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GET WET! Ponaganset High School Well Testing Results
2014
Today We’ll Discuss:
What we found
Why we might have found it
Next Steps: What to do if you’re concerned-or even if you’re not!
Thanks to Theresa Thornton and the University of Maine!
To read more about the national GET WET! program, visit http://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/home/educateengage/sustainability-education/k-12/get-wet-3/about-get-wet/
What We Found-And what it means
Nitrates
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Nitrate vs. Well Number
Nitrate vs. Well Number
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Nit
rate
mg
/L
Bottle ID Number
Nitrate (mg/L)
High Nitrate Risks
The maximum contaminant level is 10 mg/L
Health risks ◦ Blue Baby Syndrome
◦ Potential carcinogen
Get your well professionally tested!
Causes Nitrate is a nutrient Nitrate, like all of these contaminants, can be
carried in stormwater If you live on a farm, check for:
◦ Feed lots
◦ Pens
◦ Animals
Everyone should check for: ◦ Underground fuel tanks
◦ Compost near your wellhead
◦ Lawn and garden fertilizer
◦ Spider webs or dead rodents
http://www.co.portage.wi.us/groundwater/undrstnd/no3.htm
What to Do If You Have High Nitrates?
Get It Tested! ◦ Coupons
Fix Land Use Issues ◦ Protect your wellhead from: Animals
Runoff
Fertilizer
Lawn, garden, and other chemicals
Technical fixes ◦ Filters: distillation, reverse osmosis and ion exchange
Last Resort: A New Well
Chlorides
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Chlorides vs. Well #
Chlorides vs. Well #
pH
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
pH vs. Well Number
pH vs. Well Number
pH Problems?
Potential Causes ◦ Aquifer geology-the rocks surrounding the water
◦ Substances from wellhead area
Problems ◦ Low: corrodes pipes, sour taste, picks up metals
◦ High: bitter taste, plumbing deposits, water heater less effective
Treatments: filters, water softeners
Hardness
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Hardness vs. Well Number
Hardness vs. Well Number
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5
Hardness vs. pH
Hardness vs. pH
Linear (Hardness vs. pH)
Hard Water: What To Do?
Hard Water Fixes
No set health standard
Water softeners ◦ Ion Exchange
◦ Only if necessary
◦ Good maintenance essential
Iron
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Iron vs. Well Number
Iron mg/L
Iron Issues?
Bacteria ◦ Not usually a health risk
◦ Some pathogens need iron
◦ Treatment
Not easily absorbed by body
Stains
Clogs
Taste
Food Effects
Varied Treatment Options
Conductivity
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Conductivity uS/cm
Conductivity uS/cm
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Conductivity Versus Hardness
Conductivity Versus Hardness
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Conductivity Versus Hardness
Conductivity Versus Hardness
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41
mg
/l
Ch
lorid
e-u
s/
cm
Co
nd
ucti
vit
y
Chlorides and Conductivity for Each Well
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
Conductivity versus Iron
Conductivity versus Iron
Quality Control
Taking the Next Step: Test your Water Professionally
What Should You Test For?
Additional Testing
Beryllium is a naturally
occurring mineral found in
bedrock
Inhaling water vapor (i.e.
humidifier) with Beryllium may
cause lung disease
If you have a bedrock well or
live in Scituate, you may want
to consider testing your well
for Beryllium every 3-5 years
Additional Testing
Arsenic ◦ If adjacent to current or former fruit orchard
◦ Treatments ARE available
Certified Water Testing Labs
BAL and ESS Labs
185 Frances Ave
Cranston, RI 02910
401.785.0241
www.ballaboratory.com
Northeast Environmental Testing
Lab
472 Smith St
Providence, RI 02908
401.454.3400
www.neetl.com
New England Testing Lab, Inc.
1254 Douglas Ave
North Providence, RI 02904
401.353.3420
www.newenglandtesting.com
RI Analytical Labs
41 Illinois Avenue
Warwick, RI 02888
401.737.8500
www.rianalytical.com
Contact RI Department of Health if you have questions about your well:
401.222.5960
http://www.health.ri.gov/drinkingwaterquality/for/privatewellowners/
But, How Much Does it Cost?
At the RI State Testing Laboratory: ◦ Annual Tests-$95
◦ 3-5 Year Tests-An additional $185
◦ Arsenic and Beryllium-$20 each
According to URI Home-A-Syst, it’s cheaper than town water!
Peace of Mind
Questions?
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