A Water Quality Test Protects Against Contaminated Drinking Water
A Test on Water to Ensure Safety
Summary: Examining what you may be drinking in your water and why a water quality test on water is essential.
There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a cold glass of water. However, what if I told you that delicious glass of water could be making you sick? Yes, even water that tastes fine and looks clear may contain extremely harmful, dangerous microorganisms. While most people do not really think about having a water quality test completed for their water, it is most definitely an action you want to consider having done right away. Only information can protect you and your family, and if you know the data about the water you are drinking then you can take confidence in knowing whether your water is clean or poisoning you and your family.
Running a test on water is the best way to find out exactly what is in the water you and your loved ones are drinking. This can be done on any water source, even if you live in the city and water is provided through a water system. Although, there are some natural chemicals and minerals that are found in water that can be beneficial to us and are completely safe, there are also limits to the ingestible amounts found. If you drink the recommended water intake daily you need to be sure that you are drinking safe water.
A water quality test determines if there are any harmful bacteria in your water, such as total coliform, fecal coliform, E. coli., just to name a few. All of these harmful bacteria can cause you to become sick or make you susceptible to illness. There are some hazards in water that can even cause cancer and disease. While coliform bacteria is the least dangerous of the bacteria found in water, a large presence of it found in your water will lead to the need to test for other types of bacterium and contaminants. The others can cause sickness, including diarrhea, stomach cramps, low fever, vomiting, and more.
The last thing anybody wants is to end up getting sick from drinking water that they thought was completely safe. Running a test on water is important to guarantee you and your loved ones are drinking good, clean, safe drinking water. Have a professional come in and run the test for you. The reputable ones will be able to use a dependable, approved, trustworthy lab to run the test determining what is and is not in the water. It is recommended that you have your water tested routinely. Depending on the circumstances, yearly is advised, but some do test more often.
About the Author: AquaKnow.com is a trusted and affordable water quality testing service. Once you have had a test water sample taken, their laboratories will interpret those results for you. Contact them at 877-734-7661 to consult with one of their representatives.
Volunteer
We seek new people at all skill levels for a variety of programs. One thing that everyone can do is attend meetings to share ideas on improving CCGG, enabling us to better understand and address the concerns of well owners.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot.
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organiazation).
Wellness and Water 2013 WV Wesleyan College, Buckhannon,WV
Wellness and Water 2013
June 29 – 30, 3013 ~ WV Wesleyan College, Buckhannon,WV
Saturday Morning: Bringing concerned citizens and facts together
8:00 – 9:00 am ~ Registration ~ Continental Breakfast, Coffee & Tea available
9:00- 9:15 am ~ Welcome and Introductions
9:15 – 10:00 am ~ Plenary: Dr. Tom Darrah, Duke University
10:00 – 10:20 am ~ Q & A
For More Information
10:20 – 10:30 am ~ Break
10:30 – 11:30 am ~ Panelists:
- Marc Glass, Downstream Strategies
- Rob Goodwin, Coal River Mountain Watch
- Yuri Gorby, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY)
- Brian Oram, B.F. Environmental Consultants and the Carbon County
Groundwater Educators
Each panelist will have 10-15 minutes for an initial presentation of their work related to monitoring impacts of MTR and gas drilling. Q & A will follow entire panel presentations, until noon.
noon – 1pm ~ Lunch
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Saturday Afternoon: To whom does all this matter?
1 – 1:15 pm ~ Gathering time
Please be in your seats by 1:15 pm. Announcements may be made between 1 and 1:15 pm.
1:15 – 2:00 pm ~ Plenary: Leslie Fields, Sierra Club
2:00 – 2:15 pm ~ Q & A
2:15 – 3:15 pm ~ Affected Resident Panelists:
Coal mining affected:
- Nada White, Boone and Kanawha counties, WV
- Danny Cook, Boone County, WV
- Lorelei Scarbro, Raleigh County, WV
Gas drilling affected:
- Leann Kiner, Harrison County, WV
- Donna Herd, Doddridge County, WV
- Jeanne Moten, Washington County, PA
3:15 – 3:30 pm ~ Q & A
3:30 – 3:45 pm ~ Break and workshop set-up
3:45 – 5:15 pm ~ Workshops:
- Rob Goodwin, Coal River Mountain Watch ~ Mapping of slurry impoundments and coal mine sites
- Elisa Young ~ Problems of waste disposal and water extraction affecting the Ohio River
- Brian Oram, B.F. Environmental Consultants ~ “Working as a Community – We ALL Live Downstream” on the need for proper baseline testing and the most likely types of influence or adverse impacts associated with natural gas development
- New Visions Solar ~ Solar powered water filtration system and “homemade” solar power
5:30 pm ~ Dinner
Saturday Evening: Music & Socializing – Main Meeting Room, Student Center
7 pm – ??? ~ Featuring music by East Run (Bluegrass band)
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Sunday Morning: What can we do about the problems created by extreme fossil fuel extraction in our region?
8:00 – 9:00 am ~ Registration ~ Continental Breakfast, Coffee & Tea available
9:00 – 9:15 am ~ Welcome and Announcements
9:15 – 10:00 am ~ Plenary: Grant Smith, Civil Society Institute
10:00 – 10:15 am ~ Q & A
10:15 – 11:15 am ~ Solution Focused Panelists:
- Pam O’Brien, New Visions Solar, Solar power and solar powered water filtration devices
- Sam Malone, FracTracker: Exploring data, sharing perspectives, mapping impacts of the gas industry
- Aaron Sutch, Energy Program Manager for the Mountain Institute
- Laura Rigell, Swathmore College Divestment Campaign
Each panelist will have 10-15 minutes for an initial presentation of their work. Q & A will follow entire panel presentations, until 11:30 am.
11:30 – 11:40 am ~ Break
11:40 am – 12:30 pm ~ Roundtable Discussions (facilitated by Bill Price, Sierra Club)
12:30 – 12:45 pm ~ Wrap Up & Evaluations
12:45 – 1:45 pm ~ Lunch
For More Information
If you are in Pennsylvania, you can contribute to the Citizen Groundwater Database and help track change for FREE and if you would like to learn about our Natural Gas Related Information, please visit us at http://www.private-well-owner.org.
Volunteer
We seek new people at all skill levels for a variety of programs. One thing that everyone can do is attend meetings to share ideas on improving CCGG, enabling us to better understand and address the concerns of well owners.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot.
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Private Well Owner Assistance Well Water Testing Trying to Make a Difference
Carbonwaters.org- Website Dedicated to Information and Free Resources for Private Well Owners, Evaluation of Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems, Private Well Water Testingand Education/Outreach Programs – We Need Your Help to Spread the Word!
The main reason is that most private wells and small water systems are not regulated by the EPA or the DEP in a given state and in Pennsylvania about 50% of private wells produce water that does not meet a primary health standard, i.e., Could Make the Well Owner Sick. Therefore, it is up to the individual private well owner to ensure that the water is safe.
In Pennsylvania, we have found that typically at least 10 % of private well have one or more of these problems:
a. Low pH / corrosive water
b. Elevated Iron and/or Manganese
c. Elevated Bacteria (Actually it is 40 % to 50% for this parameter)
Less than 5 % of private wells have problems with methane gas, barium, alpha/beta, and other contaminants that would suggest a saline water source. In the middle, we have found about 5 to 10% may have problems with copper, lead, arsenic, and plasticizers.
Note- There are over 1 million private wells in Pennsylvania. Assume 3 citizens per household and 50 % of households having contaminated water, this means that 1.5 million citizens of the Commonwealth are Drinking Water that could make the SICK – This is a Health Crisis. It is time to ACT.
We know this information because of the hundreds of private well owners that have released their information to the Citizen Groundwater Database and we have assisted private well owners with low cost water testing options and education programs.
To Act, we recommend the following:
1. Get Educated and Informed.
2. Get Your Water Tested
3. Work as a Community to Develop Local and State Solutions
If you are in Pennsylvania, you can contribute to the Citizen Groundwater Database and help track change for FREE and if you would like to learn about our Natural Gas Related Information, please visit us at http://www.private-well-owner.org.
Volunteer
We seek new people at all skill levels for a variety of programs. One thing that everyone can do is attend meetings to share ideas on improving CCGG, enabling us to better understand and address the concerns of well owners.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot.
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
News Release: EPA participates in Blue Mountain tree planting project at Palmerton Zinc Superfund site
PHILADELPHIA (May 22, 2013) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and three partner organizations are planting 5,500 new trees on 70 acres of mountainside at the Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site along the Appalachian Trail in Palmerton, Pa. that will be in place by Memorial Day.
“EPA is proud to be part of this tree planting venture that helps transform a previously barren and contaminated site into a beautiful ecological vista along the Appalachian Trail,” said EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.
This is the second year of tree planting, which is the final step in re-vegetating Blue Mountain – – a joint effort involving EPA, the National Park Service, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the American Chestnut Foundation. The area had suffered extensive environmental damage that was caused by years of emissions from zinc smelting operations in the Borough of Palmerton.
Last spring about 8,350 trees were planted. Before the tree planting, EPA and the National Park Service oversaw grass planting and other re-vegetation on a 500-acre section of the site that had to be done from aircraft due to the steep slope and remote location.
National Park Service Northeast Regional Director Dennis Reidenbach noted, “This is an excellent example of how collaborative public and private partnerships can have a meaningful and positive impact for the environment.”
Initially the trees will be protected by deer-proof fencing. The trees include a special mostly American, potentially blight-resistant generation of American chestnut which can help re-establish these trees in the eastern United States. Once prevalent in forests throughout the eastern United States, American Chestnuts were nearly wiped out by a blight causing fungus that was introduced around 1900.
“We are impressed by the interagency cooperation on this project and excited about the prospect of American Chestnuts once again flourishing on the Appalachian Trail,” said American Chestnut Foundation’s Sara Fitzsimmons.
In addition to the chestnut trees, various oaks, Black Gum, Sumacs, Chokeberry and Sweet Ferns will be included. Planting the seeds, seedlings, bare roots and rhizome cuttings will require drilling holes with an auger. The holes will be filled with top soil and a nursery mix.
The tree planting is being paid for by CBS Inc., formerly Viacom International, and the party potentially responsible for the contamination. More information on the Palmerton site see EPA’s website: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/sites/PAD002395887/index.htm .
Contact: Bonnie Smith smith.bonnie@epa.gov, 215-814-5543
Volunteer
We seek new people at all skill levels for a variety of programs. One thing that everyone can do is attend meetings to share ideas on improving CCGG, enabling us to better understand and address the concerns of well owners.
Everything we do began with an idea.
We realize your time is precious and the world is hectic. CCGG’s volunteers do only what they’re comfortable with. It can be a little or a lot.
For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
High Arsenic Levels Well Water Testing Found in 8 Percent of Groundwater Wells Studied in Pennsylvania
The Need for Well Water Testing In Pennsylvania and other states
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. – Eight percent of more than 5,000 wells tested across Pennsylvania contain groundwater with levels of arsenic at or above federal standards set for public drinking water, while an additional 12 percent – though not exceeding standards – show elevated levels of arsenic.
These findings, along with maps depicting areas in the state most likely to have elevated levels of arsenic in groundwater, are part of a recently released U.S. Geological Survey study done in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Environmental Protection.
The results highlight the importance of private well owners testing and potentially treating their water. While public water supplies are treated to ensure that water reaching the tap of households meets federal drinking water standards, private wells are unregulated in Pennsylvania, and owners are responsible for testing and treating their own water.
For this study, USGS scientists compiled data collected between 1969 and 2007 from industrial, public, and private wells. Arsenic levels, along with other groundwater quality and environmental factors, were used to generate statewide and regional maps that predict the probability of elevated arsenic. The study examined groundwater from carbonate, crystalline, and shale/sandstone bedrock aquifers, and from shallow glacial sediment aquifers. Similar maps have been produced for other states.
“This research is not intended to predict arsenic levels for individual wells; its purpose is to predict the probability of elevated levels of arsenic in groundwater to help public health efforts in Pennsylvania,” said USGS scientist Eliza Gross, who led the study. “The study results and associated probability maps provide water-resource managers and health officials with useful data as they consider management actions in areas where groundwater is most likely to contain elevated levels of arsenic.”
For more details go here (Some mapping available)
The Pennsylvania Department of Health plans to use the maps as an educational tool to inform health professionals and citizens of the Commonwealth about the possibility of elevated arsenic in drinking water wells and to help improve the health of residents, particularly in rural communities. Please consider forward you certified testing data to the Citizens Groundwater Database.
Private well owners can find testing and other information on Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Arsenic in Drinking Water website.
or Check out the Arsenic Outreach Program here – Has links to treatment options and low cost informational water testing.
Website Provided for Educational Purpose.
Carbon County Groundwater Guardians is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.