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Workshop 1Workshop 1Monitoring Our EnvironmentMonitoring Our Environment

Hosted by:Hosted by:Luzerne County Conservation DistrictLuzerne County Conservation District

Sponsored by:Sponsored by:Carbon County Groundwater GuardiansCarbon County Groundwater Guardians

and and B.F Environmental Consultants Inc. B.F Environmental Consultants Inc.

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Project SponsorsProject Sponsors(Providing In(Providing In--kind Support to This Effort)kind Support to This Effort)

Carbon County Groundwater Guardianshttp://www.carbonwaters.orghttp://www.private-well-owner.org

BF. Environmental Consultants Inchttp://www.bfenvironmental.comhttp://www.water-research.net

Greg Sorber Well Drilling

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Carbon County Carbon County Groundwater Guardians Groundwater Guardians

The Carbon County Groundwater Guardians (CCGG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer, environmental education organization which provides homeowners with information on private wells, water quality and quantity, and septic systems

Not an Advocacy Group1. Education2. Fact Based Approach3. Scientific Method4. Target Education of Kids and Families5. Delivery Statewide

Please Support – http://www.carbonwaters.org

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B.F. Environmental B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.Consultants Inc.

Professional Consulting Services in the areas of water quality, soils, stormwater, geology, aquifer analysis, and land-development.Baseline – Chain-of-CustodyExpert TestimonyWater Treatment Process/ Product Developmenthttp://www.bfenvironmental.com

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WaterWater--Research CenterResearch CenterEducation and Outreach Program funded by Education and Outreach Program funded by

B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.

Outreach ProgramsOutreach Programs

Environmental and Professional Education and Training for CitizeEnvironmental and Professional Education and Training for Citizens ns and Local Municipalitiesand Local MunicipalitiesWater Quality Help Guides Water Quality Help Guides –– Information LibraryInformation LibraryCommunity and Business Outreach ProgramsCommunity and Business Outreach ProgramsLow Cost Low Cost –– Informational Water Testing Program with National Informational Water Testing Program with National LaboratoryLaboratoryCitizen Monitoring ProgramsCitizen Monitoring Programs-- Developing Low Cost Water Quality Developing Low Cost Water Quality SensorsSensors

Website: Website: http://www.water-research.net

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Current ProgramsCurrent ProgramsFree Assistance in Reviewing Baseline Data for Private Well OwnersFree Website with Information on Water Quality Problems with Case StudiesEducational Materials and Educational PresentationsTraining Program for Baseline SamplersGo to http://www.water-research.net

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With any luck your well looks like this at the surface

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This is Drinking Water in PA?This is Drinking Water in PA?

Iron / Manganese

Bacteria

Sediment / Gases

Corrosion

50% Other50%

Salt, Barium, Trace Metals

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What Sensors or Test Kits What Sensors or Test Kits Should We Purchase?Should We Purchase?

Just Wait We are Pretty Sensitive SensorsSmellAppearanceTasteVisualOperational Issues or ProblemsSystematic or Event Based

More Importantly – What Are the Warning Signs

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Percent Exceeded

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Total C

oliform

pH < 6.5

Lead

Manga

nese Iro

n

e. co

liPhth

altes

Arsenic TDS

Sodium

(> 20

0 mg/L

)Chlo

ride

Gross A

lpha

Perc

ent E

xcee

ded

Well Inflenced by

Saline Water

bis(2 ethylhexylphthaltes)What?

Plasticizers?

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Types of CluesTypes of Clues

Visual Clues Operation Problems Smelly Water

Taste Test

These work well with hardness, iron, manganese, sulfur, some gases, sediment,sodium, chloride – but this does not helpwith trace metals, organics, or bacteria

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Most Contamination appears to Most Contamination appears to be associated with Total be associated with Total

Coliform BacteriaColiform BacteriaInsects, Larvae and Insects, Larvae and Nests / Egg MassesNests / Egg MassesMouse ColoniesMouse ColoniesSnakesSnakesBeehivesBeehivesMud Mud -- when casing to when casing to close to groundclose to ground

Therefore – In some cases - the Private Wellsare Facilitating Groundwater Contamination.

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Two Main Bacterial Pathways

1. Direct entry because of the useof a standard well cap, well is locatedin a pit, or well gets inundated.

2. In adequate casing or grout to seal offthe aquifer.

3. Other wells

4. Failure of an Older Steel Casing

Casing Failure

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Some Private Well PhotosSome Private Well Photos

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What are the Most Common What are the Most Common ContaminantsContaminants-- Surface PathSurface Path

Bacteria – Signs maybe visual or odor and feel (slime coating in tank).Salts – Sodium and chloride – create taste issues, but typically at high concentrations Sediment – discolored water (eyes) or Insect Parts, Large Rust FragmentsOrganics or biological secretions – (taste and odor issues)Corrosion – leaking pipes, metallic taste,

discolored water, blue green stainingThis Well has a Particle Filter –Full of Rust (NO kidding look at that Casing)

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How Contaminants Can Up into a Shallow Aquifer-The Subsurface Path

FreshWater

Brine or Salty Water

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Signs You Have This IssueSigns You Have This IssueIntermittent Discolored WaterIntermittent Positive Bacteria HitsDirty, Smelly Water After it Rains.House with a Particle Filter.

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Things You Can DoThings You Can DoNo Major Clues – Well Go for a Look? – After it rains check the well pit !– Look under the well cap- do you see signs of

life! – Do you hear sounds of casing water ?– If the well cap is buried – you have a problem.- Do you have a slimy coating in the toilet tank?- Are your faucet screens full of sediment ?

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Do YOU SEE Grass ?Do YOU SEE Grass ?

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Shallow Releases

How Contaminants Can Get In to the Aquifer (Surface)

Ungrouted Well Pit Sanitary WellSurface Spills

FracturedRock

LeakyTanks

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What Low Cost Sensors What Low Cost Sensors Or Tools Can Help?Or Tools Can Help?

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Laboratory Needed to IdentifyLaboratory Needed to Identify

Bacteria

Trace Metals – Lead, CopperArsenicOrganics – BTEX, MTBE

Other ParametersBariumStrontiumRadiological

Confirm Your Findings or Confirm the Problem has beenFixed.

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Low Cost ScreeningLow Cost Screening

Bacteria Test – Even a Presence / Absence TestNitrate Dip TestpHConductivityVisual Clues Odors and Taste ProblemsProblems with System

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Educating the CommunityEducating the CommunityElectronic Copy (pdf) or Link to a copy at http://www.water-research.net

Also:1. New Portal –

http://www.private-well-owner.org

2. New Web-portal on Methane Gas MigrationAnd Mitigation

Help Promote the Citizens Groundwater Surfacewater Database to Your CommunityPartners. Link to:http://www.carbonwaters.org or Pennsylvania Groundwater Forum (facebook)

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Certificate of CompletionCertificate of CompletionTraining Event

Your Water: The Contaminants You Can’t See7/28/2013

1 – hour PDH or 0.1 CEUSPresented by

Mr. Brian Oram, PG

B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc15 Hillcrest DriveDallas, PA 18612

More Online Training @http://www.bfenvironmental.com

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Workshop 2Workshop 2Protecting Your Water: Taking the First StepsProtecting Your Water: Taking the First Steps

Hosted by:Hosted by:Lackawanna County Conservation DistrictLackawanna County Conservation District

Sponsored by:Sponsored by:Carbon County Groundwater GuardiansCarbon County Groundwater Guardians

and and B.F Environmental Consultants Inc. B.F Environmental Consultants Inc.

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Disclaimer and CopyrightDisclaimer and CopyrightOur company, B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., accepts no liability for the content of this document, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This document is being provided as an educational and informational tool, but before you take action you should seek advice from a professional. Questions – Please Call – Mr. Brian Oram, 570-335-1947, bfenviro@ptd.net

© 2013 by B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., but the document with approval may be reproduced in whole, without modification, for an educational purposes. B.F. Environmental Consultant Inc. retains the rights and privileges to this document that we created without funding support.