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-14
With the exception of the following parameters, the remaining
values were reported as NOT Detected (U)
Anionic Surfactants
– 0.03 mg/L – the secondary drinking water standard for foaming agents is 0.5
mg/L. (OK)
Ethane –0.0029 mg/L – No specific drinking water standard (OK)
Methane – 3.8 mg/L – No specific
drinking water standard. (OK).
Methane/Ethane
Ratio:131 (biogenic)
Note:
Methane at the sink, possibly after treatment – 0.049 mg/L.
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.
Chloride – 17.70
mg/L (OK) – drinking water standard is < 250 mg/L – this does not suggest any specific
impact.
Sulfate – 14.40 mg/L (OK) – drinking water standard is < 250 mg/L – this does not suggest any specific impact.
Arsenic – < 0.001mg/L (Total) and < 0.001 mg/L (D) – drinking water standard is < 0.010 mg/L – OK
Barium - 0.0893 mg/L (Total) and 0.0857mg/L (D) – drinking water standard is < 2 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- 29.9
mg/L (Total) and 29.7 mg/L (D) – no specific drinking water standard drinking
water standard is available. (OK)
Copper – 0.0021 mg/L
(Total) and < 0.002 mg/L (D)- Copper is regulated as a primary standard (EPA
and PA) and secondary drinking water standard in Pennsylvania . Primary standard 1.3 mg/L and secondary
standard 1.0 mg/L. (OK)
Note- the copper appears to be higher at the kitchen sink – this
could suggest some type of chemical / biological corrosion within the distribution
system.
Lead – 0.001 mg/L
(Total) and < 0.001 mg/L (D)- Lead is regulated as a primary standard (EPA
and PA) at 0.015 mg/L, but the action level in PA for source water is 0.005
mg/L. The level of lead after the treatment system and
distribution system is 0.0015 mg/L.
Note- the lead is higher at the kitchen sink – this could suggest
some type of chemical / biological corrosion within the distribution system.
Magnesium- 5.27
mg/L (Total) and 5.28 mg/L (D) – no specific drinking water standard drinking
water standard is available. (OK)
Manganese– 0.0083
mg/L (Total) and 0.0078 mg/L (D) –
Manganese is regulated as a secondary drinking water standard in Pennsylvania and the
action limit is 0.05 mg/L. (OK)
Nickel - 0.0016
mg/L (Total) and 0.0016 mg/L (D) – – no specific drinking water standard
drinking water standard is available, but the EPA has suggest a MCL of 0.1
mg/L. (OK)
Sodium –9.42 mg/L (Total) and 9.26 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)
Zinc
– 0.0036 mg/L (Total) and 0.005 mg/L (D) – Zinc is regulated as a secondary drinking
water standard by the PADEP in Pennsylvania
and the action limit is 5.0 mg/L. (OK)
Note:
After treatment the Zinc content is 0.0268 mg/L – this would suggest some form of
chemical or biological corrosion within the distribution system.
Total Dissolved Solids – <
10 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.)
Nitrate+Nitrite – 1.48
mg N/L, the EPA drinking water for nitrate-N/L is 10, but the primary drinking
water standard for nitrate is 1 nitrite-N/L.
It is probably be ok, but it may be advisable to test for
nitrite-N. (OK)
No major problems
1. Heterotrophic bacteria data is not provided.
2. Methane/Ethane Ratio could suggest the source of the methane
is biogenic.
3.Total Dissolved Solids results seem inaccurate or there is
a typo in the draft report.
4. Higher levels for select metals suggest there could be some
corrosion within the distribution system, but the levels do not exceed a primary
or secondary drinking water standard.
5. Nitrate-Nitrite at 1.48 mg/L – it may be advisable to
check the level of nitrite in the water.
6. 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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