Transcript Document

Watersheds, Non-Point Pollution,
and Hydrology
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Professional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well Driller
Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality
Wilkes University
GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department
Wilkes Barre, PA 18766
http://www.water-research.net
7/7/2015
1
Center for Environmental Quality
Non-profit/ equal opportunity employer, is operated and
managed, within the GeoEnvironmental Sciences and
Engineering Department
Outreach Programs
 Environmental and Professional Education and Training
 Applied Research
 Community and Business Outreach Programs
Website: http://www.water-research.net
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The Water Cycle
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What is a Watershed?
The simple definition
It's the area of land that catches rain and
snow and drains or seeps into a marsh,
stream, river, lake or groundwater.
Right Now Your Sitting In a Watershed !
They cross county, state,
and national boundaries
(This is the challenge !)
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Watershed Map
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Watershed View
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Non Point Source Pollution
Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from
industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many
diffuse sources.
NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving
over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks
up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants,
finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal
waters, and even our underground sources of drinking
water. These pollutants include:
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Sources of Non-Point
Pollution
Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural
lands and residential areas;
Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals;
Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop
and forest lands, and eroding streambanks;
Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, urban runoff
and faulty septic systems; and
Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also sources
of nonpoint source pollution.
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We are Still the Largest Source of Oil Pollution
to the Environment !
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Sources of Pollution
Causes of Contamination
Improper Waste Disposal
Improper Well Construction
Poor Site Selection
Wells Not Properly Abandoned
Improper Waste Storage
Lack of Information on
Hazardous Sites or Activities
(Partial Listing)
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Primary Aquifers in PA
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Well Geology
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Surface Water & Groundwater
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Groundwater Pocono's Region
Based on the geology of the Pocono's region, the
Primary water quality problems are as follows:
Corrosive Water
Low pH
Soft Water (low hardness) to
Moderate Hardness
Iron and Manganese
Discolored Water – Reddish
to Brown Tints
Total Coliform Bacteria
Sulfur Odors and Elevated
Sulfates
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Coliform Bacteria
Coliform Bacteria
Absent or < 1 colony/100 ml
Testing Purpose
Used as an Indicator of Sanitary
Condition of Water Source
Sources
Natural Soil Bacteria
Human and Animal Waste
Insect Waste
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Phosphate
Phosphate will stimulate the growth of plankton and aquatic
plants which provide food for larger organisms, including:
zooplankton, fish, humans, and other mammals.
Plankton represent the base of the food chain. Initially, this
increased productivity will cause an increase in the fish
population and overall biological diversity of the system. But
as the phosphate loading continues and there is a build-up of
phosphate in the lake or surfacewater ecosystem, the aging
process of lake or surface water ecosystem will be accelerated.
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Phosphate Cycle
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Before and After
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Nitrate + Nitrite
Drinking Water Standards(Primary)
 Nitrate: 10 mg as N/ L
 Nitrite: 1 mg N/L
Health Concern
 Blue Baby Syndrome- Methemoglobinemia
Sources
 Fertilizers
 Human and Animal Waste
 Non-anthropogenic sources (fixation, rock
weathering)
 Atmospheric Deposition
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Nitrogen Cycle
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What Can We Do?

Control Nutrient and Fertilizer Use
 Conserve Water
 Control Stormwater Runoff
 Properly Store and Handle Hazardous Waste
 Maintain Septic Systems
 Community Action and Education
 Monitoring
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Watersheds, Non-Point Pollution,
and Hydrology
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Professional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well Driller
Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality
Wilkes University
GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department
Wilkes Barre, PA 18766
http://www.water-research.net
7/7/2015
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Groundwater Moves
1. Which ways can groundwater move?
a. Up
b. Down
c. Sideways
d. All of the above
1. d. All of the above
Although most movement is lateral (sideways), it can
move straight up or down. Groundwater simply follows
the path of least resistance by moving from higher
pressure zones to lower pressure zones.
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Groundwater Moves
2. How is the speed of groundwater movement
measured?
a. Feet per day
b. Feet per week
c. Feet per month
d. Feet per year
2. d. Feet per year
Groundwater movement is usually measured in feet per
year. This is why a pollutant that enters groundwater
requires many years before it purifies itself or is carried
to a monitored well.
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Groundwater Moves
3. How is stream flow usually measured?
a. Feet per second
b. Feet per minute
c. Feet per hour
d. Yards per hour
3. a. Feet per second
Water flow in streams/rivers is measured in feet per
second.
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Groundwater Moves
4. What determines how fast groundwater moves?
a. Temperature
b. Air pressure
c. Depth of water table
d. Size of materials
4. d. Size of materials
Coarse materials like sand and gravel allow water to
move rapidly. (They also form excellent aquifers
because of their holding capacity.) In contrast, finegrained materials, like clay or shale, are very difficult for
water to move through. Thus, water moves very, very
slowly in these materials.
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Groundwater Moves
5. Can the water table elevation change often?
a. Yes
b. No
5. a. Yes
Water table elevations often fluctuate because of
recharge and discharge variations. They generally peak
in the winter and spring due to recharge from rains and
snow melt. Throughout the summer the water table
commonly declines due to evaporation, uptake by plants
(transpiration), increased public use, industrial use, and
crop, golf course and lawn irrigation. Elevations
commonly reach their lowest point in early fall.
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Groundwater Moves
6. Does aquifer storage capacity vary?
a. Yes
b. No
6. a. Yes
Just like the water level in rivers and streams, the
amount of water in the groundwater supply can vary due
to seasonal, weather, use and other factors.
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Watersheds, Non-Point Pollution,
and Hydrology
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Professional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well Driller
Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality
Wilkes University
GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department
Wilkes Barre, PA 18766
http://wilkes.edu/~gse
7/7/2015
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Private Water Supply
A Pennsylvania Perspective
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Professional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well Driller
Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality
Wilkes University
GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department
Wilkes Barre, PA 18766
http://wilkes.edu/~gse
7/7/2015
29
Center for Environmental Quality
Non-profit/ equal opportunity employer, is operated and
managed, within the GeoEnvironmental Sciences and
Engineering Department
Outreach Programs
 Environmental and Professional Education and Training
 Applied Research
 Community and Business Outreach Programs
Website: http://wilkes.edu/~eqc
7/7/2015
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Keys to a Safe Drinking Water

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The Sanitary Survey- Proper Site Location
State Federal and Local Regulations
Types of Well Water Sources
Well Drilling and Construction
Initial Water Testing
Well Water Conditioning or Treatment
Well Maintenance
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Protect Your Water Source
Things You or Your Community Can Do

Periodically Inspect
 Proper Abandonment
 Drain Surface Water Away  Chemical Storage,
 Install Sanitary Seal
Disposal and Use
 Annual Testing
 Keep Wellhead Above
Grade
 Maintain Records
 Proper Well Location
 Start a Community Based
 Septic System
Groundwater Education
Maintenance
Program
 Recycle used Oil and
Participate in Hazardous
Chemical Disposal
Programs
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Why Test My Water ?
A USGS survey found that 70% of private wells were
contaminated. This contamination could result in acute
or chronic health concerns.
In general, there are no regulations related to well
construction, placement, or required testing. It is up to
you to determine the safety of your water.
EPA recommends, at minimum, an annual water test for
private wells.
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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).
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Primary Standards (NPDWR)
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
Primary standards protect drinking water quality by limiting the levels of
specific contaminants that can adversely affect public health and are known
or anticipated to occur in water. They take the form of Maximum
Contaminant Levels or Treatment Techniques.
There are over 100 chemical and biological primary drinking water
standards, which include: trace metals, disinfection agents, disinfection byproducts, radiological, microbiological agents, and organic chemicals.
Examples: Arsenic, Lead, MTBE, total coliform, Giardia, Trihalomethanes,
Asbestos, Copper, Benzene, Trichloroethane, etc.
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Secondary Standards
National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations
These standards were established more for cosmetic effects
(such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such
as taste, odor or color) in drinking water.
The secondary standards include: aluminum, chloride, color,
corrosivity, fluoride, foaming agents, iron, manganese, odor,
pH, silver, sulfate, total dissolved solids, and zinc.
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What Should I Test
The Selection of the Appropriate Testing
Parameters Depends on YOUR Water

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How does it taste?
Do you have odor problems ?
Are there any aesthetic problems, such as: color,
turbidity, grittiness, or staining ?
Where are you located ?
How much do you want to spend ?
Comprehensive testing can cost over $2500.00
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Taste Problems

Salty or Brackish
Taste
 Alkali Taste
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Corrosion, Low pH, high
metallic content (Cu, Fe,
Mn, Pb,Al, Zn)
Metallic or Bitter
Taste
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High Sodium

Elevated Hardness or
alkalinity
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Odors

Rotten Egg / Musty
Odor
 Oily

Methane Smell

Chemical/ Solvent
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
Sulfate, Sulfur,
Nuisance Bacteria
 Gasoline, Oil
Contamination or
Nuisance Bacteria
 Organic Material or
Natural Gas
 Industrial Chemicals
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Sediments and Stains
Milky or Cloudy
Precipitation of carbonates / sulfates, excessive air, suspended solids,
aquifer material
Bluish Green – Green Precipitates
Copper, hardness, aggressive water and corrosion by-products, nuisance
bacteria
Blackish Tint or Black Slimes
Reactions with manganese and possibly iron, nuisance bacteria
Yellowish or Reddish Tint or Slimes
Humic material, dissolved or precipitated iron, nuisance bacteria
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Impacts Water Supply
Land-use
 Residential (Rural or Urban)
 Industrial
 Agricultural
 Commercial
 Undeveloped Woodland
Water Source
 Well, Spring, Cistern, Dug Well
 Water Characteristics
 Geology
 Well Construction and Age
 Distribution System Type / Age
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Known Hazards Areas
Waste Disposal Sites
Chemical Storage
Chemical Spills
Underground Storage
Pipelines
Sewage and Sludge Disposal
Surrounding Water Users
Well Construction
Well Spacing
Water Withdrawal
Recharge Areas
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Groundwater Pocono's Region
Based on the geology of the Pocono's region, the
Primary water quality problems are as follows:
Corrosive Water
Low pH
Soft Water (low hardness) to
Moderate Hardness
Iron and Manganese
Discolored Water – Reddish
to Brown Tints
Total Coliform Bacteria
Sulfur Odors and Elevated
Sulfates
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Less Common Problems
These water quality are not common to Groundwater in
Pocono's Region.
Elevated Nitrate- Nitrite Levels
Radon or Radiological
Organic Contamination
Elevated Trace Metals
(except corrosion by-products like Copper, Lead, Aluminum, Zinc)
Salty or Brackish Water (some areas)
Trihalomethanes
Pathogenic Organisms
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Coliform Bacteria
Coliform Bacteria
Absent or < 1 colony/100 ml
Testing Purpose
Used as an Indicator of Sanitary
Condition of Water Source
Sources
Natural Soil Bacteria
Human and Animal Waste
Insect Waste
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Corrosive Water

Chemical or Biochemical Reaction
between the water and metal surfaces.

The corrosion process is an
oxidation/reduction reaction that
returns refined or processed metal to
their more stable ore state.

Corrosion can also be accelerated by:

1) low pH;
2) high flow rate within the piping;
3) high water temperature;
4) Chemistry of the water; and
4) presence of suspended solids, such
as sand.
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Evidence of Corrosion
Physical Signs of Corrosion
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Leaky Pipes
Water Has Bitter Taste
Greenish Blue Stains
Red or Discolored Water
Premature Failure of Water
Heaters/ Heat Exchange
Units
Elevated Levels of Copper,
Lead, Aluminum, Zinc, Iron,
Chromium
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Check for Corrosion
Testing for Cu and Pb and
other metals and TDS

Corrosivity Testing –
Saturation Index

Nuisance Bacteria Testing
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pH
pH < 7 acidic
a pH > 7 basic
NSDWR – 6.5 – 8.5
Problems
 Bitter or Alkali Taste
 Corrosion
 Scale Formation
 Leaching Metals
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Water Hardness

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The hardness of a water is a measure of the
concentration of the multivalent cations (Ca, Mg,
Fe, Mn, etc) associated with carbonates (CO3) .
Hardness is typically reported as mg /L as
CaCO3 (calcium carbonate)
Grains per gallon (1 gpg (US) = 17.12 mg
CaCO3/L ).
Hardness Classification:
– Soft: 0 to 17 mg CaCO3/L
– Slightly Hard: 17 to 60 mg/L;
– Moderately Hard 60 to 120 mg/L
– Hard 120 to 180 mg/L
– Very Hard > 180 mg/L
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Nitrate + Nitrite
Drinking Water Standards(Primary)
 Nitrate: 10 mg as N/ L
 Nitrite: 1 mg N/L
Health Concern
 Blue Baby Syndrome- Methemoglobinemia
Sources
 Fertilizers
 Human and Animal Waste
 Non-anthropogenic sources (fixation, rock
weathering)
 Atmospheric Deposition
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Nitrogen Cycle
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Sulfates in Water
Sulfates are a combination of sulfur and oxygen and are a part of naturally
occurring minerals in some soil and rock formations that contain groundwater.
The mineral dissolves over time and is released into groundwater.
Hydrogen sulfide gas also occurs naturally in some groundwater. The gas is
formed from decomposition of organic compounds contained within the
bedrock. Problems are typically found in aquifers that are shale, siltstone, peat
related, or near surface sources of organic material.
Sulfur-reducing bacteria, use sulfur as an energy source and are the primary
producers of large quantities of hydrogen sulfide. These bacteria chemically
change natural sulfates in water to hydrogen sulfide
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Problems with Sulfates
NSDWR

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Laxative Effect- MCL 250 mg/L
Form Precipitates on Piping and
Fixtures
Rotten Egg Odors
Sewage Gas Odors
Corrosion

Water Heater Failure/Odors
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Summary
Keys to Safe Drinking Water (Private Well)
Proper
Handling of Chemicals and Waste
Development of Local Standards
Understand Your Source
Annual Water Testing
Public Education
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Private Water Supply
A Pennsylvania Perspective
Mr. Brian Oram, PG
Professional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well Driller
Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality
Wilkes University
GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department
Wilkes Barre, PA 18766
http://wilkes.edu/~eqc
http://wilkes.edu/~gse
7/7/2015
54