Private Water Supplies

everything is voluntary!

Sanitary well cap

Grout seal

Good casingSloping Ground

Soil

Bedrock

Groundwater “aquifer”

Water Table

X

Protect the Wellhead Area!

Some Problems Occur Naturally

Iron

Manganese

HydrogenSulfide

Corrosive

Hardness

We Cause Many Problems

How do I know what to

test my water for?

1. Symptoms – tastes, odors, stains

2. Local land use and activities

3. Local water testing results

Symptoms

• White residue, dull laundry - hardness

• Reddish stains, metallic taste – iron

• Black stains, metallic taste - manganese

• Rotten egg odor - hydrogen sulfide gas

• Blue stains, metallic taste - corrosive water

Be Aware of Local Activities

Activity Pollutants

Septic systems bacteria, nitrate

Highway sodium, chloride

Gas or Oil Wells petroleum, salts, metals

Agriculture pesticides, nitrate, bacteria

Gas or fuel storage gasoline, petroleum products

Industry, landfill organics, petroleum products

Mining iron, manganese, low pH

How close must activities be

to my well to cause a problem?

Coliform Bacteria

• A large group of common surface bacteria• Indicate the “potential” for harmful bacteria• Possible sources

– Surface water– Animal waste– Septic system

• Occur frequently especially in springs and shallow wells

The Most Common Problems

0

10

20

30

40

50

Bacteria Nitrate Lead Organics Pesticides

% of water supplies with problem

Common Aesthetic Problems

0

20

40

60

80

100

Corrosivity Hardness Iron

% of water supplies with problem

WaterTesting

•Routine tests give you protection

•Use certified labs!

•Annual bacteria test

•Every 3 years – pH, TDS, local pollutant

Interpreting a Water Test

• Compare your result with the Drinking Water Standard which gives the “acceptable” level

• Primary Standard (MCL)– health risk

• Secondary Standard (RMCL)– taste, stain, odor

Drought Stages

• Drought Watch– 5% voluntary water use reduction

• Drought Warning– 10-15% voluntary water use reduction

• Drought Emergency– Mandatory water restrictions– Ban on non-essential water use– These DO apply to private wells &

springs

How is the Drought Stage Determined?

1. Precipitation2. Stream flow3. Groundwater levels4. Palmer Drought Index5. Reservoir storage

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Historical Droughts in Pennsylvania

Palmer Drought Index

Drought Outlook

• Short-term relief likely

• Ground water and surface water drought will continue

• 12 to 20 inches of precipitation needed over next three months

Natural Groundwater FluctuationsGroundSurface

Deeper Underground

Submersiblepump

No pumping“static water level”

Normal “drawdown”

SporadicWater Loss

PermanentWater Loss

More and More Users!

Wells drilled 1966-1994

1 million wells and counting

Pennsylvania Water Law

• You do NOT own the water under your property

• You are entitled to “reasonable use”• Little protection of existing sources• Permitting of large users in Delaware

and Susquehanna Basins• Several pending bills on water use

Preventing a Dry Well

• Obtain your well log– Your well driller– Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey

• 717-702-2074

• Identify alternate sources• Always conserve water!• Talk to neighbors, local well drillers• Monitor your water supply if possible• Monitor nearby wells on the web

observed

average

record low

http://wwwpah2o.er.usgs.gov/

If You Lose Your Water . . .

• Water may return in time– Emergency water conservation– Reduce peak demands

• Have well driller determine the cause– Faulty or worn-out pump– Electrical problem– Low water level

• Lower the pump in the existing well• Deepen existing well• Drill new well

– Beware of unlicensed drillers

Always ConserveWater!

Achieving Water Conservation

• Change in water use habits

• Install water saving devices

Water UseStudy of Eight Families in Central PA

• Average use– 100 to 322 gallons per day

• Peak use– 240 to 880 gallons per day

SepticSystem

Consumptive Water Use

Non-Consumptive Water Use

Average Water Use

0

5

10

15

20

Toilet Shower Clothes Outside Other Bath Washer

Gallons per person per day

Toilet Water Use

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Air Assisted

Low Flush

Standard

Gallons per Flush

Clothes Washer

• Standard – 40 to 55 gallons per load

• Front-loading– 22 to 33 gallons per load

Showers

• Standard – 4 to 6 gallons per minute

• Low flow– 2 gallons per minute

Faucets

• Standard– 4 to 6 gallons per minute

• Flow control aerators– Kitchen – 1.5 gallons per minute– Bathroom – 0.5 gallons per minute

Effect of Water Conservation

0

5

10

15

20

Toilet Washer Shower Faucets Leaks Baths DishWasher

gallo

ns

per

day

Without Conservation

With Conservation

Total savings = 32%

Water Harvesting

Types of Water Treatment

• Point of entry

• Point of use

Examples of Point of Entry

• Water softener

• Ultraviolet light (disinfection)

• Carbon filter (volatiles)

Examples of Point of Use

• Reverse osmosis

• Distiller

• Carbon filter– faucet or counter-top

Water Treatment

• Disinfection

• Ion exchange

• Oxidation-reduction

• Filtration

Disinfection

continuous chlorination

Ultraviolet Light Sterilizer

U-V Tube

Ion Exchange

Water Softening

• cation exchange process

• remove calcium, magnesium

• add sodium (potassium)

• will remove some iron

Schematic of Softener

Water Softener

RESIN(Sodium)

Raw Water

(Sodium)

Calcium & Magnesium

Treated Water

Ion Exchange: Sodium for Calcium & Magnesium

Oxidation

Iron Removal

Iron Treatment OptionsIron Concentration Chemical Form

of IronTreatment

Method

Less than 3 mg/L Colorless – reduced

Water softener or

polyphosphates

3 to 10 mg/L

Colorless (reduced) or

red (oxidized)Oxidizing Filter

More than 10 mg/L

Colorless (reduced) or

red (oxidized)

Oxidation followed by

filtration

Carbon Filtration

Filter Maintenance

• replace GAC every six

months

• dispose of spent GAC

properly

Solving Water Problems

• new source

• pollution control

• maintenance + inspection

• treatment

Before You Buy Treatment Equipment

• have your water tested by a certified labhave your water tested by a certified lab– don’t rely on in-home water test resultsdon’t rely on in-home water test results

• consult unbiased water quality expertsconsult unbiased water quality experts

• explore all alternativesexplore all alternatives– new source, pollution control,new source, pollution control,

maintenancemaintenance