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?