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.

WVU Extension Service Educational Programs:  July 7 and July 8, 2015

Public Meetings — Understanding Unitization of Interests or “Forced Pooling”

What is pooling? Who benefits? What does it mean to be “forced”?
What was in House Bill 2688 (Providing for the unitization of interests in drilling units in connection with all horizontal oil or gas wells)? What are the concerns with Forced Pooling? What were the concerns with House Bill 2688? What and when will new legislation be proposed?

Presenters: Joshua Fershee, Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development and Professor of Law, WVU College of Law; Delegate Lynwood “Woody” Ireland (R-Ritchie, 07); *Delegate Pat McGeehan (R-Hancock, 01); and **Senator Mike Romano (D-Harrison, 12). [Delegate McGeehan will attend the July 7 meeting only. Senator Romano will attend the July 8 meeting only.]

July 7 – Blaskovich Community Center, 4453 National Road, Triadelphia, WV (Ohio County)
July 8 – Doddridge County Park, Snowbird Road (County Rt. 50/16), West Union, WV (Doddridge County)

Both programs start at 6:00 p.m. For more information and directions, click here to download the flyer .  For questions, contact Georgette Plaugher, WVU Extension Service Natural Gas Team Coordinator at 304-329-1391 or via email at Georgy.Plaugher@mail.wvu.edu.

More information on forced pooling and SORO’s position can be found in the newsletter and on our website, www.wvsoro.org.

July 13: Not Your Grandparent’s Oil & Gas Industry, Meeting Two

About 200 folks showed up for a recent meeting hosted by our friends at the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC) titled “Not Your Grandparent’s Oil & Gas Industry.”

At that meeting, we heard from lawyers, including WV-SORO’s Dave McMahon and activists like Bill Hughes who have been dealing with shale-fracking issues in other parts of the state. Now OVEC is having a second meeting where folks can share, in a moderated discussion, stories of what is already happening in Wayne and surrounding counties.

Please plan to join us at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 13 at First Congregational UCC, 701 5th Ave, Huntington, WV.

WV-SORO will not have a speaking role at this meeting, but will have a representative present and available to help answer questions.

>>> Source: Julie Archer, WV Surface Owners’ Rights Organization, 1500 Dixie Street, Charleston, WV 25311

WV-SORO Phone: (304) 346-5891,  Internet: www.wvsoro.org

Attorneys at Law -- Moundsville

Understanding Renegotiation and Renewal of Natural Gas Leases

Speaker: Eric M. Gordon, Esquire,  from Berry, Kessler, Crutchfield, Taylor and Gordon, Attorneys at Law, Moundsville

Program at 6:00 PM with Question & Answer Session at 7:00 PM.

Tuesday, July 22: Wheeling, WV – Northern Community College, 1704 Market Street, Wheeling. Local Contact: Norm Schwetfeger at 304-234-3673

Thursday, July 24: West Union, WV – Doddridge County Park, West Union, WV. Local Contact: Dave Snively at 304-873-1801

PROGRAM SCHEDULE and DIRECTIONS

For general information, contact Georgette Plaugher, WVU Extension Service, Natural Gas Team Coordinator at 304-329-1391 or via e-mail Georgy.Plaugher@mail.wvu.edu.

Sponsored by: WVU Extension Service Natural Gas Education Team