In Pennsylvania, private wells are virtually unregulated. There are basically no construction standards, minimial standards for well placement, and virtually no requirement for testing or checking the quality of the water. We have known that on average about 50% of private wells do not meet drinking water standard, yet we have not passed any regulations or standards to ensure private wells are sited and constructed properly and that the groundwater is of good quality. In addition, we have not put inplace standards for private wells or even geothermal wells that ensure and help to maintain the quality of our groundwater resource.
The Marcellus Shale is a Factor - even without Marcellus Shale we have a situation where we need to take action. The action we need is:
a. Create Private Well and Geothermal Well Construction Standards.
b. Require some initial testing and screening of the well water.
c. Put in place a program to abandon or remediate wells that do not meet standards.
d. Put in place a program to help citizens that need to have their well remediated. For example, a well with a problem with total coliform and e. coli because of inadequate casing can produce water that meets drinking water standards by installing a Class A disinfection system - But the well is a conduit for contamination.
We all live downstream !
2011 Training Event - Getting the Waters Tested - the Marcellus Shale Factor - February 10, 2011
If you are looking for more information, please visit the following websites.
Wilkes University - Homeowner Outreach Program
http://www.wilkes.edu/water
Water Research Center - Free Information on Water Quality and Private Well Construction
http://www.water-research.net/
Citizen Groundwater Quality Database in NEPA - Recommendations on Parameters for Private Wells
http://wilkes.edu/pages/4197.asp
Free Publication for Private Well Owners
http://wilkes.edu/Include/WaterResearch/PDFs/Waterbooklet070610.pdf
Need Help - Watershed Organizations - Potential Free Assistance
http://www.water-research.net/Watershed/watershedtraining.htm
or
Assistance or Presentation on the Citizen Groundwater Database - Citizen Monitoring Programs http://wilkes.edu/pages/4200.asp
Questions on Baseline Testing
Self-Monitoring Equipment and Supplies
Monitoring For Well Drillers and Private Well Owners
Showing posts with label private well construction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label private well construction. Show all posts
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Geologist concerned about drilling truck traffic
Reposting of Article
Geologist concerned about drilling truck traffic
By Elizabeth Skrapits (Staff Writer)
Published: February 19, 2010
DALLAS TWP. - Back Mountain Community Partnership members heard from a geologist Thursday about the use of water in natural gas drilling and what happens to the salt- and chemical-laden water afterwards.
EnCana Oil and Gas USA Inc., in partnership with WhitMar Exploration Co., plan to drill three exploratory natural gas wells in Luzerne County: in Fairmount Township near the Ricketts Glen Hotel on Route 118; in Lake Township on Zosh Road near the Lehman Township border; and in Lehman Township on Peaceful Valley Road.
WhitMar/EnCana have leased more than 15,000 acres in the Back Mountain area, BMCP Chairman Allen Fox of Jackson Township said.
Of the BMCP member municipalities, the companies have leased approximately 4,300 acres in Lehman Township, 2,400 in Jackson Township, 1,300 in Dallas Township, and no acreage yet in Dallas Borough or Franklin and Kingston townships, according to Fox.
EnCana representatives attended the January BMCP meeting, where residents peppered them with questions, primarily about water contamination concerns and potential effects of drilling on the environment.
The company did respond in writing, but BMCP members have not had a chance to read and digest it, so they will wait until the March meeting to present it, Fox said. But Wilkes University geologist Brian Oram was on hand at Thursday's meeting to talk about drilling and water.
Hydraulic fracturing - "fracking" - involves blasting thousands of gallons of water deep underground to break up the shale, which releases natural gas.
Only 10 percent to 30 percent of the water comes back, and what does can be re-used for fracking, Oram said. Often water is hauled to wastewater treatment plants, where it is diluted for re-use, he said, but noted that there are no facilities in the area for treating the briny water. He believes getting rid of used water will be one of natural gas drillers' biggest hurdles in the region.
A treatment facility was recently approved in Williamsport; another is scheduled to open in the Muncy area, BMCP vice-chairman James Reino of Kingston Township said.
Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority is working with Scranton-based PA Northeast Aqua Resources LLC on a plan to treat up to 150,000 gallons of fracking water a day, but so far has not received approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Franklin Township representative Michael Prokopchack asked how the briny water from fracking was different from the salt water sprayed on roads.
Fracking water can contain trace elements including metals and organic chemicals, Oram said. Salt water used for roads does not have the contaminants, he said.
But there is an impact on the shallow freshwater aquifer from road salt, Oram said. And he is more concerned about the trucks carrying used fracking water.
"I don't have a big fear of fracking a Marcellus Shale well. I have a bigger fear of that truck going down the road, tipping over, and we have private wells that have no construction standards," he said. "I spent the last 20 years of my life dealing with people who have the worst-constructed private wells."
Another concern of Oram's is that there aren't any independent, Pennsylvania-based third-party inspectors available to make sure the well casings are done in the right way, using the proper grade of cement.
"Is it fair to say an 18-hole golf course will use more water for irrigation than it does in fracking?" Prokopchak asked.
"Absolutely," Oram replied. However, he said the difference is that while golf course irrigation consumes water, it puts it back into the atmosphere while fracking takes it out of the cycle altogether.
Oram said he would prefer to see partially-degraded water used for fracking rather than taking it from a "nice pristine freshwater stream." He also would like to see water transported by rail instead of by road. There needs to be long-term planning, he said.
eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072
Comments
Good Article - my only comments are as follows:
a. Proposed legislation being considered should be supported and will provide a significant step in improving and protecting the health/safety of the community and the environment and maintain the integrity of the resource.
b.Third party inspections should be done by PA - Businesses using PA licensed professionals.
c. We need to look at long-term planning for this industry and begin to think "out of the box" on issues related to managing the water resources, water reuse, and stormwater management.
d. We need private well construction standards and we need to encourage private well owners to get their water tested, identifiy problems with existing well construction, and aid in improving/fixing well construction issues - remember - "We All Live Downstream"
Thanks
Brian
Geologist concerned about drilling truck traffic
By Elizabeth Skrapits (Staff Writer)
Published: February 19, 2010
DALLAS TWP. - Back Mountain Community Partnership members heard from a geologist Thursday about the use of water in natural gas drilling and what happens to the salt- and chemical-laden water afterwards.
EnCana Oil and Gas USA Inc., in partnership with WhitMar Exploration Co., plan to drill three exploratory natural gas wells in Luzerne County: in Fairmount Township near the Ricketts Glen Hotel on Route 118; in Lake Township on Zosh Road near the Lehman Township border; and in Lehman Township on Peaceful Valley Road.
WhitMar/EnCana have leased more than 15,000 acres in the Back Mountain area, BMCP Chairman Allen Fox of Jackson Township said.
Of the BMCP member municipalities, the companies have leased approximately 4,300 acres in Lehman Township, 2,400 in Jackson Township, 1,300 in Dallas Township, and no acreage yet in Dallas Borough or Franklin and Kingston townships, according to Fox.
EnCana representatives attended the January BMCP meeting, where residents peppered them with questions, primarily about water contamination concerns and potential effects of drilling on the environment.
The company did respond in writing, but BMCP members have not had a chance to read and digest it, so they will wait until the March meeting to present it, Fox said. But Wilkes University geologist Brian Oram was on hand at Thursday's meeting to talk about drilling and water.
Hydraulic fracturing - "fracking" - involves blasting thousands of gallons of water deep underground to break up the shale, which releases natural gas.
Only 10 percent to 30 percent of the water comes back, and what does can be re-used for fracking, Oram said. Often water is hauled to wastewater treatment plants, where it is diluted for re-use, he said, but noted that there are no facilities in the area for treating the briny water. He believes getting rid of used water will be one of natural gas drillers' biggest hurdles in the region.
A treatment facility was recently approved in Williamsport; another is scheduled to open in the Muncy area, BMCP vice-chairman James Reino of Kingston Township said.
Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority is working with Scranton-based PA Northeast Aqua Resources LLC on a plan to treat up to 150,000 gallons of fracking water a day, but so far has not received approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Franklin Township representative Michael Prokopchack asked how the briny water from fracking was different from the salt water sprayed on roads.
Fracking water can contain trace elements including metals and organic chemicals, Oram said. Salt water used for roads does not have the contaminants, he said.
But there is an impact on the shallow freshwater aquifer from road salt, Oram said. And he is more concerned about the trucks carrying used fracking water.
"I don't have a big fear of fracking a Marcellus Shale well. I have a bigger fear of that truck going down the road, tipping over, and we have private wells that have no construction standards," he said. "I spent the last 20 years of my life dealing with people who have the worst-constructed private wells."
Another concern of Oram's is that there aren't any independent, Pennsylvania-based third-party inspectors available to make sure the well casings are done in the right way, using the proper grade of cement.
"Is it fair to say an 18-hole golf course will use more water for irrigation than it does in fracking?" Prokopchak asked.
"Absolutely," Oram replied. However, he said the difference is that while golf course irrigation consumes water, it puts it back into the atmosphere while fracking takes it out of the cycle altogether.
Oram said he would prefer to see partially-degraded water used for fracking rather than taking it from a "nice pristine freshwater stream." He also would like to see water transported by rail instead of by road. There needs to be long-term planning, he said.
eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072
Comments
Good Article - my only comments are as follows:
a. Proposed legislation being considered should be supported and will provide a significant step in improving and protecting the health/safety of the community and the environment and maintain the integrity of the resource.
b.Third party inspections should be done by PA - Businesses using PA licensed professionals.
c. We need to look at long-term planning for this industry and begin to think "out of the box" on issues related to managing the water resources, water reuse, and stormwater management.
d. We need private well construction standards and we need to encourage private well owners to get their water tested, identifiy problems with existing well construction, and aid in improving/fixing well construction issues - remember - "We All Live Downstream"
Thanks
Brian
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Recommended Natural Gas Well Construction Techniques for Pennsylvania
Because of the recent interest in the Marcellus Shale in PA, there has been a significant increase in drilling of deep natural gas production wells. One of the primary concerns or issues is Pennsylvania, would be the potential for these wells to impact surrounding freshwater wells. Since most of these freshwater wells are wells that are classified as private or unregulated wells and these wells are typically constructed with no minimal construction standard, a primary concern for developing the Marcellus Shale would be to throughly document the construction characteristics, water level, and quality of these wells. Since it may not be easy to modifiy the existing wells, the primary recommendations are as follows:
1. A detailed well inventory should be completed and it could be supplemented by the PAGWIS database.
2. The private well data that is critical would be the well location (GPS- using same standard or better and datum) that is being used by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Web Driller Website. The following is the information that is required for the on-line well submission form- http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/groundwater/WebDriller/wdtips.aspx
Driller Well ID – A unique identification number assigned by the driller. It can be any unique combination up to 15 characters long. Once the report is submitted, this number cannot be changed.
Type of Activity – The subject of the driller’s report. “New Well” is the default activity. Click on the dropdown menu to select something other than “New Well.” When another option is chosen, a new box opens up: “Original Well By.” Select the appropriate button (either “Current Driller” or “Another Driller”). If “Another Driller” is selected, an additional box appears asking for the name of the “Original Driller.” If the original driller is not known, indicate “unknown.” If “Well Abandonment” is chosen as the Type of Activity, an additional box “Reason for Abandonment” appears. Select the reason from the dropdown menu.
Date Drilled – Click the date on the calendar.
Drilling Method – Select from the dropdown menu.
Owner – This can be a business entity or a person.
Coordinate Method – The method of determining the well’s location coordinates. Choose from the dropdown menu. When using a hand-held GPS for determining the coordinates, choose “GPS – Global Positioning System.”
Location Type – The type of coordinate system used to locate the well. Choose between “Latitude/Longitude” and “UTM.” Latitude/longitude is the most common method. UTM stands for the Universal Transverse Mercator global coordinate system that is based in meters. If UTM is selected, the latitude and longitude boxes change to the required fields of “UTM Northing” and “UTM Easting.”
Latitude and Longitude – Values of the coordinates of the well location. If using a GPS, set your GPS units to “decimal degrees,” and your datum to North American Datum (NAD) 1983. Latitude and longitude must be reported in decimal degrees in this format: xx.xxxxx for latitude and (negative) -xx.xxxxx for longitude. This format should be set on your GPS as decimal degrees. To convert “degrees and decimal minutes” to “decimal degrees,” divide the minutes by 60 and add this number to the degrees. (There are 60 minutes in a degree and 60 seconds in a minute. There are 3,600 seconds in a degree.)
3. The size of the pump should be documented, drillers log reviewed, and water level measured.
4. Regarding baseline monitoring, the monitoring should include parameters that can be related to the drinking water standard, parameters characteristic of saline/brine water, parameters that may be related to existing sources of contamination, and constituents related to the mixture and blend of fracing and development chemicals used on-site.
5. Based on a review of the private well logs and water levels, it may be advisable to use a multiple freshwater casing approach. This multiple casing approach would add additional casing to provide a second barrier between the shallow and deeper portions of the freshwater aquifer. For most of NEPA, it would be likely that the first cemented casement should probably be at a depth of 250 to 300 feet, the next casement at about 700 to 800 feet, next casement maybe 1500 to 2000 feet, and finally something at about 2500 to 3000 feet. This would properly seal off freshwater, saline water, and most shallow gas. In addition, the inner most cement should not just extend 500 to 1000 feet above the kickoff point, but extend up into the protective casing or better to the surface.
6. From the results of the background analysis, the results should not only be used to establish a formal baseline, but used by the community to identify areas were the wells should be improved or upgraded. The solution to a contaminated private well may not be simply adding treatment, but modifying the well to prevent the contamination from occurring or abandoning the well and drilling a new sanitary well.
7. Local agencies should implement a Water Well Construction and Siting Ordinance and require existing wells that are contaminate to be properly repaired and upgraded.
Just a few thoughts
Brian Oram, PG
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
other posts on this subject -
1. A detailed well inventory should be completed and it could be supplemented by the PAGWIS database.
2. The private well data that is critical would be the well location (GPS- using same standard or better and datum) that is being used by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Web Driller Website. The following is the information that is required for the on-line well submission form- http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/groundwater/WebDriller/wdtips.aspx
Driller Well ID – A unique identification number assigned by the driller. It can be any unique combination up to 15 characters long. Once the report is submitted, this number cannot be changed.
Type of Activity – The subject of the driller’s report. “New Well” is the default activity. Click on the dropdown menu to select something other than “New Well.” When another option is chosen, a new box opens up: “Original Well By.” Select the appropriate button (either “Current Driller” or “Another Driller”). If “Another Driller” is selected, an additional box appears asking for the name of the “Original Driller.” If the original driller is not known, indicate “unknown.” If “Well Abandonment” is chosen as the Type of Activity, an additional box “Reason for Abandonment” appears. Select the reason from the dropdown menu.
Date Drilled – Click the date on the calendar.
Drilling Method – Select from the dropdown menu.
Owner – This can be a business entity or a person.
Coordinate Method – The method of determining the well’s location coordinates. Choose from the dropdown menu. When using a hand-held GPS for determining the coordinates, choose “GPS – Global Positioning System.”
Location Type – The type of coordinate system used to locate the well. Choose between “Latitude/Longitude” and “UTM.” Latitude/longitude is the most common method. UTM stands for the Universal Transverse Mercator global coordinate system that is based in meters. If UTM is selected, the latitude and longitude boxes change to the required fields of “UTM Northing” and “UTM Easting.”
Latitude and Longitude – Values of the coordinates of the well location. If using a GPS, set your GPS units to “decimal degrees,” and your datum to North American Datum (NAD) 1983. Latitude and longitude must be reported in decimal degrees in this format: xx.xxxxx for latitude and (negative) -xx.xxxxx for longitude. This format should be set on your GPS as decimal degrees. To convert “degrees and decimal minutes” to “decimal degrees,” divide the minutes by 60 and add this number to the degrees. (There are 60 minutes in a degree and 60 seconds in a minute. There are 3,600 seconds in a degree.)
3. The size of the pump should be documented, drillers log reviewed, and water level measured.
4. Regarding baseline monitoring, the monitoring should include parameters that can be related to the drinking water standard, parameters characteristic of saline/brine water, parameters that may be related to existing sources of contamination, and constituents related to the mixture and blend of fracing and development chemicals used on-site.
5. Based on a review of the private well logs and water levels, it may be advisable to use a multiple freshwater casing approach. This multiple casing approach would add additional casing to provide a second barrier between the shallow and deeper portions of the freshwater aquifer. For most of NEPA, it would be likely that the first cemented casement should probably be at a depth of 250 to 300 feet, the next casement at about 700 to 800 feet, next casement maybe 1500 to 2000 feet, and finally something at about 2500 to 3000 feet. This would properly seal off freshwater, saline water, and most shallow gas. In addition, the inner most cement should not just extend 500 to 1000 feet above the kickoff point, but extend up into the protective casing or better to the surface.
6. From the results of the background analysis, the results should not only be used to establish a formal baseline, but used by the community to identify areas were the wells should be improved or upgraded. The solution to a contaminated private well may not be simply adding treatment, but modifying the well to prevent the contamination from occurring or abandoning the well and drilling a new sanitary well.
7. Local agencies should implement a Water Well Construction and Siting Ordinance and require existing wells that are contaminate to be properly repaired and upgraded.
Just a few thoughts
Brian Oram, PG
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
other posts on this subject -
Monday, August 17, 2009
Solutions for Natural Gas Development for Northeastern Pennsylvania
The following are just my ideas related to natural gas development in Pennsylvania. To minimize problems with natural gas development, the citizens, communities, educators, and companies should consider working together and it may be advisable to implement the following:
1. Establish private well construction standards that include grouting annular spaces and initial water quality testing. This monitoring should include documenting static water level and direction of groundwater flow.
2. Requiring predrilling and post-drilling water testing of groundwater wells, springs, and surfacewater sources.
3. Royality owners with wells should consider replacing substandard wells with sanitary wells. If royality owners have old hand-dug wells, these wells should be abandon.
4. Royality owners should reach out to none royality owners and encourage them to get their wells tested.
5. Drilling and Exploration companies
a. Install at least one nested groundwater well within the general vicinity of the construction pad or establish additional regional monitoring sites to better understand the vertical extent of the freshwater aquifer. These wells should be fitted with a pressure transducer and the water pressure should be monitored during the drilling and fracing process.
The nested wells should be divided into zone - shallow groundwater consolidate formation (< 150 feet), moderately deep consolidated (150 - 400 feet), deep consolidated (400 to 600 feet), deep possible brine water (600 to 1500 feet), and if shallow gas is present from 1500 to 2500 feet.
b. In the production well - the drillers should install additional fresh water casing. The first freshwater casing should not extend more than 300 feet below ground - Typical depth of most private wells) and should not penetrate a shallow gas producing formation. The second freshwater (shallow gas) casing should extend from 300 feet to 800 feet or the maximum depth of private wells and community water supplies within 1 mile from the production well and this casing should not penetrate a shallow gas zone. If a shallow gas bearing zone is encountered, a separate casing would have to be installed. There are databases available to assist with this evaluation or it may be necessary to survey local well drillers and private well owners.
Note: It may be advisable to have a PA licensed geologist be part of the decision making regarding the extent and depth of the freshwater casing.
Note: Casings should be cemented to the surface. The revisions in the casing should include the installation of the 13 3/8 casing that is used for coal seams - even when coal is not present and this casing should be grouted to the surface.
Possible Casing Breakdown
1. 24 inch conductor casing - up to 60 feet.
2. 20 inch casing - up to 600 feet to 800 feet (i.e., freshwater interface) cemented to the surface * - If many of the surrounding private wells are shallow the well design may want to attempt to add a casing segment that has a maximum depth of 300 feet and then 600 feet.
3. 13 3/8 inch casing - up to 1000 feet cemented to the surface
4. 9 5/8 casing - seal off shallow gas - cemented to the surface
5. 5 1/2 casing - this should be cemented to within the 9 5/8 casing.
c. These decisions would be based on a combination of database searches, information from local drillers, information from surrounding private wells, and on-site water quality monitoring during drilling to document the variation in the freshwater chemistry and presence of shallow gas deposits.
d. At the production well - it appears that it may be necessary to improve the cementing process to make sure that the freshwater sections are properly cementing. I believe that limiting the vertical leg of each casing section and grouting segment will help and create multiple barriers in the system and conducting third party assessments of the cement seal are necessary.
In addition, the cement should be field tested. From experience with drilling in the consolidated formation in PA, it is possible that the minimum amount of cement required to fill the annulus may be 3 to 5 times the actual void volume. This would take into consideration loss of cement to the formation or fractured zones.
Limiting the vertical sections also limits the chance that shallow gas may be pushed by grouting into a shallow freshwater zone.
6. If PA levees a tax on natural gas - a portion of the funding should go to a program to replace substandard private wells, install water treatment for sites that have been impacted, and water systems for areas that have been impacted by natural gas drilling. The program could then take the legal action to recover from the companies- so each homeowner does not have to carry the financial burden.
7. Municipalites - should develop a private well construction and permitting ordinance and facilitate education and outreach in the community.
Just a few thoughts.
Brian Oram, Professional Geologist
B. F. Environmental Consultants
http://www.bfenvironmental.com
1. Establish private well construction standards that include grouting annular spaces and initial water quality testing. This monitoring should include documenting static water level and direction of groundwater flow.
2. Requiring predrilling and post-drilling water testing of groundwater wells, springs, and surfacewater sources.
3. Royality owners with wells should consider replacing substandard wells with sanitary wells. If royality owners have old hand-dug wells, these wells should be abandon.
4. Royality owners should reach out to none royality owners and encourage them to get their wells tested.
5. Drilling and Exploration companies
a. Install at least one nested groundwater well within the general vicinity of the construction pad or establish additional regional monitoring sites to better understand the vertical extent of the freshwater aquifer. These wells should be fitted with a pressure transducer and the water pressure should be monitored during the drilling and fracing process.
The nested wells should be divided into zone - shallow groundwater consolidate formation (< 150 feet), moderately deep consolidated (150 - 400 feet), deep consolidated (400 to 600 feet), deep possible brine water (600 to 1500 feet), and if shallow gas is present from 1500 to 2500 feet.
b. In the production well - the drillers should install additional fresh water casing. The first freshwater casing should not extend more than 300 feet below ground - Typical depth of most private wells) and should not penetrate a shallow gas producing formation. The second freshwater (shallow gas) casing should extend from 300 feet to 800 feet or the maximum depth of private wells and community water supplies within 1 mile from the production well and this casing should not penetrate a shallow gas zone. If a shallow gas bearing zone is encountered, a separate casing would have to be installed. There are databases available to assist with this evaluation or it may be necessary to survey local well drillers and private well owners.
Note: It may be advisable to have a PA licensed geologist be part of the decision making regarding the extent and depth of the freshwater casing.
Note: Casings should be cemented to the surface. The revisions in the casing should include the installation of the 13 3/8 casing that is used for coal seams - even when coal is not present and this casing should be grouted to the surface.
Possible Casing Breakdown
1. 24 inch conductor casing - up to 60 feet.
2. 20 inch casing - up to 600 feet to 800 feet (i.e., freshwater interface) cemented to the surface * - If many of the surrounding private wells are shallow the well design may want to attempt to add a casing segment that has a maximum depth of 300 feet and then 600 feet.
3. 13 3/8 inch casing - up to 1000 feet cemented to the surface
4. 9 5/8 casing - seal off shallow gas - cemented to the surface
5. 5 1/2 casing - this should be cemented to within the 9 5/8 casing.
c. These decisions would be based on a combination of database searches, information from local drillers, information from surrounding private wells, and on-site water quality monitoring during drilling to document the variation in the freshwater chemistry and presence of shallow gas deposits.
d. At the production well - it appears that it may be necessary to improve the cementing process to make sure that the freshwater sections are properly cementing. I believe that limiting the vertical leg of each casing section and grouting segment will help and create multiple barriers in the system and conducting third party assessments of the cement seal are necessary.
In addition, the cement should be field tested. From experience with drilling in the consolidated formation in PA, it is possible that the minimum amount of cement required to fill the annulus may be 3 to 5 times the actual void volume. This would take into consideration loss of cement to the formation or fractured zones.
Limiting the vertical sections also limits the chance that shallow gas may be pushed by grouting into a shallow freshwater zone.
6. If PA levees a tax on natural gas - a portion of the funding should go to a program to replace substandard private wells, install water treatment for sites that have been impacted, and water systems for areas that have been impacted by natural gas drilling. The program could then take the legal action to recover from the companies- so each homeowner does not have to carry the financial burden.
7. Municipalites - should develop a private well construction and permitting ordinance and facilitate education and outreach in the community.
Just a few thoughts.
Brian Oram, Professional Geologist
B. F. Environmental Consultants
http://www.bfenvironmental.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Private Well Construction Standards for Pennsylvania
Private Well Construction Standards
Why?
1. Protect health and safety for the citizens.
2. Ensure the long-term quality, quantity, and reliability of the groundwater aquifer.
3. Prevent direct and indirect contamination of the aquifer.
4. Minimize the adverse impacts to the environment.
5. Private wells are currently not regulated under Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 109.
6. Pennsylvania is second among all states in the number of residences served by private water wells, with more than a million households relying on private wells. But Pennsylvania is among just two states that do not have private water well construction standards or certification requirements for drilling contractors and operators.
7. Improperly constructed private wells facilitate groundwater contamination.
What is a private well?
This is a well that does not meet the definition of a public water system. A private well is a well that has less than 15 service connection or serves less than 25 people daily for at least 60 days per year (PADEP, Non-Community System Design Standards, Document No 383-2128-108 (5/21/2001)).
Current State Law (Pennsylvania)
1. Public water systems (PADEP) or withdrawals of over 20,000 gpd are regulated (River Basin Commission). This regulations related to the siting, construction, testing, operation, water withdrawal, regular reporting, and consumptive use.
2. Proposed regulations may require systems of 10,000 gpd or more to be registered and reported to the PADEP (Water Planning Act 220, December 2002) Act 220 does NOT include metering of home water wells.
3. Act 610 requires a licensed driller to drill any well for the purpose of accessing groundwater. This includes, in addition to wells for water withdrawal, wells for geothermal heat systems, monitoring or observation wells, test wells, recharge wells, and waste disposal wells. Although Act 610 has required drillers to submit records for all wells drilled since 1966, at times they are less than diligent at doing so. Because there is no registration of individual wells we have no way of verifying how many wells each driller completes in a year. (Water Well Drillers License Act, the act of May 29, 1956 (P.L.1840, No.610), 32 P.S. Sections 645.1-645.13 ). The act has a provision for well abandonment, but there is no tracking or registration for individual private wells.
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/groundwater/Act610.aspx
Key Features of a Well Ordinance - My Suggestions
1. Standards should relate to private – non-regulated wells.
2. Provide Isolation Distances that include recommendations for set-backs from building foundations, floodways, animal feedlots, septage disposal areas, chemical storage areas, etc. and not just isolation distances from septic tanks, property lines, and disposal fields.
3. Standard should provide the recommendation for the use of steel casingThe casing should be 19# casing that is either threaded and coupled or welded around the perimeter by a certified welder and the casing should be fitted with a driveshoe.
4. Casing should penetrate – a minimum of 40 feet below grade and 10 feet into firm bedrock, whichever is greater.
5. All wells should be fitted with a sanitary seal and all wells should have the annular space cement or neat cement grouted. The grout should extend to the anticipated depth of the pitless adapter. The casing should extend at least 18 inches above grade and outside of the floodplain or floodway. If within the floodplain, the casing should extend 3 feet above the 100 year flood elevation.
6. All wells should be shock disinfected and purged.
7. All wells should have a well drilling log and yield test. Yield test should be a minimum of a blown yield test.
8. Wells should be sampled and tested. At a minimum, the testing should be for pH, conductivity, total coliform, iron, mangansese, total hardness, and alkalinity.
9. Ordinance should require that the driller submit information to the local agency, landowner or homeowner, and other agencies as required by law.
10. Require well drillers to complete a more formal training and certification process, such as the program developed by the National Groundwater Association.
11. Develop and encourage the creation of community educational programs, such as the Carbon County Groundwater Guardians - http://www.carbonwaters.org/
and the Center for Environmental Quality at Wilkes University - Homeowner Outreach Program
http://www.water-research.net/
Article Prepared by Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
http://www.bfenvironmental.com/
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