Private Water Supplies

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Private Water Supplies

• everything is voluntary!

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Sanitary well cap
Good casing
Sloping Ground
Soil
Grout seal
Bedrock
Water Table
Groundwater aquifer
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Protect the Wellhead Area!
X
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Some Problems Occur Naturally
Iron
Hydrogen Sulfide
Hardness
Manganese
Corrosive
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We Cause Many Problems
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How do I know what to test my water for?

• Symptoms tastes, odors, stains
• Local land use and activities
• Local water testing results

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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

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Be Aware of Local Activities
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How close must activities beto my well to cause
a problem?
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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

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The Most Common Problems
of water supplies with problem
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Common Aesthetic Problems
of water supplies with problem
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Water Testing

• Routine tests give you protection
• Use certified labs!
• Annual bacteria test
• Every 3 years pH, TDS, local pollutant

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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

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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

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How is the Drought Stage Determined?

• Precipitation
• Stream flow
• Groundwater levels
• Palmer Drought Index
• Reservoir storage

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Historical Droughts in Pennsylvania
Palmer Drought Index
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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

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Natural Groundwater Fluctuations
Ground Surface
Deeper Underground
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No pumping static water level
Submersible pump
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Normal drawdown
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Sporadic Water Loss
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Permanent Water Loss
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More and More Users!
1 million wells and counting
Wells drilled 1966-1994
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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

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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

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http//wwwpah2o.er.usgs.gov/
observed
average
record low
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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

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Always Conserve Water!
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Achieving Water Conservation

• Change in water use habits
• Install water saving devices

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Water UseStudy of Eight Families in Central PA

• Average use
• 100 to 322 gallons per day
• Peak use
• 240 to 880 gallons per day

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Consumptive Water Use
Septic System
Non-Consumptive Water Use
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Average Water Use
Gallons per person per day
Toilet Shower Clothes Outside
Other Bath Washer
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Toilet Water Use
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Clothes Washer

• Standard
• 40 to 55 gallons per load
• Front-loading
• 22 to 33 gallons per load

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Showers

• Standard
• 4 to 6 gallons per minute
• Low flow
• 2 gallons per minute

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Faucets

• Standard
• 4 to 6 gallons per minute
• Flow control aerators
• Kitchen 1.5 gallons per minute
• Bathroom 0.5 gallons per minute

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Effect of Water Conservation
Total savings 32
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Water Harvesting
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Types of Water Treatment

• Point of entry
• Point of use

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Examples of Point of Entry

• Water softener
• Ultraviolet light (disinfection)
• Carbon filter (volatiles)

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Examples of Point of Use

• Reverse osmosis
• Distiller
• Carbon filter
• faucet or counter-top

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Water Treatment

• Disinfection
• Ion exchange
• Oxidation-reduction
• Filtration

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Disinfection
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continuous chlorination
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Ultraviolet Light Sterilizer
U-V Tube
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Ion Exchange
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Water Softening

• cation exchange process
• remove calcium, magnesium
• add sodium (potassium)
• will remove some iron

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Schematic of Softener
Water Softener
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Oxidation
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Iron Removal
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Iron Treatment Options
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Carbon Filtration
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Filter Maintenance

• replace GAC every 6 mos.
• dispose of properly

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Solving Water Problems

• new source
• pollution control
• maintenance inspection
• treatment

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Before You Buy Treatment Equipment

• have your water tested by a certified lab
• dont rely on in-home water test results
• consult unbiased water quality experts
• explore all alternatives
• new source, pollution control,
• maintenance