The Proper Location and Constructionof a

Residential Water Well

Private Water SupplyA Pennsylvania Perspective

Mr. Brian Oram, PG Mr. Brian Oram, PG Professional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well DrillerProfessional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well Driller

Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality

Wilkes UniversityWilkes University

GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering DepartmentGeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department

Wilkes Barre, PA 18766Wilkes Barre, PA 18766

http://www.water-research.nethttp://www.water-research.net

New Website !New Website !

Center for Environmental Quality

Non-profit/ equal opportunity employer, is operated andNon-profit/ equal opportunity employer, is operated and

managed, within the GeoEnvironmental Sciences andmanaged, within the GeoEnvironmental Sciences and

Environmental Engineering Department at Wilkes UniversityEnvironmental Engineering Department at Wilkes University

Outreach Programs Outreach Programs Environmental and Professional Education and TrainingEnvironmental and Professional Education and Training Applied ResearchApplied Research Community and Business Outreach ProgramsCommunity and Business Outreach Programs

Website: http://www.water-research.netWebsite: http://www.water-research.net

State and Federal Regulation

Currently No Federal Or Pennsylvania State Regulations Currently No Federal Or Pennsylvania State Regulations Related to Private Water Well Construction. Related to Private Water Well Construction.

Pennsylvania has over 1 million households on Private Pennsylvania has over 1 million households on Private Wells.Wells.

Pennsylvania one of 4 states that has no private water Pennsylvania one of 4 states that has no private water well construction standards, via regulation.well construction standards, via regulation.

PA does not really have a comprehensive certification PA does not really have a comprehensive certification program for drilling contractors and operators.program for drilling contractors and operators.

State Regulations (Existing/ Proposed)

Pennsylvania Has Drillers Licensing ProgramPennsylvania Has Drillers Licensing Programhttp://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/groundwater/act610.htmhttp://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/groundwater/act610.htm

Act 537: Chapter 73: Minimum Isolation Distance Act 537: Chapter 73: Minimum Isolation Distance On-lot Septic System and Components and Private WellOn-lot Septic System and Components and Private Well

House Bill 1591House Bill 1591Proposed LegislationProposed Legislation: Private Well Construction Regulations: Private Well Construction Regulations

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2001/0/HB1591P2920.HTMhttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2001/0/HB1591P2920.HTM

Local Agency

The Pennsylvania State Association of TownshipThe Pennsylvania State Association of TownshipSupervisors Surveyed second class townships acrossSupervisors Surveyed second class townships acrossthe state regarding water well ordinances and waterthe state regarding water well ordinances and waterwell related problems. Of the 1,457 townshipwell related problems. Of the 1,457 townshipacross the state:across the state:

601 townships responded to the survey601 townships responded to the survey 39 of 601 townships maintain water well 39 of 601 townships maintain water well

construction ordinancesconstruction ordinances 21 townships were considering and ordinance21 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 DEPARTMENTMONTGOMERY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

INDIVIDUAL WATER SUPPLY WELL CONSTRUCTION INDIVIDUAL WATER SUPPLY WELL CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS (partial listing)SPECIFICATIONS (partial listing)

Delineated wetlands or floodplains (25 feet)Delineated wetlands or floodplains (25 feet)

Surface waters (25 feet) Storm water Systems (25 feet) Surface waters (25 feet) Storm water Systems (25 feet) Spray Irrigation/ Septage Disposal (100 feet) Spray Irrigation/ Septage Disposal (100 feet)

Farm silos / manure storage (200 feet) Septic Systems (100 feet)Farm silos / manure storage (200 feet) Septic Systems (100 feet)

Septic Tanks/Holding Tanks (50 feet)Septic Tanks/Holding Tanks (50 feet)

Chemical Storage/Preparation Area (300 feet)Chemical Storage/Preparation Area (300 feet)

More Information at More Information at http://www.h2otest.com/regs/pa/montgomery/http://www.h2otest.com/regs/pa/montgomery/

Too Close to the Road

Potential Problems1) Damaged Casing2) Chemical Spills3) Road Salting Agents4) Chemical Sprays5) Vandalism

Well Cap Not Secure

Standard Well Cap Sanitary Well Cap

Allow entry for insects, small animals Sealed to prevent contamination

Well Construction Options for Private Wells

Poor construction can affect drinking water Poor construction can affect drinking water qualityquality

Poor construction can contribute, promote, and Poor construction can contribute, promote, and facilitate pollution and contamination of the facilitate pollution and contamination of the groundwater aquifergroundwater aquifer

Proper construction can prolong the life and Proper construction can prolong the life and yield of the wellyield of the well

Why Care About Well Construction ?

A Properly Constructed (Sanitary) Residential Water Well Has:

casing that extends at least 15 feet into firm bedrock casing that extends at least 15 feet into firm bedrock or 40 feet below ground, whichever is greateror 40 feet below ground, whichever is greater

casing of adequate wall thickness (meet PADEP casing of adequate wall thickness (meet PADEP Requirements Community Water Supplies)Requirements Community Water Supplies)

a drive shoe on the bottom of the casinga drive shoe on the bottom of the casing

Well Construction Open Hole Bedrock Well

Standard Well Cap “The Unsanitary Well Cap”

Insects, Larvae and Insects, Larvae and Nests / Egg MassesNests / Egg Masses

Mouse ColoniesMouse Colonies SnakesSnakes BeehivesBeehives Mud - when casing to Mud - when casing to

close to groundclose 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 PipeTremie 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 casing that extends at least 15 feet into firm bedrock or 40 feet below gradeor 40 feet below grade

casing of adequate wall thicknesscasing of adequate wall thickness a driveshoe on the bottom of the casinga driveshoe on the bottom of the casing grout sealing the casing up to the surfacegrout sealing the casing up to the surface a sealed well cap with a screened venta sealed well cap with a screened vent a pitless adapter where the water line passes through a pitless adapter where the water line passes through

the casingthe casing

Protect Your Water SourceThings You or Your Community Can Do

Periodically InspectPeriodically Inspect Drain Surface Water AwayDrain Surface Water Away Install Sanitary Seal Install Sanitary Seal Annual Testing Annual Testing Maintain RecordsMaintain Records Start a Community Based Start a Community Based

Groundwater Education ProgramGroundwater Education Program Carbon County Groundwater Carbon County Groundwater

GuardiansGuardianshttp://www.webdesignpros.net/groundwaterhttp://www.webdesignpros.net/groundwater

Proper Abandonment Proper Abandonment Chemical Storage, Disposal Chemical Storage, Disposal

and Useand Use Keep Wellhead Above Keep Wellhead Above

GradeGrade Proper Well LocationProper Well Location Septic System MaintenanceSeptic System Maintenance Recycle used Oil and Recycle used Oil and

Participate in Hazardous Participate in Hazardous Chemical Disposal Chemical Disposal ProgramsPrograms

Well OrdinanceWell Ordinance

Why an Ordinance?Primary reasons for the ordinances Primary reasons for the ordinances included:included:Improper Well ConstructionImproper Well ConstructionIncidents of Well ContaminationIncidents of Well Contamination

Improper SitingImproper SitingInterconnection with Contaminated SiteInterconnection with Contaminated SiteInduce Contamination – Lack of GroutingInduce Contamination – Lack of GroutingNo Testing Requirements to ensure No Testing Requirements to ensure potabilitypotability

Overuse of the Groundwater Aquifer.Overuse of the Groundwater Aquifer.Online Directory of State Water Well

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

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

Private Water SupplyA Pennsylvania Perspective

Mr. Brian Oram, PG Mr. Brian Oram, PG Professional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well DrillerProfessional Geologist, PASEO, Licensed Well Driller

Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality Lab Director, Center for Environmental Quality

Wilkes UniversityWilkes University

GeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering DepartmentGeoEnvironmental Sciences and Engineering Department

Wilkes Barre, PA 18766Wilkes Barre, PA 18766

http://www.water-research.nethttp://www.water-research.net

New Website !New Website !

Pulling the Casing

Decommissioning the Well

A Properly Decommissioned Well