Microbial Filtermitts Sediment FilterMitts for Natural Gas Development, Land Development, Stormwater Management

Microbial Filtermitts™ and Sediment FilterMitts™ securely contain our compost blend within a biodegradable fabric enclosure. They can be used for detaining or directing surface water flows, retaining sediment, and protecting wetlands and other water resources. Absent of any synthetic materials, Microbial FilterMitts™ and Sediment FilterMitts™ can be left in place indefinitely, saving the cost of removal. The natural fabric eventually biodegrades and is used as a food source for the micro-organisms.

Microbial FilterMitts™ and Sediment FilterMitts™  can be used alone or in conjunction with other storm water management techniques. They can also be grouped together to form a FilterMitt Berm™.

Composition and function:   
Phase II Stormwater Products Inc.'s FilterMitts™ are burlap fabric Mitts  filled with the appropriate compost blends, used for sediment and erosion control. These Mitts are sized accordingly for each job, unless specified.

Usage: 
• Flat areas or slopes.

• For short and long term solutions; FilterMitts™ can be easily removed before the fabric decomposes.

• If left in place, the hessian (burlap) casing eventually biodegrades, eliminating need for removal.

• Appropriate uses include shoreline stabilization, on slopes and flat areas, check dams, vegetation establishment, retaining walls, and in backfill and bioengineering applications.

• Compatible with vegetation establishment; plants can be installed into the FilterMitt™.

Maintenance:

 
To ensure proper functioning, regular inspections, and, if necessary, maintenance should take place after installation. FilterMitts™ should be inspected immediately after each rainfall-producing event, and at least daily during prolonged rainfall events. Proper functioning and sediment accumulation should be checked during inspection. Deposited sediments should be removed when the level of deposition reaches approximately one half the height of the FilterMitt™.  

FilterMitts™ can be sprayed with Microbial Inoculations at about two-month intervals to maintain high levels of active microorganisms.

PhaseII Stormwater Products Inc.

Online Training Courses in Stormwater Management

Basic Erosion and Sedimentation

Advanced Stormwater Treatment: Design

Green Infrastructure 6: Best Practices for Stormwater Management
More Training Programs for Professionals

Natural Gas and Alternative Energy Related Training

Baseline Water Testing in Michigan - Protecting Private Well Owners

Baseline Water Testing the Michigan Approach

We recently had the opportunity to review the recommendations for baseline water testing in Michigan.  We completed this review based on a review of published geological data, historic land practices, and the potential for oil and gas development.   We have conducted a review of baseline water testing programs for Colorado, Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Pennsylvania and other areas and we have conducted training courses related to baseline water sampling.  In addition, we have reviewed a few 1000 baseline water quality test results and reviewed the common complaints associated with baseline water testing.    For Michigan, The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals has developed the Oil & Gas Pre-Drill Water Well Testing in September of 2012.    We looked to see if an updated document was available and would could not be found.   

The 2012 document indicates the following:

Tier 1 - General Oil and Gas Pre-Drill Screening- Basic Suite
Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene (BTEX)
Total Dissolved Solids
Chloride
Methane

Tier 2 - More Comprehensive Test
Alkalinity
Oil and Gas
pH
Specific Conductance
Total Dissolved Solids
Total Suspended Solids
Chloride
Sulfate
T. Hardness
Surfactants
BTEX
Methane, Ethane, Propane
Nitrate as N
As, Ba, Pb, Se, Sr, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, K, Na
Total Coliform
E. coil. 
Turbidity

On a separate website - I found the following comment:
*DEQ includes hardness in combined test for Chloride, which also 
includes Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrite, Sulfate, Sodium and Iron.


**DEQ includes Ethane and Ethylene in its Methane test.

The DEQ document also states " should be noted that water well sampling provides water quality data for a single point in time. Water quality results can  vary considerably because of many factors, including: seasonally fluctuating static water levels, water well construction, use of the water supply, sampling technique, weather and atmospheric conditions. It is recommended that homeowners who wish to perform pre-drill sampling work with a professional environmental consultant and certified laboratory in order to: understand these natural variations in water quality; choose an appropriate sample suite of parameters; and to ensure the quality of the data obtained from pre-drill sampling and analysis. "

Overall, I agree with the concept of baseline testing, but at no time should document be interpreted to mean that the Tier 1 test will cover you in all cases and concerns and to be honest in most cases and concerns. The Tier 1 test, as proposed,  is NOT all you will need. 

Our general recommendations

1. The LEL, lower explosion level, of the wellhead space should be document during non-pumping and pumping conditions and the dynamic water level and pumping rate should be documented.

2. The most common water quality problems associated with oil and gas activity is dirty and discolored water, change in gas concentration, loss of circulation during drilling, and maybe changes in corrosion.  Therefore, water quality parameters such as iron, manganese, aluminum, lead, ethane, propane, barium, sulfate, turbidity, bromide, sodium, foaming agent, observation of the aesthetic quality of the water, and field monitoring for at least pH, conductivity, and ORP.

3. Will these additions be enough - Maybe / Maybe NOT- this is why you need to seek the advice of an expert.

4. Baseline water testing is not just about collecting a water sample and the court case starts when the third party agent walks into your home. 

Recommendations from Pennsylvania

Our General Recommendations
Michigan Recommendations
Our Baseline Presentation for West Virginia
Baseline Testing Concept for New York

Private Well Owner Issues

Need more information - please do not hesitate to Contact the Keystone Clean Water Team at 
http://www.pacleanwater.org