Perchlorate EPA Seeks Input on National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Contaminant Perchlorate

WASHINGTON (October 3, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is inviting small businesses, governments, and not-for-profit entities to participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) providing advice and recommendations to a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. This SBAR Panel will focus on the agency’s development of a rule that will regulate perchlorate in drinking water to protect public health.

EPA is developing a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for the chemical contaminant perchlorate (ClO4) under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and as required by court orders. EPA has committed to issuing a proposed NPDWR for perchlorate by November 2025 and a final regulation by May 2027.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires agencies to establish an SBAR Panel for rules that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The SBAR Panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the EPA. The Panel members ask a selected group of SERs to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company, government, or organization to inform the Panel members about potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities.

The EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small public water systems (serving 10,000 or fewer people) that may be subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially regulated small public water systems, may also serve as SERs.

Self-nominations may be submitted through the link below and must be received by October 7, 2024.

Nominate yourself as a SER.

Visit the EPA’s perchlorate in drinking water webpage for more details.

For further information: Contact: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

New Drinking Water Educational Booklet

Drinking Water Educational Booklet Private Water Wells and Tapwater Know Your H20

Drinking Water Educational Booklet Know Your H20 (Water) – Part of the Healthy Home and Healthy Water Outreach Effort.  The Booklet is a resource for private water well owners and customers of community and non-community water supply sources

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Rick Grant, 570-497-5850

B.F. Environmental Updates Popular Drinking Water Guide

The 2024 KnowYourH2O guide includes updated and expanded content.

WILKES-BARRE, PA—August 12, 2024—B.F. Environmental Consultants, an environmental consulting firm providing a range of services throughout the Northeast, announced today that company consultants working with the Keystone Clean Water Team, a Pennsylvania-based non-profit, have released an updated version of their popular KnowYourH2O Drinking Water Guide. The new version covers both Private Water systems and Public Water supplies. It includes updated content, new graphics related to water well systems and lead service lines, and information about forever chemicals and PFAS.

“When we wrote the first version of this guide, people needed to know how to determine the quality of the water their families were drinking,” said Brian Oram, a professional geologist, soil scientist, and founder of B.F. Environmental Consultants. “A lot has changed since then, including new testing methodologies and new risks to our groundwater and drinkable water. What hasn’t changed is the vital importance of clean water. The 5th edition booklet provides a readily available fact-based source of information related to drinking water quality, contaminants, water treatment, and a means to easily understand your drinking water quality and identify problems.”

The new drinking water educational booklet is for private well owners, city water users, water professionals, and educators. It provides general information explaining certified water testing, chain-of-custody, and drinking water regulations and standards. It provides information related to the health (primary standards) or aesthetic (secondary standards) concerns for each parameter and provides information on water quality parameters that do not specifically have a drinking water limit.

Oram and the team at B.F. Environmental are key contributors to the Know Your H2O website, which includes basic water testing and water quality information, as well as educational resources designed to help better understand the complexities of water quality through a review of the basics of physics, chemistry, and biology that impact our water.

Oram was also instrumental in the development of a free Surface Water Quality Index Calculator, which is available to the public through the “Know Your H20” his company supports. The new online WQI Calculator provides a user-friendly website interface, allowing users to add a GPS location to the database or locate the unique sampling site, using an online mapping tool.

Using the tool, users input basic information about the surface water test site as well as other field data they have collected. The calculator then completes the necessary interpretations and generates the customized report. The online calculator provides the individual ranking or score for each parameter, calculates the weighted average ranking for the test site, and allows the user to generate a customized report for each sampling site.

For more information about any of these programs or to preorder your copy of the new booklet, visit the website. Get a copy of the booklet signed by Brian Oram here. If you are looking to order 1 copy of this booklet, please use the form below.  If you are looking to order multiple copies, please contact Mr. Brian Oram at brian.oram@knowyourh2o.com or use this link.

About B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc.

B.F. Environmental Consultants, based in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Poconos, has been providing professional geological, soils, hydrogeological, and environmental consulting services and professional, professional and environmental training courses, and environmental outreach and education, since 1985.

For more information about B.F. Environmental Consultants, visit www.bfenvironmental.com and https://www.knowyourh2o.com

Waterdrop Drinking Water Treatment Systems Reverse Osmosis System Water Purifier

Waterdrop Water Filtration System
Special Stainless Steel Filtration Systems

Waterdrop was founded in 2015 with the wish to provide trustworthy water purification solutions. The brand is dedicated to providing people around the world with the high-quality products to truly purify their drinking water. The name Waterdrop comes from the desire to deliver clean, safe, and healthy drinking water from the first sip to the last satisfying drop.

Now Waterdrop is one of the world-leading manufacturers of water filtration appliances.  They always adhere to the brand concept of technology leadership with intelligent water filtration, focusing on the R&D, design and production of water filtration core technologies and professional equipment. They keep it in mind how important pure water is to everyone, and are willing to provide users with better water wherever they need it.

Their Brand Promise – “Unveil The New Stage Of Better Life With Water “

“We provide customized water purification solutions for families around the world, keep drinking water safe and healthy to make your life comfortable and warm. “

They are part of the Water4Smile Program

Where does the Water4Smile program initiative come from?

“Taking a shower in the morning or enjoying a relaxing bath at night is something many of us take for granted, mostly because it is a basic human right to access safe water. Yet, I’ve read a data report by the World Health Organization that 61% of people in this world lack access to safely managed sanitation, and 28% lack access to a secure water supply. A more astonishing fact is that millions of people die from diseases caused by unreliable water supply and sanitation. Among those people who suffer, kids make up a large portion. Based on a 2018 UNICEF report, 31% of schools lack access to clean drinking water. My heart was aching when I read about those statistics, and I deeply felt the responsibility to take action and make a difference.”

Why did they choose to partner with The Water Project?

“After we decided to take action, we did our research and recognized sub-Saharan Africa has the greatest need, Uganda in particular. The nation of Uganda struggles to provide even the most basic of human needs to many of its citizens. A history of war, AIDS, a lack of clean water, poor nutrition and a struggling economy present a population where the majority is under the age of 18. There are a great number of nonprofit organizations that are doing similar works every day, so transparency is our first concern. It is vital to know how the money you donate is being used on real, specific projects. We’d learned that The Water Project has years of experience in providing reliable water projects to communities in sub-Saharan Africa, and they offer a high level of transparency to all their projects with daily reports, which we believe as a very good fit for our company.”

Product Line includes Reverse Osmosis Systems, Refrigerator Filters, Faucet Filters, Countertop Filters, Ultra-filtration Under Sink Filters, Whole House Filters, Water Pitchers, and Outdoor Filters.

This Waterdrop RO system is tested and certified by NSF International against NSF/ANSI standard 58 & 372. Products with NSF certification are considered to have better quality. NSF/ANSI 58 &372 Certified -94% TDS reduction – Waterdrop RO system has passed 400+ chemical lab tests.

We’ve teamed up with a variety of select partners to help support the KnowYourH2O Path to Clean Water mission in regards to Testing, Treatment and Training. Click on the link below to learn more about Waterdrop and the products and services they offer.

Our Other Partners

Are you looking for a qualified Water Industry Professional in your area? Check out our Water Professionals Directory.

Get Your Drinking Water Tested

Cordova, Illinois 3M Agrees to EPA Order to Sample and Provide Treatment for PFAS Contamination in Drinking Water

3M Agrees to EPA Order to Sample and Provide Treatment for PFAS Contamination in Drinking Water near Cordova, IL Facility
EPA Enforcement Part of Agency Strategy to Characterize and Address PFAS Releases from Major Manufacturers

WASHINGTON (November 3, 2022) – Today, the 3M Company agreed to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) order to sample and provide treatment to address contamination from per- and polyfluoroakyl substances (PFAS) found in drinking water in the vicinity of 3M’s Cordova, IL facility. Recent sampling results provided by 3M indicate the widespread presence of a mixture of at least 19 different PFAS chemicals in drinking water within a 3-mile radius of the Cordova facility. Given the unique circumstances affecting this community, including more than five decades of PFAS discharges and the many types of PFAS chemicals found, EPA has concluded that the situation constitutes an imminent and substantial endangerment under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

“I have directed EPA staff to use every enforcement tool at our disposal to require manufacturers of PFAS to address potential endangerment to the public and to compel them to characterize, control, and clean up ongoing and past PFAS contamination,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Communities have suffered far too long from exposure to these chemicals. This settlement is a critical step forward in our work to protect communities from pollution and hold polluters accountable for their actions.”

As part of this settlement, 3M is required to offer treatment to all private well owners within 3 miles of the facility and to the Camanche Water Supply in Iowa, in an effort to remove PFAS from the drinking water. 3M is also required to offer drinking water sampling out to 4 miles from the facility for private well owners and out to 10 miles from the facility for public water systems as well as to the Quad Cities’ public water systems, using EPA protocols and conducted under EPA oversight.

3M’s sampling of the drinking water in private wells near the facility detected a range of concentrations including: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) of non-detect to 25 ppt, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid  (PFOS) of non-detect to 30 ppt, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), or “GenX” of non-detect to 59 ppt, and perfluorobutane sulfunate (PFBS) of non-detect to 51 ppt. 3M did not use EPA test methods for this sampling. As a result, the order issued today requires 3M to sample these wells again following EPA test methods.

3M was one of the original companies developing and producing PFAS within the United States, and their Cordova facility operations and discharges containing PFAS chemicals date back to the 1970s. 3M’s agreement to the terms of the Order including completing the work required under EPA’s oversight is an important step to begin addressing the problem created by decades of contamination. This settlement is part of EPA’s ongoing efforts to compel major PFAS manufacturers to characterize and control ongoing releases from their facilities.

Background

Last year, EPA launched the PFAS Strategic Roadmap, a whole-of-agency approach for addressing PFAS. The Roadmap sets timelines by which EPA plans to take specific actions and commit to new policies to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and hold polluters accountable. In the national PFAS Roadmap, EPA commits to investigate releases of PFAS and where needed require manufacturers to characterize and control their PFAS releases. In the Roadmap, EPA also commits to take swift action to address potential endangerments to public health. EPA is actively working with its state partners on this effort, which will build upon valuable work led by a number of states.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively called “PFAS,” are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. There are thousands of different PFAS chemicals, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others.

More information on EPA Order to sample drinking water near the 3M Cordova Facility

Order a Neighborhood Hazard Report

Get Your Water Tested for Forever Chemicals

CCL 5- Chemical Microbiological Contaminants EPA Issues Final List of Contaminants for Potential Regulatory Consideration in Drinking Water, Significantly Increases PFAS Chemicals for Review

Contact Information
EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Final Fifth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5), which will serve as the basis for EPA’s regulatory considerations over the next five-year cycle under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This update includes a substantial expansion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), an important first step towards identifying additional PFAS that may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

“Following public engagement and robust scientific review, the final contaminant candidate list is the latest milestone in our regulatory efforts to ensure safe, clean drinking water for all communities,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “As EPA takes action to protect public health and the environment from PFAS, including proposing the first nationwide drinking water standards later this year, today’s final CCL 5 looks further forward to consider additional protective steps for these forever chemicals.”

A year ago, EPA published the PFAS Strategic Roadmap, outlining an Agency-wide approach to addressing PFAS in the environment. Today’s announcement strengthens EPA’s commitment to protect public health from impacts of PFAS and support the Agency’s decision-making for potential future regulations of PFAS.

In addition to a group of PFAS, the Final CCL 5 includes 66 individually listed chemicals, two additional chemical groups (cyanotoxins and disinfection byproducts (DBPs)), and 12 microbes.

In developing the Final CCL 5, EPA requested public nominations, providing an opportunity for people to make recommendations to the Agency about specific contaminants of concern that may disproportionally affect their local community. EPA further enhanced the CCL process based on comments received on this CCL and previous CCLs, including by prioritizing data most relevant to drinking water exposure, improving considerations of sensitive populations including children, and considering the recommendations included in the Review of the EPA’s Draft Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5) report from the Science Advisory Board. These improvements resulted in a Final CCL 5 that can better inform prioritization of contaminants for potential regulatory actions and/or research efforts.

More information on the final Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5).

CCL 5 –  Chemical Contaminants

CCL 5 – Microbiological Contaminants

Primary Drinking Water Standards

Drinking Water Testing (City / Well Water)

Forever Chemicals – Testing / GenX PFOA PFOS

FracTracker Alliance Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship

Do you know an extraordinary individual working to confront the harms of fossil fuels and injustice in their community? We’ve extended the deadline to nominate environmental advocates and community activists for the Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship until November 4, 2022.

FracTracker Alliance created the Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship to celebrate individuals whose noble actions exemplify the transformative power of committed and engaged people. This year, in collaboration with our sponsors and partners, the award will be presented to multiple recipients at a virtual reception on Thursday, December 8, 2022. Tickets for the virtual ceremony are available now!

2022 Sentinel Award – Nomination Form

FracTracker Alliance created the Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship to celebrate individuals whose noble actions exemplify the transformative power of committed and engaged activists and advocates. In collaboration with our sponsors and partners, the Sentinel Awards are presented to multiple recipients at a virtual reception before fellow activists, allies and conspirators, all of whom are working towards a healthier and more just future.

Each awardee receives $1,000 and is recognized at the 8th annual Community Sentinel Awards ceremony, to be held virtually on Thursday, December 8th, 2022. We also welcome our partners and community members to submit the names of activists who have passed away over the last year, so that we may honor their lives and their work during the Legacy of Heroes presentation during the awards ceremony.

Eligibility criteria and nominate an environmental justice hero for the 2022 Community Sentinel Award by November 4, 2022.

Environmental Blog – Interesting Articles / Looking for Authors
Submit Your Environmental Organization to the Global Database
Dimock Pennsylvania – Well by Well Review – Natural, Natural Gas Developing, Fracking or something else.
Forever Chemicals – Frac Fluid, but many other sources (PFOA)

Interesting Online Training Course

Modern Shale Gas DevelopmentThe course provides an overview of modern shale gas development, as well as a summary of federal, state, and local regulations applicable to the natural gas production industry, and describes environmental considerations related to shale gas development.

Pipelines – Public AwarenessGas pipeline safety is critical – not just for your employees but for public safety as well. Therefore, it is imperative that gas operators have an effective awareness program to inform the public; public officials; emergency responders; as well as excavators as to the location and safe work practices around gas pipelines and what to do in an emergency.

President signs water infrastructure legislation advancing NGWA key policy priorities

President signs water infrastructure legislation advancing NGWA key policy priorities

President Donald J. Trump signed into law the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) on October 23, a re-authorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) combined with legislation building on the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Doing so provides support to several programs including flood control, water storage, and drinking water programs.

NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse, CIC, hailed the legislation’s passage, calling it “a validation of the collective efforts made by NGWA volunteers to promote the importance of investing in groundwater.”

AWIA was passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in September. Typically, WRDA legislation has a narrow focus on navigation, dams, and levees, but after concerted efforts by NGWA and other organizations, the AWIA legislation includes a significant number of provisions affecting drinking water programs.

NGWA’s top priorities in AWIA:

  • Drinking Water Infrastructure: Authorizes increased funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. DWSRF funds can be used for a range of purposes including supporting construction, upgrading, and maintenance of rural infrastructure such as wells and well systems.
    • $1.174 billion FY2019
    • $1.3 billion FY2020
    • $1.95 billion FY2021
  • Groundwater Recharge: Re-authorization of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFA) program for two years at $50 million per year, which finances large projects like managed aquifer recharge projects. The legislation also removes the “pilot” designation of the program.
  • PFAS: Requires water systems serving more than 3,300 people to monitor for unregulated contaminants.
  • Resilience Planning: Provides funds to water systems to develop resilience plans to address extreme weather.

Passage of AWIA highlights the effectiveness of NGWA advocacy as several provisions NGWA advocated for during the NGWA Groundwater Fly-In in 2016, 2017, and 2018 were signed into law on October 23.

For more NGWA Government Affairs information, including details of the 2019 NGWA Groundwater Fly-In, visit: https://www.ngwa.org/get-involved/advocacy.

Blog Post related to Social Justice, Climate, Water Infrastructure and the Water Professional.

Just a few points:

For Professionals and Planners

  1. Please remember we must work with the processes on Planet Earth and not against them and we need to ADAPT!
  2. We must start being honest, the biggest problem or concern is not carbon dioxide or methane emissions, but inefficiency, building in the wrong areas (like floodplains, unstable ground, and land that is actively sinking.)
  3. We must consider water as a resource in all its forms.  So instead of stormwater, wastewater, drinking water, we have to consider this as a resource to reuse, promote groundwater recharge, and stop water mining and over allocations.
  4. Education – Continuing Education Courses  and PDH Credits

For Public and Citizen Scientist

  1. We must remember that water is not the only path for contamination migration and many times we are are the last line of defense and it is our home environment and the consumer products and lifestyle that plays a major role.
  2. We recommend, the following:

Sustainable Infrastructure & Resilience Webinar Series

NCSE, Arizona State University School of Sustainability, and the Security and Sustainability Forum are hosting a series of webinars in a lead up to the NCSE 2019 Annual Conference. The first webinar focused on Actionable Science Solutions for Local Resilience. Speakers shared successful practices at the local science-policy intersect and explored the role of universities in local resilience. Learn more and watch the webinar recording.

Private Well Water System Drinking Water Well Owner Homebuyer in Rural Pennsylvania

Welcome to Pennsylvania and Welcome to Managing Your Own Small Water Company

In Pennsylvania,  there are generally no specific construction standards for private wells and there is only some general guidance with respect to well placement and construction.  Further, private well water is not regulated by the EPA or PADEP and therefore it is up to YOU to check your water to ensure that the well produces good clean and adequate water.    This is only a short summary of the information.  If you are interested we offer a Private Well Owner Training Course that can be offered as a Workshop for Your Community, Association, or other Organization  (Some of our community project pages).

There are a number of steps to this process and well will break them down as follows:

Well Placement
Well Construction
Well Testing (Yield and Quality)
Well Maintenance
Annual Water Testing

Well Placement
In general, the primary guidance with to water well placement in Pennsylvania is that a water well should be 100 feet from a septic system (regulated), 50 feet from a septic tank (regulated), 10 feet from a sewer line under pressure (regulated), 300 + feet from petrochemical storage, and 10 feet from a property line. To be honest, these isolation distance do not consider impacts from other natural conditions or activities.  In general, we  would recommend the following:

1. If possible, the private well owner should control all activities within a 50 to  100 foot radius of the wellhead, i.e.., top of the water well. These activities should include: use of pesticides and herbicides, storage of toxic or hazardous chemicals, storage or management of manure and other waste, diversion of surface water and runoff, overuse of the area by grazing animals, location of burrow pits, burn pipes, rubbish storage, or storage of used cars or other items that may contain antifreeze, oils, and greases.
2. Well casing should extend at least 18 inches above grade.
3. Well should be fitted with a sanitary well cap that has some form of venting.
4. The well should be located at least 10 feet from a property line.
5. It might be wise to install a Well Seal.

Other suggested isolation distances

Delineated wetlands or floodplains (25 feet)- with top of casing 3 feet above flood elevation.
Surface waters (25 feet) Storm water Systems (25 feet)
BioInfiltration Stormwater Systems (100 feet +)
Spray Irrigation/ Septage Disposal (100 feet+)
Sinkholes and Closed Depressions (100 feet +)
Farm silos / manure storage (200 feet) Septic Systems (100 feet)
Septic Tanks/Holding Tanks (50 feet)
Chemical Storage/Preparation Area (300 feet)

Well Construction

1. Prefer the use of steel casing that extends at least 15 feet to 20 feet into firm bedrock or 60 feet below ground, whichever is greater.
2. Casing should be of  adequate wall thickness to deal with corrosion and stress – 19lb casing+ (Steel).
3. The base of the casing should contain a harden driveshoe on the bottom of the casing and casing centralized in the borehole.
4. Wells drilled by a licensed well driller using only potable water as the drilling fluid.
5. Casing should be double circumferential welded or threaded casing.
6. Well caps should be sanitary well caps that are properly vented.
7. Annular space should have a neat cement grout layer that is at least 1.5 inches thick.
8. Pitless adapters should be used over well pits and if possible an NSF 61 pitless adapter used.

Well Testing (Yield and Quality)

After the well is drilled, the well should be developed using surging, air-lift, or pumping the well.  This is done to clean out the well cuttings and improve yield.  In some cases, this needs to be done to improve the efficiency of the borehole. If the well yield is low, some well drillers will hydrofrac the well. If you are going to hydrofrac a water well, we recommend zone hydraulic fracturing to isolate the deeper potential water-bearing zones.   After the well development has been completed, a shock wellbore disinfection should be conducted.  The well should be allowed to fully recover and a minimum 2-hour yield test is recommend.  After the yield testing, the well should be shock disinfected.  For information on shock disinfection – we recommend visiting Water-Research Center (Know Your H20) .   The well yield data should include the static water level (water level before pumping), maximum dynamic water level (maximum depth to water during pumping), pumping rate, and length of the pumping test.  This data should be included on the well log and the specific capacity of the well should be reported.  The specific capacity is the rate of yield or gallons per minute per foot of drawdown.  The drawdown is the difference between the static and dynamic water level measurement. 

Before the end of the yield testing, it is recommended that a general water quality analysis of the well be conducted.  This testing should include bacterial quality, general water quality, and specific parameters that are known problems for your region.  Do not rely on a free water analysis or a basic water quality screening down by the well driller.  This should be either information or certified testing conducted by a laboratory.  For information on this type of testing, please contact the Keystone Clean Water Team or the Water-Research Center.   The initial water quality testing data should be reviewed and evaluated.  The first well or city water quality test should be a comprehensive water quality check.  If you are want informational water testing, we would recommend either the Well Water Check or the City Water Check Option. This evaluation should include the need for any further action to improve the well security, continue with well development, or add equipment to improve well water quality.  In some cases, water treatment systems are installed as an additional barrier or layer of protection.  In many cases, the only type of additional treatment that is needed is a whole-house particle filter and a sanitary well cap.  For information on Do-it-Yourself Water Treatment Systems (US Water Systems, FilterWater.com, or Crystal Quest) .

Well and System Maintenance

At a minimum, the well water system should go through an annual inspection.  This inspection could be associated with the annual water quality test or inspection of any water treatment systems.  During this evaluation, the aesthetic quality of the water should be evaluated and some basic field water quality screening should be conducted.   For the field water screening, it is possible this can be done using a number of low-cost meters or an informational water quality screening test.

Annual Water Testing

Depending on the results of the initial evaluation, the results should be evaluated to determine what are the water quality parameters that should be monitored to help track the general water quality of the well.  If a water treatment system was installed, the annual water quality evaluation should include the performance of the water treatment system.  If you need help with determining what you need, WE can Help – We first recommend our Self-Diagnostic Tool and then maybe the DIY Water Testing or Informational Water Testing Program.  The Keystone Clean Water Team can provide guidance on the selection of water quality parameters, review water quality data, and make recommendations on the water quality parameters.  If you are interested, you may want to obtain a copy of our Educational Booklet and Brochure.

To Review a Number of our Case Studies – Common Private Well Problems and Fixes.

In some cases, you may need Baseline Water Testing.

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 and we have a current Go Fund Me Campaign.  If your interested, please contact us.

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

Water Science Basics!

Buying the Home – Most Important Location Location Water

The Role of Water Treatment Professionals in Real Estate Transactions 

The Best Drinking Water Test / Testing Kits

The Top Drinking Water Contaminants for Private Well Owners and City Water Sources of Drinking Water.

Pleasantville man Indicted Falsely Claiming to Plug a Well

Pleasantville man indicted in environmental case

“By LISA THOMPSON, Erie Times-News
lisa.thompson@timesnews.com

A Pleasantville man was indicted Tuesday on charges he violated federal law by falsely claiming amid an injection-well-permitting process that he had plugged abandoned Elk County oil wells when he had not.   The person, Mr. Wright (edit since is only charged and indicted), age 44, faces three felony charges of “false writing or document to the government” stemming from events that occurred between September 2009 and April 2011, the government said.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine. Wright remains free while awaiting arraignment. According to the indictment filed by a federal grand jury sitting in Erie, Pleasantville-based S & T Services and Supply Inc. contracted with ARG Resources Inc. to plug abandoned oil wells so that ARG would be in compliance with its injection-well-permitting process under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Wright was then hired by S & T Services to perform the well plugging. The government charges that Wright filed three false Certificates of Well Plugging claiming he had properly plugged three Elk County abandoned oil wells when he had not. The Environmental Protection Agency then relied on those certificates while issuing permits for Class II injection wells, the government said. Fluids associated with oil and natural gas drilling, including brine, are deposited in Class II injection wells. The approval process for the injection wells in question required all wells within a quarter-mile of the injection well site to have been plugged, the government said.

“When individuals knowingly submit false reports or data to the government as alleged in this case, our ability to protect public health and the environment is undermined,” said David G. McLeod Jr., special agent in charge of the EPA’s criminal enforcement program for mid-Atlantic states. “Anyone thinking about submitting false information should seriously consider today’s indictment. EPA and its partner agencies will not hesitate to seek prosecution of those who violate our nation’s environmental laws.” The EPA, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marshall Piccinini.”

LISA THOMPSON can be reached at 870-1802 or by e-mail. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNthompson.

Link:

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140213/NEWS02/302119430/Pleasantville-man-indicted-in-environmental-case&template=printart

My question to Lisa Thompson

1. How was this discovered???
2. Clearly demonstrates that Safe Drinking Water Act in Play in PA.
Notified of this by: Laurie Barr – SaveourstreamsPA-www.saveourstreamspa.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.  We look for people that can forward solid articles, help coordinate local education efforts, and more.  Become part of the Keystone Clean Water Team!.

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.

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.  Unsolicited donations are appreciated.

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

The Potential for Waterborne Spread of MRSA

One Bad Bug

By Kelly A. Reynolds, MSPH, PhD , Associate Professor at the University of Arizona College of Public Health

The emergence and increased prevalence of the ‘superbug’ bacterium known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), has raised questions as to the routes of transmission related to disease. Reports of MRSA infections in the general population and evidence of the bacteria surviving in wastewater, tap water and drinking water biofilms creates alarm in the public and warrants a discussion of whether or not MRSA infections occur from tapwater exposures.

Read more (pdf)

The Potential for Waterborne Spread of MRSA