Transcript Slide 1

Tips for Managing Your Water Quality
and Private Water System
YOUR NAME HERE, Volunteer
Virginia Master Well Owner Network
Today’s Presentation
• Virginia Household Water Quality Program
• Virginia Master Well Owner Network
• How to care for your private water system
• Well location, protection, and construction
• Well maintenance and care
• Drinking water regulations – How much is too much?
• Water testing – What’s in your water?
• Dealing with water problems
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What is the VAHWQP?
Established in 1989
 County-based Drinking Water Clinics
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Coordinated with local Extension Agents
Kickoff Meeting
Homeowners collect sample; samples analyzed at VT lab
Interpretation Meeting: test results and advice for dealing with
water problems provided
• The Virginia Master Well Owner Network
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Virginia Master Well Owner Network
(VAMWON)
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Includes extension agents and volunteers
Training workshops across VA
• Groundwater basics
• Proper well location,
construction and maintenance
• Land use impacts
• Water testing
• Solving water problems
• Education and outreach ideas
VAMWON volunteer outreach:
 Fairs
and home shows
 Speak to church or civic groups
 One-on-one conversations with
neighbors and friends
 Write an article for local paper
 Help with drinking water clinic
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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
Photo credit: Swistock, Penn State Univ
Proper well location
Upslope from potential contamination
 Not in an area that receives runoff
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Proper well construction
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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
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12”
Photo credits: SAIF Water Wells ; Penn State University
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Grouting to a minimum of 20’
Sanitary well cap or sealed concrete cover
Ground slopes away from well
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Well Maintenance Tips
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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
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Every year:
◦ Conduct thorough visual inspection of well
◦ Check cap for cracks, wear and tear, tightness
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Every 10 years have well inspected by a qualified
professional (with WWP classification)
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Private Water Supply Regulations
• Virginia Private Well Regs
o Specify application, inspection and
construction requirements
o No requirements for maintenance or
water testing after construction of well
– responsibility of the owner!
• EPA National Drinking
Water Standards
o Apply to PUBLIC systems
o Primary (health) and Secondary
(nuisance)
o 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
Secondary Standards
• Also called Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL)
• Cause health problems
• Enforced for public systems
• Over 80 contaminants
• For example:
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Also called SMCL or RMCL
Cause aesthetic problems:
o
Staining
o
Taste
o
Odor
Can naturally occur in
ground water
About 15, including:
o
Nitrate
o
Lead
o
Coliform
o
Iron
o
Most organic chemicals and
pesticides
o
Fluoride
o
Chloride
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Testing water quality
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Why test?
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Protect family’s health and safety
Many contaminants undetectable by human senses
Preventive measures often more effective and less expensive
Legal protection
When to test?
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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?
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Every year test for coliform bacteria
◦ Simple, inexpensive test (<$40)
◦ Indicates possible contamination from human or animal waste
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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
Residential
Development
Bacteria
Nitrates
Sediment
Lawn Chemicals
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How do I test my water?
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Participate in a VAHWQP drinking water clinic
◦ List of 2013 clinics: http://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/events.php
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Choose a certified laboratory
◦ List available at www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/resources.php
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Use containers provided and follow directions
◦ Sample bottles often contain fixers- do not rinse
◦ Be aware of time requirements to get samples to lab
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Understanding test results
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Most results provided as concentrations:
◦ mg/L (milligrams per liter) ≈ ppm (parts per million)
◦ µg/L = (micrograms per liter) ≈ ppb (parts per billion)
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Other units unique to test
◦ Bacteria
◦ Radon, hardness, pH
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1 ppm = about 4
drops in a 55
gallon barrel!
Compare to EPA standards:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html
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Options for problem water
1. If possible, control the source of pollution
◦ Divert runoff from well, 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
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http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/septic-tank-cleaning-1.jpg, http://www.shipewelldrilling.com/Pictures/well_drilling_rig.jpg, http://www.clearflow.ca/REVERSE_OSMOSIS2.jpg
Treatment Considerations
Be sure to explore ALL of your options
 Always have water tested by a certified lab
 Be aware of dishonest businesses – look for NSF
(National Sanitation Foundation) and WQA (Water
Quality Association) certifications, consult BBB
 If it sounds too good to be true…it probably is!
 Point of Use (POU) vs. Point of Entry (POE)
 Weigh benefits and limitations of device
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◦ Cost
◦ Maintenance
◦ Warranty
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Interested in learning more?
Come to a drinking water clinic
 Join the Virginia Master Well Owner Network!
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◦ Learn more about your own water system and how to
protect your water quality
◦ Help others by sharing this information
◦ Apply today at: www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu
◦ At VAMWON training workshop:
 Free water conservation devices for home and garden
 Resource binder
 Presentations and activities with water experts
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YOUR NAME HERE, Volunteer
Virginia Master Well Owner Network
Erin Ling, Coordinator
Virginia Household Water Quality Program
Virginia Master Well Owner Network
Website: www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu
Email: [email protected]
Ph: 540-231-9058
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Resources
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Virginia Cooperative Extension household water quality:
http://www.ext.vt.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Docs.woa/wa/getcat?cat=irnrem-wq-hwq
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Virginia Cooperative Extension Offices: www.ext.vt.edu
Virginia Department of Health/Private Well Regulations:
www.vdh.state.va.us
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EPA private wells site:
http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/privatewells/whatyoucando.html
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National Groundwater Association Well Owner:
http://www.wellowner.org/
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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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Spring Management Tips
Make sure spring box is sealed to prevent
insects, animals, and surface water from
entering
 Fence livestock out of stream catchment
area
 Disinfect springs after construction and test
annually for bacteria
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Cistern Management Tips
Make sure cistern is constructed properly to
ensure it is the proper size to meet your
water demands. A minimum of 5,000
gallons is recommended.
 All cisterns require treatment. Most rely on
rainwater that can be extremely corrosive to
plumbing systems
 Water should be disinfected before it is
consumed
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The Finished Product – Drilled Well
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/environment/06-117.htm
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The Finished Product – Bored Well
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/environment/06-117.htm
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