Private Wells Pennsylvania an Online Guide Protect Your Groundwater Day September 13

Nearly a million households in Pennsylvania rely on private water supplies.In Pennsylvania, protection and maintenance of a private well is largely the responsibility of homeowners. Private wells are typically safe, dependable sources of water if sited wisely and constructed properly. Information is provided here to have your private water supply built correctly and protected adequately.  There are approximately 20,000 new private wells drilled each year in Pennsylvania.  Within Pennsylvania, 4.5 million people (37%) of Pennsylvania’s population Directly use ground water as their potable water source and indirectly we ALL rely on this resource.
The following are links to key documents or resources that each private well owner should have available (FREE).

1. Citizens Guide to Drinking Water Quality
2. How to shock disinfect a well?
3. A Drinking Water Help Guide.
4. Using a Sanitary Well Cap  and a Guide to Private Well Construction
5. "Getting the Waters Tested - The Marcellus Shale Factor-" Past Presentations- Information on Methane Gas (PA)

6. The formation of the Citzen Groundwater Database.  Work as a Community to Protect OUR Groundwater.  Information Sheet to submit data to the Citzen Database- complete form and send form and data to brian.oram@wilkes.edu.

7. Powerpoint Presentations on Groundwater Quality.
8. Master Well Owners and Carbon County Groundwater Guardians Groups
9. Informational Water Testing Program- affliate program available to help you non-profit or environmental group raise public awareness and help test private wells with an informational water testing program.


Please participate in the Free Private Well Owner Survey Related to the Marcellus Shale Formation and other Black Shales/ Unconventional Formations.

Please visit our family of websites:
B.F. Environmental Consultants
Water-Research.net
Water-Testing-Kits.com

Protect Your Groundwater Day is on September 13, 2011

Why does Pennsylvania's groundwater need to be protected?  What can you do?

4½ million people (37%) of Pennsylvania’s population use ground water as their potable water source.
The ground-water resources of Pennsylvania need to be protected against contamination entering through improperly constructed residential wells and geothermal boreholes.

Simple ways everyone can act to protect Pennsylvania's groundwater:

Everyone can and should do something to protect groundwater. Why? We all have a stake in maintaining its quality and quantity. For starters, 95 percent of all available freshwater comes from aquifers underground. Being a good steward of groundwater just makes sense. Not only that, most surface water bodies are connected to groundwater so how you impact groundwater matters.

Furthermore, many public water systems draw all or part of their supply from groundwater, so protecting the resource protects the public water supply and impacts treatment costs. If you own a well to provide water for your family, farm, or business, groundwater protection is doubly important. As a well owner, you are the manager of your own water system. Protecting groundwater will help reduce risks to your water supply.

Groundwater protection

There are two fundamental categories of groundwater protection:

Goal 1:Keeping Groundwater safe from contamination.
Goal 2: Using it wisely by not wasting it.

Before examining what you can do to protect groundwater, however, you should know that sometimes the quality and safety of groundwater is affected by substances that occur naturally in the environment.


Naturally occurring contamination

The chemistry of the groundwater flowing into a well reflects what’s in the environment. If the natural quality of groundwater to be used for human consumption presents a health risk, water treatment will be necessary.
Examples of naturally occurring substances that can present health risk are:

Microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, viruses, and parasites; these tend to be more common in shallow groundwater)
Radionuclides (i.e., radium, radon, and uranium)
Heavy metals (i.e., arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, and selenium).

Public water systems are required to treat drinking water to federal quality standards. However, it is up to private well owners to make sure their water is safe.


Contamination caused by human activities

Human activities can pollute groundwater, and this is where every person can help protect groundwater — both in terms of groundwater quality and quantity.

Some common human causes of groundwater contamination are:

Improper storage or disposal of hazardous substances
Improper use of fertilizers, animal manures, herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides
Chemical spills
Improperly built and/or maintained septic systems
Improperly abandoned wells (these include water wells, groundwater monitoring wells, and wells used in cleaning contaminated groundwater)
Poorly sited or constructed water wells.

An emerging concern in recent years is the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water. Much research remains to be done to assess the health risks of trace amounts of these items. Nevertheless, disposal strategies for these substances are increasingly being advocated.

Water conservation

Americans are the largest water users, per capita, in the world. In terms of groundwater, Americans use 79.6 billion gallons per day — the equivalent of 2,923 12-oz. cans for every man, woman, and child in the nation.
Agricultural irrigation is far and away the largest user of groundwater in America at 53.5 billion gallons a day followed by public use via public water systems or private household wells at a combined total of 18.3 billion gallons per day. More efficient use of water in either of these areas could save a huge amount.

At the household level, the greatest amount of water used inside the home occurs in the bathroom. The remainder of indoor water use is divided between clothes washing and kitchen use, including dish washing, according to the U.S. EPA. Calculate your household water use here.

Depending on where in the country you live, outdoor water use can vary widely.

If you want to get an ever better idea how much water you use, find out your “water footprint” by calculating the amount of water it takes to produce some of the food you consume.

ACT — Acknowledge, Consider, Take action

On Protect Your Groundwater Day, the PGWA and the NGWA urge you to ACT. Use this day to begin doing your part for protecting one of our most important natural resources — groundwater.


​1.Acknowledge the causes of preventable groundwater contamination —
There are hazardous substances common to households.  Most household water use occurs in a few areas around the home. ​If you own a water well -Wellheads should be a safe distance from potential contamination. Septic system malfunctions can pollute groundwater. Poorly constructed or maintained wells can facilitate contamination. Improperly abandoned wells can lead to groundwater contamination.

Get Your Water Tested - Pump Out your Septic Tank

2.​ Consider which apply to you —

What specific hazardous substances are in and around your home?
Where do you and your family use the most water?
If you own a water well is your wellhead a safe distance from possible contamination?
Is your well/septic system due for an inspection?
Are there any abandoned wells on your property?

3. Take action to prevent groundwater contamination —

When it comes to hazardous household substances:
Store them properly in a secure place
Use them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
Dispose of them safely.

When it comes to water conservation:
Modify your water use (more water saving tips)
Install a water-saving device.

If you own a water well ​move possible contamination sources a safe distance from the wellhead
Get current on your septic system inspection and cleaning
Get your annual water well system inspection
Properly decommission any abandoned wells using a professional.

For more information on Protect Your Groundwater Day, contact NGWA Public Awareness Director Cliff Treyens at ctreyens@ngwa.org.

Content - Source - "Editting of Press Release Related to Groundwater Day- 2011".

Marcellus Shale and Private Wells - Getting the Waters Tested

It is critical that baseline testing data be conducted and compiled and that private well owners understand the quality of their water.  To help meet this objective, B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc has conducted the following:

1. Worked with Wilkes University to create a booklet on Water Quality
2. Prepared a listing of recommend test parameters and conducting and education outreach program.
3. Working on Compiling a Citizens Groundwater Database with Wilkes University.

We could use your help.  Please consider filling out our online survey related to private wells and marcellus shale.

Thanks

Appreciate your time and interest.

marcellus shale groundwater contamination?

Getting the Waters Tested and Your Water Tested Prior to Natural Gas Development

These are all the buzz words you may be hearing related to water testing:

Independent Baseline Water Testing
Third Party Sampling
Chain of Custody
Baseline Testing
A Water Check
Drinking Water Screening
A Well Check Up

I like to use the following phrases:
1. We need to Get the Waters Tested- this is because groundwater and surfacewater are connected and that we all live downstream of each other.   Surfacewater at one location in a short period of time becomes surfacewater at another location.  This is easy to see and understand, but groundwater at one location moves to another location, but the path and time frame may not be what we anticipate or understand.  

2. Groundwater becomes surfacewater - this is because groundwater discharge or baseflow is really what supports are streams and tributaries.  About 60 to 70% of annual stream flow is actually groundwater discharge or baseflow - the systems are connected.   Therefore, we need to test both sources and track change.

3.We all live downstream - this is a simple fact.  We understand that water flows through a stream from village to village, but we see to forget that groundwater follows this same process.  It may not go in the same direction or follow the same time line.  Therefore, a problem upgradient for a well is a future problem for a citizen downgradient - the other problem is we do not always know what is downgradient.  In general, groundwater moves very slowly, i.e., feet per year, but we start pumping a well we can significantly change the natural groundwater gradient and rate of movement.

4. Work as a community - groundwater quality is not an issue for a citizen but a community.  It takes a village to raise a child and to protect groundwater and our surfacewater resources it takes a community.


Mr. Brian Oram is the owner of B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc and actively involved with research in water treatment, water quality, and groundwater issues at Wilkes University.
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. provides environmental consulting, expert witness, water quality sampling, baseline water sampling/ testing/analysis, chain-of-custody services, and education outreach services to landowners and other organizations. The primary focus of our outreach efforts is to aid in evaluating and documenting baseline environmental conditions, evaluate potential for environmental impact, educate citizens on the natural gas development, and assist municipalities/ citizen groups in planning related activities.

If you need baseline testing related to Marcellus Shale- Go Here.
If you are interested in being involved with the Wilkes University Citizen Database for Northeastern Pennsylvania or need information on suggested parameters by the University- Go Here.

Informational Water Testing Services
Point of Use Water Treatment Systems
Test the Water Yourself

Independent Water Testing and Baseline Groundwater Testing State Certified Laboratories in Northeastern Pennsylvania - Columbia, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming

The following is a short listing of state or national certified testing laboratories in our region. If you want you can find in this blog a listing of all of the laboratories in the state.

First of all what is baseline testing and some details.

Because of the specifics concerns with respect to the Marcellus Shale, the citizens are recognizing the importance of documenting the baseline quality of their drinking water and recreational water sources. The primary concern is that many professionals are recommending baseline analysis that either provide a very broad range of parameters that are not specific enough to target the Marcellus Shale or a baseline analysis that targets only the potential impacts related to the develop of natural gas and in some cases there are companies with very little experience in environmental consulting.


From the citizens perspective - It is my professional opinion, the baseline analysis needs to take into consideration the following:
a. The existing geological conditions that may affect water quality for the region or area.

b. The existing land-use or activities occurring within the recharge zone for the well or spring or watershed area for the surfacewater resource.

c. Potential sources of contaminants from proposed developments that target the various phases of the development, i.e., drilling / drilling muds, intermixing of freshwater with saline and brine water, interception of shallow gas deposits, and management of the drilling pad.

d. The existing quality of your water and type of water source.

Of these 4 items, I believe that if the professional you are considering hiring does not ask you questions about your well and your current water quality you will not be establishing an affective baseline. In addition, the professional providing this information should not be just reading off a list of recommendations by some third party, but have solid understanding of earth sciences, hydrology, well drilling, and groundwater. Remember - you are establishing a "legal" baseline that may need to address a multitude of issues not just Marcellus Shale Drilling or Hydrofracing.

Establishing a baseline - the following questions should be asked and used in the decision making process.
1. Where are you located and What is the type of water source?

2. If it is a well, what is the depth of the well, static water level, and depth of casing?

3. Does the water system have an existing treatment system? If yes, why?

4. Does the water quality change when there is a heavy rain or snow melt?

5. Has it been tested in the past?

6. Are there any problems or issues? Such as: discolored water, metallic taste, turbidity, staining, blue-green staining, etc

7. This water source supports what type of use? Single-family home, house and small farm, etc.

8. What is the size of your parcel?

9. What is the existing and past use of your parcel?

10. What is the land-use surrounding and upgradient of this source?
If the person conducting your baseline analysis - is not asking you these questions - he/she may not be providing you the help you need.

Before we get into more detail - I you do not contact a certified laboratory for guidance - then at least call a professional.  This should be a licensed water or wastewater operator or other licensed professional in the state.  There are many persons making a lot of claims, but what is there experience in the profession, do not hirer someone that basically has not professional background in the subject.  Personally - I have had retired or displaced nurserys, salesman, and many others ask me to train.  This is not appropriate and will cause you to make a bad decision.

I read on other sites that there are 4 componets to a legally defensible baseline water test.  Here they are:

1. The test must be conducted by an independent 3rd party.
2. Training and protocols must be in place
3. There must be an identifiable chain of custody
4. The test must be conducted by a Pennsylvania State Certified Laboratory.

Guess What ?
These are wrong!
This is the right concept.

To adequately meet your needs - you must establish a baseline that does the following:

1. Addresses the existing condition of the groundwater source including volume and quality based on the existing or proposed usage and surrounding conditions.  Therefore, a person with a quarry near their home and a spring - may need a different set a parameters than a person living in the middle of a 100+ acre forest.
(Pick the right parameters that meet YOUR budget, YOUR Need, and relates to YOUR situation - One package does not fit ALL).

2. Characterize your well - static and dynamic water level- measure flow or rate - calculate specific capacity.

3. Work with a "certified laboratory" using their technician or a technician that they approve or authorize.

4. The laboratory could be PADEP approve or Nationally Accredited and the laboratory must be certified for the specific methods or process your sample in cooperation with another laboratory that is certified for the necessary methods.

You can contact me at
http://www.bfenvironmental.com/
Over 20 years experience in geology, hydrology, and water quality related issues in Northeastern PA; expert witness, licensed water well driller, soil scientist, and much more.

The State Certified Laboratories that serve Northeastern PA are (partial list):
Aqua-Tech Lab, Mountaintop, PA 868-5346
Benchmark Analytical, East Stroudsburg, PA, 421-5122
Kirby Health Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA 822-4278
Friend Lab Inc., Waverly, NY, 607-565-2893
Northeastern Environmental Labs, Scranton, PA, 348-0775
Quantum Labs in Dickson City, PA 570-489-6964
Hawk Mountain Labs 570-455-6011 (Hazle Township, PA)
Seewald Laboratories 570.326.4001 ( Williamsport, PA)
(always willing to update)

Do not be fooled - there are a number of "lab" websites.  When you look deep enough- these are actually just collectors with little expertise in groundwater, water chemistry, and are not likely worth the money.