Presentation related to private wells and baseline groundwater quality in NEPA. Also an introduction into the citizen groundwawter and surfacewater database.
Getting the Waters Tested - The Marcellus Shale Factor (Private Wells)
1. Getting The Waters Tested The Marcellus Shale Factor Old Issues New Issues Environment Water Resources Private Wells In PA
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13. Drinking Water Regulations The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), passed in 1974 and amended in 1986 and 1996, gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to set drinking water standards. These standards are divided into two broad categories: Primary Standards (NPDWR) and Secondary Standards (NSDWR). 11/09/11
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17. 57 43 +562 242,020 180,209 118,398 Region 73 27 +142 10,078 8,657 7,236 Wyoming 67 33 +918 28,281 19,097 9,913 Wayne 65 35 +276 14,650 11,888 9,126 Tioga 75 25 +579 21,001 15,212 9,423 Susquehanna 87 13 +258 7,307 4,727 2,147 Sullivan 55 45 +743 24,309 16,875 9,441 Pike 68 32 +1612 53,363 37,246 21,129 Monroe 18 82 +467 29,330 24,662 19,994 Luzerne 14 86 +279 15,538 12,745 9,952 Lackawanna 45 55 +564 17,876 12,235 6,594 Carbon 63 37 +342 20,287 16,865 13,443 Bradford 2000 1990 1980 County % of all homes served by private water system % of all homes served by public water Avg. Change in homes served by private water systems per year # of homes served by private water systems
18. Water Budget for PA In Precipitation – 42 inches Out Evapotranspiration – 22” Total Streamflow – 20” Baseflow – 13” Surface Runoff – 7” Other Storage in Groundwater Aquifers over 100 inches* * This is our “Water” Cushion. Since 65% of Streamflow is actually Groundwater, we all rely on Groundwater as our Potable Water Supply and We All Live Downstream. Problems with Private Wells is OUR Problem and Concern.
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21. Properly Constructed Wells and Poorly Constructed Wells Confining Bed Sea Level Stagnant Water – no to little flow Saline Water Proper Construction Brine Water 600 to 1200 ft Fresh Water Poorly Constructed
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24. An Ungrouted Residential Well A Properly Grouted Well
25. How Contaminants Can Get In to the Aquifer (Surface) Ungrouted Well Pit Sanitary Well
27. How Contaminants Can Get In to the Aquifer (Subsurface) Ungrouted Well Pit Sanitary Well
28. Things I have found within 100 feet of a private well – Just a Few Free Artesian Well Water By the way – these two photos are only 200 feet apart Groundwater is Safe and Pure – Really ?
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32. Factor - Private Wells / Landowners 1. Concerns about groundwater quality 2. Concerns related to surfacewater quality. 3. They have never tested the water. 4. They know very little about their own well. 5. There water is great – Never a Problem. 6. They had testing done, but no-one explained the results. 7. There is no program to help fix existing problems. Citizens Believe Their Water is PURE H2O
33. Our Groundwater is Pure? Information We Know Without Compiling the Baseline Water Quality Data
37. This is Drinking Water in PA? Iron / Manganese Bacteria Sediment / Gases Corrosion 50% Other 50%
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40. Citizen Database at Wilkes University- Guidelines for Submission II. Guidelines for Data Submission 1. Third Party Samplers following chain-of-custody to certified laboratory. 2. Submit detailed reports from certified laboratory with a GPS position for the well. 3. The water sample must be collected ahead of any water treatment system. 4. other conditions – Learn More by Visiting the Portal Below. Learn More – http://www.bfenvironmental.com/pawaters.php
41. Image Source: Luzernecounty.org Recent Baseline Testing in Luzerne County, PA 320 Private Wells Tested Conducted by Certified Laboratories Third Party Samplers Not Wilkes University Study Area
43. Up to 3% influenced by Saline or Brine Water. Source – Wilkes University Database
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55. Methane Gas Migration- Not Related to Marcellus Shale Private Well Landfill Wetland 600 to 1200 ft 1200 to 3000+ ft Gas from Non-Marcellus Shale Groundwater Flow Lake
56. It looks like background methane levels are controlled by linear features. Cabot – Quick Look
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58. Methane Variability- Actual Examples- Well Depths House Septic system Wells (2) 500 ft 300 ft 7 mg/L < 1 mg/L
59. Well A Well B Well A- 300 feet Methane – 10 to 15 mg/L – the real problem, Barium 4 mg/L, Radon 577 pCi/L, Chloride 250 + mg/L, Bromide 1.5 mg/L, Strontium 5.57 mg/L, Iron – 3.2 mg/L Well B – 200 feet Methane – 6 mg/L, Chloride 30 mg/L, Barium 1.13 mg/L, Strontium 2.15 mg/L, Radon < 60 pCi/L, Iron – 1.39 mg/L Direction of Groundwater Flow - UP Impact Where There is NO Drilling – Baseline Testing Groundwater Flow Towards The Lake Well A may be Impacting Well B Lake
60. Problem is Some Private Wells are Too DEEP ! How Contaminants Can Up into a Shallow Aquifer
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63. At Full Build Out – This water usage by the Industry is equivalent to the daily water usage of 1 – Nuclear Plant
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68. Migration and Disturbance During Drilling- losing circulation Proper Construction Poor Construction Key Points 1. Proper Casing and Cement of Marcellus Shale Wells 2. Knowing How Private Wells Are Constructed 3. Isolation Distances will not Solve This Problem. 4. Fixing Private Wells has to be part of the Solution. 5. This may account for the data on bromide from PSU. 6. The issue may not be well radial distance, but construction and drilling issue. 7. Recommend closed loop drilling with water within freshwater aquifer (no muds) or water-based muds. up to 2000 ft Lined Pit Could this explain the Bromide Issue??
69. Migration Concepts- Multiple Casements and Recreate Confining Layers- Need Good Cement Bonds- Cement up to Deepest Casement or Surface Older Younger Water Table Private Well Confining Layer More Conventional Reservoir Target
70. Migration Concepts- Multiple Casements and Recreate Confining Layers – No Uncemented Zones. Older Younger Water Table Most Private Wells Shallow Gas Very Deep Private Wells The other Problem – Private Wells that are Too Deep – I aware of some private wells that are over 900 feet deep.
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72. My Primary Concern with Respect to Radius and Assumed Liable is “Who is Responsible” Company A Company B Private Well Rather than a fixed radius – we should just use plat area. ?
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Notes de l'éditeur
The Marcellus Shale Factor is the reality that private wells in PA provide 1.5 Million citizens with water that does not meet a drinking water standard and as a state we have no real licensing program for well drillers, private well constructions standards, or the ability to fix wells that have been poortly cited and constructed – Part One – The Private Well Factor
These two diagrams show how not to and how to construct a residential water well. A laser pointer may be used to draw attention to each design element as it is described.