Protecting Your Drinking Water Well and Waste Systems

1. Healthy Home SolutionsLesson 3: Protecting private drinking water wells and managing on-site waste systems <presenter name here> Part 1. Test and protect your private drinking water well Part 2. On-site waste water management (septic systems)

2. Part 1. Test and protect your private drinking water well

3. Knowledge: Access information on well water testing including what to test for, when to test, and where to test. Increase awareness of typical on-site septic systems. • Comprehension: Describe the importance of annual well water testing and daily management of septic system. • Application: Identify where to get information on what to test and where to have tests performed. Identify additional actions that protect private drinking water wells Learning objectives

4. Groundwater and wells • Well construction and maintenance • Private well testing • Home water treatment • Protection techniques In the dark about drinking watertesting and protection?

5. The water in our wells THE WATER CYCLE

6. What is groundwater and whereis it?

7. Ground water needs to be recharged

8. Our water quality is affected by what we do in and around our homes and communities.

9. How does pollution get into our groundwater?

10. Well water protection:Where is the well located on this property?What is going on around the well that could affect water quality?What needs to change? Insert home a syst property map here

11. Well construction andsiting

12. Minimum distances from the well to potential pollution sources Septic system drainfield: 100 feet Sewer line: 50 feet Well Animals: 100 feet Road surface: 50 feet Septic tank: 75 feet

13. Drilledwell

14. Drilled well and system parts

15. Driven well

16. Driven welland systemparts

17. Dug well

18. Dug well and system parts

19. Well log

20. The “good” well: • Land slopes away from the well head to prevent ponding • Located up hill from a potential contamination source • Properly sealed and capped The “bad” well: • Located in a low spot, allowing for water to pond around well head • Located down hill from a potential contaminant source • Not properly sealed or capped Proper drinking water well siting is important

21. How do you know that your water is safe to drink?

22. Initially, then every year: • Total coliform bacteria • Nitrate and nitrite • Color • Turbidity • Chloride Initially, then every 3 - 5 years: • Fluoride • Iron • Lead • Manganese • Sulfate • pH • Tests for corrosivity (alkalinity, calcium, total dissolved solids, hardness, specific conductance) Initially, then every 5-10 years: • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) includes MTBE Well testing schedule

23. Total coliform bacteria • Standard • Maximum contaminant level (MCL) = Absent

24. Nitrates and nitrites Standards • Nitrates: Maximum contaminant level = 10 mg/L (ppm) • Nitrites: Maximum contaminant level = 1 mg/L (ppm)

25. Standards • Color: Secondary maximum contaminant levels = 15 color units • Turbidity: Maximum contaminant level = 1 turbidity unit Color and turbidity: Measures of clarity and cloudinessstandards

26. Chloride and sodium Standards • Chloride: Secondary maximum contaminant levels set at 250 mg/L (ppm) • Sodium: No standard

27. Fluoride Standards • Maximum contaminant level = 4.0 mg/L (ppm) • Desired range = 0.7 – 1.3 mg/L (ppm)

28. Iron and manganese Iron bacteria • Standards • Iron: Secondary maximum contaminant levels = 0.3 mg/L • Manganese: Secondary maximum contaminant levels = 0.05 mg/L

29. pH measurement of acidity of water Standard • Secondary maximum contaminant levels = 6.5 – 8.5

30. Lead • Standard • Action level = 0.015 in parts per million

31. Copper • Standard • Action level = 1.3 mg/L (ppm)

32. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)and MTBE(gasoline additive) • Standards • Varies depending on the VOC • Check with your local or State Dept. of Health for specific information

33. Other times to test? If the well has flooded If you notice a change in the color, taste or smell of your well

34. Call and tell the lab what tests you want • Lab will give you bottles, directions, and costs to collect your sample • Carefully follow directions when collecting the sample • Take the sample to the lab within specified time Choose a state certified private lab

35. May require well testing before a certificate of occupancy is granted • May require testing of new wells • May require well testing upon sale of existing homes • Buyers may be responsible for testing Check private well testing regulations

36. Unsealed abandoned wells Should not be allowed on a property. Safety and contamination issue!

37. Abandoned unsealed wells should not be allowed on a property!

38. Well cannot be used as stormwater or drywell • Seal completely within 3 feet of surface • Casing/liner should be removed or placed below 3 feet surface • Fill rest of space with soil • Water permanently confined to original strata • Land surface restored Sealingabandonedwells

39. May not be permitted; check with Dept. of Health • Well mounted hydrants … • Direct cross-connection between the well, its hose, and standing water at the end of the hose • Drains water through gravel and serves as a conduit for contaminants to reach well • If permitted, hydrant should be located at least 20 feet from wellhead Wellheadyard hydrants

40. Watertreatment andconditioning may be a Band-Aid

41. Test to determine need for treatment • Find and fix source of problem before treating • Treatment is expense to purchase, install and maintain • Deal with reputable distributor • Have system professionally installed • If possible - treat at the point of use • REGULARLY maintain the system Before treating your drinking water…

42. Does the water test show a problem? • What are the levels of the contaminant in the water? Are more tests needed? • Is there a health risk or a nuisance problem? • Do I need to treat all the water in the house do I need to treat for drinking and cooking only? • Are there any potential secondary effects to treatment? • What are the long-term maintenance needs and costs? Home water treatment – questions to ask

43. Home water treatmentsystem types Point-of-use system Point-of-entry system

44. Test your drinking water well. Follow the well testing schedule • Make sure the area around the well is clean and fee of animal waste and other pollution • Check for cracks in the well casing and repair promptly • Don’t let water pond around the well • Install backflow prevention on outdoor faucets and in-ground sprinkler systems • Maintain water treatment system on a regular basis Drinking water action list

45. Protecting private drinking water wells and managing on-site waste systems End of Part 1 Test and protect your private drinking water well

46. Part 2 On-site waste water management (septic systems)

47. Many rural home-sites with drinking water well, often have an on-site waste-water (sewage) treatment system. • On-site home waste-water systems (type and design) are usually regulated by the local health department with guidance from the state • System design is based on soil types On-site waste water treatment

48. Septic systemsare most common

49. Toilets • Sinks • Dishwasher Three parts of a septic system Part 1: What goes down the drain

50. Pharmaceuticals • Solvents and petroleum based products • Excessive water-based products • Garbage • Paper towels Do not dispose of…