Norweco is excited to announce our at-grade bed approval for our Singulair^® residential wastewater treatment system! We are proud to offer Pennsylvania the most affordable and effective residential onsite wastewater treatment system. Our Singulair^® system, accompanied by our award-winning Hydro-Kinetic Bio-Film Reactor^®, produces a clear, odorless effluent that is safely returned to the drain field (NO SAND MOUND REQUIRED).

The Singulair^® system has been approved and used for decades in North America and continues to lead the way in today’s market. Certified and proven in hundreds of thousands of installations, the Singulair^®, in series with our Hydro-Kinetic Bio-Film Reactor^®, is the most innovative, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system. Consider these advantages:

• Precast concrete & HDPE tanks include pretreatment
• Non-mechanical, demand use, built-in flow equalization (surge control) and filtration
• Low electrical usage
• Simple to install and maintain
• No large replacement expenses
• Environmentally safe – no harmful product to replace

Norweco systems are available state-wide through our network of dedicated, hard-working local distributors. For additional information on design applications or where you can purchase Singulair^® systems, give Paul Cannon a call at (419)668-4471 or email him at pcannon@norweco.com. We will be exhibiting at the WWETT Show, the Precast Show and the PASEO Show. Please visit us!

Please mention to Paul you save this Announcement on the Keystone Clean Water Team Portal – It appears this is suitable for flows up to 800 gpd or two single family homes or a house with 7 bedrooms (3 bedroom house – 400 gpd; each additional bedroom – 100 gpd).

http://www.carbonwaters.org
http://www.pacleanwater.org

It is important to Know Your H20? and get your well water tested.

More on sewage options in Pennsylvania.

Lead has been a hot new topic, but not for the Keystone Clean Water Team.  We have been talking about and educating the public,  private well users, and city water users about lead and drinking water quality for over 30 years.  Here are some suggestions to reduce lead in your drinking water.

1. Flush your pipes before using the water for drinking – most of the lead in the water is not coming from the water source, but from the piping in your home or the main water line.  Lead may be also coming some of the fixtures or some of the scale that as built up over time on the inside of the pipes.    The longer the water has been sitting in the piping – the higher the lead content – “SO flush it out”.    (How Long?  – about 2 minutes or until it becomes noticeably cold).    Hint- “Most of the time the source is your water pipes, NOT the main.”
2. Use ONLY Cold Water for Consumption – this includes making soup, tea, coffee, etc.   Hot water likely contains even more lead.  Also – watch the cookware ! Glazed pottery and some glazing used tableware and cookware can contain lead and other metals, like aluminum.  (Watch imported and traditional Goods and replicas !)
3. Get the Water Tested – Ask the Utility to Test, Contact a Testing Laboratory, or conduct an Informational Water Test from a reliable source, but get the facts and do a first flush and flushed test for copper, lead, and zinc.   If you think there is a problem and you have a private water system or well, you may want a more comprehensive test to determine the corrosion and/or scale forming potential of your water.
4. If you have slime coating or odors – Get a bacterial test that includes total coliform, standard plate count, E. coli.,  and slime forming bacteria.

Hints You May Have A Lead Problem

1. Your home has faucets or fitting made of brass that contains some lead.
2. Your home has lead pipes.
3. Your home has copper pipes with lead solder and the home is older than 1989, the water is soft, and the water is used intermittently.
4. You have pin hole leak, blue-green stains, or blue water.
5. Your home was built before 1930s.
6. Piping installed prior to 1986 may have solder and flux that was high in lead – How High?  At one time as high as 50 % lead.   In 1986, the term lead-free applies to solders and flux that are 0.2 % lead and pipes and fittings must be 8 % or less lead.  This did not go into effect until about 1988.

More on Corrosion and More on Lead.   Indoor testing of paint and sources for lead.

Blood lead levels PA cities.

Please do not forget about environmental lead exposure and note foreign products may have more lead- old paint, chipping paint, glazed pottery, some cosmetics, lipstick,  some crayons, kids toys (especially imported),   imported foods in cans, work exposure to lead, lead batteries, imported candles, lead contaminated soils.   (Sources- NY State; FDA)

Please note – This is one reason to Buy – Made in America !

Understanding the Health Risks of Private Well Ownership
Guest blogger / writer – Julie Bowen <julie@palatino.org>

As a country, we are proud of our reputation for having the safest and cleanest drinking water in the world. However drinking water that is procured from privately owned wells is not regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or many state agencies, meaning that the owners of those wells are responsible for ensuring that their water is safe and drinkable. Water from private wells tastes crisp and refreshing, and it can be a wonderful gift to own your own water source. It is also important to acknowledge that many residents living in rural areas have no choice but to procure their water from private wells or cisterns.  However, regardless of the reasons that their water is sourced from private wells, it is essential that private well owners are aware of the health risks involved in private well ownership as well as the myriad of benefits that they can obtain.  

The Risks of Water Contamination

Drinking water from wells can be contaminated in a variety of different ways:  either due to naturally occurring chemicals and minerals, the land use and farming practices in the area surrounding the well, and a malfunction of the wastewater treatment systems operating on the well itself. As a result of this, there are a wide range of illnesses that can be contracted via drinking contaminated well water. These can range from short-term gastrointestinal and stomach illnesses that includes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea to more severe long term illnesses such as reproductive problems, neurological disorders, and other chronic illnesses.  Death by drinking water is not common, but it has happened.  Individuals with compromised immune systems, as well as children, pregnant women, and elderly people, are more vulnerable to the effects of certain contaminates and should be especially vigilant about the quality of their privately owned drinking water.

Two of the parasitic illnesses private well owners should be most aware of are Hepatitis A and Giardia (which is the parasite that causes the illness giardiasis, a common cause of diarrhea). Giardiasis is a relatively short lived condition, that is caused by water becoming contaminated by either mammalian or human feces. The parasite itself is resistant to basic chlorination, meaning that it tends to be particularly resistant to water treatment methods, however once infected most individuals have overcome the illness in approximately 7 days. More deadly are the risks posed by the liver condition hepatitis A, which is a highly contagious illness that is also contracted via the fecal oral route, due to water contaminated by infected feces.  Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection, but the symptoms can be severe and pose a particular risk to vulnerable individuals.

Taking the Appropriate Precautions                      

Because of the risks of being exposed to contaminated drinking water, it is recommended that in addition to regularly checking the quality of your drinking water, and taking the necessary precautions to ensure it avoids contamination, private home owners also secure comprehensive health insurance.  This will help them to ensure that they are fully protected in the unlikely instance that something should go wrong with their water supply, and they should contract one of the myriad of illnesses listed above.                          

The Keystone Clean Water Team (KCWT) is committed to ensuring that home owners with responsibility for private wells are given the support, the information, and the technology that they need to ensure that their well based drinking water is as clean and as safe as possible. The quality of well water should be tested at least three times a year, and the well itself should be regularly repaired and maintained to protect the water that is inside. When it comes to modern well technology, knowledge is power, so it is important to be as informed as possible about what is happening inside your well, and well as any possible risks that you face. The process involved in maintaining healthy well water can seem complicated, and the language involved in the process unnecessarily convoluted, which is why The Keystone Clean Water Team can help homeowners interpret their test results and ensure their water is as safe as it can be.

A few thoughts from the KCWT:

1. When people say may water taste great and looks great – I have no problem – 50% of the time they have a problem that can make them sick.
2. Of these individuals, 50% of the time the problem can be eliminated for a few hundred dollars.
3. Some recent work on lead in drinking water found that 2 out of 3 private well samples had elevated lead; whereas only 1 out of 10 city water samples had a lead issue.  Testing your well water quality is important, but you must understand our risks.
4. Blood lead testing is important for kids – get it done if you are living an older community that has or had historic industrialization.

A few suggestions:

1. Download our free phone App.
2. Get Your Water Tested (Portion of the Proceeds Help the KCWT)
3. Get a Custom Neighborhood Hazard Report
   
4. Order the Private Well Owner Educational Guide

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a series of immediate actions by New York State to address contamination in the Village of Hoosick Falls’ water supply and at the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Site. These announcements follow today’s meeting between the Governor and senior state and local officials.

“We are taking immediate and aggressive actions to protect the health of Hoosick Falls residents,” said Governor Cuomo. “These actions will ensure that the source and extent of PFOA contamination is identified, and all necessary steps are taken to swiftly address the chemical’s presence. My administration is investigating this situation fully, and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure safe, clean drinking water for local residents.”

Emergency regulation issued to classify PFOA as a hazardous substance; Saint-Gobain facility to be classified as a State Superfund Site to unlock state resources and legal remedy to address contamination.

State will conduct Health Risk Analysis to establish PFOA drinking water guidance level; retest private wells in the village of Hoosick Falls; and immediately install filtration systems at school and other community gathering places

State hotline (1-800-801-8092) established to help public stay informed.

EPA – Drinking Water Health Advisory 

NJ – Drinking Water Guidance on PFOA – DEP also has taken the first step toward developing a preliminary drinking-water guidance value (Pdf Format) for PFOA. Based on existing animal studies and estimates derived from a lifetime of exposure (70 years), DEP identified a guidance level of .04 parts per billion (ppb). Average blood levels in the United States are approximately 5 ppb.

The Details

These actions include to:

• Issue Emergency Regulation to Classify PFOA as Hazardous Substance: The state Department of Environmental Conservation today issued an emergency regulation to classify Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the contaminant found in the Village’s water supply, as a hazardous substance. This provides DEC with the legal authority to pursue State Superfund designation and cleanup of the site using State Superfund resources.

• Classify Saint-Gobain Facility as a State Superfund Site to Unlock State Resources to Address Contamination: Further, the state announced it will classify the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation McCaffrey Street Plant and other possible sources of contamination that may be identified in Hoosick Falls as State Superfund sites to unlock state funding resources under the State Superfund Program to address the contamination in the community. DEC has already initiated its investigation and inspected the Saint-Gobain property. If in the course of its continuing investigation DEC finds any additional sources of PFOA contamination, they will also be listed. The Superfund Class 2 designation will allow the state to use State Superfund resources to investigate and clean up PFOA contamination much more quickly than waiting for a federal Superfund designation. In addition, the state will be able to seek cost recovery for the investigation and cleanup activities. DEC will collaborate closely with EPA in the investigation of PFOA in groundwater, soil and other media in Hoosick Falls to determine appropriate cleanup activities.

• Conduct Health Risk Analysis to Establish PFOA Drinking Water Guidance Level: To address the water supply contamination, the state Department of Health will conduct a risk analysis, examining the latest national research, to establish a drinking water guidance level for PFOA.

• Retest Private Wells in the Village of Hoosick Falls: In addition, the state Department of Health will retest 24 private wells in the vicinity of the Saint-Gobain facility.

• Immediately Install Filtration Systems at School and Other Community Gathering Places: Out of an abundance of caution, the state committed to installing water filtration systems at the local school, public health facilities and other community gathering places.

• Blood Testing of Community Members to Begin in Mid-February: Beginning in mid-February, DOH will begin blood testing for community members for those who wish to be tested.

• Establish State Hotline for Public to Stay Informed: Residents can contact 1-800-801-8092 for more information.

Further, once PFOA contamination is addressed, the state committed to work with the community and banks to safeguard property values.

Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos said: “Under the direction of Governor Cuomo, New York State is working collaboratively with all levels of government from the EPA to the village and town, to address the contamination in Hoosick Falls. Classifying PFOA as a hazardous substance and making the Saint-Gobain site a State Superfund site will free up resources to investigate and clean up the contamination quickly. We will continue our open dialogue with local officials and the people of Hoosick Falls to ensure they are informed throughout our investigation and remediation.”

Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said: “The actions taken today by Governor Cuomo, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health will safeguard the residents of Hoosick Falls and help address their concerns. The Department of Health will continue to test private wells, and will soon begin a blood testing program to measure residents’ exposure to PFOA. Additionally, DOH will continue to examine the latest and best scientific research to establish a drinking water guidance level for PFOA.”

Senator Kathy Marchione said: “I want to personally thank Governor Cuomo for convening this afternoon’s highly productive and positive meeting regarding Hoosick Falls. The announcement that the state recognizes the seriousness of this issue and is taking purposeful action that will help Hoosick Falls families is welcome news. Our discussion today focused on realistic solutions including the state’s regulation of PFOAs, testing of all local wells, blood testing and carbon filtration systems to help protect the health and well-being of families in Hoosick Falls. The positive steps agreed to today are welcome news for the community. I have been carefully monitoring this situation and will continue advocating for Hoosick Falls families as this process moves forward.”

Town of Hoosick Supervisor Mark Surdam said: “I am thankful for the Governor’s recognition of the problem our community is facing with its water supply, and for the actions the state taking today. I want to assure all of the residents in the Town of Hoosick that we are undergoing a tremendous effort to deal with these concerns.”

Village of Hoosick Falls Mayor David Borge said: “I am grateful for Governor Cuomo’s swift action to help our community quickly restore the use of our water supply – and am pleased by the level of coordination by state agencies responding to this issue. This is a major step forward for all residents of the greater Hoosick Falls community.”

Hoosick Falls Central School Superintendent Kenneth Facin said: “Today’s meeting with Governor Cuomo was productive and meaningful, and promises real results for our students and parents. We are appreciative to be a part of a singular, concerted effort to rectify the environmental issues surrounding our water supply. As a proactive measure to ensure the health and safety of our students, the state is assisting our school district with the installment of a carbon filtration system. We are grateful for the Governor’s leadership in galvanizing resources to assist our community.”

State’s Earlier Actions to Address PFOA Contamination

Today’s actions build upon DEC and DOH’s initiatives announced earlier this month to address the PFOA contamination to protect public health and the environment. The state urged EPA to take vigorous action on the federal level to regulate PFOA and to quickly add the Hoosick Falls site to the Superfund National Priorities List. The state, Saint-Gobain and the Village are collaboratively working on an agreement to install water treatment systems to remove hazardous chemicals from the Village’s water supply. In addition, DOH is undertaking a cancer registry study to investigate the incidence of cancer among Village residents and biomonitoring studies. Further DOH is offering PFOA biomonitoring to measure the level of PFOA in Village residents.

PFOA was detected in the Village’s public drinking water in 2014. Since then, DOH has worked closely with the Village to provide technical advice and assistance for water sampling and to evaluate water treatment options to eliminate health risks. Because the levels of PFOA in public water were higher than the EPA health advisory level, DOH determined that people should reduce their exposure by avoiding the use of tap water for drinking and cooking. In addition, DOH continues to monitor private wells and will have more results very soon.

Although the use of PFOA is being phased out, it is still used to make household and commercial products that resist heat, and repel oil, stains, grease, and water. This includes nonstick cookware, surface coatings for stain-resistant carpets and fabric, and paper and cardboard food packaging. Studies of people have associated exposure to PFOA with an increased risk for several health effects. This includes associations with effects on the liver, immune system, thyroid gland, cholesterol levels, blood pressure during pregnancy, and kidney and testicular cancer.

Know Your Community Health Hazards !  Know Your H20?
Get Your Water Tested !

“(NaturalNews) An Environmental Working Group review of government water analysis data reveals that 75% of drinking water in America is contaminated with cancer-causing hexavalent chromium (also known as chromium-6). In a widely publicized report, EWG warns that 200 million Americans are right now being exposed to this toxic chemical in their water.

This is on top of our own efforts at EPAwatch.org where my lab tested hundreds of municipal water samples from across the country and found high levels of lead and other heavy metals in 6.7% of samples.

America’s infrastructure collapsing into Third World status

This quote at a recent rally in  Michigan is very true- “”we used to make cars in Flint and you couldn’t drink the water in Mexico. Now the cars are being made in Mexico, and you can’t drink the water in Flint.”” Nor can you safely drink public water almost anywhere in America, as it’s almost universally contaminated with chromium-6, heavy metals or other toxic chemicals.”

To Read More: http://www.naturalnews.com/055408_chromium-6_drinking_water_chemical_suicide.html

Personally – We are the solution, not big govt, we must act to be informed, understand risk, and act.  You can Act NOW! Just some suggestions:

Act NoW !

1. Get Your Water Tested – We recommend the Well Water or City Water Test Kit.
2. Complete a Hazardous Survey Around Your Home!
3. Get or Install a Point of Use Water Treatment Device  (Treated Water for Pennies a Gallon) !

Starting Off the New Year Right

by Brian Oram

Happy New Year, I would like to propose we make one additional commitment this year.  This commitment is to care about the water we drink as we try to remember how we impact or influence the quality and quantity of the water resources.  Although it is the beginning of a new year (wishing you GOOD Luck in 2017!), for the water cycle the new year started in October.  This is the time of the year when the aquifer begins to recharge. Many people are unaware that the aquifer must recharge, it is not infinite.  In Pennsylvania and the Northeastern United States, we are blessed with having abundant water resources, but something we should not take for granted.   In 2016, we had an interesting election year that brought up many concerns. Also in the news, came a reminder of the limitedness of the water.  A number of regions of Pennsylvania were put on a drought advisory and many small streams, springs, and even a few shallow wells dried up, i.e., no water.  With 2016 in the rear-view mirror, I would like to suggest a few small steps to help move us forward in a positive direction.  These steps are as follows:

1. Learn about how and where you get your drinking water – Does your water come from a private source or city water supply source?
2. If the water is from a private well- When did you have the water tested? For parts of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, it is not uncommon for about 40 to 50% of private wells to have a problem that may make the user or a guest sick.
3. If you are on a city water source- Have you ever looked at the Annual Confidence Report about the quality of your drinking water? The most common problem with community water sources is elevated levels of trace metals like lead and chlorine by-products like trihalomethanes, i.e., suspected carcinogens.  For information on water testing, please visit water-research.net.
4. Are you using your water wisely? There are ways to use our drinking water resources more efficiently.   A website titled, wateruseitwisely.com, offers over 100 tips on how to best use water.  My favorite tip is “Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That’s up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four”.  There are over 4 million households in Pennsylvania, this one lifestyle change could save 41.6 billion gallons of water.  This is only one change!
5. Our surface water and groundwater are connected, and “we all live downstream”. This phrase means that how we use the groundwater resources directly impacts the surface water resources and we all are interconnected.  Therefore, when using cleaning products, chemicals, or managing a waste we all live downstream from someone else.   For example, the biggest source of man influenced global oil pollution is not massive spills or leaks.  Only 8% of man influenced oil pollution comes from pipelines and major releases. The biggest sources are the small leaks from our boats, cars, and other means of transportation and the improper disposal of waste oil by individuals.
6. Know Your H20? – it is important to know how you can influence the quality of the water resources, but it is also important to know the historic hazards in your community that may be contributing to a problem. With this in mind, it is important to learn about the historic hazards in your community and surrounding your home.  The Keystone Clean Water Team offers neighborhood or community hazard survey reports for communities within the Unities States.  The 501 c3 offers a few free reports each month.  To get more information about this program, please visit – knowyourh20.us.

The best way to start off the New Year is not with a significant lifestyle change, but baby steps.   Make a few basic commitments and make small changes that will help you and your family save and conserve water, check the quality of your drinking water, learn about the hazards in your community, and perhaps implement 1 item each month that will save and conserve water.   It is important to remember that the less water you use, the more money stays in your pocket.

A few short phrases we should try to remember.

We ALL Live Downstream !

Groundwater and Surface water are Connected!

We are Part of the Water Cycle – Not just an Observer!

You can help – Make A Donation !

Well Water Safety

If your water comes from a private well, you know that the safety of your drinking water is up to you.  At the federal level and in most states there are no regulations that govern private wells, but the CDC and EPA does recommend that you test your well water at least once a year. You may want to check the quality of your water more often if there are known problems with wells in your area or if you have experienced any flooding or land disturbances near your well.  Indications of a change in water quality include cloudiness, odor, and unusual taste.

You can quickly and easily test your well water for a variety of contaminants with TestAssured’s Well Water Testing Kit.  This kit is a great screening test to help you determine the quality of your water.

This single kit includes all of the following water tests:

• Chlorine
• Copper
• Nitrates & Nitrites
• Iron
• Alkalinity
• pH
• Hardness
• Bacteria

Specially designed for people on well water, the Well Water Testing Kit includes 8 tests for a complete water analysis.  You’ll be able to identify the presence of chemicals, metals, and even bacteria like E. coli.

These easy to use tests will give you results within 10 minutes, with the exception of the bacteria test which takes 48 hours for full results.   There’s no need for expensive equipment or to mail samples to a lab.  Each test is calibrated to the EPA standards.  Once you have your results, compare them to the EPA recommendations and guidelines for water quality limits.

Please review and share some of our PSAs on Well Water.
Get our Educational Booklet on Drinking Water Quality for Private Well Owners.
Corrosion Index, LSI, Hardness and Alkalinity – Do you have a problem??

Complete Water Testing Kit – Because it is important to @KnowYourH20 

Whether you have well water or municipal water, you won’t know what you’re drinking unless you test it.  Crystal clear water can contain a number of contaminants from chemicals to metals and even bacteria.  Many of the contaminants that are cause for concern can easily go undetected. They are colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

TestAssured’s Complete Water Analysis Test Kit includes 10 tests that are easy to administer and give you results within 10 minutes with the exception of the bacteria test which takes 48 hours. This single kit includes all of the following water tests:

• Lead Test
• Bacteria Test
• Pesticide Test
• Iron
• Copper
• Nitrates & Nitrites
• Chlorine Level
• pH Levels Check
• Alkalinity
• Hardness

These tests allow you to quickly and accurately analyze your drinking water and are compatible with well water, city/municipal water, tap water, residential drinking water, ground water, spring water sources, and bottled water. The results are fast and easy to read by following along with the color-coded charts and instruction manual. Testing can easily be done in your home, classroom, school, office, or anyplace else where you would need to test water quality.

The Complete Water Analysis Test Kit  is TestAssured’s most popular water testing kit and includes ALL 10 of TestAssured’s at home water tests in one convenient, affordable package.

If you looking for more information on water quality and drinking water, please visit the Water Research Center.

Even though 60% of the human body is water, water is a resource that is often taken for granted.  The primary concerns with water relate to having adequate quantity of the proper quality.  In terms of hydration, drinking water is probably one of the best ways to keep your body healthy.  Water is used in your body to help maintain your temperature and ensures the proper operation of your circulatory, digestive, and neurological systems.   Water is one of the pathways that potential contaminants and disease causing agents can enter the body, so the quality is also important.   Therefore, we need drinking water of adequate quantity of the proper quality.

When the body is not properly hydrated, our body’s response is to make us feel thirsty, but if you miss this clue watch out for dry mouth, swollen tongue, weakness, dizziness, confusion, palpitations, and fainting.   If over hydrated, you can become water intoxicated or hyperhydration.  If hyperhydration occurs, the kidneys can not process all the water and the system becomes overwhelmed.   There are phone apps and other tools to help you to remember to drink enough water, but our general recommendation is if you feel thirsty it is time to get a drink and given a choice pick water.

Water comes in many forms, which can include premium bottled water, tap water, spring water, carbonated water, soda, coffee, tap water, nutrient infused water, juices, and purified water.   Of all these, it is my professional opinion that we just need to drink water.   The two most common sources of drinking water for a community is either public water or a private water source.  A public water source is always regulated by both the federal and state governments and many may call this city water or tapwater, but well or spring water may be from a public or private source.   If you get your water directly from a well or spring, this is a private source and this is not commonly regulated.

If you get your water from city water, the most common health concerns are related to the presence of chlorine-by-products or corrosive by-product in the United States, the public water supply systems are disinfected using various forms of chlorine and phosphate is added to attempt to control corrosion.  The chlorine is used to disinfect the water, but it can react with naturally occurring organics to form trihalomethanes, i.e., a potential carcinogen; while phosphate will react with the metals in the water to form a scale or coating on the inside of the piping, see “Flint, Michigan”.    If you are on well water, the most common problems are the presence of bacteria and elevated levels of salts in the water, like nitrate, chloride, and sulfate, or corrosive water.   In some cases, the water may contain elevated levels of radionuclides and trace metals, like arsenic, iron, lead, and manganese.      The quality of the drinking water depends on type of water, location, level of treatment, the condition of your plumbing, and your home or house.   In some areas, the community is concerned about pipelines and natural gas development, but a hidden problem may be the existing quality of their drinking water.

For citizens, our general recommendations related to drinking water are:

1. City Water Customers– Review any annual “Consumer Confident Reports” produced by your water supplier and act accordingly.
2. Private Water Sources -Get your water tested, at least annually, and have the results review by an expert (our Mail order program) or maybe conduct a in-home screening test yourself and calculate your Water Quality Rank.
3. Look out for potential problems with your drinking water, based on what you can see, taste, smell, or otherwise detect with your senses or problems that may be caused by the water.
4. Download our free “Know Your H20 Phone App” at our website – all Free.

A few short phrases we should try to remember.

We ALL Live Downstream !
Groundwater and Surface water are Connected!
We are Part of the Water Cycle – Not just an Observer!

Websites of Interest

Consumer Confidence Reports
https://www.epa.gov/ccr/ccr-information-consumers

Neighborhood Hazardous Reports and Water Testing
http://www.knowyourh20.us

Have you read your warranty on that $ 1500.00 appliance, GUESS WHAT?   If you water quality is not appropriate your warranty may be invalid.    The same goes for the water heater, other heat exchange devices, dishwashers, clothes washers, and other water related appliances.   At the Eastern Regional Water Quality Conference in September 2017, I meet Kris Toomey from LH Brubaker Water Conditioning.  He told me a bit about his business.

“Appliances and water treatment go hand in hand. The benefits of soft water for appliances are plentiful.  It is a perfect marriage between providing an appliance that improves the quality of life for a family and offering  water treatment equipment to ensure the long-term reliability of the state-of-the-art appliances and at the same time providing a barrier to protect the family.  Providing the appropriate water quality treatment of the household water is like offering an additional “insurance policy” for the house, family, and the appliance.  Not only are you protecting their investment, but you are helping with soap savings, skin and hair benefits as well as protecting the plumbing system, water heater, and plumbing fixtures.   In many cases, this action is necessary to protect the warranty on the new equipment.  There is no better feeling than ensuring that the family walking through your door making an investment in their home is given the right information to ensure the reliability of the appliances. Every fridge that leaves the store has an opportunity for an RO system to provide the highest available purified water option and this additional barrier protects not only the appliance, but also the family.”

Kris Toomey CWS-1
Director of Water Sales
LH Brubaker Water Conditioning

ktoomey@lhbrubakers.com
717-945-5851 ext. 206

Impact of Water Quality on Water Heating Equipment

“The local water quality is one of the factors that contributes most significantly to the long-term
performance and longevity of water heating equipment. Specifically, highly alkaline water will lead to
the accumulation of scale, which will impact the efficiency of tankless and gas storage water heaters and
can lead to decreased equipment life.”

Note:

Learn about the warranty when purchasing a water related appliance and Get Your Water Tested!

“The Groundwater Foundation’s library of FREE educational webinars, available on-demand.”

The Keystone Clean Water Team (KCWT) -Carbon County Groundwater Guardian Program (CCGG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer, environmental education organization which provides homeowners with information on private wells, water quality and quantity, and septic systems. We are dedicated to protecting private well owners from illnesses caused by our drinking water. We advance good groundwater stewardship by raising awareness on a variety of groundwater issues that affects everyone with a private water supply. We can help you get your water tested at the lab of your choice and explain the test results.

Click on the webinar title for a description, presenter information, length, and link to view.

Our Educational Booklet on Groundwater

Looking for a speaker related to Well Issues, Septic Systems, or Groundwater in Pennsylvania – contact:  http://www.pacleanwater.org

The Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501c3 and the main goal of the organization is to educate and inform the public on issues related to watershed management, water quality, groundwater, conservation, and the links between the environment, ecomony, and living within a community.    As a group, we provide educational outreach via are webportals, workshops, and other training programs.  During the past year, one of the most common questions we get ask is:  “What do you think of the “Salt Free Water Softener”,  my normal answer is “It depends”.

For some “salt free water treatment” systems by most common answer is quarky.  I will not mention these systems, but I will refer you to a great website so we do not have to worry about liability  (H20.con).   Of the softener and “salt-free” systems we have been able to seen the field the ones that appear interesting would include the following:

Water Softener (Conventional and With A Twist)

In general water softeners reduce the level of total hardness in the water and when this hardness is removed it is replaced with ions of sodium or potassium. The total hardness can include elements like calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, and other divalent/or mulivalent cations, i.e., ions that have a positive charge of more than one.  These ions are replaced by ions with a positive charge of one.   The system requires an internal resign that acts as the treatment area and a brine tank that is used to backwash and recharge the resin.   These have a long-history of use, but can increase the level of sodium and potassium in the water.  These systems can be vulnerable to bacterial regrowth, chlorine interaction, and in some cases “Iron Out” needs to be added to the brine tank.   A water softner can add in dealing with issues related to more significant scale formation and problems with iron and manganese.  If you are considering this treatment system, we recommend that you conduct a comprehensive water quality test and seek the advice of a local expert.  If you are a DIY, get your water tested and  please visit this portal (Whole House Water Softener / Alternative No-salt Softener (just reduces hardness- Using a Crystal Eagle Anti-scale media ) ).   For the record, we have seen problems when a water softener is added to an older home and system. In these cases, we have seen that water softener was typically removing too much of the water hardness.  When this softened water was introduced to the system, the system experience elevated levels of lead, copper, and other trace metals and because the line was not properly shock disinfected intermittent water quality problems with “dirty and discolored water” (PS: this is Flint Michigan in a nutshell).

Aquios Systems (Aquios FS-220)  (Salt Free)

The Aquios technology uses a polyphosphate/silicate additive in the media to bind or sequester the hardness as a mineral form.  The media is known as Siliphos Data Sheet. Rather than feeding a polyphosphate chemical into the water like is done for corrosion control and sequestering for some municipal water sources, this is accomplished using a point of entry or use treatment system.  The filter has a fixed capacity for hardness reduction, so it is critical to get a detailed water quality test so the system can be properly sized.  In addition, the system normally included prefiltration to reduce or remove sediment and chlorine.

(Aquios FS-220)

Nuvo H20 (Salt Free)

This systems uses a chelatin approach to reducing the total hardness of the water. Therefore, the hardness is bound and sequestered within the media, which is very similar to the Aquios approach, but they use CitraCharge.  CitraCharge appears to be an additive that includes citric acid, which is a weak organic acid.  From the companies website, “The chelant in CitraCharge creates a ring structure to bind the ions to the CitraCharge instead of to other ions, which is what typically causes scale and hard-water deposits.”  A CitraCharge powder is also available to help clean and remove stains in your dishwasher.

Please make sure to get your water quality tested.  For this problem we would recommend, the following for  Well Water or City Water.

Show Your Partner You Care – “Know Your H20”

By: Brian Oram, Professional Geologist

This article was prepared based on the topic of “Romance”.   On the topic of romance, I am not an expert.  I have been married only twice and currently love only one women my current wife.  Robin is great!   Many see this as a time to show the one you love you care by going that extra mile, saying I love you, being more considerate, and trying to at least let that other person know you care and you love them.   Therefore, it is good to have big strong heart and for that reason it is “American Heart Month”.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States and in the month of January my good friend had a massive heart attack.  He is currently doing well.   Since I am not a physician I can only tell you what my doctor tells me   “Make heart-healthy choices” and “Know the risk factors”, and stay hydrated.

Since I am in expert in geology and water quality, I would like to add “Know YOUR H20”.  It is critical to know what you are putting into your body and what you are using to hydrate your system.    Humans are big bags of water.    Since hydration impacts the circulatory system, improper hydration may cause the heart to pump quicker.  There are a number of contaminates in drinking water that can impact your heart and overall health.  These contaminants include: atrazine, arsenic, antimony, barium, cadmium, lead, microorganisms, and selenium.   In general, 50% of private wells in Pennsylvania have elevated levels of bacteria and 8% contain elevated levels of arsenic, and about 40% may contain elevated levels of lead/copper and other trace metals.  Even “city water” may contain elevated levels of trace metals and chlorine by-products that can impact your health.  To show your partner you care, get your water tested and make sure you “KnowYour H20” and the hazards in your community.

PS: Buy native flowers and say I love you !

Keystone Clean Water Team
http://www.pacleanwater.org

Brian Oram is a licensed professional geologist and a soil scientist.  He is the owner of B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc. and the manager for the Keystone Clean Water Team a 501 c3.

During the last week, we received multiple calls about testing for Giardia and Cryptosporidum in Well Water and City Water.  Our response is yes we can help, but is that the best course of action?

We first asked why? Is someone sick – Response – NO!
Then why the interested?
The repsonses:
Newspaper Article about a problem in different area. (2 people)
A friend as this problem. (1)
They saw something on social media.(8)
A water treatment person (plumber) mentioned that my system does not remove. (2)

What is your water source?   Well Water (3 people), City Water (10 people).

Have you had your water testing for Total Coliform Bacteria and general water quality?  Yes (2 people) and NO (11 people).

Do you have a copy of your “city water” annual report?  NO (10 people)

-35%

pH RECHARGE 3F Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine – Countertop Water Filter Purifier – Water Alkalizer Pitcher System – High pH Ionized Water, Super-Fast Filtration, 2.6 Gallon, 12.5 Litre (White)

Price: $84.97

Was: $129.97

My suggestions:

1. Get a copy of the “city water annual report” by calling the water company or going to their website or go to https://www.epa.gov/ccr.   If you need help reviewing, contact the Keystone Clean Water Team.

2. Get your water tested or run at a minimum a self testing.   At a minimum, go to https://watertestingkits.com/ref/10/.

3. Try a point of use filter – Should meet NSF Standards 42 & 53 for contaminant reduction, such as PUR Classic Clear FM-3333B filtration system, see https://amzn.to/2uwQP2C using the PUR RF-3375 2-stage filter https://amzn.to/2pPMguD.

As always, we hope this helps – someone.

Looking to Build Website Traffic (Sponsor)

Get a Step Up on Your Competition for a Job or a Career – Step 1:  Learn,
Step 2: Learn More, and Step 3: Experience and Learn More.
Visit Us: http://online-training-courses.info/

Next Thursday, May 17, the Upper Delaware River Basin Citizens or UDRBC will be holding an event in Narrowsburg, NY to talk natural gas industry progress.

Be there! The UDRBC, lead by Ned Lang and a large group of Upper Delaware River citizens frustrated with the DRBC’s unjust denial of economic opportunity to the region will be conducting an in-depth discussion of natural gas exploration and development. It will feature three speakers including, not only me, but, far more importantly, two very exciting industry leaders who will provide fascinating insights on what’s happening. It will take place from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM at the Narrowsburg Inn, Narrowsburg, NY, will include a buffet lunch and it’s free!

Natural Gas Exploration and Development – The Industry Today, will feature three sessions discussing the progress of the industry today and the outlook for natural gas. The seminar will be held from 9:30 AM to 2 PM and will feature the following subjects;

• Regional and Global Impacts from Shale
• Perspectives on Regional Shale Development
• Legal/Political Implications Concerning Shale (Especially in the DRBC region)

Learn More about this Event

Online Training In Energy and the Environment

Engineers – Needed PHDs
Careers in Energy
Fracking – Environmental Consequences
Workforce Development

I love audiobooks – check this out.
Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

Participate in Earth Science Week’s 2018 Contests

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – For this year’s Earth Science Week (October 14-20, 2018), the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is sponsoring four contests honoring this year’s theme, “Earth as Inspiration.” This year’s competitions will feature the traditional video, photography, visual arts, and essay contests:

• Teams and individuals of any age are invited to submit brief videos that tell viewers about artistic expression that stems from the natural world for the video contest, “Earth Expressions.”
• The photography contest, also open to all ages, explores how people are “Inspired by Earth.”
• Open to students in grades K-5, the visual arts contest is titled “Earth and Art.”
• Finally, students in grades 6-9 are eligible to enter the essay contest, “Finding ‘Art’ in Earth.”

For all contests, entries may be submitted any time up to the Friday of Earth Science Week, October 19, 2018. These contests allow both students and the general public to participate in the celebration, learn about Earth science, and compete for prizes. The first-place prize for each contest is $300 and a copy of AGI’s Geoscience Handbook.

To learn more about these contests, including how to enter, visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests.

Reaching over 50 million people annually, AGI leads Earth Science Week in cooperation with its sponsors and the geoscience community as a service to the public. Each October, community groups, educators, and interested citizens organize celebratory events. Earth Science Week offers opportunities to discover the Earth sciences and engage in responsible stewardship of the Earth. Learn more at http://www.earthsciweek.org.

About AGI
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is a nonprofit federation of 52 scientific and professional associations that represents more than 260,000 geoscientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society’s use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.

AGI is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving the geoscience community and addressing the needs of society. AGI headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia.

The American Geosciences Institute represents and serves the geoscience community by providing collaborative leadership and information to connect Earth, science, and people.

More Student Project Options

Lycoming County, Pennsylvania – Flooding Private Wells

With the significant and long-term rainfall events, we have areas that have undergone flooding.   If your area has been flooded and you use private water wells you must take some action to ensure that your water well is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.    When water wells become inundated or a region floods, it is possible that the contaminated water may enter the water well directly via the well cap or indirectly through natural macropores  (i.e., spaces between the rock or particles of sand and gravel,  in the unconsolidated material or bedrock.  OUR suggestions are as follows:

1. Do not panic!
2. If you are not handy, we recommend that you contact a licensed professional well driller.
3. If you are handy and have power, we recommend that you inspect the area around the well and remove the well cap and shock disinfect the well.
4. We would recommend the well be purged to waste – do not purge the water into the septic system or back directly into the well initially.  When the well water appears clear, recirculate the water back into the well to wash down the sides of the casing.   Please make sure to by-pass any water treatment devices and water filters and do not run this water through your main plumbing of the home.
5. We then recommend that the well and main line be shock disinfected twice.  This is our website that contains information on how to shock disinfect a well and a link to a video that reviews the process and to the preferred chemical to use (Link to Amazon – portion of the proceeds benefits the Keystone Clean Water Team).  Please note- Some local well drillers has this chemical available.   If you can not get this chemical, it is ok in an emergency to use household bleach that does NOT contains scents, fragrances, or other additives.
6. After the well has been shock disinfected and purged one to waste, the second shock disinfection should be to the well and the distribution system of the home.  When you conduct this disinfection, it is critical that you remove all aeration devices, by-pass all filters, and remove any hoses or connections that have inline filters or screens, i.e., your washer hoses.
7. When you believe you have shock disinfected the well properly, we recommend the following:
   1. Screen the raw untreated well water and the water from the piping of your home using a DIY Informational Water Testing Screening Test. (Link to TA – portion of the proceeds benefits the Keystone Clean Water Team)
   2. If the screening test is negative, we would suggest that you then contact a certified laboratory PA by county and have the water tested for at least total coliform and E. coli. using a method that gives you a physical count, i.e., an enumeration method.
   3. If the water is still positive for total coliform and/or E. coli, we would recommend that you shock disinfect the well and distribution system a second time, but use a longer reaction time and then retest using a certified laboratory.
   4. If you are in an area with farming or petrochemical storage or high use, we would also recommend an informational water screening test that includes trace metals, herbicides, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds  (Link to NTL – portion of the proceeds benefits the Keystone Clean Water Team).

PS: Adding too much disinfection chemical to the well is not wise, this can cause the release of arsenic and other trace metals into the water.

The Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501 c3 that focuses on Pennsylvania, but helps private well owners and small water systems worldwide.

For more information about us, please visit our portal.  We have a new educational booklet on groundwater in Pennsylvania.   More Questions -visit us at Water-research.net

If you can – give us a hand – all we ask is you share, retweet, and help promote our social media platforms.  If you can donate – GREAT !

B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc and the Keystone Clean Water Team attended the Eastern Regional Water Quality Association 2018 Conference at Kalahai in the Poconos in September 2018.   During this conference, we did the following:

1. Taught our 1 day course on water sampling, chain-of-custody, and working as a water professional.
2. Conducted a 1 hour training session on what is in my water 2018 by Brian oram!
3. Presented our new tools for the industry
   • Diagnose It – http://www.knowyourh20.us/diagnostic
   • Presented our Updated Free Phone Apps – http://www.knowyourh2o.us/download-our-mobile-app
   • Announced our NEW Drinking Water Educational Booklet – http://keystone.carbonwaters.org/pennsylvania-groundwater-quality-guide
   • Announced our New Training Portal for Professionals

Things you can do to make a difference.

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Order a Neighborhood Hazard Reprot

Visit our Store

Please join Our Pocono Waters Campaign for a panel discussion about clean streams in the Poconos and the economic, environmental, and recreational benefits they provide for the region.

When:     Tuesday, Oct. 30
Time:       6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where:    East Stroudsburg University
Innovation and Entrepreneur Center
562 Independence Road
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

Our first panel will explain and demystify streams regulations in Pennsylvania, including:

• Robert Weber – Unassessed Waters Coordinator for PA Fish and Boat Commission
• Paul B. Wilson, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Biology at East Stroudsburg University

The second panel will focus on everyday resident and recreational uses of streams, including:

• Gary Bloss – Local Business, Josie Porter Farms
• Fred Gender – Poconos Angler
• Chuck Gould – Chestnut Hill Township Supervisor
• Gary Leander – Poconos Canoeist

This is an opportunity to learn about the meaning of “exceptional value” streams and how they benefit our region. There will also be time for you to ask questions about how clean streams regulations benefit you.

Our Pocono Waters Campaign is unifying the community while educating citizens, business leaders, and local leaders about the importance of protecting “Exceptional Value” (EV) streams, highlighting the many ways in which clean streams and economic development coexist in a region known for its natural beauty and booming tourism industry. Clean streams are at the heart of the Poconos where 80 percent of the state’s “EV” streams are located, primarily in Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties. For more information visit www.ourpoconowaters.org 

How to Protect Your Groundwater Resources and Drinking Water

1. Get your water tested.
2. Download our free phone app – KnowYourH20?
3. Get a Community Hazard Report
4. Purchase Our Booklet on PA Groundwater Quality
5. One Link – The Keystone Clean Water Team Store – Visit Us.

Other Online Training Opportunities

Basic Groundwater Movement
Environmental Issues related to Fracking
Stream Ecology- Stream Restoration

For some reason, this year we received a lot of questions from individuals looking to purchase or install a reverse osmosis treatment system.  The first question they all ask was about the features, models, and other details, but none answer the question why?  What was the problem or purpose?  They assumed they needed this system.

So my questions went as follows:

Question 1: Why?  What is the Problem – their answer in all cases was they thought it would be better.

Answer 1: They all thought they needed to install a reverse osmosis unit on their drinking water to protect their family.   They did not identify a problem such as salty water, metallic taste, etc.  When this happens, my first assumption is something went wrong somewhere or there is a new water treatment ad on TV pushing citizens to drink “Pure Water”, i.e., H20 or dihydrogen monoxide, only.  First – Drinking absolutely pure water for the long-term is not wise.

Question 2:  Where does your water originate?  Well water, City or Public water, or shared spring.

Answer 2:  80% said city or public water, 10 % said private well, and 10% said a local spring.

For the city and public water users, I said it was unlikely you needed a reverse osmosis unit because your source is regulated and must meet the state and federal drinking water standards, but after Flint and other cases this may not be true 100 % of the time.  I ask them if they look at the Consumer Confidence Report for their system and they had no idea what I was describing.  I pointed them in the direction of the EPA Consumer Confidence Report  (NOTE: If there is no report online, you will need to call your water supplier) and in every instance the water source was meeting drinking water standards, but they had some occasional problems with trihalomethanes, i.e., chlorine by-products, bacteria, and a few with copper, arsenic,  fluoride, and lead or corrosion issues.   For these individuals, I recommended the following:

a. Get a Comprehensive City Water Information Analysis

b. Based on the initial information and assuming the primary issue was trihalomethanes and chlorine by-products, the primary need most individuals was an under the counter “Point-of-Use” Carbon Filtration System for the Sink, Refrigerator, and/or Shower and in some cases for older homes I suggested a first flush test for lead and copper and then have a plumbing contractor inspect the service lines and plumbing in the home.  In one case, the homeowner found a slimy bacterial growth in the toilet tank reservoir, so we suggested they flush the system and suggested the installation of a water filter canister so they could flush and shock disinfect the water lines in the home.  For a small office, I might suggest a water cooler model.   I do not recommend a Whole House Reverse Osmosis unit.

c. Reverse Osmosis Treatment was not needed in ALL cases.

For the well water users, I asked them when was the last time they tested their water and if the water had any aesthetic problems.  One complained of a salty taste, one was just concerned because of health issues, and the rest reported aesthetic problems ranging from odors to discoloration to staining.   If they did not have a recent water test, we recommended the appropriate water testing based on their description of the problem and surrounding land-use activities.

Homeowners that reported – Salty Water Taste and not near a gasoline station or farming area we recommended a basic water quality test with bacteria.

Homeowners that reported discoloration that was red, black, green, and/or a metallic taste we recommended a basic water quality test.

Homeowners that reported a chemical odor or metallic sheen and located in an area surrounded by agricultural activities or petrochemicals we recommended a test that included bacteria, metals, Volatile Organics, herbicides, and pesticides.  If they reported slimy coatings or films, we added a nuisance bacteria test.

We also directed a few of these users to our Phone App and Diagnose It for a self Diagnose.

At this point, NOT one of these individuals has installed a reverse osmosis unit, but it looks like the guy with the salty water may need a system.  We did find out that about 90% of the well owners needed to shock disinfect their well, 50% needed to install a UV disinfection System, 30% had a corrosion related problem, and 20% had to treat the water for an iron, manganese, or sulfur problem.

For the “Spring User” – we recommend the water be tested for total coliform and E. coli. and general water quality.  If the samples come back positive and there was a concern iron and manganese content we recommended a water test that included bacteria (including standard plate count and nuisance bacteria, iron, manganese, and total dissolved solids).  Some of the users complained about getting diarrhea, so we recommend the equivalent of a Pathogenic Screen Test for Your Drinking Water.  Guess What ! – the diarrhea case was positive for 1 pathogenic organism.   Our recommendation was to not use that spring and if possible have the spring properly abandon.   If you want to use a local spring source, plan on boiling the water at a minimum and use a water pitcher filter (test regularly at least quarterly).

For the guy that needed a reverse osmosis system, he also needed a pretreatment system to deal with the bacteria, hardness, and prepare the water for the R/O unit.    For individuals on city water that want a point of use R/O, we have found that is is typically necessary to prefilter the water to remove particles, add a carbon unit to remove chlorine, and is some cases reduce the hardness of the water.    Please keep in mind both applications are for Point-of-Use and not – Wholehouse RO treatment.

Looking for a Reverse Osmosis Unit – Questions?

1. How much water do I need per day?
2. Does my water require pretreatment?  If you do not have recent water testing data, we recommend this comprehensive assessment (Complete RO screen).
3. How much water will be “wasted” per day and where will this water go?   Some R/O units process 2 to 4 units of water to make 1 unit.  Therefore, you may waste 1 to 3 gallons of water to make 1 gallon.
4. Do I need to install a booster pump- Do I have the proper pressure in my system?
5. Do you need to re-mineralize the water for taste or to increase the pH?

Interesting R/O Unit with Booster Pump

Finally -You may want to be looking for an NSF/ANSI 58 approved systems – You can try this product search. “NSF/ANSI 58 establishes the minimum requirements for the certification of point-of-use (POU) reverse osmosis systems designed to reduce contaminants that may be present in public or private drinking water.  The scope of NSF/ANSI 58 includes material safety, structural integrity, total dissolved solids (TDS) reduction and other optional contaminant reduction claims. The most common optional claims addressed by NSF/ANSI 58 include cyst reduction, hexavalent and trivalent chromium reduction, arsenic reduction, nitrate/nitrite reduction, and cadmium and lead reduction.”  and you most likely want to hire a local trained professional to assist with product selection and install.

If you are looking for Training on the Subject – Visit :  Basic Water Treatment Course (Search Water Supply
(Topics: Desalination, Disinfection, Membrane Filtration)

More -Training – Visit Training Professionals 

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