Download chapter 2 - Drumore Township

CHAPTER 2
WELL SAMPLING AND NEEDS SURVEY
2.1
Well Sampling Results
In areas which rely heavily upon OLDS
and individual wells, Act 537 planning
requires well testing to identify areas
where the groundwater may be
contaminated by OLDS. In March and
April of 2007, domestic well testing
throughout
the
Township
was
conducted. The sampling evaluation
included analysis of nitrate-nitrogen,
total coliform, and fecal coliform in
drinking water supplies.
According to the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the maximum
limit for nitrate nitrogen in drinking
water is 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
Sources of nitrate-nitrogen include decay
of organic matter, precipitation, mineral
weathering,
manure
application,
chemical fertilizers, and malfunctioning
sewage disposal systems. In areas where
nitrate-nitrogen is greater than 5 mg/L,
the
DEP
requires
preliminary
hydrogeological
evaluations
for
proposed development as part of the
Planning Module for Land Development
process.
Location
Total
Sampled
Total coliform is an “indicator” bacteria,
which also exists naturally in the soil,
vegetation, and intestines of warmblooded animals. Fecal coliform testing
measures mostly Escherichia coli (E.
coli) which is found in the stool of
humans and other warm-blooded
animals. EPA standards for drinking
water require that the water be free of
total coliform bacteria. Therefore, a
water sample with one (1) colony of
bacteria per 100 milliliters (1 col./100
ml) is considered to exceed the EPA
drinking water standards.
One hundred forty two (142) domestic
wells were tested in the Township out of
a total of eight hundred forty nine (849)
built parcels. A summary of the results
is found below:
Nitrate Nitrogen
Fecal
Coliform
Total
Coliform
5-10
>10
Chestnut Level
46
15
23
1
Slate Hill
33
10
20
3
Liberty Square
32
10
16
1
The Buck
31
8
7
0
Totals
142
43
66
5
Total number of samples which are not potable: 79 or 55.6%
8
9
13
8
38
Drumore Township Sewage Facilities Act 537 Plan
September, 2007 Draft
2-1
The above table demonstrates that out of
the one hundred forty two (142) wells
tested, 79 are not considered to be
suitable for consumption based on state
and federal drinking water standards.
Maps 6, 7 and 8 display the results of the
well sampling based on each of the
parameters
sampled
within
the
Township.
2.2
Sewage Needs Survey Results
To further evaluate the status of on-lot
systems in the planning area, a Sewage
Needs Survey was conducted in October
2006. The survey was conducted with a
mail-out questionnaire which was sent to
all property owners in the Township, a
total of 859. A total of 175 surveys were
completed and returned, a response rate
of 20.4%. A sample copy of the survey
is included in Appendix E. Field
investigations of the surveyed on-lot
sewage disposal systems were also
conducted to assess the presence of any
signs of malfunctioning systems. Those
site visits confirmed that the surveys
were answered accurately and no signs
of malfunction were noted that were not
reported.
To better analyze the Needs Survey and
well sampling results, the Township was
divided up into four (4) geographic
areas. Chestnut Level is the area to the
east, Slate Hill in the south, Liberty
Drumore Township Sewage Facilities Act 537 Plan
September, 2007 Draft
2-2
Square in the west, and the Buck to the
north. Initial evaluation of the well
sampling results and the Needs Survey
findings pointed to the Slate Hill and
Liberty Square areas as areas of
particular concern. Of the five (5)
properties in the Township where fecal
coliform was detected in the well
samples, three (3) of those properties are
located in the Slate Hill area. Slate Hill
also exhibited a significant number of
high nitrate readings. Liberty Square
was an area of concern because it
contained a concentrated community of
small lots with a high number of
potential and suspected malfunctions and
that community is located adjacent to the
Susquehanna River. Thus, evaluations
and assessments in future chapters are
focused on those two geographic areas
of the Township. Results of the Needs
Survey broken down by the four
geographic areas are displayed below.
To further evaluate any potential
groundwater problems the Department
of Health was contacted. The
Department records indicate no incidents
of water born diseases within the
planning area.
Sewage Needs Survey Results
Total
Surveyed
57
Area
Chestnut
Level
Holding
Tank
0
38
Slate Hill
2
41
Liberty
Square
0
39
The Buck
0
-
2
Total:
175
Malfunction
4 Potential
10 Suspected
1 Confirmed
4 Potential
10 Suspected
0 Confirmed
7 Potential
18 Suspected
0 Confirmed
3 Potential
12 Suspected
0 Confirmed
18 Potential
50 Suspected
1 Confirmed
Drumore Township Sewage Facilities Act 537 Plan
September, 2007 Draft
2-3