NEWS SERVICE -- 7/31/87

SAFEGUARD WELLS AND SPRINGS FROM BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION

University Park, Pa. Bacterial contamination from poor location or construction of a water system is one of the most common problems facing Pennsylvanians who own their own wells or springs. However, according to water specialists at Penn State, bacterial contamination is also one of the simplest to prevent.

Well Location

Testing water regularly and installing equipment to treat problems are important parts of water supply management, but planning before a well or spring is constructed can help prevent later problems. Since a well's location determines the quantity and quality of its water, choose the site carefully.

The chances of obtaining an adequate amount of water anywhere are good when the ground where the well is to be drilled is mostly sand or gravel. In consolidated bedrock, however, the greatest amounts of water are found in fractures and in weathered openings along fractures and bedding planes. If the lot is large enough to permit some flexibility, locate the well on a zone of fractures, or even better, at the intersection of two such zones; this will ensure a high yield. Such zones can be mapped on aerial photographs taken by trained hydrogeologists. A list of hydrogeologists specializing in this technique is available from county extension offices.

Wells should be located upslope from possible contamination sources, although this alone will not guarantee water purity. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources recommends that wells be built at the following minimum distances from various contamination sources:

      Storm drains                        50 feet
      Sewers and drains from domestic
      sewage or industrial wastes..       50 feet
      Septic tanks                        50 feet
      Privies                             50 feet
      Sewage seepage pits and cesspools  100 feet
      Subsurface sewage disposal fields  100 feet

      In general, the farther the well is from sources of contamination, the

less likely it is to be contaminated. Other sources that may contaminate water are: silos and barnyards, sinkholes and abandoned and active wells.

Any well constructed should have proper casing and grouting so surface water cannot enter and contaminate the aquifer; also, determine the yield of the well at the time of construction. Disinfect a new well using a procedure called shock-chlorination.

Springs

Springs, which form where groundwater discharges to the land surface, often supply water in rural areas. Depending on the geology of an area, the discharge may bubble from a fairly distinct point such as fractured bedrock, or it may surface as seepage areas with no well-defined discharge point.

Although springs can be a good source of water, many do not provide an adequate amount of water throughout the year. Because many springs are fed by water fairly close to the soil surface, they may not provide sufficient flow during periods of drought. Determine the total daily, dry season flow from a spring before developing it as a water supply.

Springs fed by shallow groundwater may be easily contaminated by microorganisms and other pollutants from the land surface. For this reason, no contamination sources should be located upslope from the spring, and any surface runoff should be diverted away. Fencing to keep livestock out of the catchment is advisable. The installation of disinfection equipment is usually necessary because springs are easily contaminated.

Proper planning and care when constructing a well or developing a spring can help assure a safe, sufficient water supply. For detailed information on wells, springs, contaminants, or disinfection techniques, contact your local county extension office.

PENpage Number:08301687

Keywords: AG-INFORMATION-NEWS-PUBS, CONTAMINATION, NEWS, QUALITY, SAFETY,

SPRING, WATER, WELL

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%f TITLE;SAFEGUARD WELLS AND SPRINGS II %f COLLECTION;FARM AND OPERATOR SAFETY
%f ORIGIN;Pennsylvania
%f DATE_INCLUDED;June 1992