NHDESNHDESPrivate Well InitiativesPrivate Well Initiatives

Paul SuscaPaul SuscaDrinking Water and Groundwater BureauDrinking Water and Groundwater Bureau

N.H. Department of Environmental ServicesN.H. Department of Environmental Services

Private Wells40%

PWS GW23%

PWS GW & Surface

14%

PWS Surface23%

N.H. Domestic Water Supply SourcesN.H. Domestic Water Supply Sources

Private Wells in N.H.Private Wells in N.H.

Serve 37 – 44% of residentsServe 37 – 44% of residents Water quality Water quality not regulatednot regulated by by

State (“unsatisfactory water test” State (“unsatisfactory water test” disclosure)disclosure)

Rarely tested as recommendedRarely tested as recommended Exposure to naturalExposure to natural contaminants contaminants

a significant issue:a significant issue: Est. 33% > 4,000 pCi/L state rec. Est. 33% > 4,000 pCi/L state rec.

action level Rnaction level Rn Est. 95% > 300 pCi/L proposed Est. 95% > 300 pCi/L proposed

fed. MCL Rnfed. MCL Rn Est. 20% > 10 ppb MCL AsEst. 20% > 10 ppb MCL As Est. 7% > 30 ppb MCL UEst. 7% > 30 ppb MCL U

YieldYield an issue for 3%-9% of wells an issue for 3%-9% of wells Impact of withdrawalsImpact of withdrawals a concern in a concern in

some areassome areas

Prevalence ofCommon Contaminants in NH Private Wells

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Radon - ProposedEPA MCL (300

piC/L)

Radon - ProposedEPA AMCL (4,000

piC/L)

Arsenic - EPA andDES MCL (10

ug/L)

Uranium - EPAand DES MCL (30

ug/L)

Issues with Well YieldIssues with Well Yield

Complaints regarding yield at new homesComplaints regarding yield at new homes Water Well Board recommendationWater Well Board recommendation

Minimum: 600 gal/2 hours once/day (5 gpm)Minimum: 600 gal/2 hours once/day (5 gpm) Optimum: 960 gal/4 hours (4 gpm)Optimum: 960 gal/4 hours (4 gpm)

Based on well completion reports:Based on well completion reports: 3% do not supply 3% do not supply minimumminimum 9% do not supply optimum9% do not supply optimum

NHDES Private Well Testing NHDES Private Well Testing RecommendationsRecommendations

WhenWhen New wellNew well Buying a homeBuying a home Repeat every 3-5 yrsRepeat every 3-5 yrs Annually (Basic Analysis)Annually (Basic Analysis) Noticeable changesNoticeable changes

WhatWhat Basic Analysis ($30)Basic Analysis ($30)

• Bacteria (TC, E coli)Bacteria (TC, E coli)

• Nitrate & nitriteNitrate & nitrite

• ChlorideChloride Standard Analysis ($85)Standard Analysis ($85)

• 14 parameters14 parameters Radiological ($80)Radiological ($80)

• RadonRadon

• Analytical Gross AlphaAnalytical Gross Alpha VOCs ($120)VOCs ($120) Others if indicatedOthers if indicated

Private Well Working GroupPrivate Well Working Group2007-20092007-2009

NH DESNH DES NH DHHSNH DHHS US Geological SurveyUS Geological Survey NH Geological SurveyNH Geological Survey Code Enforcement, Code Enforcement,

Building InspectorBuilding Inspector UNH Sea Grant & UNH Sea Grant &

Cooperative ExtensionCooperative Extension

Home Builders and Home Builders and Remodelers Assoc.Remodelers Assoc.

Association of RealtorsAssociation of Realtors Water Well BoardWater Well Board Well DrillersWell Drillers Plumbing BoardPlumbing Board Health Officer Assoc.Health Officer Assoc. Regional Planning Regional Planning

CommissionsCommissions

PWWG White PaperPWWG White Paper

Private wells serve large and growing Private wells serve large and growing portion of populationportion of population

High levels of natural contaminants affect High levels of natural contaminants affect significant percentage of private wellssignificant percentage of private wells

Yield of private wells is a health issueYield of private wells is a health issue Existing state & local programs do Existing state & local programs do notnot

ensure testing & treatmentensure testing & treatment Eight policy options describedEight policy options described

Existing State ProgramsExisting State Programs DES Private Well Initiative (outreach since ~2000)DES Private Well Initiative (outreach since ~2000)

Impact difficult to measure, appears short-livedImpact difficult to measure, appears short-lived NH Water Well BoardNH Water Well Board

Licenses drillers and pump installersLicenses drillers and pump installers Addresses well construction, etc.Addresses well construction, etc.

State Plumbing Code State Plumbing Code Requires “potable water”Requires “potable water” Standards not clearStandards not clear

Real Estate Statute requires disclosure of Real Estate Statute requires disclosure of knownknown problems & existing water test dataproblems & existing water test data

Housing Standards requires “adequate supply of water”Housing Standards requires “adequate supply of water” Voluntary certification of water treatment techniciansVoluntary certification of water treatment technicians

Private Well Analyses - DES Lab

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

July

06

July

07

July

08

July

09

Sa

mp

les

/Mo

nth

StandardSanitaryRadiologicals

Most Private Well Testing Does Most Private Well Testing Does NotNot Include Include Recommended Health-Based ParametersRecommended Health-Based Parameters

American Academy of PediatricsAmerican Academy of PediatricsPolicy Statement on Private Wells & ChildrenPolicy Statement on Private Wells & Children

Recommendations to government (May 2009)Recommendations to government (May 2009) States should require testing when a dwelling is sold, States should require testing when a dwelling is sold,

and results made available to buyerand results made available to buyer Local governments should provide access to Local governments should provide access to

information about local groundwater conditions and information about local groundwater conditions and recommendations for testingrecommendations for testing

Testing should be convenient and free or inexpensiveTesting should be convenient and free or inexpensive Small community systems should Small community systems should notnot be routinely be routinely

exempted from testingexempted from testing

Meanwhile . . .

Minority ReportMinority Report N.H. Association of RN.H. Association of REALTORSEALTORS

Opposed to point-of-sale mandates due to cost Opposed to point-of-sale mandates due to cost and delayand delay

Notification of known problems already requiredNotification of known problems already required Standard Standard REALTORSREALTORS P&S form enables to buyer to P&S form enables to buyer to

opt into water testing, incl. Radonopt into water testing, incl. Radon Concerned about potential fines for sellersConcerned about potential fines for sellers Question benefitQuestion benefit

Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc.Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. Chilling effect on home salesChilling effect on home sales Shift of responsibility to sellerShift of responsibility to seller

Both support overall goal; no objection to Both support overall goal; no objection to new new wellwell testing testing

HB 1685 (2010) – The BasicsHB 1685 (2010) – The Basics

New wells and deepening of existing wellsNew wells and deepening of existing wells Pump installer takes sample, sends to labPump installer takes sample, sends to lab Lab sends results; pump installed provides results to Lab sends results; pump installed provides results to

owner; owner signs acknowledgementowner; owner signs acknowledgement

Home sale: prior to executing Purchase & SaleHome sale: prior to executing Purchase & Sale Seller takes sample, sends to labSeller takes sample, sends to lab

• Lab sends results; seller provides results to buyer; buyer Lab sends results; seller provides results to buyer; buyer signs acknowledgementsigns acknowledgement

OR buyer OR buyer opts outopts out of testing of testing

Nothing is sent to or filed with DESNothing is sent to or filed with DES

What’s Next for Private Wells at What’s Next for Private Wells at NHDESNHDES

Model ordinance being finalizedModel ordinance being finalized Work with NHAR on disclosure form?Work with NHAR on disclosure form? Continue mailings to new well ownersContinue mailings to new well owners National Unregulated Drinking Water National Unregulated Drinking Water

Initiative (CDC)Initiative (CDC)