Transcript Private Water Supply A Pennsylvania Perspective

The Proper Location and Construction
of a
Residential Water Well
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://www.water-research.net
New Website !
Center for Environmental Quality
Non-profit/ equal opportunity employer, is operated and
managed, within the GeoEnvironmental Sciences and
Environmental Engineering Department at Wilkes University
Outreach Programs
 Environmental and Professional Education and Training
 Applied Research
 Community and Business Outreach Programs
Website: http://www.water-research.net
State and Federal Regulation
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Currently No Federal Or Pennsylvania State
Regulations Related to Private Water Well
Construction.
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Pennsylvania has over 1 million households on
Private Wells.
Pennsylvania one of 4 states that has no private
water well construction standards, via
regulation.
 PA does not really have a comprehensive
certification program for drilling contractors
and operators.
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State Regulations
(Existing/ Proposed)
Pennsylvania Has Drillers Licensing Program
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/groundwater/act610.htm
Act 537: Chapter 73: Minimum Isolation Distance
On-lot Septic System and Components and Private Well
House Bill 1591
Proposed Legislation: Private Well Construction Regulations
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2001/0/HB1591P2920.HTM
Local Agency
The Pennsylvania State Association of Township
Supervisors Surveyed second class townships across
the state regarding water well ordinances and water
well related problems. Of the 1,457 township
across the state:
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601 townships responded to the survey
39 of 601 townships maintain water well
construction ordinances
21 townships were considering and ordinance
Private Water Sources Wells
An Ungrouted
Residential Well
A Properly
Grouted Well
Bedrock Fractures and Fractured Zones
Higher Yielding Well
Fractured Zone
Well Isolation Distances
MONTGOMERY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
INDIVIDUAL WATER SUPPLY WELL CONSTRUCTION
SPECIFICATIONS (partial listing)
Delineated wetlands or floodplains (25 feet)
Surface waters (25 feet) Storm water Systems (25 feet)
Spray Irrigation/ Septage Disposal (100 feet)
Farm silos / manure storage (200 feet) Septic Systems (100 feet)
Septic Tanks/Holding Tanks (50 feet)
Chemical Storage/Preparation Area (300 feet)
More Information at
http://www.h2otest.com/regs/pa/montgomery/
Too Close to the Road
Potential Problems
1) Damaged Casing
2) Chemical Spills
3) Road Salting Agents
4) Chemical Sprays
5) Vandalism
Well Cap Not Secure
Well Construction Options for Private Wells
Standard Well Cap
Allow entry for insects, small animals
Sanitary Well Cap
Sealed to prevent contamination
Why Care About Well Construction ?
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Poor construction can affect drinking water
quality
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Poor construction can contribute, promote,
and facilitate pollution and contamination of
the groundwater aquifer
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Proper construction can prolong the life and
yield of the well
A Properly Constructed (Sanitary)
Residential Water Well Has:
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casing that extends at least 15 feet into firm
bedrock or 40 feet below ground, whichever is
greater
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casing of adequate wall thickness (meet
PADEP Requirements Community Water
Supplies)
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a drive shoe on the bottom of the casing
Well
Construction
Open Hole
Bedrock Well
Standard Well Cap
“The Unsanitary Well Cap”
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Insects, Larvae and
Nests / Egg Masses
Mouse Colonies
Snakes
Beehives
Mud - when casing to
close to ground
Types of Contamination - Bacteria, Subject to Vandalism, Salts
Air Hammer and Drill Bit
Drilling to Set Casing
Welding the Steel Casing
Casing With Drive Shoe
Mixing EZ-Seal Bentonite Grout
A Properly
Grouted Well
Tremie Pipe
Installing the Tremie Pipe
Pumping in the Bentonite Grout
A Properly Constructed (Sanitary)
Residential Water Well Has:
casing that extends at least 15 feet into firm
bedrock or 40 feet below grade
 casing of adequate wall thickness
 a driveshoe on the bottom of the casing
 grout sealing the casing up to the surface
 a sealed well cap with a screened vent
 a pitless adapter where the water line passes
through the casing
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Protect Your Water Source
Things You or Your Community Can Do
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Periodically Inspect
Drain Surface Water Away
Install Sanitary Seal
Annual Testing
Maintain Records
Start a Community Based
Groundwater Education
Program
Carbon County
Groundwater Guardians
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http://www.webdesignpros.net/groundwater
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Proper Abandonment
Chemical Storage,
Disposal and Use
Keep Wellhead Above
Grade
Proper Well Location
Septic System
Maintenance
Recycle used Oil and
Participate in Hazardous
Chemical Disposal
Programs
Well Ordinance
Why an Ordinance?
Primary reasons for the ordinances
included:
Improper
Well Construction
Incidents of Well Contamination
Improper Siting
Interconnection with Contaminated Site
Induce Contamination – Lack of Grouting
No Testing Requirements to ensure
potability
Overuse of the Groundwater Aquifer.
Online Directory of State Water Well Ordinances
http://www.epa.gov/R5water/ordcom/
Before You Drill
Get a Well Construction Contract
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Written contract with well driller prior to construction
Assurance of compliance with regulations
Liability insurance information for driller
Casing specifications (6" minimum to bedrock)
Sanitary cap, grout seal?
Well development to maximize yield
Disinfection after drilling and pump installation
Timeline for completion
Guarantee on materials and workmanship
Itemized estimate - check before exceeding costs
8-12 hour pump test (sustained yield) and basic water test
Delivery of well log and pump test results to owner
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://www.water-research.net
New Website !
Pulling the Casing
Decommissioning the Well
A Properly Decommissioned Well