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

Brain-Eating Amoeba (Naegleria Fowleri) Swimming in My Pond?

We were recently asked about “brain-eating amobeas”  here is a summary of what we found:

1. The brain-eating amoeba is actually known as Naegleria fowleri and it was discovered in 1965.
   
2. It leaves in a cyst (egg-like stage) and a trophozoites (active stage).
3. Size – Small – 8 to 15 um  (micrometers)  For the record, a penny has a width of 1500 micrometers.
4. They do not like salt or saline water.
5. They like warm stagnant freshwater, including pools and spas not properly treated.
6. Organism enters the body through the NOSE !
7. Infections are Rare and mostly in the southern states.
8. Incubation Period – 2 to 15 days- average is 5 days
9. Symptoms: headache, fever, stiff neck, loss of appetite, vomiting, mental confusion, seizures, and coma.   I am sorry when coma is a symptom – WOW!!!!

Want to read more and get the details – We Suggest Web MD  !!!!   Source Information for this Summary!

We were asked about water testing – we could not find anything specific, but this would be two solid screening tests for surface water for this issue.

A. Total Microbiological Quality   (E.Coli, Coliform bacteria, Legionella, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, Clostridium, Heliobacter Pylori, Sphingomonas, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus and more)

Or

B. General Pond Water Screening with Bacteria

Hot New Concern in Drinking Water GenX and PFAS !  (Emerging drinking water contaminants)

Recomended Reading

Wells and Septic Systems Paperback

The Septic System Owner’s Manual Paperback

Master Watershed Steward Program and Training in Watershed Management

The Keystone Clean Water Team has been involved in watershed training and citizen based science programs since the foundation of the organization.  We have conducted rain barrel workshops, training sessions on low impact development and rural/urban landowner stormwater management, citizen science and stream and lake monitoring programs, education on conservation of water, resources, and energy, private well owner outreach, groundwater/watershed education, and stream and watershed assessments.

In June and July of 2019, we were asked by the Penn State Master Watershed Steward Program to conduct 2 training sessions for their education efforts.

Program 1:  “Earth- Was Not Always a Big Blue Ball”
Program 2:   “Pennsylvania – Balancing Natural Gas/Development/ Groundwater and the Environment ”

If you are looking for other resources on these topics, please consider the following:

Educational Booklet on Drinking Water In Pennsylvania

Know Your H20 Store – Neighborhood Hazard Reports (Nationwide) and Water Testing Services

Interesting Reading:  The Poisoned City: Flint’s Water

Training Courses
Natural Gas and Fracking – Environmental Consequences
Stream Restoration (Course 1 of 6)
Stream Monitoring Program – Use our Surface Water Quality Index Calculator (give your stream or surface water a Grade)

You can find information on the Penn State Master Watershed Steward program was established to educate and empower volunteers to protect environmental resources. Training and volunteer service are coordinated at the county level by extension staff, partners, or trained volunteers. Generally 15-20 people are selected for the program each year. Those accepted to the program attend training classes that focus on a broad range of water resource topics, including groundwater, stream ecology, wetlands, invasive plants, water recreation and stormwater management. There is a one-time registration cost to those accepted into the program. This is to cover the cost of the manual, name tag, and cost of the meeting facilities.  Master Watershed Stewards work with the community to improve the health of our streams, rivers and other natural resources.

Example projects