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:
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:
- Here is a color copy of the presentation septicsystemspresentation92019. Please note copyright terms and conditions.
- Here is a copy of a document the presenter found available on the local agency website on septic systems.
- 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:
- The brain-eating amoeba is actually known as Naegleria fowleri and it was discovered in 1965.
- It leaves in a cyst (egg-like stage) and a trophozoites (active stage).
- Size – Small – 8 to 15 um (micrometers) For the record, a penny has a width of 1500 micrometers.
- They do not like salt or saline water.
- They like warm stagnant freshwater, including pools and spas not properly treated.
- Organism enters the body through the NOSE !
- Infections are Rare and mostly in the southern states.
- Incubation Period – 2 to 15 days- average is 5 days
- 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
Riparian Buffer Zones – A Critical Element to In Stream Water Quality
Article by Pike County Conservation District: By Rachel Posavetz, Watershed Specialist.
“Riparian buffer is the term for an area of vegetation that grows along a waterway to help prevent substances from reaching the water. The fact that this type of area has its own term should be telling of its importance. As water flows across the land, or the watershed region, it carries with it a whole slew of pollutants: sediment, chemicals, nutrients, bacteria, litter, etc. These pollutants are filtered and absorbed by the plants and soils growing in riparian buffers, and therefore prevented from entering the water.
Riparian buffers provide flood water storage and help to prevent soil erosion during high rain events and along high motion waters such as streams and lake shores. They also provide cooling shade which helps heat-sensitive aquatic organisms survive (such as brook trout), and control algal growth by blocking sunlight.
Where do we need riparian buffers? Every stream, lake, wetland, and pond will benefit from these helper plants filtering out harmful substances, holding in the soil, and allowing excess water to infiltrate into the ground water system. These plants are most crucial along the waterway edge, and the greater the riparian buffer width, the better.
What makes a good riparian plant? Almost anything with roots, and preferably native species that are tolerant to wet conditions. Trees and shrubs, grasses and forbs (wildflowers), and sedges and rushes, have strong root systems that lock in the soil and are adapted for surviving in our seasonal weather changes. Trees are the most beneficial because they establish long-term roots, continue to grow over time, and provide the most shade, food and shelter proportional to the space they occupy. A healthy riparian buffer mimics the natural the habitat for the area in which it is located, whether it be a forest or a meadow, with a diversity of plant types and heights. Sod, or mowed grass, has leaves too short to aid in filtering, and roots too shallow to aid in erosion protection.
Reference: Riparian Rights
What else do they do? Riparian buffers add to the available habitat and food sources for wildlife such as birds, pollinators, mammals, and other critters, including aquatic ones. Did you know “trees feed trout”? The aquatic insects at the bottom of the food chain, like caddisflies, munch on the tree leaves and their biofilm (algae and bacteria) that have fallen into the streams. Trunks and branches that fall into the stream create aquatic habitat variety as well.
Who can make a riparian buffer? You can! If your property borders a waterway, you can enjoy designing a grow zone that suits your liking. Though it will require some maintenance until the new plants establish, you can enjoy the beauty of the flowers right away. Check the links below to learn more.
Lastly, riparian buffers can serve as a reminder to us that water levels fluctuate within the floodplain, and we should keep development a safe distance from the water’s edge.” (Article link)
Our thoughts on riparian buffer zones:
1. Overall we agree, we should protect and restrict encroachment on stream channel, floodway, floodplain, wetland, and hydric soil boundary.
2. This should not be a one-size fits all “safe distance”, but based on site-specific information and conditions.
3. Most beneficial chemical reactions happen at this critical transition zone – if you want to protect streams from nitrogen impact from nitrate – maintain the anoxic zone and transition zones between uplands and streams.
4. Featured Training Course: Stream Restoration – Corridor Processes
Take the first step to get back to zero : Harvest the Rain, How to Enrich Your Life by seeing Every Storm as a Resource
Orenco AdvanTex Systems- New Webinars and other resources
Residential AdvanTex® Design
Wed., May 1st, 9-10am Pacific Time
AdvanTex® Treatment Systems are the ideal onsite solution for residential wastewater treatment needs because they work well in a variety of locations and situations. In this webinar, we’ll review the application, design, and benefits of AdvanTex for residential properties.
Orenco Sewer™ Troubleshooting
Thu., May 2nd, 9-10am Pacific Time
Correctly diagnosing a problem is the first step to getting it fixed. In this webinar, we’ll discuss the basics of troubleshooting an effluent sewer collection system, including how to identify problems with specific components by using the Orenco STEP System Troubleshooting Chart and the Orenco Control Panel Troubleshooting Chart. These tools can save you both time and money when dealing with effluent sewer system repairs.
[amazon_link asins=’0936070404,0830621369′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’webdespro-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’dcf8fba9-dc31-4ed7-b87b-258d59e2f8ab’]
Rural Customers – Make Sure to Get Your Drinking Water Tested
other Training Programs for Professionals
Course – Onlot Sewage Treatment Systems – Based on EPA Guidelines
Course – Onlot Sewage Management
UDRBC Seminar Next Week; Water Quality and Legislative Update
Next Thursday, May 2, the Upper Delaware River Basin Citizens or UDRBC will be holding a seminar in Lookout, Pennsylvania to talk landowner rights and more.
Be there! The UDRBC, lead by Ned Lang and a large group of Upper Delaware River citizens will be conducting an in-depth discussion of natural gas exploration and development. The Upper Delaware River Basin Citizens (‘UDRBC’) has announced the topic of its Spring Seminar scheduled for Thursday, May2, 2019 at the Lookout Fire Hall, 2625 Hancock Highway, Equinunk, Pennsylvania.
The seminar will be held from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, with lunch provided and will feature numerous speakers. Registration is online at https://udrbc.com under “EVENTS” and space is limited.
UDRBC Seminar Speakers- May 2, 2019
Major speakers will include:
BRIAN ORAM: Brian is a Professional Geologist and Soil Scientist for B.F Environmental Consultants. He is also a Private Well Owner Educator at PACleanwater and Managing the Keystone Clean Water Team. Water quality education is both and expertise with this entertaining expert. He knows Northeastern Pennsylvania water and geology like no one else.Brian’s specialties include well migration issues, natural gas, hydrogeology, carbon sequestering, brine water treatment and water reuse. He will address the relationship between natural gas development and water quality.
During this presentation, we will discuss water quality, groundwater, environmental issues with natural gas development, and activities that landowners/royalty owners can do to protect themselves, their community, and the environment. We will announce the free phone App that is available from the Keystone Clean Water Team on Baseline Water Testing and encourage citizens to participate in a citizen based groundwater assessment using their baseline data. (Slide Presentation – pdf version baselinetestingwaynecounty2019slide )
NOTE: Please consider supporting the Keystone Clean Water Team (501C3) in PA – some of our PSAs.
PAT HENDERSON: Pat has over 20 years experience in legislative and executive branches of government, and with leading nationally-recognized energy advocacy trade organizations. Pat is currently employed at the Marcellus Shale Foundation. He is an expert on Marcellus Shale development policy and knows government inside and outside. Pat will address the latest shale gas issues from the perspectives of both industry and policymakers.
JEFF BELARDI: Attorney Jeffrey Belardi practices out of Scranton, PA and has been licensed for 25 years. He attended Widener University and handles cases in Corporate & Incorporation, Criminal Defense, State, Local And Municipal Law, Litigation. Jeff is also one of three attorneys handling the Wayne Land and Mineral Group lawsuit against the DRBC and in defense of landowner rights.
It is important to Learn, Diagnose, and Test. Public outreach is part of the Mission of the Keystone Clean Water Team. To learn more about this Organization and support their efforts, please go to http://www.pacleanwater.org
Other Items:
- Training Programs:
Modern Shale Gas Development
Mud Logging Sensors
Shale Gas and the Global Market
Introduction to Groundwater Contamination
Groundwater Hydrology
Petrochemical Training for Engineers - Learn about the facts and not the fear – Scare Pollution (must read):
- A book on climate and climate change – a must read:
Please Get Your Water Tested – At a minimum, an comprehensive Informational Water Quality Test to at least determine your general well water quality and learn about the hazards in your community. This is not certified baseline testing, but it is a low cost means of evaluating your drinking water source. It is important to KNOW Your H20! Get Your Water Tested and order a Neighboorhood Hazard Reports for your Home.
EPA Announces Nationwide Action Plan to Address PFAS Water Contamination
Andrew Wheeler, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s acting administrator, unveiled the Agency’s PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) action plan to address growing concerns around tainted drinking water and groundwater nationwide during a news conference on February 14 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In his address, Wheeler indicated the EPA will propose a regulatory determination, which is the next step in the Safe Drinking Water Act process, for establishing a federal maximum contaminant limit (MCL) for PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) by the end of 2019. Wheeler also said the Agency would continue its enforcement actions, clarify remediation strategies, expand monitoring of PFAS in the environment, and enhance the research and science for addressing the contaminants by developing new analytical methods and tools. The EPA’s current health advisory level for PFAS is 70 parts per trillion.
The National Ground Water Association applauds the EPA’s decision to move forward with the MCL process for PFOA and PFOS and urges the Agency to rely on sound science to make the determination as promptly as is feasible. Moving towards establishing an MCL will provide the national certainty required to ensure effective clean-up at sites around the country.
“PFAS contamination is a national crisis that requires national leadership, and the EPA’s announcement is an important step in providing that leadership,” said Lauren Schapker, government affairs director at NGWA. “As the EPA begins implementation of the PFAS management plan, NGWA will continue to work with the Agency to address the unique challenges facing rural areas and private well owners, and to ensure the technical and financial resources are made available to address the crisis.”
…..
PFAS / PFOS Drinking Water Testing of YOUR Water !
PFAS has been on NGWA’s radar for several years and will remain a priority issue for the foreseeable future. The Association has created a Groundwater and PFAS resource center for NGWA members. The center includes PFAS FAQs, top 10 facts about PFAS, and a homeowner checklist, among other items. NGWA is also the publisher of the guidance document, Groundwater and PFAS: State of Knowledge and Practice.
As in 2018, NGWA is hosting educational events on PFAS this year as well:
- PFAS in Groundwater Workshop: The Professional’s Challenge, June 18 in Westerville, Ohio
- The PFAS Management, Mitigation, and Remediation Conference, June 19-20 in Westerville, Ohio
- PFAS in Groundwater Workshop: The Professional’s Challenge, December 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
We are recommending the installation of a final barrier filter on your drinking water and you should learn more about the consumer products that contain PFOA and PFOS, because it is not just your drinking water.
Water Quality Association supports PFAS Plan for Drinking Water
EPA suggests consumers have water tested and use certified in-home filtration to remove or reduce levels of these toxic chemicals
LISLE, Ill. – The Water Quality Association supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) taking steps toward setting a safety threshold for highly toxic drinking water contaminants known as PFAS. Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Thursday outlined a plan that addresses drinking water and cleanup concerns as well as monitoring of PFAS, expanding research and improving enforcement.
“We are encouraged that the EPA is continuing to move forward with establishing a consistent standard across the country for these dangerous chemicals,” said WQA Global Government Affairs Director David Loveday. “We strongly support the action plan’s recommendations that consumers have their drinking water checked by a certified laboratory and then use certified in-home filtration to remove or reduce any chemicals found.”
In September, a letter from WQA supporting further study of human health risks of PFAS contamination and using in-home treatment technologies to combat them was introduced into testimony before a U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. Research shows POU/POE treatment “can be used to successfully treat for these contaminants at the home or in a building,” said the letter from WQA Executive Director Pauli Undesser. “They cost only a fraction of the price our society would need to bear to upgrade our drinking water treatment plants for PFAS removal.”
Last May, Loveday and WQA Technical Affairs Director Eric Yeggy took part in the EPA’s PFAS National Leadership Summit, which called for a national management plan.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS, are man-made chemicals found in such things as firefighting foams and stain-resistant, waterproof and nonstick coatings. Because they break down slowly, if at all, they have turned up in drinking water systems across the nation in varying levels. Some individual states have begun regulating the chemicals.
For individuals concerned about PFAS, the EPA Plan states:
“The EPA recommends contacting your state for a list of laboratories that are certified to test for PFAS using EPA Method 537. If you find PFAS in your drinking water, certain PFAS can be reduced or removed through the use of in-home point-of-use or point-of-entry water filters. It is important to keep in mind that any in-home treatment device should be certified by an independent party.”
In-home technologies such as reverse osmosis, carbon filtration and anion exchange have been independently tested and proven to be a successful final barrier to treat drinking water for PFAS.
WQA is a non-for-profit, accredited independent third-party certification body by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada. WQA’s website provides additional information on PFAS chemicals and product certification.
As part of its annual DC Fly-In and the Water Resources Congressional Summit on March 5 and 6, WQA members and staff will discuss PFAS in meetings with Congressional and federal agency staffs. Fly-In registration is open through Friday, Feb. 15.
WQA is a not-for-profit trade association representing the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. WQA’s education and professional certification programs have been providing industry-standardized training and credentialing since 1977. The WQA Gold Seal certification program has been certifying products that contribute to the safe consumption of water since 1959. The WQA Gold Seal program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
pfas_fact_sheet_history_and_use__11_13_17
Water Testing Links
Microplastics in Bottled Water – New Study
Study Summary:
- “Tests reveal bottled water contains nearly twice as many microplastic particles per liter as tap water. The contamination is thought to originate from the manufacturing process of the bottles and caps
- Researchers tested 259 bottles of 11 popular bottled water brands for the presence of microscopic plastic. On average, the bottled water tested contained 325 pieces of microplastic per liter
- Only 17 of 259 bottles were found to be free of microplastic particles (5 mm and 0.003 mm), and none of the brands tested consistently free of plastic contaminants. The worst offender was Nestlé Pure Life, the most contaminated sample of which contained 10,390 particles per liter
- In response to these findings, the World Health Organization has vowed to launch a safety review to assess the potential short- and long-term health risks of consuming microplastic in water
- A report by the U.K. Government Office for Science warns plastic debris littering the world’s oceans — 70 percent of which does not biodegrade — is likely to triple by 2025 unless radical steps are taken to curb pollution.”
We recommend the following:
- Get Your Drinking Water Tested you must Know Your H20.
- Read our article on Plastics.
- Consider treating your existing tapwater .
- Microplastic Testing of Your Drinking Water.
NSF Intl. has developed a test method and protocol to verify a water treatment device’s ability to reduce perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) to below the health advisory levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
[amazon_textlink asin=’B06XGZMTRH’ text=’P473: Drinking Water Treatment Units – PFOA and PFOS’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’webdespro-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b50a0a69-0f13-11e9-bbe7-ebfc03ac31a1′]
New Report – Violations NJ Utilities Drinking Water Testing
Sharing an interesting article:
Violations At NJ Utilities Enumerated In New Report
By Sara Jerome, @sarmje
“A new analysis of New Jersey drinking water reveals widespread challenges.“More than 1.5 million New Jerseyans are served by a utility that has been cited for excessive contaminants since April 2014, when the Flint water crisis was revealed, according to an analysis of U.S. EPA data by USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey,” The Asbury Park Press reported. “The data shows that water utilities in the Garden State have racked up at least 226 contamination violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act since Flint became synonymous with tainted tap water and put other water systems under a spotlight,” the report continued. The report shows the state’s water challenges extend even beyond Newark, which is undergoing a major lead crisis.”
What we recommend:
1. Know if you are getting your water from a regulated or unregulated water system.
2. If you are part of a regulated system – Make sure to get a copy of the consumers confidence report for your supplier.
3. Inspect your piping and home, could you have a lead issue in your home? This includes lead piping, lead solder, lead paint, lead dust, or consumer products high in lead.
4. Conduct a lead screening test on your home drinking water.
5. If necessary, conduct a first flush and flush test of your drinking water for lead and check to see if your water is vulnerable to corrosion.
6. Need help diagnosing a problem – Go to Know Your H20.
7. Get our educational booklet on drinking water.
8. Consider a point of use filtration system that reduces lead.
Water Filtration System
Custom Point of Use Systems
Crystal Quest Systems (Point of Use, Whole House Systems, Air and Water Disinfection)
Filter Water Systems (Point of Use and Whole House Systems)
US Water Systems (“Forever Chemicals,, UV Disinfection, Iron, Manganese”)
Blog Post on Drinking Water and Real Estate