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The Proper Location and Construction of a Residential Water Well

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

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The Proper Location and Construction of a Residential Water Well

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  1. The Proper Location and Constructionof aResidential Water Well

  2. Private Water SupplyA 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 !

  3. 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

  4. State and Federal Regulation • Currently No Federal Or Pennsylvania State Regulations Related to Private Water Well Construction. • 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.

  5. State Regulations (Existing/ Proposed) Pennsylvania Has Drillers Licensing Programhttp://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 1591Proposed Legislation: Private Well Construction Regulationshttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2001/0/HB1591P2920.HTM

  6. 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: • 601 townships responded to the survey • 39 of 601 townships maintain water well construction ordinances • 21 townships were considering and ordinance

  7. PrivateWater Sources Wells

  8. An Ungrouted Residential Well A Properly Grouted Well

  9. Bedrock Fractures and Fractured Zones Higher Yielding Well Fractured Zone

  10. Well IsolationDistances 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/

  11. Too Close to the Road Potential Problems1) Damaged Casing2) Chemical Spills3) Road Salting Agents 4) Chemical Sprays 5) Vandalism

  12. Well Cap Not Secure

  13. Well Construction Options for Private Wells Standard Well Cap Sanitary Well Cap Allow entry for insects, small animals Sealed to prevent contamination

  14. Why Care About Well Construction ? • Poor construction can affect drinking water quality • Poor construction can contribute, promote, and facilitate pollution and contamination of the groundwater aquifer • Proper construction can prolong the life and yield of the well

  15. A Properly Constructed (Sanitary) Residential Water Well Has: • casing that extends at least 15 feet into firm bedrock or 40 feet below ground, whichever is greater • casing of adequate wall thickness (meet PADEP Requirements Community Water Supplies) • a drive shoe on the bottom of the casing

  16. Well Construction Open Hole BedrockWell

  17. Standard Well Cap “The Unsanitary Well Cap” • 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

  18. Air Hammer and Drill Bit

  19. Drilling to Set Casing

  20. Welding the Steel Casing

  21. Casing With Drive Shoe

  22. Mixing EZ-Seal Bentonite Grout

  23. A Properly Grouted Well Tremie Pipe

  24. Installing the Tremie Pipe

  25. Pumping in the Bentonite Grout

  26. 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

  27. Periodically Inspect Drain Surface Water Away Install Sanitary Seal Annual Testing Maintain Records Start a Community Based Groundwater Education Program Carbon County Groundwater Guardianshttp://www.webdesignpros.net/groundwater 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 Protect Your Water SourceThings You or Your Community Can Do

  28. 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 Ordinanceshttp://www.epa.gov/R5water/ordcom/

  29. Before You DrillGet a Well Construction Contract • 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

  30. Private Water SupplyA 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 !

  31. Pulling the Casing

  32. Decommissioning the Well

  33. A Properly Decommissioned Well

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