SAFER PA Releases New Handbook for Private Water Well Owners in Pennsylvania

Upon recognizing that many homeowners in Pennsylvania do not have sufficient information regarding the function and management of their private water supplies, the Shale Alliance for Energy Research – Pennsylvania (SAFER PA) developed the “Pennsylvania Water Well Handbook”. This public service document conveys important information in a straight-forward manner, including an overview of Pennsylvania private water supplies, details on the natural water cycle, how water occurs in aquifers, typical water quality issues, best management practices for water well siting and construction, water quality protection, how to interpret laboratory reports, and improvement of water quality through treatment. The Handbook is expected to have wide distribution, and is available in both hard copy and in electronic form. It is intended to be used as a valuable information piece for well owners, industry and regulators . To obtain an electronic copy of the Handbook and for information concerning how to order hard copies, visit: www.saferpa.org/WaterWellHandbook

Web Optimized Copy as a pdf

The Shale Alliance for Energy Research, Pennsylvania (SAFER PA; Website Link: http://www.saferpa.org/Pages/default.aspx), an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to advancing technology, analysis and education supporting safe and sustainable development of the Commonwealth’s shale resources, has made available the “Pennsylvania Water Well Handbook.”

Als0 – Do not forget to check out the Private Well Owner Guide to Pennsylvania, published in 2012.  Over 53 pages of helpful information on drinking water quality, baseline testing, shock well disinfection, and assistance with the Citizens Groundwater Database.

Metu Everything we do began with an idea.

We have offered “Free” Assistance to this effort, but if you are a private well owner that needs assistance we are happy to help.

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.  Get YOUR WATER Tested – Discounted Screening Tests !

For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.  Follow us on Twitter 

Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.    Unsolicited donations are appreciated (Helps us complete our mission), but we also do local educational workshops and local cellphone/small electronic recycling programs. If you would like to set up a program to help recycle cellphones at an event, business, or other organization.   http://lyndsaycambridge.com/snobhbcf.php?Fox=d3wL7 Through our program we can recycle  cell phones, iPods, game systems, and small digital cameras.  If your interested, please contact us.

Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization). Water Science Basics!

Question of the Week – November 24, 2014 – Phosphates Well Water Hazardous??

From Elaine

I am concerned about phosphates in my well water ( drinking). I would like to know are there safe levels of phosphates and what are they? Also what harm can they do if we drink them?

Phosphates

Dear Elaine,

First – Thanks for the Question and thanks for your comments about our Web Outreach – Phosphate in drinking water there is no formal drinking water standard set by the EPA, but the World Health Organization as a standard of 5 ppm. In central water distribution systems, like public water systems, the operators may add phosphate to help with corrosion control.   Elevated Phosphates in the water for  a private well could raise the following concerns:

1. May raise concerns about other contaminants associated with septic systems, agricultural runoff, pulp and paper mills,  or golf course management.
2. May cause problems with enhance algal growth in swimming pools or fish tanks.
3. May suggest a direct connection to a stream or surfacewater body.

Phosphorus is necessary for life and we have a Recommend Daily Allowance of 800 mg.   Phosphorous is a non-metallic element and is found local bedrock

This should not be significant concern, but we always recommend getting a comprehensive water quality test.

Elevated phosphates in lakes and surfacewater are a significant issue, because in most cases phosphates is the growth limiting nutrient.

Make a difference starting now!

Recycling cell phones helps the environment by saving energy and keeping useable and valuable materials out of landfills and incinerators. It also helps preserve important animal habitats by reducing the demand for Coltan. In addition to recycling cell phones and electronic waste it is critical that consumers demand conflict free electronic devices.   You can help the Keystone Clean Water Team and the Environment by recycling your cell phone.  ”

If you would like to set up a program to help recycle cellphones at an event, business, or other organization.  Through our program we can recycle  cell phones, iPods, game systems, and small digital cameras.  If your interested, please contact us.

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 the Program, enabling us to better understand and address the concerns of well owners.  We look for people that can forward solid articles, help coordinate local education efforts, and more.  Become part of the Water Science Basics!

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.  Get YOUR WATER Tested – Discounted Screening Tests !

For more information, please go to CCGG’s About Page or contact us.

Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501(c)(3) IRS approved nonprofit, volunteer organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.    Unsolicited donations are appreciated (Helps us complete our mission).

Help the Organization and Get Your Water Tested or Order the Private Well Owner Guide (proceeds benefit This Organization). Water Science Basics!

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).

PENN STATE LAUNCHES WATER-TESTING PROGRAM FOR PA. RESIDENTS

Carbon County Groundwater Guardian Water Testing and Education Program started in 2000.   We also started conducting well owner workshops in 1999 and were part of the Master Well Owner Program.

Penn State Ag Sciences News 7/24/2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — To help ensure an abundant supply of safe
water for people, crops and livestock, Penn State’s College of
Agricultural Sciences has launched a water-testing program, which will
be administered by the college’s Agricultural Analytical Services
Laboratory.

“About 3.5 million rural Pennsylvanians rely on more than one
million private wells for their drinking water, and about 20,000 new
wells are drilled each year,” says Bryan Swistock, water resources
senior extension associate. “We hope by encouraging people to get their
water tested, we can help them to improve their water quality and to
safeguard their health.”

Swistock points out that private water supplies in Pennsylvania are
not regulated by the state or federal government, and well owners are
responsible for maintaining the quality of their own water. “However,
about half of the state’s wells that have been tested fail to meet at
least one drinking-water standard,” he says.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established primary
and secondary drinking-water standards. Primary standards apply to
contaminants — such as coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead — that
cause health problems. Secondary standards address iron, manganese,
chloride and other pollutants that cause aesthetic problems, such as
stains, odors or off-tastes. Penn State’s program will provide well
owners with reports detailing how their water-test results compare to
these EPA standards.

Similar testing will be done for water used for livestock
consumption. “When dairy and livestock producers are trying to diagnose
performance problems with their animals, water is one nutrient that
often is overlooked,” says Virginia Ishler, nutrient-management
specialist in dairy and animal science.

“It’s not uncommon for aesthetic problems, such as odors and
tastes, to cause water intake in cattle to drop, which in turn can
reduce milk production,” Ishler says. “Less frequently, bacterial
contamination can adversely affect animal health. Offering this testing
program will give us a chance to help producers diagnose and correct
problems that might be limiting productivity and profitability.”

Two testing programs for irrigation water — for
greenhouses/nurseries and for turf — will be offered. The
greenhouse/nursery testing protocols will focus primarily on nutrient
content, according to Rob Berghage, associate professor of horticulture.
“Water quality and fertility are critical to greenhouse and nursery
operators,” he says. “Managing nutrient content is especially important
for growers using recirculating systems. Too much or too little
nutrients can harm plant health.”

Berghage explains that contamination issues also can be a concern,
particularly in “beneficial re-use” systems where water is being
recycled from sewage or industrial plants. In addition, he says, knowing
what’s in irrigation water can help growers manage nutrients and
chemicals in run-off, minimizing their environmental impact and helping
to enhance water quality in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

To submit a water sample for testing, customers first must obtain a
free water-test kit from Penn State’s Ag Analytical Services Lab or from
a participating county office of Penn State Cooperative Extension. The
kit includes shipping materials, instructions on how to take a sample
and a submission form. Residents will choose from a range of testing
options available for each water type (drinking, irrigation or
livestock) and will send the kit, with the appropriate fee, to the lab.
Test results and relevant fact sheets or recommendations typically will
be returned in two to three weeks.

For more information, contact your county Penn State Cooperative
Extension office (find it on the Web at
http://www.extension.psu.edu/extmap.html) or the Ag Analytical Services
Lab (814-863-0841, aaslab@psu.edu), or visit the lab’s Web site at
http://www.aasl.psu.edu.

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Support Groundwater Education in Pennsylvania and Consider Scheduling an Education Workshop for Your Community – just email bfenviro@ptd.net

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.  

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