Water Quality Fact Sheet from WVU Extenstion Service

This information is about a new fact sheet co-authored by Georgette Plaugher and Greg Hamons (Extension Agent-Pocahontas County) from the WVU Extension Service Oil and Gas Team. 
 
This fact sheet is the first in a planned 3 part series regarding inspecting, protecting, managing and testing private water supplies.  While the emphasis is on general information about private water supplies, each fact sheet will include information about oil and gas development and how it relates to private water supplies. 
 
Here’s where the fact sheets live: http://anr.ext.wvu.edu/publications

If you have any questions, please contact:
 
Georgette Plaugher, West Virginia University Extension Service
Oil and Natural Gas Education Program, Program Coordinator
Telephone: 304-329-1391

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Inspecting and Maintaining Your Private Water Supply

Georgette Plaugher, WVU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Coordinator – Oil and Natural Gas

Greg Hamons, WVU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent – Pocahontas County

To protect your private water supply and maintain its quality, it is your responsibility to monitor potential negative impacts and prevent problems before they happen. Sometimes this is difficult to do when situations on or near your property occur that are beyond your control. However, there are things you can do to ensure your activities are not impacting your water supply.

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What are the common water quality problems with private water supplies in West Virginia?

 Improper well, spring or cistern construction.
 Poor wellhead or spring protection and maintenance.
 Naturally occurring problems common in West Virginia:
o Corrosive water, low pH and soft water (causes blue stains, metallic taste).
o Hard water (caused by calcium and magnesium which can cause white residue, dingy laundry).
o Iron (reddish stains, metallic taste).
o Manganese (black stains, metallic taste).
o Hydrogen sulfide gas (rotten egg odor).
o Methane (odorless, colorless and flammable, may cause spurting faucets or effervescent water).
 Bacteria, such as coliform and E. coli from surface water, insects, animals or septic systems.
 Manmade organic materials from dumps, industrial sites or landfills.
 Sediment.
 Lead from older copper and lead pipe plumbing systems, most common in plumbing installed prior to 1991.

How do I know if I have a problem?

You may experience changes in your water, such as color, taste or smell. However, not all contaminants can be detected through our senses. If you are concerned, have your water tested at a certified laboratory. It is recommended you have your water tested annually for bacteria and once every three years for pH, total dissolved solids and other possible contaminants relative to your area.

What if I find out I have a problem?

This will depend on the severity of the problem. If the problem is minor, it may be corrected through maintenance and inspection, pollution control or treatment. If the problem is major, a new water source might need to be developed. Explore all your options before taking action. Your county health department can help you with this. Once you determine the best solution to the problem, take action as soon possible. Unsafe water should not be consumed.

Resources — Individual Water Supplies, Wells, Cisterns and Springs: West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Public Health Sanitation Division:

http://www.wvdhhr.org/phs/water/index.asp

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PIPELINE UPDATE: Monitoring Threatened Water Supplies

Please consider a donation for this highly important work!
— April P. Keating, Mountain Lakes Preservation Association, Buckhannon, WV

From the web site:  http://pipelineupdate.org/2016/03/11/monitoring-threatened-water-supplies/

The following project description is based on information provided in the 3/10/16  ABRA Update:

“Downstream Strategies, a Morgantown, WV environmental consulting firm, will examine the potential implications of pipeline development on private and public water supplies and will provide recommendations for water quality and quantity monitoring for landowners and water providers. The report will address both the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline.”

The report is expected to be available in April and will be made public. It will consist of the following sections:

>>> an overview of risks, potential impacts, and other water supply issues related to pipeline development

>>> a description and evaluation of ACP and MVP water supply monitoring plans recommendations for monitoring water sources for quality and quantity in relation to pipeline development

>>> a guide for consulting and laboratory services to conduct water monitoring

Rick Webb, Chair of the Environmental Resources Committee and Program Coordinator of the Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition (DPMC), will manage the study for ABRA. 

Special funding for the study is being provided by support from ABRA members.  So far, half of the needed $10,630 has been raised from contributions by the Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and Highlanders for Responsible Development.

Further financial help is needed!  Please consider making a contribution to support this important study.  Checks should be made out and mailed to: Highlanders for Responsible Development – ABRA (with “Water Study” in the memo line), P.O. Box 685, Monterey, VA 24465.

Surface Ownership

It is important to test local water supplies before gas well drilling is started on any given property. But, who should take the samples, what laboratory should conduct the water analysis, what parameters should be measured, who gets the results, and who pays the bill(s). The State Journal has a recent article that may help with these questions.

If the fresh water supply within 1,000 feet of a gas well is contaminated or disrupted, the driller is presumed liable. So gas companies want pre-drill water analysis results to show any contamination already present. And, residents can use pre-drilling data to compare with data obtained later if some water pollution takes place. Prior laboratory testing is a good rebuttal.