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6/14/2015 1

Workshop 1

Well Water Basics

Hosted by:

Big Bass Lake

Mr. Brian Oram, PG

Professional Geologist, Soil Scientist,

PASEO, Licensed Well Driller

B.F. Environmental Consultants

Dallas, PA 18612

http://www.bfenvironmental

And

Keystone Clean Water Team

http://www.pacleanwater.org

6/14/2015 2

Disclaimer and Copyright

Our company, B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., accepts no liability for the content of this document, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This document is being provided as an educational and informational tool, but before you take action you should seek advice from a professional. Questions – Please Call – Mr. Brian Oram, 570-335-1947, bfenviro@ptd.net

© 2015 by B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., but the document with approval may be reproduced in whole, without modification, for an educational purposes. B.F. Environmental Consultant Inc. retains the rights and privileges to this document that we created without funding support.

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Presentation Sponsors

B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc

http://www.bfenvironmental.com

Keystone Clean Water Team

http://www.pacleanwater.org

Water Research Center

http://www.water-research.net

B.F. Environmental

Consultants Inc.

Professional Consulting Services in the areas of

water quality, soils, stormwater, geology, aquifer

analysis, and land-development.

Baseline – Chain-of-Custody

Expert Testimony

Faciliate Distance Learning and Custom Training

Programs

http://www.bfenvironmental.com

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PACleanwater.org

Keystone Clean Water Team

Private Well Owner Education

Source Water Protection Issues

Alternative, Renewable, and Homegrown Energy Issues

Training Young Adults and Children about Energy and

The Environment

Citizen Groundwater and Surface Water Database

Natural Gas and Baseline Water Testing – Training Professionals

Water-Research

Center Education and Outreach Program funded by

B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.

Outreach Programs

Environmental and Professional Education and Training for Citizens and Local Municipalities

Water Quality Help Guides – Information Library

Community and Business Outreach Programs

Low Cost – Informational Water Testing Program with National Laboratory

Citizen Monitoring Programs

Websites:http://www.water-research.nethttp://www.pacleanwater.org

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Keystone Clean Water

Team- pacleanwater.org

Recycle Your Old Phones, Games Systems,

small cameras, and iPods.

Save Energy – Recycle - Support Groundwater

Education

Recycle YOUR Old Cell Phone – Fund Clean

Water Education and Testing

Bring your “Small” Devices to Local Drop Off !

Help Provide Power to 18,500 homes each Year – In Energy Savings

Current Programs

Private Well Owner Outreach and

Education, via KCWT

Community Health – Healthy Community

Database Search for Community Hazards

Drinking Water App – In Development

(Summer 2015)

Water Quality Index App for Surface Water-

In Development (Winter 2015)

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Why Private Well Owners

Need Some Help !

A USGS survey found that 70% of private wells were

contaminated. This contamination could result in acute

or chronic health concerns.

Over 68 % of Monroe County

citizens use private wells.

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Why Be Concerned about

Groundwater Quality / Quantity ?

In Monroe County - 68 % of residents serviced by private wells.

Private Wells are not regulated by the PADEP or EPA

Groundwater helps to maintain and sustain recreational areas and habitats, i.e., streams, lakes, wetlands, and most surface water features.

Over withdrawal or groundwater mining can impact existing and future uses.

Improper planning can result in groundwater contamination, which can cause a financial burden on individuals, business, and other entities in the County.

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# of homes served by private water systems

Avg. Change in homes served

by private water

systems per year

% of all homes

served by public water

% of all homes

served by private water system

County 1980 1990 2000

Bradford 13,443 16,865 20,287 +342 37 63

Carbon 6,594 12,235 17,876 +564 55 45

Lackawanna 9,952 12,745 15,538 +279 86 14

Luzerne 19,994 24,662 29,330 +467 82 18

Monroe 21,129 37,246 53,363 +1612 32 68

Pike 9,441 16,875 24,309 +743 45 55

Sullivan 2,147 4,727 7,307 +258 13 87

Susquehanna 9,423 15,212 21,001 +579 25 75

Tioga 9,126 11,888 14,650 +276 35 65

Wayne 9,913 19,097 28,281 +918 33 67

Wyoming 7,236 8,657 10,078 +142 27 73

Region 118,398 180,209 242,020 +562 43 57

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Water Budget

for PAIn

Precipitation – 42 inches

Out

Evapotranspiration – 22”

Total Streamflow – 20”

Baseflow – 13”

Surface Runoff – 7”

Therefore, 65% of streamflow is

groundwater discharge.

Other

Storage in Groundwater

Aquifers over 100 inches*

* This is our “Water” Cushion.

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This is Drinking Water in PA?

Iron / Manganese

Bacteria

Sediment / Gases

Corrosion

50% Other

50%

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The Water Cycle

Powered by the Sun- Solar Power

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Types of Water in PA Freshwater – Typically 600 to 1200 feet

– < 1000 mg/L

Saline Water – Where?

– 1000 to < 35,000 mg/L

Brine Water- Where? > 35,000 mg/L

– Connate Water - This would include water that

has been trapped in the formation- when it was

deposited.

PADEP – Protects – Freshwater; EPA – Protects Water with a

Total Dissolved Solids < 10,000 mg/L – UIC Program

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What is the Purity of the

“Protected” Water ? Regulated Drinking Water – Typically has a

Total Dissolved Solids of 500 mg/L or

99.95 % pure water.

Freshwater actually includes – water with a

TDS of 1000 mg/L or 99.9 % pure

EPA Protects Water is up to 10,000 mg/L or

99% pure water.

Percent Exceeded

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Total C

oliform

pH <

6.5

Lead

Man

gane

seIro

n

e. coli

Pht

halte

s

Ars

enic

TDS

Sod

ium

(> 2

00 m

g/L)

Chlorid

e

Gro

ss A

lpha

Perc

en

t E

xceed

ed

Well Inflenced

by

Saline Water

bis(2 ethylhexylphthaltes)

What?

Plasticizers?

About 49% - Do NOT Meet Drinking Water

Standards !

Baseline Data- Pre-Marcellus Shale Development

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Most Contamination appears to

be associated with Total

Coliform Bacteria Insects, Larvae and

Nests / Egg Masses

Mouse Colonies

Snakes

Beehives

Mud - when casing to

close to ground

Therefore – In some cases - the Private Wells

are Facilitating Groundwater Contamination.

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Properly Constructed Wells and

Poorly Constructed Wells

Confining BedSea Level

Stagnant Water – no to little flow

Saline Water

Proper

Construction

Brine Water

600 to

1200 ftFresh

Water

Poorly Constructed

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How Contaminants Can Get In to the Aquifer (Surface)

Ungrouted Well Pit Sanitary Well

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100 feet

Is 100 feet enough? Maybe, but for how long?

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Bedding Plane Fractures

Jointing

Photo by: Mr. Brian Oram (2004)

Contaminated Not Contaminated

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Courtesy May, U of W

Hydrology Under

Natural Conditions

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Courtesy May, U of W

Developed Conditions

Community Hazards

Recent Road Salt and MTBE Issue – Rt 307/Rt 80 – Near Penn Dot Salt

Storage

Sodium- 4.44 mg/L to 756 mg/L

MTBE – Not Detectable to 450 ppb (standard 20 ppb)

Community Hazard Report for – 239 Fox Farm Rd, Gouldsboro, PA

18424

Six Leaky Underground Fuel Storage Tanks – LUST – Along Rt. 307, Rt.

435, and Rt. 502.

No Known or Identified Drug Labs

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Methyl tert-butyl ether- Gasoline Additive

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Components of a WellWell Cap Electrical Service

Pitless Adapter

Drop Pipe

Pump and Motor

Delivery Line

Casing

Driveshoe

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Components of a Well

Drop Pipe

Pump and Motor

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Components of a Well

Pressure Tank

Treatment

Us

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What Sensors Should We

Purchase ?

Just Wait ! We are Pretty Sensitive Sensors

Smell

Appearance

Taste

Visual

Operational Issues or Problems

Systematic or Event Based

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Types of Clues

Visual CluesOperation Problems Smelly Water

Taste Test

These work well with hardness, iron,

Manganese, sulfur, some gases, sediment,

Sodium, chloride – but this does not help

with trace metals, organics, or bacteria

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What Low Cost Sensors

Or Tools Can Help?

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Laboratory Needed to Identify

Bacteria

Trace Metals – Lead, Copper

Arsenic

Organics – BTEX, MTBE

Other Parameters

Barium

Strontium

Radiological

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Regular Maintenance

Divert Surface Water Runoff Away from Wellhead

Annual Water Test

Annual Maintenance on Water Treatment Systems

Conserve Water/ Fix Leaks

Proper Use and Storage of Chemicals and other Hazards

Remember We ALL Live Downstream !

Support Legislation

Options – Statewide Legislation

House Bill 343 and Senate Bill 1461

http://carbonwaters.org

Keyword , Senate Bill 1461

Set Up a Local Ordinance – like

Pocono Township- Monroe County –

Ordinance 53http://www.poconotownship.org/Services/Ordinances/well%20ordinance%20no.53.pdf

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Recommendations Conduct Initial Comprehensive Water Quality

Evaluation – Basic Total Coliform Test is not

enough.

Annual Water Screen or Basic Check UP

Conduct an Annual Water Test

- Community Based Programs

Maintain and Check Your Water System !

Hiring a Well Driller They should be licensed and registered with

the state.

State program does not require training or a

minimum standard.

May want to use a driller that is certified by

the National Groundwater Association

and/or a Member of the Pennsylvania

Ground Water Association. http://info.ngwa.org/servicecenter/certification.cfm#PennsylvaniaPA

http://pgwa.org/

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Our Latest Educational

ResourceDescription of the following:

a. Citizen Database

b. Baseline Testing

c. Drinking Water Standards

d. Specific Water Quality Standards

e. Treatment Options

f. How to Shock Disinfect a Well

g. How to Properly Construct a Well

h. General Guidelines on Baseline Testing

Parameters.

And More. cost$ 5.00

Other Resources at http://www.water-research.net

Supports a Local 501C3 – Carbonwaters.org

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Groundwater Moves

1. Which ways can groundwater move?

a. Up

b. Down

c. Sideways

d. All of the above

1. d. All of the above

Although most movement is lateral (sideways), it can move

straight up or down. Groundwater simply follows the path

of least resistance by moving from higher pressure zones to

lower pressure zones.

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Groundwater Moves2. How is the speed of groundwater movement

measured?

a. Feet per day

b. Feet per week

c. Feet per month

d. Feet per year

2. d. Feet per year

Groundwater movement is usually measured in feet per year.

This is why a pollutant that enters groundwater requires many

years before it purifies itself or is carried to a monitored well.

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Surfacewater Moves

3. How is stream flow usually measured?

a. Feet per second

b. Feet per minute

c. Feet per hour

d. Yards per hour

3. a. Feet per second

Water flow in streams/rivers is measured in feet per second.

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Groundwater Moves4. What determines how fast groundwater moves?

a. Temperature

b. Air pressure

c. Depth of water table

d. Size of materials

4. d. Size of materials

Coarse materials like sand and gravel allow water to move rapidly.

(They also form excellent aquifers because of their holding capacity.)

In contrast, fine-grained materials, like clay or shale, are very

difficult for water to move through. Thus, water moves very,

very slowly in these materials.

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Groundwater Moves5. Can the water table elevation change often?

a. Yes

b. No

5. a. Yes

Water table elevations often fluctuate because of recharge and

discharge variations. They generally peak in the winter and

spring due to recharge from rains and snow melt. Throughout

the summer the water table commonly declines due to evaporation,

uptake by plants (transpiration), increased public use, industrial

use, and crop, golf course and lawn irrigation. Elevations

commonly reach their lowest point in early fall.

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Groundwater Moves

6. Does aquifer storage capacity vary over time

naturallly?

a. Yes

b. No

6. a. Yes

Just like the water level in rivers and streams, the amount of water

in the groundwater supply can vary due to seasonal, weather, use

and other factors.

Know Your H20?

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Mail Order Water Testing Kits

http://www.water-research.net

Educational Booklet on Drinking Water in PA, Our PSAs, and

Other Activities

Get Your Neighborhood Environmental Report

http://www.pacleanwater.org

Our Blog

http://www.carbonwaters.org

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Our Latest Educational

ResourceDescription of the following:

a. Citizen Database

b. Baseline Testing

c. Drinking Water Standards

d. Specific Water Quality Standards

e. Treatment Options

f. How to Shock Disinfect a Well

g. How to Properly Construct a Well

h. General Guidelines on Baseline Testing

Parameters.

And More. cost$ 5.00

Other Resources at http://www.water-research.net

Supports a Local 501C3 – Carbonwaters.org

Remember We ALL

Live Downstream !

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6/14/2015 51

Disclaimer and Copyright

Our company, B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., accepts no liability for the content of this document, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This document is being provided as an educational and informational tool, but before you take action you should seek advice from a professional. Questions – Please Call – Mr. Brian Oram, 570-335-1947, bfenviro@ptd.net

© 2015 by B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., but the document with approval may be reproduced in whole, without modification, for an educational purposes. B.F. Environmental Consultant Inc. retains the rights and privileges to this document that we created without funding support.

6/14/2015 52

Workshop 1

Well Water Basics

Hosted by:

Big Bass Lake

Mr. Brian Oram, PG

Professional Geologist, Soil Scientist,

PASEO, Licensed Well Driller

B.F. Environmental Consultants

Dallas, PA 18612

http://www.bfenvironmental

And

Keystone Clean Water Team

http://www.pacleanwater.org