1. 9/1/20211 Watersheds, Non-Point Pollution, and Hydrology 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://wilkes.edu/~gse

2. 9/1/20212 Center for Environmental Quality Non-profit/ equal opportunity employer, is operated and managed, within the GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department Outreach Programs Environmental and Professional Education and Training Applied Research Community and Business Outreach Programs Website: http://wilkes.edu/~eqc

3. 9/1/20213 The Water Cycle

4. 9/1/20214 What is a Watershed? The simple definition It's the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater. Right Now Your Sitting In a Watershed ! They cross county, state, and national boundaries (This is the challenge !)

5. 9/1/20215 Watershed Map

6. 9/1/20216 Watershed View

7. 9/1/20217 Non Point Source Pollution Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water. These pollutants include:

8. 9/1/20218 Sources of Non-Point Pollution Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas; Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals; Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks; Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, urban runoff and faulty septic systems; and Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also sources of nonpoint source pollution. We are Still the Largest Source of Oil Pollution to the Environment !

9. 9/1/20219 Sources of Pollution Causes of Contamination Improper Waste Disposal Improper Well Construction Poor Site Selection Wells Not Properly Abandoned Improper Waste Storage Lack of Information on Hazardous Sites or Activities (Partial Listing)

10. 9/1/202110 Primary Aquifers in PA

11. 9/1/202111 Well Geology

12. 9/1/202112 Surface Water & Groundwater

13. 9/1/202113 Groundwater Pocono's Region Based on the geology of the Pocono's region, the Primary water quality problems are as follows: Corrosive Water Low pH Soft Water (low hardness) to Moderate Hardness Iron and Manganese Discolored Water – Reddish to Brown Tints Total Coliform Bacteria Sulfur Odors and Elevated Sulfates

14. 9/1/202114 Coliform Bacteria Coliform Bacteria Absent or < 1 colony/100 ml Testing Purpose Used as an Indicator of Sanitary Condition of Water Source Sources Natural Soil Bacteria Human and Animal Waste Insect Waste

15. 9/1/202115 Phosphate Phosphate will stimulate the growth of plankton and aquatic plants which provide food for larger organisms, including: zooplankton, fish, humans, and other mammals. Plankton represent the base of the food chain. Initially, this increased productivity will cause an increase in the fish population and overall biological diversity of the system. But as the phosphate loading continues and there is a build-up of phosphate in the lake or surfacewater ecosystem, the aging process of lake or surface water ecosystem will be accelerated.

16. 9/1/202116 Phosphate Cycle

17. 9/1/202117 Before and After

18. 9/1/202118 Nitrate + Nitrite Drinking Water Standards(Primary) Nitrate: 10 mg as N/ L Nitrite: 1 mg N/L Health Concern Blue Baby Syndrome- Methemoglobinemia Sources Fertilizers Human and Animal Waste Non-anthropogenic sources (fixation, rock weathering) Atmospheric Deposition

19. 9/1/202119 Nitrogen Cycle

20. 9/1/202120 What Can We Do? Control Nutrient and Fertilizer Use Conserve Water Control Stormwater Runoff Properly Store and Handle Hazardous Waste Maintain Septic Systems Community Action and Education Monitoring

21. 9/1/202121 Watersheds, Non-Point Pollution, and Hydrology 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://wilkes.edu/~gse

22. 9/1/202122 Groundwater Moves 1. Which ways can groundwater move? a. Up b. Down c. Sideways d. All of the above 1. d. All of the above Although most movement is lateral (sideways), it can move straight up or down. Groundwater simply follows the path of least resistance by moving from higher pressure zones to lower pressure zones.

23. 9/1/202123 Groundwater Moves 2. How is the speed of groundwater movement measured? a. Feet per day b. Feet per week c. Feet per month d. Feet per year 2. d. Feet per year Groundwater movement is usually measured in feet per year. This is why a pollutant that enters groundwater requires many years before it purifies itself or is carried to a monitored well.

24. 9/1/202124 Groundwater Moves 3. How is stream flow usually measured? a. Feet per second b. Feet per minute c. Feet per hour d. Yards per hour 3. a. Feet per second Water flow in streams/rivers is measured in feet per second.

25. 9/1/202125 Groundwater Moves 4. What determines how fast groundwater moves? a. Temperature b. Air pressure c. Depth of water table d. Size of materials 4. d. Size of materials Coarse materials like sand and gravel allow water to move rapidly. (They also form excellent aquifers because of their holding capacity.) In contrast, fine- grained materials, like clay or shale, are very difficult for water to move through. Thus, water moves very, very slowly in these materials.

26. 9/1/202126 Groundwater Moves 5. Can the water table elevation change often? a. Yes b. No 5. a. Yes Water table elevations often fluctuate because of recharge and discharge variations. They generally peak in the winter and spring due to recharge from rains and snow melt. Throughout the summer the water table commonly declines due to evaporation, uptake by plants (transpiration), increased public use, industrial use, and crop, golf course and lawn irrigation. Elevations commonly reach their lowest point in early fall.

27. 9/1/202127 Groundwater Moves 6. Does aquifer storage capacity vary? a. Yes b. No 6. a. Yes Just like the water level in rivers and streams, the amount of water in the groundwater supply can vary due to seasonal, weather, use and other factors.

28. 9/1/202128 Watersheds, Non-Point Pollution, and Hydrology 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://wilkes.edu/~gse

29. 9/1/202129 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://wilkes.edu/~gse

30. 9/1/202130 Center for Environmental Quality Non-profit/ equal opportunity employer, is operated and managed, within the GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department Outreach Programs Environmental and Professional Education and Training Applied Research Community and Business Outreach Programs Website: http://wilkes.edu/~eqc

31. 9/1/202131 Keys to a Safe Drinking Water The Sanitary Survey- Proper Site Location State Federal and Local Regulations Types of Well Water Sources Well Drilling and Construction Initial Water Testing Well Water Conditioning or Treatment Well Maintenance

32. 9/1/202132 Protect Your Water Source Things You or Your Community Can Do Periodically Inspect Drain Surface Water Away Install Sanitary Seal Annual Testing Maintain Records Start a Community Based Groundwater Education Program 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

33. 9/1/202133 Why Test My Water ? A USGS survey found that 70% of private wells were contaminated. This contamination could result in acute or chronic health concerns. In general, there are no regulations related to well construction, placement, or required testing. It is up to you to determine the safety of your water. EPA recommends, at minimum, an annual water test for private wells.

34. 9/1/202134 Drinking Water Regulations The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), passed in 1974 and amended in 1986 and 1996, gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to set drinking water standards. These standards are divided into two broad categories: Primary Standards (NPDWR) and Secondary Standards (NSDWR).

35. 9/1/202135 Primary Standards (NPDWR) National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Primary standards protect drinking water quality by limiting the levels of specific contaminants that can adversely affect public health and are known or anticipated to occur in water. They take the form of Maximum Contaminant Levels or Treatment Techniques. There are over 100 chemical and biological primary drinking water standards, which include: trace metals, disinfection agents, disinfection by- products, radiological, microbiological agents, and organic chemicals. Examples: Arsenic, Lead, MTBE, total coliform, Giardia, Trihalomethanes, Asbestos, Copper, Benzene, Trichloroethane, etc.

36. 9/1/202136 Secondary Standards National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations These standards were established more for cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor or color) in drinking water. The secondary standards include: aluminum, chloride, color, corrosivity, fluoride, foaming agents, iron, manganese, odor, pH, silver, sulfate, total dissolved solids, and zinc.

37. 9/1/202137 What Should I Test The Selection of the Appropriate Testing Parameters Depends on YOUR Water How does it taste? Do you have odor problems ? Are there any aesthetic problems, such as: color, turbidity, grittiness, or staining ? Where are you located ? How much do you want to spend ? Comprehensive testing can cost over $2500.00

38. 9/1/202138 Taste Problems Salty or Brackish Taste Alkali Taste Metallic or Bitter Taste High Sodium Elevated Hardness or alkalinity Corrosion, Low pH, high metallic content (Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb,Al, Zn)

39. 9/1/202139 Odors Rotten Egg / Musty Odor Oily Methane Smell Chemical/ Solvent Sulfate, Sulfur, Nuisance Bacteria Gasoline, Oil Contamination or Nuisance Bacteria Organic Material or Natural Gas Industrial Chemicals

40. 9/1/202140 Sediments and Stains Milky or Cloudy Precipitation of carbonates / sulfates, excessive air, suspended solids, aquifer material Bluish Green – Green Precipitates Copper, hardness, aggressive water and corrosion by-products, nuisance bacteria Blackish Tint or Black Slimes Reactions with manganese and possibly iron, nuisance bacteria Yellowish or Reddish Tint or Slimes Humic material, dissolved or precipitated iron, nuisance bacteria

41. 9/1/202141 Impacts Water Supply Land-use Residential (Rural or Urban) Industrial Agricultural Commercial Undeveloped Woodland Water Source Well, Spring, Cistern, Dug Well Water Characteristics Geology Well Construction and Age Distribution System Type / Age Known Hazards Areas Waste Disposal Sites Chemical Storage Chemical Spills Underground Storage Pipelines Sewage and Sludge Disposal Surrounding Water Users Well Construction Well Spacing Water Withdrawal Recharge Areas

42. 9/1/202142 Groundwater Pocono's Region Based on the geology of the Pocono's region, the Primary water quality problems are as follows: Corrosive Water Low pH Soft Water (low hardness) to Moderate Hardness Iron and Manganese Discolored Water – Reddish to Brown Tints Total Coliform Bacteria Sulfur Odors and Elevated Sulfates

43. 9/1/202143 Less Common Problems These water quality are not common to Groundwater in Pocono's Region. Elevated Nitrate- Nitrite Levels Radon or Radiological Organic Contamination Elevated Trace Metals (except corrosion by-products like Copper, Lead, Aluminum, Zinc) Salty or Brackish Water (some areas) Trihalomethanes Pathogenic Organisms

44. 9/1/202144 Coliform Bacteria Coliform Bacteria Absent or < 1 colony/100 ml Testing Purpose Used as an Indicator of Sanitary Condition of Water Source Sources Natural Soil Bacteria Human and Animal Waste Insect Waste

45. 9/1/202145 Corrosive Water Chemical or Biochemical Reaction between the water and metal surfaces. The corrosion process is an oxidation/reduction reaction that returns refined or processed metal to their more stable ore state. Corrosion can also be accelerated by: 1) low pH; 2) high flow rate within the piping; 3) high water temperature; 4) Chemistry of the water; and 4) presence of suspended solids, such as sand.

46. 9/1/202146 Evidence of Corrosion Physical Signs of Corrosion Leaky Pipes Water Has Bitter Taste Greenish Blue Stains Red or Discolored Water Premature Failure of Water Heaters/ Heat Exchange Units Elevated Levels of Copper, Lead, Aluminum, Zinc, Iron, Chromium Check for Corrosion Testing for Cu and Pb and other metals and TDS Corrosivity Testing – Saturation Index Nuisance Bacteria Testing

47. 9/1/202147 pH pH < 7 acidic a pH > 7 basic NSDWR – 6.5 – 8.5 Problems Bitter or Alkali Taste Corrosion Scale Formation Leaching Metals

48. 9/1/202148 Water Hardness The hardness of a water is a measure of the concentration of the multivalent cations (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, etc) associated with carbonates (CO3). Hardness is typically reported as mg /L as CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) Grains per gallon (1 gpg (US) = 17.12 mg CaCO3/L ). Hardness Classification: – Soft: 0 to 17 mg CaCO3/L – Slightly Hard: 17 to 60 mg/L; – Moderately Hard 60 to 120 mg/L – Hard 120 to 180 mg/L – Very Hard > 180 mg/L

49. 9/1/202149 Nitrate + Nitrite Drinking Water Standards(Primary) Nitrate: 10 mg as N/ L Nitrite: 1 mg N/L Health Concern Blue Baby Syndrome- Methemoglobinemia Sources Fertilizers Human and Animal Waste Non-anthropogenic sources (fixation, rock weathering) Atmospheric Deposition

50. 9/1/202150 Nitrogen Cycle

51. 9/1/202151 Sulfates in Water Sulfates are a combination of sulfur and oxygen and are a part of naturally occurring minerals in some soil and rock formations that contain groundwater. The mineral dissolves over time and is released into groundwater. Hydrogen sulfide gas also occurs naturally in some groundwater. The gas is formed from decomposition of organic compounds contained within the bedrock. Problems are typically found in aquifers that are shale, siltstone, peat related, or near surface sources of organic material. Sulfur-reducing bacteria, use sulfur as an energy source and are the primary producers of large quantities of hydrogen sulfide. These bacteria chemically change natural sulfates in water to hydrogen sulfide

52. 9/1/202152 Problems with Sulfates NSDWR Laxative Effect- MCL 250 mg/L Form Precipitates on Piping and Fixtures Rotten Egg Odors Sewage Gas Odors Corrosion Water Heater Failure /Odors

53. 9/1/202153 Summary Keys to Safe Drinking Water (Private Well) Proper Handling of Chemicals and Waste Development of Local Standards Understand Your Source Annual Water Testing Public Education

54. 9/1/202154 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://wilkes.edu/~eqc http://wilkes.edu/~gse