Sponsored By: Las Animas County Cattlemen’s Association Las Animas County Health Department
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Transcript of Sponsored By: Las Animas County Cattlemen’s Association Las Animas County Health Department
Information for Water Well Owners in the Raton Basin
Domestic Water Wells in Las Animas County, ColoradoJohn Fontana, Geologist, PGVincent E. Barlock, Hydrogeologist, CPG
Sponsored By: Las Animas County Cattlemens Association Las Animas County Health Department Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce Trinidad State Junior College Vista GeoScience LLCCommon Issues for Well OwnersPoor Water Production (Quantity)General Water Quality Odors and/or Taste Color, Staining or SedimentNatural Gas (Methane) in WaterSolutions, Testing & MaintenanceResources Available
Las Animas CountyConstruction of Water WellsWho Regulates? Division of Water Resources (DWR) State Engineers Office (SEO) Permits & Well Ownership TransfersBoard of Examiners (BOE) of Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Contractors Licensing & CertificationConstruction & Design RulesProtection of Ground WaterYour Well Permit & Construction Record Files
Common Aquifer TypesAlluvial AquiferStream Valley Sands and GravelsGenerally ShallowerBedrock AquiferSandstone, Siltstone, Shale or CoalPorous or fractured RocksGenerally Deeper
AQUIFER: The water bearing sediment or rock your well is drilled into
Alluvial WellsSurface CasingFilter packWell Seal
5Bedrock WellWith a well seal & filter pack, or
Open bore completion
Open Borehole Bedrock WellHarder Formation
Steel Surface Casing
No filter-pack or Annular Seals
Poor Water Production (Quantity)Well Yield = Gallons Per Minute1 Gallon per Minute = 1400 Gallons per DayDoes Your Well Go Dry? Seasonally or Under Heavy Use?Could be from:Tight or Low-Flowing AquiferDry Season Low Water TableDrawdown (Over-pumping)Fouling of the Well Screen or PumpPump Damage or FailurePoor Well Design or Construction Approaching Lifespan of the Water Well
Yield in Alluvial Aquifers
Better YieldSandsGravelsPoor YieldSiltsClaysYield in Bedrock AquifersBetter YieldSandstoneFractured RocksLower YieldClaystone (Shale)Siltstone
SHALE
Seasonal Fluctuation or DroughtSpring/SummerFall/WinterHigh water levelLow water level
Drawdown Over-Pumping of the Aquifer
NO PUMPINGFouling (blockage) of the Well Screen or Pump
Silts and ClaysEncrustationHard WaterIronBio-FoulingBacteria Growth
Poor Well Design or ConstructionMinimum Construction Requirements were Met? May not be adequate Sand/Gravel Filter or Open BorePost-Drilling Development(Required Cleaning after Drilling)Adequate Bore-Hole Diameter/DepthCasing Size & Screen TypeIs the Casing too big for the bore
Solutions to Low-Yield WellsISSUES:Naturally Low Yielding AquiferSeasonal drop in ground water table, or droughtDrawdown (over-pumping of the aquifer)SOLUTIONS: Install a Cistern
Drill a deeper well
Reduce usageSolutions to Low-Yield WellsISSUES:Pump FailureFouled Screens or PumpPoor well design or constructionLimited lifespan of the water well
SOLUTIONS: Inspect, Repair PumpRedevelop the wellChemical , or Physical Cleaning of WellLast Resort : Drill a New Well.
Limited Lifespan of a Water Well
Typically years to decades:The Geology Well Design/ConstructionMaintenance Normal Corrosion/ Wear & TearAmount of Use/PumpingGeneral Water Quality:
Odor
Taste
Color & Sediment
ODORSMy water smells! BACTERIA!Stagnant Water SmellSeptic Tanks Like OdorsRotten Egg or Sulfur Smell Bacteria + Sulfates in Well = Hydrogen Sulfide GasYour nose is very sensitive to this gas
SOLUTION: Chemical treatment or other cleaning by an expertLook around for sourcesTesting, inspection, and maintenance
TASTETastes Metallic or Salty! Dissolved Mineral Content BacteriaNitrates
SOLUTION: Water quality testing by an expert Check whether some minerals are above drinking water standards. Filtration and treatment system See CDPHE for guidance on drinking standards.
COLORDissolved MineralsExcessive Bacteria Activity SedimentSOLUTION: Water Quality test Bacterial Activity Reaction Test (BART) Chemical well treatment for bacteria issues and/or Well filtration/treatment system for high mineral content
SEDIMENT Grit / Particulates Cloudy Water - SettlesCauses: Improper or damaged well screensPoor well development: original drilling, or formation debris is getting into the wellLack of a sand/filter pack around the screens SOLUTION: Filtration systems/traps can remove some sedimentRedevelop and clean well if not done originallyContact a consultant or licensed pump installer for options
GAS BUBBLES It looks like soda water!Causes:Dissolved Air or Natural Gas - Methane and/or Carbon DioxideSourcesNatural Bacteria Coal Bed MethaneRaton & Vermejo FormationLas Animas County, West of I-25
COAL BED METHANE DESORPTION
NATURAL GAS (METHANE)Is natural gas (methane) hazardous?Non-Toxic. Not Regulated by EPA.Flammable & Explosive (5% in air)
SOLUTION: If suspected: Request a dissolved methane test. If methane is in your water, test the air in the home.Methane Mitigation SystemsVented Cistern Methane or Gas Removal System (works for methane, radon, other gases)Potential Impacts to Water Wells
Potential Impacts to Water WellsMalfunctioning septic systems Fuel spills Chemical pesticides or fertilizersHousehold hazardous wastes, paints and solvents storage and spillsRoad salt runoff Livestock manure, animal fecesImproperly abandoned historic mines & wellsContamination & spills from nearby industry
Livestock Pen, Well Head & Cistern
Testing, Maintenance & TreatmentHave your well records on hand (DWR-SEO)Maintain and Test your WellLaboratory TestingColorado Dept. of Health & Environment (CDPHE) LabPrivate Water Testing LabsWell Maintenance ContractorsWell Drilling & Pump ContractorsLicensed through the DWR-SEOOptionally Certified by a NGWAConsultantsHydrogeologists Certified Water Well Maintenance Contractors
ResourcesLaboratory Testing & InformationCDPHE & Private LabsEPA - The Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791.Consultants & ExpertsColorado Ground Water Association - coloradogroundwater.orgWell Drilling ContractorsDWR-SEO (Permits, Licensed Water Well/Pump Contractor)Colorado Water Well Contractors Assoc. - cwwca.orgNational Ground Water Association - wellowner.orgColorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
Well Owner AssociationsNational Ground Water Association - wellowner.orgWater Systems Council - Well Owners Network - watersystemscouncil.orgAmerican Ground Water Trust agwt.orgThe Goal: To insure your water is enjoyed by everyone!
THANK YOU Sponsored By:
Las Animas County Cattlemens Association Las Animas County Health Department Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce Trinidad State Junior College Vista GeoScience LLC
This presentation is intended to provide general information regarding water wells. It is not intended to address any specific circumstances regarding individual water wells. For specific questions regarding your individual circumstances contact one of the agencies listed above or a qualified water well maintenance or repair contractor. The sponsors make no representation express or implied as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in this presentation, and are under no obligation to update or correct such information. The sponsors expressly disclaim any liability resulting from the use of this presentation or any errors therein or omissions there from.