watersheds, non-point pollution, and hydrology

04/19/23 1

Watersheds, Non-Point Pollution, Watersheds, Non-Point Pollution, and Hydrologyand 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://www.water-research.net

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Center for Environmental QualityCenter 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://www.water-research.net

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The Water CycleThe Water Cycle

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What is a Watershed?What is a Watershed?

The simple definitionIt'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 !)

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Watershed MapWatershed Map

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Watershed ViewWatershed View

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Non Point Source PollutionNon 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:

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Sources of Non-Point Sources of Non-Point PollutionPollution

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 !

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Sources of PollutionSources of PollutionCauses 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)

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Primary Aquifers in PAPrimary Aquifers in PA

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Well GeologyWell Geology

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Surface Water & Groundwater Surface Water & Groundwater

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Groundwater Pocono's RegionGroundwater Pocono's RegionBased on the geology of the Pocono's region, the

Primary water quality problems are as follows:

Corrosive WaterLow pH

Soft Water (low hardness) to Moderate Hardness

Iron and Manganese Discolored Water – Reddish

to Brown TintsTotal Coliform Bacteria

Sulfur Odors and Elevated Sulfates

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Coliform BacteriaColiform BacteriaColiform Bacteria

Absent or < 1 colony/100 ml

Testing PurposeUsed as an Indicator of Sanitary Condition of Water Source

SourcesNatural Soil BacteriaHuman and Animal WasteInsect Waste

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PhosphatePhosphate

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.

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Phosphate CyclePhosphate Cycle

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Before and AfterBefore and After

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Nitrate + NitriteNitrate + 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

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Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

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What Can We Do?What Can We Do?Control Nutrient and Fertilizer UseConserve WaterControl Stormwater RunoffProperly Store and Handle Hazardous

WasteMaintain Septic SystemsCommunity Action and EducationMonitoring

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Wilkes University



http://www.water-research.net

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Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves

1. Which ways can groundwater move?a. Upb. Downc. Sidewaysd. All of the above

1. d. All of the aboveAlthough 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.

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Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves2. How is the speed of groundwater movement measured?a. Feet per dayb. Feet per weekc. Feet per monthd. Feet per year

2. d. Feet per yearGroundwater 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.

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Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves3. How is stream flow usually measured?a. Feet per secondb. Feet per minutec. Feet per hourd. Yards per hour

3. a. Feet per secondWater flow in streams/rivers is measured in feet per second.

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Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves4. What determines how fast groundwater moves?a. Temperatureb. Air pressurec. Depth of water tabled. Size of materials

4. d. Size of materialsCoarse 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.

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Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves5. Can the water table elevation change often?a. Yesb. No

5. a. YesWater 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.

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Groundwater MovesGroundwater Moves

6. Does aquifer storage capacity vary?a. Yesb. No

6. a. YesJust 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.

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Wilkes University



http://wilkes.edu/~gse

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Private Water SupplyPrivate Water SupplyA Pennsylvania PerspectiveA Pennsylvania Perspective



Wilkes University




04/19/23 30

Center for Environmental QualityCenter 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

04/19/23 31

Keys to a Safe Drinking WaterKeys 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

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Protect Your Water SourceProtect Your Water SourceThings You or Your Community Can DoThings 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

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Why Test My Water ?Why Test My Water ?

A USGS survey found that 70% of private wells werecontaminated. This contamination could result in acuteor chronic health concerns.

In general, there are no regulations related to wellconstruction, placement, or required testing. It is up toyou to determine the safety of your water.

EPA recommends, at minimum, an annual water test forprivate wells.

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Drinking Water Drinking Water RegulationsRegulations

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).

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Primary Standards (NPDWR)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.

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Secondary StandardsSecondary StandardsNational 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.

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What Should I TestWhat 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

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Taste ProblemsTaste 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)

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OdorsOdors 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

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Sediments and StainsSediments 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

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Impacts Water SupplyImpacts Water SupplyLand-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 AreasWaste Disposal SitesChemical StorageChemical SpillsUnderground StoragePipelinesSewage and Sludge Disposal

Surrounding Water UsersWell ConstructionWell SpacingWater WithdrawalRecharge Areas

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Groundwater Pocono's RegionGroundwater Pocono's RegionBased on the geology of the Pocono's region, the

Primary water quality problems are as follows:

Corrosive WaterLow pH

Soft Water (low hardness) to Moderate Hardness

Iron and Manganese Discolored Water – Reddish

to Brown TintsTotal Coliform Bacteria

Sulfur Odors and Elevated Sulfates

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Less Common ProblemsLess Common ProblemsThese water quality are not common to Groundwater inPocono's Region.

Elevated Nitrate- Nitrite LevelsRadon or RadiologicalOrganic Contamination

Elevated Trace Metals (except corrosion by-products like Copper, Lead, Aluminum, Zinc)

Salty or Brackish Water (some areas)Trihalomethanes

Pathogenic Organisms

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Coliform BacteriaColiform BacteriaColiform Bacteria

Absent or < 1 colony/100 ml

Testing PurposeUsed as an Indicator of Sanitary Condition of Water Source

SourcesNatural Soil BacteriaHuman and Animal WasteInsect Waste

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Corrosive WaterCorrosive 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.

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Evidence of CorrosionEvidence 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

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pHpH

pH < 7 acidic

a pH > 7 basic

NSDWR – 6.5 – 8.5

Problems Bitter or Alkali Taste Corrosion Scale Formation Leaching Metals

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Water HardnessWater 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

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Nitrate + NitriteNitrate + 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

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Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

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Sulfates in WaterSulfates in WaterSulfates 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

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Problems with SulfatesProblems with SulfatesNSDWRNSDWR

Laxative Effect- MCL 250 mg/L Form Precipitates on Piping and

Fixtures Rotten Egg Odors Sewage Gas Odors Corrosion Water Heater Failure/Odors

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SummarySummary

Keys to Safe Drinking Water (Private Well)

Proper Handling of Chemicals and WasteDevelopment of Local StandardsUnderstand Your SourceAnnual Water TestingPublic Education

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Private Water SupplyPrivate Water SupplyA Pennsylvania PerspectiveA Pennsylvania Perspective



Wilkes University



http://wilkes.edu/~eqc


watersheds, non-point pollution, and hydrology

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