Potassium	mg/L	no standard	2.1
Selenium	mg/L	< 0.05	< 0.020
Silica	mg/L	no standard	16
Silver	mg/L	< 0.100	< 0.002
Sodium	mg/L	no standard	24
Strontium	mg/L	no standard	0.307
Uranium	mg/L	< 0.03	< 0.03
Zinc	mg/L	< 5	0.059
Alkalinity	mg CaCO3/L	no standard	160
Hardness	mg CaCO3/L	no standard	150
Total Dissolved Solids (actual)	mg/L	< 500	210
Turbidity	ntu	< 1.0	0.6
Chloride	mg/L	< 250	5.6
Fluoride	mg/L	< 4	< 0.5
Nitrate as N	mg/L	< 10	< 0.5
Nitrite as N	mg/L	< 1	< 0.5
Orthophosphate	mg/L	no standard	< 2
Sulfate	mg/L	< 250	12
Shock Disinfect			YES
Ratio TDS/ Conductivity	Ratio	no standard	0.5

The main problem

a. Nuisance bacteria - the iron related and slime bacteria are extremely high.  At this level, it is possible to have elevated levels of aluminum, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, and even lead and these organisms can cause MIC (microbiologically induced corrosion).    The level of manganese was elevated.

b.Note the level of arsenic was just below the drinking water standard.  This is one of the reasons that arsenic is recommended as part of the baseline testing.

c. Primary recommendation - shock disinfect the well and retest for bacterial contamination and iron and manganese.

d. Sulfur Odor - the sulfur odor could be related to manganese or could be caused by a bacterial group.

Testing results and data are owned by Mr. Brian Oram and B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. The results were given to the homeowner for informational purposes only and these results can not be used as part of any legal proceeding or real estate transaction. 

COGCC Colorado Baseline Water Testing Groundwater Rulemaking 2012 Comments by Brian Oram

COGCC Commission Oil and Gas State of Colorado Groundwater Rulemaking 2012 - Revised Proposed Rule 609  - Colorado Baseline Water Testing.

1.Sampling locations: Initial baseline samples and subsequent monitoring samples shall be collected from two (2) groundwater sources or springs within a one-half (1/2) mile radius of the proposed Oil and Gas Location.
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There is suggestive evidence of issues with water quality issues that extent beyond a half mile, but this is a great starting point, but all sources surfacewater, springs, and groundwater (shallow and deep) should be tested - Just just 2.  This approach does not adequately characterize the natural variation temporally (travel time), vertical, and related to surface activities. Extending to 1 mile if no sources are present is a good approach.

Previously sampled domestic wells. An operator may rely on groundwater sampling data collected from any domestic well located within one-half mile of a proposed Oil and Gas Location, provided the data was collected within the 18 months preceding construction of the Location, to satisfy one of the two sampling locations required by this subsection
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This should not be used to preclude pre-existing data that may be in the hands of the private well owner as long as the data was collected using a chain of custody process with a third party sampler. and testing done by a certified laboratory.

d. Subsequent monitoring sampling: Subsequent monitoring sampling shall be conducted:

(1) Not less than 12 months, nor more than 18 months, following any well completion or facility installation; and
(2) Not less than sixty (60) months, nor more than seventy-eight (78) months, after the last sampling event performed pursuant to Rule 609.d.(1). Wells that are drilled and abandoned without ever producing hydrocarbons are exempt from this requirement.
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If there are so few sources, I would recommend some type of annual screening for general water quality and then the full screening every 2 years.

Can a private well owner request monitoring if a problem is suspected?  Who do they contact?


e. Sampling and analysis

(1) Sampling and analysis shall be conducted in conformance with an accepted industry standard as described in Rule 910.b.(2).
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I could not find Rule 910.b

pH, specific conductance, total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved gases (methane, ethane, propane), alkalinity (total bicarbonate and carbonate as CaCO3), major dissolved anions (bromide, chloride, fluoride, sulfate, nitrate and nitrite as N, phosphorus), major dissolved cations (calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium), other elements (barium, boron, selenium and strontium), presence of bacteria (iron related, sulfate reducing, slime and coliform), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes). Hydrogen sulfide shall also be measured using a field test method. Field observations such as odor, water color, sediment, bubbles, and effervescence shall also be included. The sample location shall be surveyed in accordance with Rule 215.

First baseline sampling should include: arsenic, ammonia, copper, lead, aluminum, zinc, heterotrophic bacteria, pH (field), conductivity (specific conductance)(field and lab), TDS (lab), Total suspended soilds (lab), turbidity (field), ORP (field), foaming agents,  and all 21-regulated and unregulated VOC, plus TIC (tentatively identified compounds).

Add alpha, beta, and uranium.

Analysis should require a cation and anion balance analysis and other QC/QA procedures to screen the data.
Note: I well that has a problem with nuisance bacteria will have a corrosion related problem that could impact the copper, lead, and zinc content of the water.

(3) If free gas or a dissolved methane concentration greater than 1.0 milligram per liter (mg/l) is detected in a water well, gas compositional analysis and stable isotope analysis of the methane (carbon and hydrogen – 12C, 13C, 1H and 2H) shall be performed to determine gas type.
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Good


(3) Copies of all test results described above shall be provided to the Commission Director and the water well owner within three (3) months of collecting the samples. The analytical data and surveyed well locations shall also be submitted to the Director in an electronic data deliverable format.
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Hopefully - mailing is not the only notice and if a problem occurs it would be advisable to provide some guidance with respect to this notice. In cases where the results do not violate a health or a potential health hazard- getting a report in 3 months may be ok - a month is more reasonable 
If the results suggest a potential health concern, then the homeowner should be notified in a much quicker fashion - especially if this is a private water well.  Again there should be some specifics.


Just my thoughts

Training - we offer training courses for individuals that conduct baseline water sampling.
Private Well Owners - we provide assistance to private well owners with reviewing and evaluating water quality data.
Plus we have a Free Water Quality Helpguide.
Plus if you (private water system owner) need assistance inside of PA - PA Survey
If outside of PA - Go to USA Survey
We facilitate - Informational and Certified Water Testing