Instructions
: Summarize this information to write a technical report for the homeowner. This report should be succinct, use a technical writing style, and be understandable to the homeowner. Your report should include the following sections and be clearly organized with headers and subheaders. Any references or ordinances that you cite in your report should include a full reference and link so the information can be easily accessed by the homeowner. Line spacing should be 1.5 or double spaced, and standard font should be used (e.g. Calibri 12pt, Arial 12pt, Time New Roman 12pt). This will be a brief report and should be no more than 4 pages.
1.Objective –
Summarize the goal of an initial sanitary survey in a few sentences. (5pts)
2.Findings & Recommendation-
Summarize your findings from this sanitary survey. For each question below, explain your findings so that the homeowner would understand the results and what it means for their health and their immediate environmental quality, and if needed you should recommend any necessary treatment and/or next steps the homeowner should take to make sure their well water is of high quality (50 pts)
Is it corrosive or scale forming? Hint, calculate the Saturation Index to figure this out.
Is the water quality considered acceptable or not?
Are there any visible issues with the well head?
Are there any visible issues within the home?
Are there any visible issues with the septic tank or with the soil perc test?
3.General well and septic safety guidance –
Summarize information that any homeowner should know about maintaining a well and septic tank safety including what tests they should conduct, testing schedules, inspections they should do themselves, and inspections they should have done professionally. (15 pts)
4.Regulatory guidance –
In a few sentences, summarize any Federal, State, or Local regulations and ordinances that are relevant for private wells and septic tanks. In a few sentences also explain the health effects that can be caused by the contaminated well water and failing septic tanks. (30 pts)
H599 Environmental Monitoring for
Human Health
Homework #4- Well Water Survey
Background: Approximately 28% of Oregonian households rely on private wells for their potable water.
Groundwater can be a source of high quality drinking water, but aquifers are vulnerable to
contamination and household plumbing can contribute to water contamination.
An Oregonian homeowner read an article in the local newspaper that described how their local health
department was offering free sanitary surveys and basic water testing for local homeowners. Intrigued,
they decided to participate in the domestic well water safety program; and you were sent to their home
to conduct an initial survey of the property.
You interview the homeowner, look through records, and walk the property. You find out that this home
was built in 1974 and relies on a private well for its water that is 253’ deep. The home relies on a septic
tank and the average soil perc test in the drain field was 20 minutes per inch (mpi). The homeowners
reported that the kitchen and bathrooms were remodeled in 2014 during which the faucet fixtures and
toilets were replaced. The homeowners had the water tested for arsenic, nitrate, and coliform when
they moved into the home in 2014 per the real estate transaction rule. The data is presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Water quality test results.
Parameter
Temperature (F)
pH
Total Alkalinity (ppm)
Calcium Hardness (ppm)
Arsenic (mg/L)
Nitrate (mg/L)
Coliform (per 100mL)
E. coli (per 100mL)
MDL = 0.003
Results
40
7.4
180
110
ND*
5
Present
Absent
A visual survey was conducted of the well head, pressurized water tank, interior plumbing
fixtures in the home, and septic tank (Figure 1 – 11).
Figure 1. Exterior cover of well head
is a fake rock.
Page 1 of 4
Figure 2. Interior cover of well head
is insulated bag.
Figure 3. Exposed well head (front
angle and side angle)
Figure 4. Tank room inside home
(visible is electrical panel, well head
pressure monitor on wall, pressure
tank with pipe going into home (left
lower), and 50 micron water filter
(right lower).
Figure 5. Pressure gauge readings
before (70psi) and after (60psi) the
50 micron water filter system. Extra
filter resting on top.
Page 2 of 4
Figure 6: UV light system located
after the 50 micron filter. Date of
replacement listed as 7/8/20.
Figure 7. Picture of sink in master
bath. Similar condition as other
bathroom sinks.
Figure 8. Picture of metal fixture
inside the toilet tank.
Figure 9. Aerator filter inside kitchen
faucet (green piece) and part of
kitchen faucet.
Figure 10. Cover removed to look
inside the septic tank.
Page 3 of 4
Figure 11. Picture of the septic tank
drain field.
Instructions: Summarize this information to write a technical report for the homeowner. This
report should be succinct, use a technical writing style, and be understandable to the
homeowner. Your report should include the following sections and be clearly organized with
headers and subheaders. Any references or ordinances that you cite in your report should
include a full reference and link so the information can be easily accessed by the homeowner.
Line spacing should be 1.5 or double spaced, and standard font should be used (e.g. Calibri
12pt, Arial 12pt, Time New Roman 12pt). This will be a brief report and should be no more than
4 pages.
1. Objective – Summarize the goal of an initial sanitary survey in a few sentences. (5pts)
2. Findings & Recommendation- Summarize your findings from this sanitary survey. For each question
below, explain your findings so that the homeowner would understand the results and what it means
for their health and their immediate environmental quality, and if needed you should recommend
any necessary treatment and/or next steps the homeowner should take to make sure their well
water is of high quality (50 pts)
• Is it corrosive or scale forming? Hint, calculate the Saturation Index to figure this out.
• Is the water quality considered acceptable or not?
• Are there any visible issues with the well head?
• Are there any visible issues within the home?
• Are there any visible issues with the septic tank or with the soil perc test?
3. General well and septic safety guidance – Summarize information that any homeowner should know
about maintaining a well and septic tank safety including what tests they should conduct, testing
schedules, inspections they should do themselves, and inspections they should have done
professionally. (15 pts)
4. Regulatory guidance –In a few sentences, summarize any Federal, State, or Local regulations and
ordinances that are relevant for private wells and septic tanks. In a few sentences also explain the
health effects that can be caused by the contaminated well water and failing septic tanks. (30 pts)
Page 4 of 4
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