Drinking Water Quality Phone Apps Private Well Owners City Water Users

The Keystone Clean Water Team with assistance from B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc and the Water Research Center have developed and updated 2 phone apps.  The apps work on both the Android and the Apple iphone platform.  Know Your H2O? is an educational tool that can help you diagnose the problem with your water. This app will lead you through a series of questions to pinpoint the issues with your water.  Unlike other apps that just remind you to drink water, these apps actually help to diagnose a water quality problem and/or provide insight into water quality contaminants may be a concern based on a variety of activities.

Know Your H2O

Know Your H2O? is an educational tool that can help you diagnose the problem with your water. This app will lead you through a series of questions to pinpoint the issues with your water. You can reach your diagnosis through describing symptoms that are effecting your home, your health, or the water itself. Once you receive your diagnosis result(s), the app is designed to educate you by displaying full lists of symptoms, causes, and solutions, as well as links to other educational sources. The app will then show you various testing kit options specifically designed to treat those results. If the problem is more extensive and in depth testing is required, Know Your H2O? will also connect you with featured local professionals. What’s in YOUR Water?

Recommendation: Wells and Septic Systems Paperback

This app was replaced by a new drinking water diagnostic tool.

PA Baseline Testing

The PA Baseline Testing mobile app is an educational tool for residents of Pennsylvania who are impacted by Oil & Gas Development, Subsurface Coal Development, and other common environmental hazards.  By selecting which factor impacts your region, you can discover various Recommendations and Tiers of water testing that can help bring you piece of mind about the safety of your drinking water. Got Data? You can also submit your own testing data and results to help continue to build the PA Clean Water Team’s database.

To learn more go to Download the Free Drinking Water Quality Mobile Apps

Pennsylvania Baseline Water Testing Kit Options –

Baseline Water Testing Kits

Natural Gas Drilling Water Test Kit #1

Natural Gas Drilling Water Test Kit #2

Natural Gas Drilling Water Test Kit #3

 

Eastern Water Quality Association Conference 2019 Wilkes Barre, PA

The Eastern Regional Water Quality Conference and Trade Show
Mohegan Sun Pocono
Wilkes Barre, PA
September 25 – September 27, 2019
Pre-Conference One Day – Training Session

Title:  “Legalities of Proper Water Sampling, Chain-of-Custody, Proper Sampling and Testing, and Diagnosing A Problem”.

One of my favorite books on water treatment (The Basics- Domestic Water Treatment by Lehr)

New Hot Topic:

Harvest the Rain, How to Enrich Your Life by seeing Every Storm as a Resource

Water Treatment Grade 1 WSO: AWWA Water System Operations WSO

If you need to contact Brian (B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc.) – http://www.bfenvironmental.com

Do not forget to check out our other portals:

The KnowYourH2O Path to Clean Water Program was created to raise awareness of the threats to the health and safety of our drinking water supplies and sources which can impact your health, your families health, and your home and community.

The Water Blog

The Know Your H20 Drinking Water Testing Kits  Shops

The New Know Your H20 – Educational Booklet

 

 

Well Water Safety

Well Water Safety

If your water comes from a private well, you know that the safety of your drinking water is up to you. Most states have regulations related to private well construction and placement and a few states have regulations that quality of water from the private well water or require that the water is regularly checked.  The CDC and EPA does recommend that you test your well water at least once a year. You may want to check the quality of your water more often if there are known problems with wells in your area or if you have experienced any flooding or land disturbances near your well. Indications of a change in water quality include cloudiness, odor, and unusual taste and if you interested we helped develop a Know Your H20  phone app and the Water Diagnostic Web App.

Another low cost option for tracking your water quality is the use of the TestAssured’s Well Water Testing Kit. This kit is a great screening test to help you determine the quality of your water by you running a screening test in your own home. This single kit includes all of the following water tests:
• Chlorine
• Copper
• Nitrates & Nitrites
• Iron
• Alkalinity
• pH
• Hardness
• Bacteria (total coliform)

Specially designed for people on well water, the Well Water Testing Kit includes 8 tests for a complete water analysis. You’ll be able to identify the presence of chemicals, metals, and even bacteria like E. coli. These easy to use tests will give you results within 10 minutes, with the exception of the bacteria test which takes 48 hours for full results. There’s no need for expensive equipment or to mail samples to a lab. Each test is calibrated to the EPA standards. Once you have your results, compare them to the EPA recommendations and guidelines for water quality limits.

If you are looking for well water testing, check out the NTL Program and Tap Score.

Recommended Reading:

Wells and Septic Systems Paperback

Lead in Drinking Water Part of the Problem Awareness

Lead in Your Drinking Water

Prepared by Guest Author – Samantha Oram

Despite measures taken by the EPA and many states, lead poisoning is still a serious concern. Lead can be found in old water taps as well as interior and exterior piping. As water sits in these pipes, the water can react with the piping and based on a combination of corrosion or physical dislodging of chemical coatings the lead and metal content of the water can increase.  Drinking water high in lead can contribute to lead poisoning, but most sources of lead in the blood are related to the exposure to lead in paint, dust, soil, and consumer products that contain lead.  Individuals at most risk to lead include those living in older homes that have not been remodeled, individuals in mining or smelting towns and communities, young children, pregnant women, and the elderly. If your tap water has lead levels exceeding 15 ppb (0.015 ppb), you should take action immediately to minimize your exposure and if your our on a private well or private source if the level is above 5 ppb (0.005 mg/L) you should act.

Lead in Home (Dust, Paint, and Soil Test Kit)

Lead in Drinking Water Test Kit is designed to test for lead in water and corrosion related issues. This test is compatible with municipal water and private water systems. If you live in a home with older pipes or frequently drink from a water fountain where lead piping could be used, you should check the lead levels.  This fast acting Lead in Drinking Water Test Kit includes all the instructions and supplies you need to quickly test your drinking water for the presence of lead. In only 10 minutes, the Lead in Drinking Water Test will let you know if there are harmful elements in your water.

This simple test kit can easily be used in your home, classroom, office and anywhere else where you would need to test water quality. Quickly and accurately test well water, city/municipal water, tap water, residential drinking water, groundwater, and spring water sources. The results are fast and easy to read by following along with the included color chart and instruction manual.

Learn More – Corrosive Water and Lead
Lead and Corrosion Testing of Your Drinking Water – It is important to Know Your H20 !

Suggested Reading:

The Poisoned City: Flint’s Water

Pike County Pennsylvania – Private Septic Systems Need Maintenance???

On September 19, 2019, the Pike County Conservation District hosted a 2-hour informational work and training session. The topic – Properly Maintaining Your On-Lot Septic System

To help Pike County residents keep local lakes and ponds clean, the Pike County Conservation District is hosting a free three-part workshop series titled “How your Backyard Activities Affect your Lake.”This is the third workshop in the series. It will be held at the Dingman Township Fire Hall, 680 Log Tavern Road. Presenter Brian Oram, a Professional Geologist with Water Research Center and B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., will discuss the basic functionality of an on-lot system and best practices to help prevent water pollution.

During the session – Mr. Brian Oram promised to post a few items:

1. Here is a color copy of the presentation septicsystemspresentation92019. Please note copyright terms and conditions.
2. Here is a copy of a document the presenter found available on the local agency website on septic systems.
3. The Keystone Clean Water Team on-line store, get a copy of our educational booklet, order a neighborhood hazard report, mail order water testing program, at-home water screening and more.

Other Training On Septic Systems (ONLINE)

1. EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Systems Management

2. EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Processes and Systems

Books

Wells and Septic Systems Paperback

The Septic System Owner’s Manual Paperback

Harvest the Rain, How to Enrich Your Life by seeing Every Storm as a Resource