NHDES Private Well Initiatives Paul Susca Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau N.H. Department of Environmental Services

N.H. Domestic Water Supply Sources

Private Wells in N.H.  Serve 37 – 44% of residents  Water quality not regulated by State (“unsatisfactory water test” disclosure)  Rarely tested as recommended  Exposure to natural contaminants a significant issue: Est. 33% > 4,000 pCi/L state rec. action level Rn Est. 33% > 4,000 pCi/L state rec. action level Rn Est. 95% > 300 pCi/L proposed fed. MCL Rn Est. 95% > 300 pCi/L proposed fed. MCL Rn Est. 20% > 10 ppb MCL As Est. 20% > 10 ppb MCL As Est. 7% > 30 ppb MCL U Est. 7% > 30 ppb MCL U  Yield an issue for 3%-9% of wells  Impact of withdrawals a concern in some areas

Issues with Well Yield  Complaints regarding yield at new homes  Water 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: 3% do not supply minimum 3% do not supply minimum 9% do not supply optimum 9% do not supply optimum

NHDES Private Well Testing Recommendations  When New well New well Buying a home Buying a home Repeat every 3-5 yrs Repeat every 3-5 yrs Annually (Basic Analysis) Annually (Basic Analysis) Noticeable changes Noticeable changes  What Basic Analysis ($30) Bacteria (TC, E coli) Nitrate & nitrite Chloride Standard Analysis ($85) 14 parameters Radiological ($80) Radon Analytical Gross Alpha VOCs ($120) Others if indicated

Private Well Working Group  NH DES  NH DHHS  US Geological Survey  NH Geological Survey  Code Enforcement, Building Inspector  UNH Sea Grant & Cooperative Extension  Home Builders and Remodelers Assoc.  Association of Realtors  Water Well Board  Well Drillers  Plumbing Board  Health Officer Assoc.  Regional Planning Commissions

PWWG White Paper  Private wells serve large and growing portion of population  High levels of natural contaminants affect significant percentage of private wells  Yield of private wells is a health issue  Existing state & local programs do not ensure testing & treatment  Eight policy options described

Existing State Programs  DES Private Well Initiative (outreach since ~2000) Impact difficult to measure, appears short-lived Impact difficult to measure, appears short-lived  NH Water Well Board Licenses drillers and pump installers Licenses drillers and pump installers Addresses well construction, etc. Addresses well construction, etc.  State Plumbing Code Requires “potable water” Requires “potable water” Standards not clear Standards not clear  Real Estate Statute requires disclosure of known problems & existing water test data  Housing Standards requires “adequate supply of water”  Voluntary certification of water treatment technicians

Most Private Well Testing Does Not Include Recommended Health-Based Parameters

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Private Wells & Children Recommendations to government (May 2009) States should require testing when a dwelling is sold, and results made available to buyer States should require testing when a dwelling is sold, and results made available to buyer Local governments should provide access to information about local groundwater conditions and recommendations for testing Local governments should provide access to information about local groundwater conditions and recommendations for testing Testing should be convenient and free or inexpensive Testing should be convenient and free or inexpensive Small community systems should not be routinely exempted from testing Small community systems should not be routinely exempted from testing Meanwhile...

Minority Report  N.H. Association of R EALTORS Opposed to point-of-sale mandates due to cost and delay Opposed to point-of-sale mandates due to cost and delay Notification of known problems already required Notification of known problems already required Standard REALTORS P&S form enables to buyer to opt into water testing, incl. Radon Standard REALTORS P&S form enables to buyer to opt into water testing, incl. Radon Concerned about potential fines for sellers Concerned about potential fines for sellers Question benefit Question benefit  Home Builders & Remodelers Assoc. Chilling effect on home sales Chilling effect on home sales Shift of responsibility to seller Shift of responsibility to seller  Both support overall goal; no objection to new well testing

HB 1685 (2010) – The Basics HB 1685 (2010) – The Basics  New wells and deepening of existing wells Pump installer takes sample, sends to lab Pump installer takes sample, sends to lab Lab sends results; pump installed provides results to owner; owner signs acknowledgement Lab sends results; pump installed provides results to owner; owner signs acknowledgement  Home sale: prior to executing Purchase & Sale Seller takes sample, sends to lab Seller takes sample, sends to lab Lab sends results; seller provides results to buyer; buyer signs acknowledgementLab sends results; seller provides results to buyer; buyer signs acknowledgement OR buyer opts out of testing OR buyer opts out of testing  Nothing is sent to or filed with DES

What’s Next for Private Wells at NHDES  Model ordinance being finalized  Work with NHAR on disclosure form?  Continue mailings to new well owners  National Unregulated Drinking Water Initiative (CDC)