County Drinking Water Clinic Interpretation Meeting

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County Drinking Water ClinicInterpretation
Meeting
Erin James Ling and Brian Benham Biological
Systems Engineering Department Virginia Tech
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Why are we here?

• How to care for your private water system
• Well location, protection, and construction
• Well maintenance and care
• Drinking water regulations knowing how much is
  too much
• Water testing whats in your water?
• Dealing with problems
• Additional resources

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Private Water Supplies in Virginia

• Majority of households in 60 of Virginias 95
  counties rely on private water supply systems
  (gt 1,500,000 homes)
• In 52 counties, the number of households using
  private wells is increasing faster than the
  number connecting to public systems (VADEQ, 2007)
• Homeowners relying on private water supplies
• Are responsible for all aspects of water system
  management
• May lack knowledge and resources to effectively
  manage
• Usually dont worry about maintenance until
  problems arise

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How does water move to my well?

• In this part of Virginia, groundwater moves
  through fractures, or cracks in the bedrock
• Water can come from many different directions and
  sources into one well
• It can take water hours, days, or years to move
  through bedrock
• Well casing extends through loose overburden
  and into the bedrock, where an open borehole
  continues underground
• Water can come from any fractures that intersect
  the open borehole

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Proper well location

• Well should be at least
• 5 feet from property boundary
• 10 feet from building foundation
  (50 feet if termite treated)
• 50 feet from road
• 50 feet from sewers and septic tanks
• 100 feet from pastures, on-lot sewage system
  drainfields, cesspools or barnyards
• Upslope from potential contamination
• Not in an area that receives runoff

Photo credit Swistock, Penn State Univ
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Proper well construction

• Contract a licensed driller
• Valid Class A, B or C contractor license with WWP
  (Water Well and Pump)
  classification
• Well casing
• Minimum of 20 for bored, 50 100 deep for
  drilled, depending on class of well
• Extends 12 above ground
• Grouting to a minimum of 20
• Sanitary well cap or sealed concrete cover
• Ground slopes away from well

Photo credits SAIF Water Wells Penn State
University
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The Finished Product Drilled Well
http//www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/environment/06
-117.htm
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Well Maintenance Tips

• Do not use fertilizers, pesticides, oil, or paint
  around well
• Keep area around well clean and accessible
• Keep careful records
• original contract, water test results and any
  maintenance or repair information
• Every year
• Conduct thorough visual inspection of well
• Check cap for cracks, wear and tear, tightness
• Every 10 years have well inspected by a qualified
  professional (with WWP classification)

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Private Water Supply Regulations

• Virginia Private Well Regulations
• Specify application, inspection and construction
  requirements
• No requirements for maintenance or water testing
  after construction of well responsibility of
  the owner!
• EPA National Drinking Water
  Standards
• Apply to PUBLIC systems
• Primary (health) and Secondary (nuisance)
• Can be used as guidance for private systems to
  know how much is too much

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EPA Drinking Water Standards

• Primary Standards
• Also called Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
• Cause health problems
• Enforced for public systems
• Over 80 contaminants
• For example
• Nitrate
• Lead
• Coliform
• Most organic chemicals and pesticides

• Secondary Standards
• Also called SMCL or RMCL
• Cause aesthetic problems
• Staining
• Taste
• Odor
• Can naturally occur in ground water
• About 15, including
• Iron
• Fluoride
• Chloride

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Testing water quality

• Why test?
• Protect familys health and safety
• Many contaminants undetectable by human senses
• Preventive measures often more effective and less
  expensive
• Legal protection
• When to test?
• Routine tests every 1-3 years
• Pregnant woman or infant in the home
• Recurring gastrointestinal illness
• Change in taste, appearance, odor of water
• Any services or repairs are done

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What should I test for?

• Every year test for coliform bacteria
• Simple, inexpensive test (15-20)
• Indicates possible contamination from human or
  animal waste
• Every three years test
• pH (secondary std 6.5 8.5)
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS secondary std 500
  mg/L)
• Other contaminants based on local land uses
  nearby and condition of water

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Understanding test results

• Most results provided as concentrations
• mg/L (milligrams per liter) ppm (parts per
  million)
• µg/L (micrograms per liter) ppb (parts per
  billion)
• Other units unique to test
• Radon, hardness, pH
• Compare to EPA standards http//www.epa.gov/safew
  ater/contaminants/index.html

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• Sources of potential contaminants or issues of
  concern

well
Surface water contamination nitrate, bacteria
Source may be plumbing materials or existing
water treatment device sodium copper lead bacteri
a
Often found in groundwater naturally, may be due
to human activities on or below ground
TDS
sodium
iron
chloride
hardness
pH/corrosivity
fluoride
sulfate
nitrate
manganese
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Options for problem water

• 1. If possible, control the source of pollution
• Divert runoff, maintain septic system
• 2. Improve maintenance of water system
• Install sanitary well cap, slope the ground
• 3. Treat the water to reduce contaminant
  concentration
• Match the treatment option to the pollutant
• Consult a professional
• 4. Develop a new source of water
• Deeper well, develop spring, connect to
  public water

http//static.howstuffworks.com/gif/septic-tank-cl
eaning-1.jpg, http//www.shipewelldrilling.com/Pic
tures/well_drilling_rig.jpg, http//www.clearflow.
ca/REVERSE_OSMOSIS2.jpg
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Treatment Considerations

• Be sure to explore ALL of your options
• Always have water tested by a certified lab
• Be aware of unscrupulous businesses look for
  National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and Water
  Quality Association (WQA) certifications, consult
  Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• Point of Use (POU) vs. Point of Entry (POE)
• Weigh benefits and limitations of a device
• Cost
• Maintenance requirements
• Warranty

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SAMPLE Test Report
measured value exceeds recommendation for
household water
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Coliform Bacteria

• Cannot be smelled, tasted or seen
• Coliform bacteria is an indicator organism
  means disease-causing bacteria may be present
• Public standard is 0 colony forming
  units(cfu)/100 mL (ABSENT)
• If present, test for fecal coliform or E. coli
  presence indicator that sewage or animal waste
  is present.

Photo credits www.water-research.net,
www.britannica.com
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If Coliform Bacteria are PRESENT

• Dont panic!
• May consider retesting to ensure
  cross-contamination wasnt the problem
• List available at http//www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/
  resources.php
• Examine well or spring for damage
• Consider shock chlorination
• Long term treatment ozonation, UV light,
  continuous chlorination

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If E. Coli Bacteria are PRESENT

• Take immediate steps to address
• Shock chlorinate
• Check for potential contamination sources
• Retest water after shocking
• In the meantime, consider boiling
• or use another source of water for
• drinking or cooking
• Consider long-term treatment options UV light,
  ozonation, continuous disinfection

http//www.kimicontrol.com/microorg/escherichia_co
li.jpg
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Corrosive Water

• Also called aggressive water
• Corrodes metal plumbing can leach metals,
  causes pitting and leaks, reduces length of
  appliance life
• Most commonly caused by low pH other
  contributing factors include alkalinity,
  temperature, TDS levels
• EPA recommends drinking water be non-corrosive
• Excess copper or lead in drinking water is a
  health concern
• Depending on pH, treat with acid neutralizing
  filter or soda ash injection

http//www.bushman.cc/photos/Copper_Water_Pipe_Cor
rosion.jpg http//www.cee.vt.edu/ewr/environmenta
l/teach/wtprimer/corrosion/corrosion.html
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Corrosive Water Metals of concern

• Lead
• Many serious health effects, especially in
  children and infants
• Developmental, neurological, reproductive and
  renal
• EPA MCL is 0 µg/L with a health action level of
  15 µg/L.
• Sources include
• Pipes in older homes (pre-1930)
• Solder in homes built prior to 1986
• Lead-free brass fixtures (lt8) even in NEW
  homes!
• Copper
• High levels can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach
  cramps infants and children particularly
  sensitive
• EPA MCL is 1.3 mg/L
• Nuisance effects noticeable at 1.0 mg/L

http//www.gravitaexim.com/images/Lead-pipe.jpg
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Hardness/Scaling

• Hard water contains high levels of
  calcium and magnesium ions
• Dissolved into water during contact with
  limestone and other minerals
• Not a health risk nuisance
• Decreased cleaning action of soaps, detergents
• Scale build-up in pipes and on appliances
• Reduced efficiency and lifespan of water heaters
• No EPA standard for public systems
• Treat using water softener

www.goodcleanwater.com/fyi.htm
www.watersoftening.org/effects_of_hard_water.htm

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Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

• Water is a great solvent dissolves many
  compounds as it travels over
  and under ground
• TDS is a measure of all dissolved impurities lt
  2µm dia
• Natural sources limestone, salt deposits, other
  minerals
• Man-made sources
• Septic systems and sewage
• Run off from agricultural or urban land
• Road salt, industrial sources
• General indicator of water quality
  test at
  least every three years
• EPA SMCL is 500 mg/L
• Treat using distillation or reverse osmosis

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http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_dissolved_solid
s
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Sodium and Chloride

• Low levels occur naturally high levels usually
  from man-made source
• Road salt storage or application
• Industrial waste
• Sewage, fertilizers or animal waste
• WATER SOFTENER
• Sodium EPA MCL for people on low-sodium diets
  20 mg/L
• Chloride EPA SMCL of 250 mg/L
• Higher levels may indicate contamination test
  for bacteria or other contaminants
• Salty taste and may accelerate corrosion of
  pipes and water heaters
• Treat using distillation, reverse osmosis,
  demineralization

/www.cotrip.org/winterdriving/images/pic6.jpg
/www.apswater.com/images/fleck205600.jpg
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pH

• Measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a
  substance (0 14) scale
• Logarithmic scale pH 5 is 100 times more
  acidic than pH 7
• Good indicator of general water quality

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Nitrate (NO3-N)
http//wi.water.usgs.gov/pubs/FS-221-95/p2.gif

• Serious health concern for infants
• Methemoglobinemia or blue baby syndrome
• Nitrate ? nitrite during digestion and blood
  cannot carry oxygen
• CL 10 mg/L NO3-N or 45 mg/L of NO3
• If 3-5 mg/L, use do not use water for infants
  under 6 months
• Sources include fertilizer, animal manure, sewage
• NO3 dissolves and moves easily through soil
• Test in spring months levels change over time
• BOILING INCREASES concentration of nitrates!!!
• Treatment distillation, reverse osmosis, ion
  exchange

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Hydrogen Sulfide
thepipelinefixation.blogspot.com

• Colorless gas rotten egg smell
• Not regulated by EPA people can detect low
  levels
• Naturally present in shale, sandstone, near coal
  or oil fields
• Sulfur-reducing bacteria produce (not a health
  risk)
• Treatment depends on concentration, so must test
• Only noticeable in hot water?
• Bacteria could be thriving in your water heater
• Sulfates may be converted to H2S chemically in
  your water heater during a reaction with your
  magnesium corrosion control rod

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Iron and Manganese

• Nuisance - not health concern
• SMCL Iron 0.3 mg/L Manganese 0.05 mg/L
• Red-brown/black staining, particles,
  
  metallic taste
• Treatment depends on type/form of iron
• Ferrous water initially clear ? orange-brown
  or black solid
  particles
• Ferric solid particles apparent immediately,
  or water has a
  tint
• Iron bacteria not a health concern feed on Fe
  and Mn, forming red-brown or
  black-brown slime
• Treatment water softener, aeration and
  filtration, ozonation, distillation

http//www.freedrinkingwater.com/images-water-qual
ity/chemicals/water20in20reddish-brown.jpg
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Fluoride

• Occurs naturally in varying levels
• Naturally high levels of F in E. Virginia
  groundwater
• Added to many public water systems for reduced
  dental caries and strong teeth and bones
• Health concerns
• Long term exposure links to bone cancer
• Shorter term exposure dental or skeletal
  fluorosis
• EPA MCL 4.0 mg/L and SMCL 2.0 mg/L
• Optimum levels for public systems 0.8 - 1.2 mg/L
• Limited use for children up to 8 years
• Treatment (reverse osmosis) removes ALL fluoride

http//www.willamettedental.com/en_us/ALL/patients
/pps/retailproducts_prettysmile.gif
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_fluorosis
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Virginia Master Well Owner Network Training
Workshop
Learn more about your water!
Help Others!

• New opportunity for
• private water supply users!
• Visit www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu
• today to find out more and complete an
  application
• or contact Erin James Ling
• wellwater_at_vt.edu
• 540-231-9058

Apply today!
Free Resource Binder!
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Contact Us
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Resources

• Virginia Household Water Quality Program
  www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu
• Virginia Certified Lab Listing http//www.dgs.stat
  e.va.us/divisionofconsolidatedlaboratoryservices/s
  ervices/laboratorycertification/tabid/508/default.
  aspx
• EPA Private Wells Site http//www.epa.gov/ogwdw/pr
  ivatewells/whatyoucando.html
• National Groundwater Association Well Owner
  http//www.wellowner.org/
• Water Systems Council Wellcare Hotline
  http//www.wellcarehotline.org/
• National Sanitation Foundation www.nsf.org
• Water Quality Association www.wqa.org
• Consumer Reports or Better Business Bureau
  www.consumerreports.org OR www.bbb.org

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Questions?
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Local land uses
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Conditions or nearby activities of concern
Adapted from Drinking Water for Household
Wells, EPA, 2002
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Treatment Options
Adapted from Tips for Buying Water Treatment
Equipment by Stephanie Clemens and Bryan
Swistock, Penn State University
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Treatment Options
Adapted from Tips for Buying Water Treatment
Equipment by Stephanie Clemens and Bryan
Swistock, Penn State University
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Treatment Options
Adapted from Tips for Buying Water Treatment
Equipment by Stephanie Clemens and Bryan
Swistock, Penn State University