Understanding The EPA's Secondary Drinking Water Standards

EPA's Secondary Drinking Water Standards

The Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with keeping us safe from contaminants in our drinking water. They have established National Primary Drinking Water Standards (NPDWRs) that set mandatory quality standards for a variety of drinking water contaminants. The regulations are legally enforceable and set Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) to protect the public from consuming water that may be a health. A water test will tell you if you have contaminants in your well water.

In addition to these legally enforceable standards, the Environmental Protection Agency has established National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations that set non-mandatory water standards for an additional 15 contaminants.

What Are The Effects of the EPA's Secondary Contaminants?

There are some problems secondary contaminants can cause. They can be grouped into three categories.

Aesthetic Effects – including undesirable tastes or offensive odors.

Cosmetic Effects – these are not harmful and do not pose any health risk but are still undesirable.

Technical Effects – damage to water equipment or reduced effectiveness of treatment for other contaminants.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these effects.

Aesthetic Effects

Bad odors or tastes are useful indicators of water quality, but it’s important to remember that even odor-free water may not be safe to drink. Measuring offensive taste or odor is a subjective practice and identifying the culprit is not always possible. Some contaminant odors may be detectable even when present in small amounts. It can be expensive to fix and often impossible to identify or remove the odor-producing contaminant.

The EPA has set standards relating to odor and taste. These include Total dissolved solids, foaming agents, chloride, copper, iron, manganese pH, sulfate, and zinc.

Color can indicate dissolved organic material, inadequate treatment, or the production of excess amounts of disinfectant by-products. Inorganic materials such as metals are also a common cause. Detergent usually causes foaming when water has been agitated or aerated by faucets. Foaming is usually accompanied by a taste often described as fishy or oily. These tastes and odors may be caused by the breakdown of waste products rather than detergents themselves.

Cosmetic Effects

Skin discoloration is a cosmetic effect caused by ingesting silver. Called argyria, it does not impair body function and has never been caused by drinking water in the U.S. Today, many water treatment systems use some form of silver as an antibacterial agent, so this may be a potential problem in the future and deserves attention.

Another cosmetic effect is caused by excess exposure to naturally occurring fluoride, especially in infants and small children. Tooth discoloration and pitting can happen when infants are exposed to excess fluoride during the early stages of tooth growth.

Technical Effects

Corrosion and staining not only affect water aesthetically, but they can also potentially damage appliances and fixtures costing the homeowner money to repair or replace. Corrosive water can also taste metallic and show a red or blue-green coloration.

Scaling and sedimentation are other processes that can have an economic impact to the homeowner. The scale can build up inside hot water pipes, boilers and heat exchangers shortening their lifespan and restricting water flow.

Secondary Water Contaminant Treatment Options

While the Environmental Protection Agency does not enforce Secondary Drinking Water Regulations, they do recommend that homeowners monitor, test and treat for these contaminants.

Conventional treatments like filtration and aeration can remove metals like iron, zinc, and manganese. Granular Activated Carbon effectively removes most contaminants, which cause odor, color, and foaming. Treatments like distillation and reverse osmosis are effective at removing chlorides, total dissolved solids, and other inorganic substances. The best solution is to speak with a well-water professional at Skillings & Sons. They can help you determine the best treatment options for your situation.

Fixing Common Water Problems in Old Homes

Old House Water Problems

As anyone who owns an old home knows, these houses have lots of charm and lovely features, but they also come with lots of challenges. Small closets make storage tough. Leaky windows let in winter’s cold and the dark and scary basements harbor spider that make the toughest owners cringe.

Skillings & Sons has more than 40 years of well drilling and water system experience. We’ve met with hundreds of homeowners who have problems with old wells and outdated water systems, offering them solutions to modernize and improve the overall quality of their home’s water supply. Here we’ve compiled a list of common water problems we’ve found in old homes around New England.

Low water pressure

When you turn on the tap, does the water come out at a steady rate, or is it more like a dribble? When someone turns on the dishwasher when you’re in the shower, does the water pressure drop to a trickle? These are signs that you have low water pressure.
If you notice water pressure drops at one source when another water-drawing source is turned on, installing a constant pressure system could fix the problem.  A constant pressure system is easily installed in your basement on the line where the water enters your home. As its name suggests, it keeps the water pressure constant as different faucets and appliances are being used, changing the speed of your water pump as demand increases or decreases. This is an affordable solution that can also help address water pressure issues for homes where the well is located a great distance from the home.

Homeowners may also be able to fix low-pressure problems by adjusting their pressure tank. These tanks have gauges which tell the homeowner how much pressure is behind the water flowing through the pipes. If it is below 40 psi, the pressure should be increased.
In some cases, the problem might not be low water pressure, but “low flow,” caused by clogged pipes or a clogged well casing from a buildup of sediment and minerals, or an improperly placed well pump.

In these cases, adding water pressure will not help the problem in the long term. We advise our customers with water pressure concerns to get a consultation from a professional to avoid damaging their water system.

Lead pipes or lead seals

Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, lead seals and fittings, and brass fixtures, some of which contain lead. Up until 1997, some brass faucets were made of up to 8 percent lead. Lead can leach from these pipes and fixtures into the water if the water has been sitting in them for long periods of time, such as overnight.

This is mainly a concern if your home has corrosive water. Corrosive water is a condition caused by low water pH. Metals dissolve from the plumbing as water sits in the pipes, especially when the water is hotter. Much of the water in New Hampshire, including both surface water and groundwater, is corrosive, so testing your home water pH level is recommended. One sure sign of corrosive water, however, is blue-green stains on tubs and sinks.

Lead can be harmful to your health, especially in children. You can do a few things to avoid health risks, like never cooking with warm or hot water, as they are likely to contain more metals, or flushing your pipes by letting the water run for less than a minute. Skillings & Sons can also advise you about treatment options.

Sediment buildup on fixtures/appliances

There are many causes for sand and sediment build up on fixtures and in appliances. If the build-up white and chalky, leaving a film on dishes in your dishwasher, the cause is likely hard water, a common problem for homes with wells in New England. Water softeners are an easy and relatively affordable way to relieve this problem.

If the sediment is brown and has been staining your clothes, it’s likely iron and manganese. These are naturally-occurring contaminants that are also common in New England and can be treated with some methods.

In older homes, however, the cause could be something more serious, like a well defect or loss of flow due to sediment in fissures.  

Whether there is sediment in the water or your water system just doesn’t seem to be keeping up with your needs, Skillings & Sons can advise you on ways to improve your water quality and increase the flow into your home.

5 Important Facts about Geothermal Heat Systems

Geothermal heating and cooling system

Using geothermal energy to heat a home, business or school building used to be a rarity, but in recent years we’ve seen an increase in property owners making the switch to geothermal heating as a way to cut down on their carbon footprint and run a more energy efficient building.
Skillings & Sons does not install the heating system, but our experienced team of technicians works with the heat pump technicians on everything outside the building, from drilling the well to installing the piping into the home. We’ve put together a geothermal FAQs page on our Skillings & Sons website that includes more accurate information about the well drilling process. But for those who want to know the basics, we posted some information about geothermal heating systems and geothermal wells.

1. Geothermal heat systems are low carbon
A geothermal exchange system uses the earth’s natural, relatively constant thermal temperature to heat, cool and provide hot water for a home or business. The ground heat exchanger transfers the warmth from the earth into the home through a series of pipes buried in the ground. The heat pump connects the underground portion to the inside of the building, and the delivery system is the ductwork or radiator that transfers the warm air throughout the home.
The heat pump is powered by electricity, but besides that, the system needs no other fuel. For many homeowners, the appeal of a geothermal heating system is two-fold. Not only do they save up to 70 percent on their utility bills, but they are cutting down on the use of fossil fuels, like oil and natural gas, that most New Englanders use to heat their home or business.

2. Geothermal heat systems can be installed in many kinds of buildings
Some people call us looking for a green heating option for their farmhouse. Others are looking for an efficient way to heat a renovated school building. There are many different reasons for choosing geothermal heating, and we’ve heard from property owners and property managers both in rural and urban settings.
We have installed geothermal exchange systems in commercial and residential buildings across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Southern Maine, including the Pease Air National Guard base. In 2006 during work on a nursing home, we installed one of the largest geothermal wells in New England with 16 bore holes at 1,500 feet deep.

3. Geothermal heat systems qualify for subsidies
The federal government has passed some laws in the past ten years to incentivize green energy infrastructure, including the cost for energy efficient and low-carbon home heating units. Geothermal heating and cooling systems tend to cost more to install than standard fuel heating systems. However, federal and local incentives can cover up to 60 percent of the cost.

4. Geothermal wells can be drilled on small lots, too
When people learn about how geothermal heating systems work, they often assume it requires a large piece of property and open space. That’s not always the case.
There are two types of geothermal well systems, standing column and closed vertical loop. A standing column well system is common in areas where the bedrock is near the earth surface and is used in about 80 percent of the geothermal wells in the Northeast. To install a standing column well, deep holes are drilled into the aquifer and pipes are dropped into the holes until they meet the water. The system uses the water from an aquifer to transfer heat from the ground into the home.
A closed vertical loop acts in much the same way, except the pipes, are sealed and a special anti-freeze fluid is circulated inside, moving the heat from under the earth’s surface into the home.
Because the well and system pipes are drilled vertically, they can be installed on a relatively small piece of property, depending on the landscape and soil type.

5. Geothermal systems can be used for more than heating
Geothermal systems can also heat the home’s hot water and provide cool air in the summer. Because the earth’s temperature remains constant throughout the year, transferring warm air out of the home and air cooled by the earth into the building has an air-conditioning effect.
Skillings & Sons, Inc. has more than 40 years of experience drilling wells in New England. We’ve invested in high-quality equipment capable of breaking through the bedrock to make the most of the earth’s natural energy and our technicians are IGSHPA certified. Please call today to talk to one of our technicians.

Facts on Water Wells and State Issued Boil Water Alerts

Bacteria and Boil Water Warnings

Ground water supplies can become contaminated with bacteria after flooding. State agencies may declare a boil water advisory to ensure the public is protected from ingesting harmful pathogens. If your community, or even your neighborhood, is subject to a boil water advisory, there are a few things you should know to keep you and your family safe.

When should I boil my water if the state issues a warning?

Public water systems are regularly monitored for contaminants, including total coliform bacteria. These bacteria, while not harmful to humans, are usually found in the same environments as harmful bacteria and are used as an indicator. If bacteria are found in a public water system, authorities will notify residents with a boil water advisory until testing shows the water is bacteria-free.

In private water wells, bacteria can contaminate the water supply after flooding if the structure of the well has been compromised, or if a nearby well has been contaminated with bacteria. If flood waters have risen to a level above your well cap, it may be contaminated and should be tested immediately. Likewise, if your neighbors have reported bacteria contamination in their well and your well draws from the same groundwater source, you will also want to have your water tested. In some cases, the contamination of the groundwater may be such that you will be advised to boil your water.

In the case of fecal coliform presence, the boil water advisory typically remains in effect until a minimum of two consecutive sets of samples show the absence of coliform and any outstanding system defects have been corrected.

How to boil my water during a contamination warning?

First, filter the water through a clean cloth to remove sediment. Next, bring the water to a full boil in a metal or glass container. A large metal cooking pot should be fine. Keep the water boiling vigorously for at least two minutes. Cover the container tightly and let the water cool. Store in a cool place in a tightly covered, clean container.

When do I use boiled water?

There are a few household jobs that are safe to perform with tap water even when there is a boil water advisory in place, such as laundry and watering the garden. However, you should use boiled or bottled water for the following purposes:
•    Drinking
•    Cooking and washing food
•    Brushing teeth
•    Making ice cubes, coffee, tea or lemonade
•    Baby formula

It is OK for adults to bathe with tap water under a boil water advisory, but they should make sure not to swallow the water. Children should be bathed with water that has been boiled or bottled. Washing hands should also be done with safe water. If hands come in contact with contaminated water, make sure to wash thoroughly with soap or use a hand sanitizer after. You can use either boiled water or tap water when washing dishes, but if tap water is used, finish the wash by soaking the dishes for one minute in lukewarm water with a teaspoon of bleach per every gallon of water used.

When boiling water is not advised

Boil water advisories are only used when bacteria is found in drinking water. It will not address contamination of other kinds, including nitrites, arsenic, lead, or other chemical contaminants. If these are found at a harmful level in your water, do not consume the water at all and use only bottled water.

If you have any questions about boil water advisories, bacteria contamination and whether your water should be tested, contact Skillings & Sons at 1 (800) 441-6281. We offer emergency service 365 days a year.