Learning Objectives:

You will learn why it is important to test well water

You will learn about regional contamination issues specific to Hopewell Township

You will learn about well testing procedures

UL Offers DrinkWell™ Water-Testing Service to Private Well Owners. (2004). Journal of Environmental Health, 67(4), 42. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

 United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2004). Understanding the safe drinking water act. Retrieved April 11, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/pdfs/fs_30ann_sdwa_web.pdf

53 Million Americans rely on well water supply their homes

Homeowner’s need to test their own water

The Federal Safe Drinking Water regulations that ensure safe

drinking water DO NOT apply to private wells!

Hopewell Township

12,600 rely on well water in the Valley

In 2001, the Township did a water study. The study shows residents use about:

• 1, 233, 333 Gallons a day

• 97.9 Gallons per Person Each Day

M2 Associates. (2001) Evaluation of groundwater resources of hopewell township, mercer county, new jersey. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from, http://www.hopewelltwp.org/hopewellwater.pdf

United States Census Bureau. (2000). Fact sheet. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from, http

://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US3402133180&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Hopewell+Township&_cityTown=Hopewell+Township&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=

Hopewell Has Well Water Problems

Some are Naturally Occurring

Others are Man - Made

Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)Oil is the only home heating fuel

source for many residents & tanks were often buried in the past

The Problem Is

Tanks are Steel

Steel Rusts

Rusty Tanks LEAK!!

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. (2010). DEP dataminer. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from , http://datamine2.state.nj.us/DEP_OPRA/OpraMain/categories?category=Site+Case+sub-category

Currently Hopewell Township has 39 known contaminated sites and 2 pending

Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) cont.

Tanks Leak:

Volatile Organic Compounds

• Trichloroethylene • Perchloroethlyene •Trihalomethanes

Which is Linked To:

Cancers

• Leukemia • Liver & Bladder Cancer•Tumors

Cohn, P., Bove, F., Klotz, J., Berkowitz, M., & Fagliano, J., (1993). Drinking water contamination and the incidence of leukemia and non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from, http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/lnhexecl.pdf

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. (1997) Facts: volatile organics in drinking water. Retrieved April 17, 2010 from, http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/vocs.pdf

Septic Systems

When Functioning Properly, they Treat and Dispose of Wastewater, but When they Fail Well Water can be Polluted By…

BACTERIA

VIRUSES

PARASITES

=NITRATES

Tuthill, A., Meikle, D.B., Alavanja, M., (1998) Coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination of well in major soils of Frederick, Maryland. Journal of Environmental Health, 60. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from, http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LLcKdYvpRg4vMNFHTX4gqJjHhJ7QSMxw6J5RWQ10WrRsC8XjdnhS!1383861545!-675626961?docId=5002306295

Arsenic & Uranium

Naturally Occurring

Connecticut Department of Public Health. (2006). Uranium in drinking water. Retrieved Sept 23, 2010 from, http://hopewelltwp.org/uranium_in_drinking_water.pdf

M2 Associates. (2001) Evaluation of groundwater resources of hopewell township, mercer county, new jersey. Retrieved October 1, 2010 from, http://www.hopewelltwp.org/hopewellwater.pdf

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. (2009). A homeowners guide to arsenic in drinking water. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from,

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/arsenic/guide.htm

Absorbed from Surrounding Rock

No Odor or Taste

Carcinogenic

Linked to Liver and Bladder

Cancers

Why You Want to Test

• Children or Grandchildren

• You and your partner

• Pets

Water Testing Laboratories

Tips for Homeowners:

Check for Current NJDEP Certification

Have Laboratory Take Sample

Shop for Best Price – You Would Be Surprised!

When to TestYearly Bacteria & Nitrates

Every 3 – 5 YearsLead IronArsenic ManganeseVolatile Organic Compounds Radionuclides

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. (2002) Facts: Private Well Testing. Retrieved October 18, 2010 from, http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/well.pdf

Conclusion Wells are a main source of water for Hopewell Township Residents

There are many sources of contamination that can adversely effect the water quality.

Testing the water is the only way to ensure safe water.

A New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Certified Laboratory should be used for testing and laboratory should take sample.

Regular testing schedule is important to detect changes in water quality.

Local health department is able to help with questions or concerns.

References Cohn, P., Bove, F., Klotz, J., Berkowitz, M., & Fagliano, J., (1993). Drinking water contamination and the incidence of

leukemia and non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from, http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/lnhexecl.pdf Connecticut Department of Public Health. (2006). Uranium in drinking water. Retrieved April 17, 2010 from,

http://hopewelltwp.org/uranium_in_drinking_water.pdf M2 Associates. (2001) Evaluation of groundwater resources of hopewell township, mercer county, new jersey. Retrieved

April 18, 2010 from, http://www.hopewelltwp.org/hopewellwater.pdf New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. (1997) Facts: volatile organics in drinking water. Retrieved April 17,

2010 from, http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/vocs.pdf

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. (2002) Facts: Private Well Testing. Retrieved October 18, 2010 from, http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/hhazweb/well.pdf

 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. (2009). A homeowners guide to arsenic in drinking water. Retrieved

April 18, 2010 from, http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/arsenic/guide.htm

 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. (2010). DEP dataminer. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from ,

http://datamine2.state.nj.us/DEP_OPRA/OpraMain/categories?category=Site+Case+sub-category Tuthill, A., Meikle, D.B., Alavanja, M., (1998) Coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination of well in major soils of Frederick,

Maryland. Journal of Environmental Health, 60. Retrieved April 18, 2010 from, http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LLcKdYvpRg4vMNFHTX4gqJjHhJ7QSMxw6J5RWQ10WrRsC8XjdnhS!1383861545!-675626961?docId=5002306295

 UL Offers DrinkWell™ Water-Testing Service to Private Well Owners. (2004). Journal of Environmental Health, 67(4), 42.

Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2004). Understanding the safe drinking water act. Retrieved April 11,

2010, from http://www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/pdfs/fs_30ann_sdwa_web.pdf

Contacts Hopewell Township Health Department - General

www.hopewelltwp.org

Hopewell Township Health Department – Contact Presentation Designerrenglish@hopewelltwp.org

Well Owner Informationhttp://wellowner2.org/2009/index.php

New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection – Certified Laboratories Listshttp://datamine2.state.nj.us/DEP_OPRA/OpraMain/categories?category=Certified+Laboratories

Water Treatment System Information www.nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water/dw_treatment.asp