Winter 2013

®®

Control Your WellRemote monitoring can impactyour bottom line, page 10Also inside:—Safety in Disasters, page 20

Winter 2013

Participate in National Groundwater Awareness Week, page 8

Solinst Canada Ltd., 35 Todd Road, Georgetown, ON L7G 4R8 Fax: +1 (905) 873-1992; (800) 516-9081 Tel: +1 (905) 873-2255; (800) [email protected]

www.solinst.com

High Quality Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Instrumentation

Laser MarkedWater Level Meters

101 P7 Water Level MeterThe Solinst 101 Water Level Meter with P7 Probe features an extremely durable, laser marked PVDF flat tape, with an enhanced dog bone design to reduce adherence to the side of well casing.

P7 Submersible Probe measures water levels and total well depthConsistent measurements with sensor located at the tip of probe Certified Traceable to National Standards

The PVDF flat tape is laser marked every 1/100 ft or each mm; lengths up to 5000 ft (1500 m). Flat tape has robust tensile strength and electrical efficiency by using 6 strands of copper coated stainless steel and 13 strands of stainless steel in each conductor. P7 Probe is engineered to allow submersion to 1000 ft. (300 m). Sensor at the tip of the probe provides consistently accurate measurements in wells, boreholes, and cascading water, with almost zero displacement.

102 Water Level Meter

Levelogger Junior Edge

Peristaltic Pump

Precise laser markings every 1/100 ft or each mmTwo narrow diameter probe optionsEasily spliced strong flexible cable

Standard 102 Water Level Meter lengths to 1000 ft (300 m). The 102M Mini Water Level Meter 80 ft (25 m) length.

The Levelogger Junior Edge is a cost-effective water level and temperature datalogger. It features a Hastelloy pressure sensor, 5-year battery (based on one reading / minute), and memory for 40,000 level and temperature data points. Levelogger Junior Edge has an accuracy of 0.1% FS. Available in 5m (15ft) or 10m (30ft) ranges.

Compact and lightweight, the Solinst 12V Peristaltic Pump is designed for field use. Variable speed motor control delivers from 120 ml/min to almost 3.5L/min pumping rates.

5:31 PM

About the coverThe Sylacauga Utilities Board’s radio frequency communications tower andpower supply stands above the tree linein Sylacauga, Alabama. Photo submitted by Darol W. Russell of the Sylacauga Utilities Board.

®®

Control You

r Well

Remote mo

nitoring can

impact

your bottom

line, page 1

0

Also inside:

—Safety in Disasters,

page 20

Winter 201

3

Participate

in National

Groundwate

r Awareness

Week, page

8

Public Groundwater Systems Journal Winter 2013 1/www.NGWA.org

Page 16

Page 10

20 Safety Matters by Gary Ganson, CIH, CSPSafety in DisastersPart 1: Disaster preparedness is the key to keeping workers safe on the job.

The views expressed in the columns are the authors’ opinions based on their professionalexperience.

COLUMN

2 Editor’s Note: Saying “Good Job” Takes Only a Few Seconds

3 In This Issue3 Index of Advertisers4 What You’re Saying5 Industry Newsline8 The Log9 Web Notes

22 Coming Events22 Newsmakers23 Featured Products24 PUBLIC GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS JOURNAL

Qualification Form

DEPARTMENTS

The Public Groundwater Systems Journal (ISSN #2166-6512) is published quarterly by the National Ground Water Association, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081.Printed and mailed at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and additional mailing offices. Postal acceptance: Periodical (requester subscription circulation) postage paidat Westerville, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Public Groundwater Systems Journal, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081.Canada Post/ Publications Mail Agreement #40739533. Return address: 4960-2 Walker Rd., Windsor, ON N9A 6J3.

Vol. 2, No. 1Winter 2013

10 Control Your WellBy Darol W. Russell and Reay Culp

Remote well monitoring can impact your bottom line.

12 PUBLIC GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS JOURNAL Q & ABy Mike Price

Bob Gray, PG, senior hydrogeologist for Daniel B. Stephens & Associates Inc.

16 Phosphate-Based ChemistriesBy Michael Schnieders, PG, PH-GW

Make sure you understand everything you canabout the use of phosphates in well systems.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Aperson on herway to a meetingat a hotel paused

when she was about topass a coffee shop.

Incredibly, it wasn’tthe smell of fresh roastedjava that halted her in hertracks. She remembered someone whowould be at the meeting had been doinga bang-up job of late. So this personwent in the shop, purchased a cup ofcoffee, and gave it to the fellow attendeealong with a hearty thank you when shearrived at the meeting.

It was a gesture that took only a fewextra minutes and a few extra bucks.But it most likely made an impact that is immeasurable—months and monthsof hard work from a now extra excitedemployee.

The person who purchased the coffeeis the assistant director of human re-sources at The Broadmoor, a five-starresort in Colorado Springs, Colorado,where the customer service deserves asixth star.

And it’s obvious why. Every man-ager at the resort could tell you dozensof personal stories similar to the coffeebecause recognition is part of their philosophy.

“If it takes you longer than five sec-onds to remember the last time you toldsomeone they’re doing a great job, it’sbeen too long,” the director added afterrecalling her story to me.

Wow.How long has it been for you?

I admit I can get caught up in the day-to-day processes of making sure itemsget checked off the to-do list and canforget those helping me. Yes, it took me

longer than five seconds to remembermy last thank you.

It won’t ever take that long againthough.

Saying “thanks” or “good job” iseasy and so helpful. Sometimes the no-tice of a manager or boss is what trulykeeps employees going when the task istough or the hours are long.

And sometimes recognition doesmore. It can be the fuel that drives employees to go above and beyond the typical. When employee investmentreaches that level, you’ll get perform-ances that could truly impact your company’s bottom line.

The employee recognition programat The Broadmoor is over the top—andthey’ve designed it that way. The annualemployee of the year is treated to an all expenses paid vacation for his or herfamily.

The assistant director of human re-sources said, “When it’s announced, wewant it to be a cry on the stage type ofmoment like the Academy Awards” and“We want our employees to want thatmoment.”

Obviously, most of our companiesare not the size of The Broadmoor andcan’t dole out such a prize. But the phi-losophy behind it is exactly like the freecoffee.

And we should all think of a col-league doing a great job when the smellof coffee hits our nose from time totime.

Thad Plumley is the editor of Public GroundwaterSystems Journal and director of publications atthe NationalGround Water Association. He can bereached at [email protected].

Saying ‘Good Job’ Takes Only a Few Seconds

EDITOR’S NOTE

www.NGWA.org2/ Winter 2013 Public Groundwater Systems Journal

DisclaimerPublic Groundwater Systems Journal andthe National Ground Water Associationprovide information for guidance andinformation purposes only. This publica-tion is not intended to provide invest-ment, tax, or legal advice.

The information contained herein hasbeen compiled from sources deemed reliable and it is accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief; however,Public Groundwater Systems Journal andthe National Ground Water Associationcannot guarantee as to its accuracy,completeness, and validity and cannotbe held liable for any errors or omissions.All information contained herein shouldbe independently verified and confirmed.

Public Groundwater Systems Journaland the National Ground Water Associa-tion do not accept any liability for anyloss or damage howsoever caused in reliance upon such information.

Reader agrees to assume all risk resulting from the application of any of the information provided by PublicGroundwater Systems Journal and theNational Ground Water Association.

Trademarks and copyrights mentionedwithin Public Groundwater SystemsJournal are the ownership of their re-spective companies. The names of prod-ucts and services presented are usedonly in an educational fashion and to the benefit of the trademark andcopyright owner, with no intention ofinfringing on trademarks or copyrights.

No endorsement of any third-partyproducts or services is expressed or implied by any information, material, or content referred to in the PublicGroundwater Systems Journal.

Advertising DisclaimerAdvertisers and advertising agencies as-sume liability for all content (includingtext, representation, and illustrations) ofadvertisements printed and also assumeresponsibility for any claims arisingtherefrom made against the publisher.The publisher reserves the right to rejectany advertising that it believes is not inkeeping with the publication's standardsor is deemed unsuitable or misleading.

Advertise your products and services to the groundwater industry’smost influential readership.Call Shelby Fleck and Vickie Wiles in the NGWA sales department at(800) 551-7379.● Approximately 25,000 readers every issue.● More than 20,000 work at community groundwater systems.

Others reside in professions also allied to the field.● Readers reside in every state.

Vickie Wiles

Shelby Fleck

IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome to the first issue of 2013 for Public Ground-water Systems Journal, a

publication created by the NationalGround Water Association for thoseworking at public water systems servedby groundwater. The publication madeits debut last year with two issues andmoves to its regular quarterly formatthis year.

You are receiving the journal as youwork at one of the more than 40,000community water systems in the UnitedStates. Public Groundwater SystemsJournal is designed to aid you in yourprofessional needs as it contains a mixof feature stories, columns, and depart-ments authored by professionals in thefield as well as award-winning authors.

Freelance writers Darol W. Russelland Reay Culp detail how remote wellmonitoring can impact your system in the winter issue’s cover story. In“Control Your Well” on page 10, theyprovide a case study on a well providingwater for the Sylacauga Utilities Boardin Sylacauga, Alabama. They point outthat developing a production well re-quires local water knowledge and expe-rience in current process controls. Thebackbone, though, is reliable communi-cations. Monitoring a remote well siteand having the capability to make ad-justments from a central location willgreatly reduce additional man-hours andultimately the overall cost of operations.

In this issue’s Public GroundwaterSystems Journal Q & A on page 12, As-sociate Editor Mike Price spoke withBob Gray, PG, senior hydrogeologistfor Daniel B. Stephens & AssociatesInc. (DBS&A) in Albuquerque, NewMexico. DBS&A won the 2011 NationalGround Water Association® OutstandingGroundwater ProjectAward for outstandingscience, engineering, andcontractor innovation inthe area of supplyinggroundwater. The awardwas given for DBS&A’s$9 million project in-volving the design of a new wellfield inPotter County, Texas. DBS&A used athree-dimensional hydrostratigraphicmodel to optimize well site selectionand modeled groundwater drawdownimpacts from an existing nearby well-field. The data was used to develop awellfield design that minimizes localdrawdown impacts and balances pump-ing demands between the two well-fields. A project team member, Graytalks in-depth about working on thegroundwater development project.

The feature story “Phosphate-BasedChemistries” on page 16 by MichaelSchnieders, PG, PH-GW, points out thatphosphates have been used for a numberof years in water treatment to reducescale formation and limit corrosion. Itadds that the application of the chemcals

in the groundwater industry has been asubject of debate without a true under-standing of the chemical,biological, or geologicalimplications. Schniedersthen explains what phosphates are, how they are used, and where their limitationslie with respect to wellmaintenance.

The Safety Matters column thismonth is the first of a two-part series onsafety during disasters. The first articleby columnist Gary Ganson, CIH, CSP,“Safety in Disasters” on page 20, cov-ers disaster preparedness and he pointsout that Hurricane Sandy and its horrificeffects that struck the North Atlanticcoast should serve as a reminder on howimportant it is to be prepared for disas-ters. Disasters can come in many sizesand many forms such as weather, earth-quakes, epidemics such as the flu, andterrorism. Ganson says the key is to havea plan, communicate it, and then to makesure everyone understands it by beingprepared.

We hope this issue impacts your system. Public Groundwater SystemsJournal is free to individuals working in the groundwater industry. Fill out thequalification form on page 24 so youdon’t miss any issues and pass it on toothers you know who would benefitfrom its content.

Alloy Screen Works OBC(800) 577-5068www.alloyscreenworks.com

Cotey Chemical 19(806) 747-2096www.coteychemical.com

Ground Water Science 6www.groundwaterscience.com

Heron Instruments 5(800) 331-2032www.heroninstruments.com

Morrow Water Technologies 6(205) 408-6680www.morrowwater.com

NGWA/Asset Management 13(800) 551-7379www.ngwa.org

NGWA/Groundwater Awareness Week 7(800) 551-7379www.ngwa.org

NGWA/Membership 4(800) 551-7379www.ngwa.org

NGWA/NGWREF 21(800) 551-7379www.ngwa.org/ngwref

Robbco Pumps 15(806) 749-7475www.robbcopumps.com

Solinst Canada IFC(800) 661-2023 www.solinst.com

U.S. Saws IBCwww.ussaws.com

Page Page Page

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Mike Price

MichaelSchnieders, PG,PH-GW

www.NGWA.org Public Groundwater Systems Journal Winter 2013 3/

WHAT YOU’RE SAYING

Clear Language Provides TipsHi Darol,

I just wanted to tell you how much Ienjoyed your article about the benefitsof the new well in Sylacauga (“Ground-

water vs. Surface Water” by Darol W.Russell, Spring 2012). I have beenthinking about augmenting our surfacewater supply with groundwater and hadnot thought about how the groundwatermight reduce our overall THMs.

I also appreciate the clear, practicallanguage of the article—best thing I’veread in a water journal!Marcie R. SelebGeneral ManagerButts County Water & Sewer AuthorityJackson, Georgia

Reader Spreading the WordHello,

Just received, read, and enjoyed myfirst issue of the magazine. Congratula-tions on getting it going. I think it willbe well received, especially in the smallwater systems world.

There are a lot of small systems inmy area and I will spread the word

about the magazine if they haven’t received it directly. And by the way, al-most all are groundwater-only systems!Best wishes,Chet AndersonChair, Safe Drinking Water SubcommitteeAssociation of California Water Agencies

T he source water quality drivesall aspects of delivering qualitypotable water to customers for amunicipal or community watersystem.

If the source water proves to be ofexcellent quality, the end product willultimately cost less. If the source is ofpoor quality, treatment can be costly tothe system as well as the rate payers.Among other variables analyzed are thecosts to build infrastructure that can pro-duce, transport, and store capacity.When comparing surface water andgroundwater, there are a myriad of contaminants that must be monitored.Source water contaminants vary fromstate to state as well as within the state.Even though this is the case, everywater purveyor must continually moni-tor and report primary contaminants andsubmit their results to their local envi-ronmental agency and adhere to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyregulations.

To meet the regulations, there arequestions that must be addressed. Isthere a treatment process for removal?What does the method of treatment

require? What is the initial capital expense? What will be the operationalcosts?

The answer to all of these questionswill determine the purveyor’s overallexpense and ultimately the cost for theconsumer.

Obviously, all types of surface waterand groundwater are treated to meet theregulations. Some forms of treatmentand disinfection include aeration, sandfiltration, membranes, reverse osmosis,and desalination. Disinfection methodscommonly used are chlorine (gaseous or liquid, onsite chlorine generation systems), chlorine dioxide, and UV (ultraviolet light).So how do the costs compare when itcomes to treating groundwater as op-posed to surface water? As mentioned,there are a number of variables that haveto be determined when figuring the cost.Let’s go over some as expressed in costper thousand gallons.A Case Study

This case study is based primarily onthe city of Sylacauga, Alabama. TheUtilities Board of the City of Sylacaugaoperates both a surface water treatmentplant and two wells. The Lake Howard Surface WaterTreatment Plant is capable of producing6 million gallons per day (mgd). ThePine Grove Well was placed on-line inJanuary of 2010 and has a capacity of

1500 gallons per minute or 2.1 mgd.The Park Well, built in the 1950s, has a capacity of producing 0.5 mgd. The average system demand for Sylacauga is 3.1 mgd. The peak sum-mer demand increases to 4.7 mgd. Now let’s analyze the costs associ-ated with these facilities. It is under-stood all community water systems varyin methods of treatment and operations.Water Treatment InfrastructureCapital Expense There are initial capital expenses that

must be spent. Here is a comparison oftwo for the case study.Water treatment plant construction:$3.50 to $4 per gallon. For example, a 4 mgd plant could cost only $14 to $16million.

Well construction: For the PineGrove Well, approximately $1 millionwas spent to drill test wells and developthe new well producing 1500 gallonsper minute or 2.1 mgd. Process RequirementsSurface water treatment process: Thewater in Lake Howard would be consid-ered pristine when compared with mostwater sources, such as rivers and otherlarge lakes. The lake’s boundary is theTalladega National Forest. The sourcewater assessment revealed low potentialCOST OF WATER/continues on page 10Public Groundwater Systems Journal Spring 2012 9/

Darol Russell is the operationsdirector for the Sylacauga Utili-ties Board. He has 23 years ofservice in the industry. He can be reached [email protected]

(COVER STORY)

Groundwater vs. Surface WaterThere are multiple factors to consider when looking into the cost of water.

By Darol W. Russell


Join the leading authority on groundwater as a source for public systems.

Become a part of the National Ground Water Association of professionals whose expertise is providing solutions and innovations on issues related to groundwater. An NGWA® membership will provide you with:

public supply from industry professionals who want to help you in your job

cost-effectively and efficiently.

and more!

www.NGWA.org/Membership

®

Send Your Feedback to PGWSJWe want to hear from you. Comment on Public Groundwater Systems Journalarticles or other community water-system related topics by e-mailing Thad Plumley, editor of PGWSJ, at [email protected]. Tell us what you think about an article, our new publication, ways we can help you, orwhat you’re seeing in your community.

INDUSTRY NEWSLINELead-Content Law Takes Effectin 2014The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency announced that back inventoryof products not meeting the definition oflead-free under the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act can no longer beused after January 3, 2014, unless theproduct is exempted under the law.NGWA members should begin now toplan their production, purchasing, andinventory management to meet thisdeadline in the United States. The Reduction of Lead in Drinking

Water Act changed the definition oflead-free to mean not containing morethan a weighted average of 0.25% leadwhen used with respect to the wettedsurfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumb-ing fittings, and fixtures. As of January 4, 2014, no person

may introduce into commerce or useany pipe, or any pipe or plumbing fittingor fixture, in the installation or repair ofany public water system or any plumb-ing in a residential or nonresidential

facility providing water for human con-sumption, that is not lead-free under thisnew definition. Back inventory that doesnot meet the 0.25% lead-free calculationcannot be installed after January 3,2014, unless it is exempt from the prohi-bitions. The definition of lead-free solder and flux—0.2% lead—was notaffected by the Act. Exemptions are provided for pipes,

pipe fittings, plumbing fittings or fix-tures, including backflow preventers,that are used exclusively for nonpotableservices such as manufacturing, indus-trial processing, irrigation, outdoor wa-tering, or any other uses where the wateris not anticipated to be used for humanconsumption. Also specifically exempt-ed are toilets, bidets, urinals, fill valves,flushometer valves, tub fillers, showervalves, service saddles, or water distri-bution main gate valves that are 2inches in diameter or larger. Some states such as California,

Maryland, and Vermont have alreadyadopted and implemented their own

0.25% lead-content standards. The fed-eral action is separate from these statelaws. However, NGWA members mayget some idea of what the transitionunder federal law may mean from stateexperience.The EPA rulemaking is expected to

provide additional direction on the newfederal law’s implementation. Some ofthe potential topics that may be ad-dressed through rulemaking include:how repair of components will betreated; whether and what product label-ing may be mandated; clarification onthe scope of coverage and the scope ofexemptions; as well as whether andthrough what process product certifica-tion, third-party or otherwise, may berequired. The EPA currently anticipates issuing

a proposed rule in the September 2013timeframe. Given it typically takesmany months between issuing a pro-posed and final rule, final rule publica-tion is highly unlikely until after the

NEWS/continues on page 6


January 4, 2014 date when only prod-ucts meeting the new lower lead contentrequirement can be introduced intocommerce or used in drinking watersystems in the United States. During the minutes of the August

2012 stakeholders meeting, the EPAsought input on whether developing aguidance document as an interim stepwould be beneficial given the law’s January 4, 2014 effective date and theexpected final rule issuance timing.Stakeholders at the meeting were generally supportive of such guidance.During recent conversations, EPA staffmade the point that the EPA is con-strained, however, in what it can do inguidance. As background, the EPA hasbeen taken to task, including throughthe court, by some for using guidancerather than going through the formalrulemaking process to flesh out imple-mentation requirements under variouslaws. This limitation on what guidancecan address means that if guidance is re-leased, it may provide little to no clarifi-cation on marking, certification, product

coverage, and other issues that the Re-duction of Lead in Drinking Water Actdoes not spell out. Throughout the United States manu-

facturers in the groundwater industryare taking the necessary steps to complywith the Reduction of Lead in DrinkingWater Act. Under the "Protect your business cat-

egory" in the “Member exclusive con-tent” area of www.NGWA.org, memberscan access the FAQ on the Reduction ofLead in Drinking Water Act and EPA’spresentation on the new lead-free law.

Underwriters Laboratories WillProvide UCMR 3 Testing Servicesfor Public Water Systems Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a

global leader in water quality and safety,announced that it has won a contractfrom the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency to test samples from small pub-lic water systems serving 10,000 peopleor fewer for contaminants listed in thethird cycle of EPA’s Unregulated Con-taminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3)program.

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act,the EPA identifies a new list of contami-nants suspected in public water systemsthat may warrant regulation every fiveyears. The UCMR program is designedto provide data to the EPA to help determine whether new regulations areneeded to protect public health. Sincethe inception of the UCMR program in2001, UL has supported the EPA in thiseffort. During a 12-month period of January

2013 through December 2015, about800 EPA-selected small public watersystems serving 10,000 or fewer peoplewill be required to monitor for 21 con-taminants and 480 EPA-selected smallsystems will be required to monitor forseven additional contaminants. UL is approved by the EPA to per-

form all methods required for UCMR 3List 1 and List 2 contaminants. Over thepast 20 years, UL has analyzed morethan 2.5 million water samples for thou-sands of bottlers, public water systems,engineering firms, and state and federalagencies, such as the EPA and military.UL is also accredited by the AmericanNational Standards Institute for deliver-

NEWS/from page 5


� Long-term well and wellfield decline?

� Wells not performing as expected from the beginning as expected?

� Water quality issues or concerns?

� Need creative solutions to water supply?

� Ground water is what we do

� Specialists in sustaining and improving welland wellfield performance

� Ground water system biofouling and biocorrosion — total solution experts

� Certified and licensed in multiple states

� We tackle your “weird well problems”

� Training — get a handle on things yourself

� Working across the USA and internationally

Smith-Comeskey Ground Water Science LLCwww.groundwaterscience.com

ing the widest range of testing and certification services for water productmanufacturers.

Ohio Adopts New Rules to Approve Operator CertificationExam Providers The Ohio Environmental Protection

Agency’s Division of Drinking andGround Waters adopted new rules inChapter 3745-7 (Operator certification)of the Ohio Administrative Code. The new rules establish a program

under which organizations can apply to become approved examinationproviders for water and wastewater operators wanting to become state-certified. The rules require the examina-tion provider to conduct computerizedexaminations in multiple locations andmultiple times per year.The Division of Drinking and

Ground Waters will continue to holdstate-sponsored examinations twice peryear and give operators the choice ofwhether they would like to take thecomputerized examination offered bythe approved examination provider orthe traditional state examination.

The Director of Environmental Pro-tection, after considering public com-ment, adopted these rules in final form,pursuant to Section 6109.04 of the OhioRevised Code. The Director’s order ofadoption was issued on December 21,2012. The effective date of these newrules was January 1, 2013, in accor-dance with Section 119.04(A) of the Revised Code.These rules are available at http://

epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/rules.aspx#LiveTabsContent110544.

NSF International Issues FirstWaterMark Certification for 3M Filtration SystemsNSF International, a global inde-

pendent public health organization thatwrites standards, and tests and certifiesproducts for the water, food, and con-sumer goods industries, has certified3M’s commercial foodservice filtrationsystems to the Australian WaterMarkCertification Scheme for plumbing,water treatment, and distribution prod-ucts. 3M’s commercial foodservice filtration systems are the first to earncertification from NSF International,

enabling 3M to distribute its product tothe Australian market.WaterMark certification is required

for products to be legally installed in thewater supply system in Australia andNew Zealand. To earn WaterMark certi-fication, 3M’s commercial foodservicefiltration systems were subject to rigor-ous material safety, performance, andstructural integrity testing. NSF auditorsalso conducted an audit of 3M’s manu-facturing facility to verify product formulations, suppliers, and quality as-surance/quality control records and thatonly authorized materials were used tomanufacture the product.NSF International is the only U.S.

certification body to earn JAS-ANZ(Joint Accreditation System of Australiaand New Zealand) accreditation and offers certification to the WaterMarkCertification Scheme as part of its NSFPassport Program. NSF began offeringthis program in 2011 to help companiesachieve product certifications requiredin major and emerging global marketssuch as the UK, Australia, Brazil, China,Italy, France, Japan, and many others.

National Groundwater Awareness Week

Promote the resource that helps provide your livelihood.

March 10-16, 2013

Educate your customers about the importance of groundwater stewardship during National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 10-16, 2013. By doing so you will be helping your customers and the resource.

NGWA is here to help you spread the word! Visit www.NGWA.org/AwarenessWeek and click on “Groundwater stewardship—protection and conservation,” or call NGWA’s public awareness department at 800 551.7379 or 614 898.7791.


Groundwater Awareness Week Is Good for Your Business

Over the past 14 years, NationalGroundwater Awareness Week hasgrown from an obscure recognition ofan obscure resource into an internation-ally known and recognized annualevent—one that public water systemscan and should embrace and publicize.This year’s Groundwater Awareness

Week takes place March 10-16, and theNational Ground Water Association isoffering you some facts followed bysome action steps your public water system can take.There are an estimated 107,848

community supply wells serving 40,025American community water systems.Consider the following points and howthey can apply to your system:• An estimated 99% of all availablefreshwater in the world is ground-water.

• Groundwater is a vital part of the hydrologic cycle with a direct con-nection to most surface water bodies.

• Groundwater tends to be compara-tively more protected from contami-nation, making it an attractive sourceof potable water.

• Groundwater therefore can be moreeconomical to provide because itoften requires less treatment.

• Groundwater can supplement surfacewater supplies to reduce overall treat-ment costs.So what? The bottom line is that

many if not most public water systemshave a stake in raising awareness aboutgroundwater because of the direct or indirect impact it has on your system.Here are some actions your system cantake to raise groundwater awareness inways that ultimately will benefit the resource and your customers.1. Visit the Groundwater AwarenessWeek page by visiting www.NGWA.org and clicking on the Media

Center tab, and then on AwarenessWeek. Learn more about this event.

2. On the Awareness Week menu on theleft side of the page, click on “Get in-volved” and “Promotional tools forNGWA members.” Feel free to useany of these tools as is or modifythem to fit your needs.

3. Click on “Groundwater Stewardship—protection and conservation.”There is valuable information youcan draw from to inform the publicon your own water system’s Webpage or through local news media.

4. Take at least one step during Ground-water Awareness Week to inform thepublic in your service area.Remember, too, that by making the

public aware of groundwater protectionand conservation you are demonstratingenvironmental responsibility to the public you serve. Your customers willappreciate that.If you have any questions about

Groundwater Awareness Week and howto publicize it, contact NGWA PublicAwareness Director Cliff Treyens at(800) 551-7379, ext. 554, or [email protected].

NGWA’s 2012 GroundwaterExpo Showed Larger NumbersAcross the Board The National Ground Water Associa-

tion’s 2012 Groundwater Expo and An-nual Meeting showed increases in everyattendance category and once againtopped 300 exhibiting firms.The NGWA® Groundwater Expo and

Annual Meeting took place December4-7 in Las Vegas.“Excellent business opportunities

and strong educational offerings reallybrought people out in all sectors of ourmembership,” said NGWA Chief Execu-tive Officer Kevin B. McCray, CAE. “Incase after case, exhibiting manufacturerssaid they had a very good Expo. Manyof the workshops were packed, which isanother good sign for the groundwaterindustry.”In the 64-year history of the NGWA

Groundwater Expo and Annual Meeting,this was the 13th best attended event,

with a total attendance of 4357 from allsectors of the industry—water welldrillers and contractors, manufacturersand suppliers, and scientists and engi-neers. All 50 United States were repre-sented, along with Washington, D.C.,Puerto Rico, and the Northern MarianaIslands. In addition, 32 other nations attended including Australia, Canada,Italy, Mexico, and South Korea. Highlights included:

• Total attendance was up 2% from ayear ago

• Suppliers in attendance increased awhopping 12% followed by scientistsand engineers, who were up 4% over2011

• The number of water well systemcontractors increased nearly 2% at1810

• Manufacturers attending were upslightly more than 1% at 1300.After three consecutive years in

Las Vegas, the NGWA GroundwaterExpo will be held next December inNashville’s new Music City Center—themost expensive publicly financed com-plex in the state’s history. The $623 mil-lion downtown convention center is thelength of more than a dozen footballfields. At its 1.2 million square feet oftotal space, it is among the largest con-vention centers in the South.For more information about the

2013 Expo, visit www.GroundwaterExpo.com.

THE LOGNEWS FROM THE NATIONAL GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION


NGWA Provides Industry BestPractices on Issues with WaterQuality and TreatmentNGWA has a variety of industry

“best suggested practices” for industryprofessionals’ issueswith water qualityand treatment, including: • Water Well Systems Inspection• Reduce and Mitigate Problematic

Concentrations of Stray Gases inWater Well Systems

• Managing a Flowing Water WellNGWA’s BSPs are designed to aid

groundwater professionals at industryjob sites. They are not standards, butpractices that have been demonstrated toshow superior results. They are preparedby a consensus of groundwater profes-sionals from around the country.NGWA members can download all

BSPs for free as a member benefit underthe “Member exclusives” section atwww.NGWA. Nonmembers can purchasethe BSPs in the Online Bookstore at theNGWA Web site. After going to thebookstore, simply click “Best suggestedpractices” in the yellow navigation baron the right-hand side of the page.

NGWA’s First Phone App for iPhone Provides Valuable Information A glossary of groundwater and water

well terms is available from NGWA asan iPhone application downloadable on-line in the App Storeat www.apple.com/iphone/apps-for-iphone. The application for

Apple’s iPhone is$4.99 and educationalinstitutions receive a discounted rate for multiple purchases. NGWA’s Lexicon of Groundwater

and Water Well System Terms was se-lected by a task force of industry profes-sionals and contains terms with the mostrelevancy to the various groundwaterprofessions and to the use, protection,remediation, and management ofgroundwater. While there are often regional differences in the use of some

terms, the document is certainly an idealcollection of the definitions that relate togroundwater and the professionals whowork with it. To learn more or to purchase this

product, visit the NGWA Online Book-store at www.NGWA.org, or call (800)551-7379 or (614) 898-7791.

NGWA’s Community MakesSharing Ideas, CommunicatingEasier The NGWA Community is a discus-

sion group that makes it easier to shareideas and communicate with otherNGWA members.The upgraded discussion group:

• Has an area to post messages and stillreceive discussion posts in your e-mail inbox

• Allows you to control how and whenyou receive messages from thegroups

• Uses your NGWA.org Web site loginto access your groups

• Has an enhanced member directoryto allow member-to-member net-working

• Updates your profile, adds yourphoto, imports your LinkedIn profile,etc. for others to view

• Allows you to post documents,videos, and links. Please make sure your NGWA mem-

bership is up to date to assure you haveaccess to the discussion group. You can log on to the site by going to

http://community.ngwa.org and signingin with your NGWA.org user name andpassword. To become a member, visitwww.NGWA.org.

NGWA Bookstore Offers Varietyof Water Resources NGWA’s Online Bookstore at

www.NGWA.org offers a wide range ofresources on water use, including thebook Siting, Drilling and Constructionof Water Supply Wells. Designed for municipal water supply

engineers, hydrogeologists, water utilitymanagers, and water resource profes-sionals, this book is an excellent deskreference for any question regardingwater wells—including siting, water

quality, drilling methods, field testing,design, construction, development, andoperation. The book is designed to be a practi-

cal reference and contains dozens ofphotographs and drawings. It describesand illustrates all common drillingmethods, geophysical logging, and fieldtesting. Well development, important forassuring well productivity and long life,is covered in detail as well. To learn more or to purchase this

product, visit the NGWA Online Book-store at www.NGWA.org, or call (800)551-7379 or (614) 898-7791.

NGWA Career Center ConnectsThose in the Groundwater Industry Prospective employees can start a job

search by visiting the NGWA CareerCenter at careers.ngwa.org, where jobseekers can post their resume, viewjobs, create a personal job alert, and setup a job seeker account and access it. The NGWA Career Center has been

enhanced with new features to help con-nect members with new employmentopportunities. Employers and recruiters now have

access to an employee’s specializedniche. Among other things, employersand recruiters can review resumes, postjobs, and create an employer accountand access it. Make use of the NGWA Career Cen-

ter to meet all of your needs in today’sjob market.

WEB NOTESFIND IT ON THE NGWA WEB SITE, NGWA.ORG

Stay Connected with NGWAFollow the National Ground Water Association on . . .

Twitter

www.Twitter.com/NGWAtweets

Facebook

www.Facebook.com/NGWAFB

www.YouTube.com/user/NGWATUBE

YouTube


When the search is over andyou now have an acceptablegroundwater productionsource, the second phase of

your work begins. No one should approach this task

without carefully counting the cost ofdeveloping and constructing the project.We’ll discuss the control aspect by look-ing at the Sylacauga Utilities Board’sPine Grove Well in Sylacauga, Alabama. Aside from the obvious, such as the

type and size of the building, several issues must be addressed. What is thecapacity or gallons per minute (gpm)that the well produces? Based on waterquality, what are the regulatory parame-ters that dictate what will be monitoredand how they are monitored? Whatmeans of communications will beneeded for remote operations? Should a

supervisory control and data acquisition(SCADA) system be installed? Willthere be power quality issues? Also ask what controls are necessary

and what are “wish list” items? Whatshould trigger alarms for operator notifi-cation or system shutdown? How willflow be monitored?

Regulatory ParametersThe Alabama Department of Envi-

ronmental Management requires a na-tional turbidity units (NTU) level not toexceed 5. So the turbidity of wells in asystem must be constantly monitored.The Pine Grove Well permit also re-quires that a corrosion control inhibitorbe added, which must be metered according to flow. Fluoride is introduced not to exceed

1 part per million (ppm) and chlorine isadded for disinfection. Chlorine is me-

tered at 0.2 ppm to meet the requiredamount for the system. Additional treatment may be re-

quired, depending on water characteris-tics. Since the well is in a remotelocation, alarms were required to pro-vide security to the well premises.

CommunicationsTwo-way communications for

SCADA is critical for this type of un-manned installation. With the propercommunications, the pumping variables,discharge pressures, NTU readings, andpumping set-points can all be monitoredand managed in real time so as to main-tain the safe drinking water standard andproper process controls. For the Pine Grove Well, the options

were limited due to the remote nature ofthe well site. The Utilities Board person-nel chose a 900 MHz fixed wireless radiosystem (Motorola Canopy) to provide thetwo-way communications back to ourlocal manned surface water treatmentplant located about six miles away. Operators at the Utilities Board surfacewater plant can monitor critical well parameters, receive and respond toalarms, modify pumping set-points, andeven toggle between modes of pumpingoperations.

Darol W. Russell is the opera-tions director for the SylacaugaUtilities Board. He has 23 years ofservice in the industry. He can bereached at [email protected].

Reay Culp is the SCADA systemsmanager and telecommunica-tions manager for the SylacaugaUtilities Board. He can be reached at [email protected].

(COVER STORY)

Control Your WellRemote well monitoring can impact your bottom line.

By Darol W. Russell and Reay Culp

You will not regret the timeinvested in researching all options to determine

which processes should be automated at your well.


Process ControlEnabled with a reliable communica-

tions pathway, a variable frequencydrive (VFD) on the well pump, and au-tomated control valves on the dischargeand waste lines, the stage was set toconfigure and implement an advancedcontrol scheme to maximize well outputand efficiency. Water level monitoring was installed

to provide static level and drawdownreadings. The chemical pumps are pro-grammed to track the well’s productionin gpm. This assures the continuouspumping ratio of the treatment chemi-cals into the system or discontinuingchemical feed when pumping to waste.The automated functionality allows

the well to flush to waste or shift to“Emergency Shutdown” when any pro-grammed alarm condition is seen. Forexample, if turbidity were to suddenlyincrease to an unacceptable level, achemical treatment pump malfunc-tioned, or other predefined operatingcondition threatens the water safety orequipment at the well, the SCADA sys-tem will automatically switch operationsto waste or shut down and immediatelyalert the operator.

In the control scheme there are twowell “Status Schemes”—Online andWaste—along with five “Modes” of operating:• Flow• Turbidity• Pressure• Level• Manual In Flow Mode, we have the capabil-

ity to control the output of this well witha set gpm. Our operating range is from700 gpm up to 2500 gpm. This is ournormal operating mode and is usuallyset at the maximum rated capacity forthe well as permitted by our regulatingagency. The pumping capacity for thePine Grove Well is 1500 gpm.

Turbidity Mode allows for the con-trol system to automatically raise orlower the pump speed to maintain a tur-bidity set-point. In the event that the turbidity begins to rise, this mode willreduce the rpm of the pump, as needed,to maintain an acceptable turbidity set-ting. As turbidity readings drop, thepump speeds up, thereby providingmaximum well production. In Pressure Mode, we have the ability

to control the pump speed based on thedischarge pressure setting. The main pur-pose for this mode is to maintain a con-stant system pressure. This option is usedwhen we have a water tank out of servicefor maintenance or in the event of anequipment failure that would prevent receiving a reliable tank level reading. The pressure mode is also activated

when we are switching from waste tosystem pressure. This allows for a verysmooth changeover into the systemwhile not upsetting the pumping level or the turbidity of the well.In the older wells which are not as

automated as the Pine Grove Well, theoperator has to move between the wastevalve and the system valve, while mak-ing small adjustments between eachvalve. This is done while visually moni-toring a pressure gauge, the turbidime-ter, and a flowmeter. If care is not taken,the turbulence made by the flow cancause the turbidity of the water to increase, requiring the system to returnto waste mode until the turbidity dropsto a satisfactory level.

Level Mode uses the well’s pumpingwater level as the control point. This allows for the maximum pumping ca-pacity possible while at the same timemaintaining a level in the well that isdeemed safe. As the pumping level de-creases, as in a dry period during thesummer months, the pump slows downonly enough to maintain the level set-point. Once the well begins to recover,the pump slowly gains speed until suchtime that 100% pumping capacity mayagain be achieved.

Manual Mode bypasses some theprogrammed protections of the othermodes, disables alarms, and allows the on-site operator to run the well manually as needed for servicing andmaintenance of the well pump or otherequipment.

In ConclusionDeveloping a production well for a

municipal water system requires localwater system experience and a goodknowledge of current process controls.You will not regret the time invested inresearching all options to determinewhich processes should be automated at your well. Making good use of the process con-

trols that are available today will reducewaste and provide accurate chemical andturbidity measurement and monitoring. A reliable communications backbone

is very important. Monitoring a remotewell site and having the capability tomake adjustments from a central loca-tion will greatly reduce additional man-hours and ultimately the overall cost ofoperations. PGWSJ

The supervisory control and data acqui-sition (SCADA) panel for SylacaugaUtilities Board’s Pine Grove Well.

The touch-screen display control panelfor the Pine Grove Well.


Public Groundwater Systems Journalregularly interviews groundwaterprofessionals throughout the year.

We decided to chat with Bob Gray, PG,senior hydrogeologist for Daniel B.Stephens & Associates Inc. (DBS&A) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

DBS&A won the 2011 NationalGround Water Asso-ciation OutstandingGroundwater Proj-ect Award for out-standing science,engineering, andcontractor innova-tion in the area ofsupplying ground-water. The awardwas given forDBS&A’s $9 million project involving the design of a new wellfield in Potter County, Texas. DBS&A used athree-dimensional hydrostratigraphicmodel to optimize well site selection andmodeled groundwater drawdown impactsfrom an existing nearby wellfield.

Gray has more than 35 years of pro-fessional experience in the mining, environmental, and water resource development industries. He specializes inwater supply development, well design,water resource and well impact studies,and groundwater flow modeling. He hasconducted numerous hydrogeologic re-search and characterization studies atsites throughout the southwest UnitedStates for tribal, government, and privateclients.

Public Groundwater Systems Journal:What new information has come tolight since completing the new well-field in Potter County, Texas?Bob Gray: There really isn’t much in the way of new information yet. Although we completed our phase (the well installations) of the project inlate 2010, the first five wells were notbrought online until September 2011and the remaining wells came online inFebruary through May 2012. The delaysin startup were necessary to completethe construction of the collector linesand transmission lines and for pumpprocurement and installation.

The entire wellfield has not been inoperation long enough to have any dataon water levels yet. Water levels are typically measured annually in January.Everything seems to be runningsmoothly except for one pump that iscurrently out on warranty repair.PGWSJ: How has the Potter Countyproject impacted future work projectsat Daniel B. Stephens & Associates?Bob: As a successful, large-scale, andaward-winning wellfield developmentproject (ACEC New Mexico 2011 Engi-neering Excellence Award as well asNGWA 2011 Outstanding GroundwaterProject Award for Groundwater Supply),it certainly has helped to raise the com-pany’s profile in the water resource development business.

Since then we have been involved inanother large wellfield expansion proj-ect in west Texas and have prepared afeasibility study and cost estimates foran additional wellfield expansion on asimilar scale. We also anticipate follow-up work with the city of Amarillo for future water supply development.PGWSJ: What did you hope to learnfrom the project and why?Bob: We wanted to be able to character-ize the variability of the aquifer lithol-

ogy and stratigraphy in sufficient detailto allow optimum site selection for max-imum production potential and then determine the site-specific aquifer characteristics at each well location tooptimize each well design. We neededto evaluate an area of about 40 squaremiles and analyze more than 200 welland test boring logs to target areas withfavorable production potential.

The application of 3-D modeling wasa useful tool to visualize the complexstratigraphy of the aquifer over the largearea and to zero in on areas with thehighest sand to silt/clay ratios. A modelalways employs generalizing assump-tions and is only as good as the data it is based on. Fortunately, there was asubstantial amount of previous drillinginformation available to build the 3-Dmodel.

We then conducted a Phase 1 fieldprogram to define the likely range ofaquifer properties and well performance.We wanted to not only learn how a wellwould perform in an area with greatersaturated thickness, but we also testedan area with lower saturated thickness.We installed monitor wells and ran ten-day and seven-day pumping tests tolearn what levels of pumping the aquifercould handle on a sustainable basis.

We also discovered that one of ourprototype wells encountered a rechargeboundary several days into the test associated with a large stock pond located about a quarter mile away. Welearned—not surprisingly—that pondedwater sitting over the Ogallala is apretty efficient recharge source. Thisadds to growing existing knowledgewhich may be useful for potential appli-cations of aquifer storage and recoveryin the region.

Bob Gray, PGDaniel B. Stephens & Associates Inc.

Bob Gray, PG

Mike Price is the associate editor of Public GroundwaterSystems Journal. In addition tohis PGWSJ responsibilities, Priceproduces NGWA’s newslettersand contributes to the Associa-

tion’s quarterly scientific publication. He canbe reached at [email protected]. Q & A/continues on page 14


PUBLIC GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS JOURNAL Q & A

Asset Management for Groundwater-Based Public Supply SystemsDiscover what’s needed to keep a groundwater-based public system operating efficiently during this one-day NGWA short course.

Keeping the system operating efficiently is dependent on both proper management and maintenance—and knowing what to do when an unforeseen circumstance occurs.

During this course, you will learn about:

to value them

remaining useful life

and replacement

to monitor changes

measures

For more information on this course and to register for either date, log on to

Three opportunities to attend in 2013:

PGWSJ: Characterizing the complexhydrostratigraphy of the OgallalaAquifer and guiding development ofthe new wellfield designed for maxi-mum production capacity while limit-ing depletion impacts is challengingenough. What were some other chal-lenges that came with the project?Bob: One of the biggest challenges wassimply managing the considerable levelof simultaneous field activities when thePhase 2 well installation and testing ac-tivities were in full swing. We installed17 wells during this phase with twodrilling rigs running simultaneously 24hours a day, but also had crews perform-ing bailing development while otherswere installing or pulling test pumpsand performing disinfection and pump-ing development or step-drawdown andconstant rate pumping tests on eachwell. Water samples had to be collected

and submitted. We were also installingseveral monitor wells at the same time.There were times that we had differentactivities going on at seven or eight sitessimultaneously. Our field staff wasstretched pretty thin sometimes and Ihave to commend them for exemplaryperformance under demanding condi-tions through many days and nights withlong hours. Another challenge was meeting the

TCEQ requirement that negative col-iform results had to be obtained forthree consecutive days on each well.This criterion had to be met before apump could be pulled and it proved tobe a challenge in the midst of roamingcattle herds and an abundance of cattleexcrement, along with the windy condi-tions typical in the Texas panhandle.The lab test for coliform is so sensitivethat it can detect the presence of a singlebacterium.Getting clean samples in those condi-

tions was a challenge and sometimestook a week or more to accomplish. Weended up devising a system where thesample port was disinfected with bleachand then heated with a torch before collecting the sample, all done while enclosed under a box to shield the portand sample jars from the wind.

PGWSJ: Who thought to use three-dimensional modeling software de-signed for the mining industry for thePotter wellfield project? How has thissoftware been used for groundwaterprojects since?Bob: The idea of employing the MiningVisualization System (MVS) software to groundwater studies came out of ourAustin, Texas, office—Allan Standenand Stefan Schuster in particular. Allanhad a background in the mining industryand so was familiar with the technology.We have applied this technology to

develop 3-D models of aquifer systemsfor several groundwater conservationdistricts in Texas. A model of the Ogal-lala Aquifer throughout a five-countyarea was built for the High Plains Un-derground Water Conservation District,incorporating data from more than 2700wells. A volumetric analysis was per-formed based on indicator kriging of assigned material type codes and assign-ing representative specific yields foreach material type. This study foundthat water volume in storage had de-creased from 101 million acre-feet in1950 to about 39 million acre-feet in2010.

PGWSJ: How has the current droughtaffected the wellfield in PotterCounty? Bob: The startup of production from thePotter County Wellfield had a positiveimpact on Amarillo’s water supply dur-ing the current drought since its previ-ous supply component from LakeMeredith has been eliminated entirely.The Canadian River Municipal WaterAuthority historically provided the cityabout 27 million gallons per day fromthe lake, so its elimination could havepotentially had a very serious effect onthe water supply. But to their credit,they began the planning for the newwellfield back in 2007 to provide addi-tional production capacity that wouldmaintain their supply demands under aworst-case scenario that did eventuallyturn out to be true.So the direct result of the drought is

that the wellfield is now being used toreplace most of the lost surface watersupply. As I indicated previously, thewellfield has not been in operation longenough to gauge impacts on water lev-els, but that data will be forthcomingthis winter and it will be interesting tosee how it compares to our modelingpredictions.PGWSJ: Municipalities throughoutthe United States are continually rais-ing residential water rates for a vari-ety of reasons. What are yourthoughts on the future state of waterin this country?Bob: When existing water sources arestressed due to growth or environmentalfactors, developing additional supplies re-quires capital expenditures that result inhigher rates. In west Texas, the increasedreliance on groundwater from aquiferswith limited recharge such as the Ogallalais accelerating the effects of groundwatermining, driving the need to acquire anddevelop additional sources of supply andcontinually putting upward pressure onrates. I see water continuing to get more

expensive as this process continues andmore costly development projects are required—for example, drilling deeper,building longer pipelines, and possiblymoving more toward desalination projectsto develop brackish sources. Other parts of the country with more renewable waterresources still have competition for the resources and other reasons that drive up

Q & A/from page 12 Data logging takes place during a pumptest. This was the largest groundwaterdevelopment project in the westernUnited States during 2010. Photo cour-tesy Daniel B. Stephens & Associates Inc.


costs. The real value of these water re-sources in municipal water supply use isalmost always higher than the cost and thereplacement cost should be passed on tothe rate payers. That is the only long-termsolution to a reliable and sustainable watersupply.

Another reason for charging the truevalue of water supply is to encourage con-servation. This can be further facilitatedthrough tiered pricing structures. Waterplanning for future desired conditions hasbecome a focus of groundwater districtsthroughout Texas that is driving morecommunities to think about what they cando to prolong sustainability of existingsupplies. I think that in order to meet thegoal of sustainability, conservation andreuse need to become more widely imple-mented components of municipal watersupply planning.PGWSJ: Lastly, what do you think arethe critical issues facing the ground-water industry today?Bob: In the West, the biggest issue is howcan we sustain continued growth with alimited water supply? Marc Reisner in hisbook, Cadillac Desert, pointed out thatthroughout ancient history, civilizations

that were built upon extensive irrigation indry climates have eventually collapsed.Our economic system relies on continuedgrowth and that puts increasing stresses on existing supplies, driving the need forcontinually developing new, more costlysupplies. In order to mitigate this process,more widespread application of reuse andconservation is going to become more andmore necessary.

Another issue is the large amount ofwater used by agriculture compared to thatused for municipal supply. As supplies aredepleted, there will be more friction be-tween these competing interests. True eco-nomic value must be allowed to allocatebetween competing demands.

Finally, water quality issues are alsoimportant as the impacts of legacy pollu-tants continue to result in diminished sup-plies and increased costs for remediationand treatment. Clean water of drinkingquality is becoming more scarce and

expensive, and solutions to ensuring a sustainable future supply will require acombination of different approaches in-corporating conservation, reuse, and inno-vations in treatment technology to developpoorer water quality sources. PGWSJ

The 2012 NGWA OutstandingGroundwater Project Award recipients included: • Groundwater Protection

Mesa Water District received theOutstanding Groundwater ProjectAward—Protection for its innova-tions and advancements in theCWTF Technology Replacement andExpansion Project.

• Groundwater RemediationARCADIS received the OutstandingGroundwater Project Award—Remediation for its innovations andadvancements in the AdvancedWater Treatment Research Programfor Hexavalent Chromium in Drink-ing Water.

To view all the 2012 NGWA Award recipients, visit www.NGWA.org.

“Conservation and reuse need tobecome more widely implemented

components of municipal watersupply planning.”


Phosphates have been used for anumber of years in water treat-ment. They are commonly employed to sequester metals

(iron, manganese) including softer metals (calcium, magnesium) to reducecorrosion and scale buildup in pipelinesand distribution systems. In ground-water wells, phosphates have been usedin well development to target formationmaterials, including clay particulate andcrystalline sediment and as a low-costalternative for rehabilitation efforts.

They are grouped together due totheir base chemistry. However, there are

a variety of phosphate chemical com-pounds marketed to the water industry.The activity for each phosphate com-pound varies considerably, as does itsreaction with water. The pH and hard-ness composition of the water signifi-cantly impacts the sequestering abilityof the phosphate compound.

For example, a phosphate that se-questers iron at a specific pH will se-quester considerably less calcium at thesame pH. In pipelines and distributionsystems transporting treated water, theconditions are generally stable with re-gards to water chemistry and a definedzone or area of treatment is present.

In groundwater applications there aresevere limitations on the sequesteringability of phosphates, especially giventhe broad pH range of 6–9 found in nat-ural waters. The lack of a defined treat-ment space and the potential expansionof the impacted or treated zone are alsoof concern. Additionally, how the phos-phate chemistry alters or changes overtime is often misunderstood and of greatconcern for the downhole environment.

Polyphosphates naturally revert topyrophosphates and then to orthophos-phates over time with pH changes, pressure fluctuations, and temperaturechanges. Orthophosphate is the readilyavailable phosphorous nutrient for bac-terial growth and energy transfer. As areadily available nutrient, phosphorus is removed from the bulk solution and

Polyphosphate chemicals designed for pipeline use havebeen employed in the well

environment to reduce mineralscale encrustation downhole.

Phosphate-Based ChemistriesMake sure you understand everything you can about the use of phosphates in well systems.

By Michael Schnieders, PG, PH-GW

Michael Schnieders is a hydro-geologist and lead consultantfor Water Systems Engineeringof Ottawa, Kansas. He has an extensive background ingroundwater geochemistry,

geomicrobiology, and water resource investigation and management. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment offouled well systems. He can be reached [email protected].

(Above) Solubilized tetrapotassium pyrophosphate (TKPP)


PHOSPHATES/continues on page 18

2013

®®

Do you have any high quality cover photos that depictcommunity water systems or professionals working atcommunity systems? Photos of any step in the daily activities of providing water to communities are welcome. The selected photos will appear on the coversof upcoming issues of PGWSJ. Look through your filesand submit your best photos today!

is looking . . .is looking . . .. . . for a few good pictures!. . . for a few good pictures!

Name ____________________________________________________________________________

Company name ____________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip ______________________________________________________________________

Phone__________________________________________ Fax ______________________________

E-mail ______________________________Enclosed you’ll find ______ photos for Public Groundwater Systems Journal. I understand that thesephotos become the property of the Public Groundwater Systems Journal, and will not be returned. If any photo is selected for use ona PGWSJ cover, I further understand that I will be paid $250 and my photo credit will appear on the issue’s contents page.

Signed ______________________________________________________ Date ________________

Instructions: Send high-resolution digital photos to [email protected] or mail to PGWSJ Photos, 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081-8978.Please include a description of the activity taking place in the photo.

assimilated into cellular material as thebacteria reproduce (Gerardi 2006).

Chemical precipitation of orthophos-phate is commonly practiced at waste-water treatment plants. Althoughpolyphosphates and organic phosphoruscompounds are not removed by chemi-cal precipitation, they are hydrolyzedand mineralized (degraded) to releaseorthophosphate, which is then chemi-cally precipitated. Metals that are commonly used to precipitate orthophosphates are Al+3, Ca+2, Fe+3, and Mg+2. Chemical precipitation of orthophosphates is controlled by pH(Gerardi 2006).

When aeration occurs, orthophos-phate may be incorporated into floc-likeparticles as insoluble hydroxyapatite(CaOH(PO4)3). This occurs naturallywithout chemical influence. If the dis-solved oxygen concentration is rela-tively low and carbon dioxide remainsin solution, the pH decreases.

The decrease occurs because the car-bon dioxide dissolves in the water andcarbonic acid (H2CO3) is produced.Under this condition, orthophosphate ispresent as the HPO4

-2 ion. If this occursin hard water containing elevated levelsof calcium and magnesium, orthophos-phate is precipitated from solution ashydroxyapatite and incorporated intofloc particles and eventually scale.Downhole, this begins as cloudiness orturbidity, but over time results in the de-velopment of an amorphous hydroxyap-atite (CaOH(PO4)3). This amorphousstate, while it is still hydrated, is moregelatinous in form with few crystals thatare formed. However, over time as thematerial compounds and dries or con-tacts a surface where it becomes dehy-drated, a denser and harder crystalformation takes place.

● ● ●Polyphosphate chemicals designed

for distribution and pipeline use havebeen employed over the years in the wellenvironment in an effort to reduce min-eral scale encrustation downhole. Theobjective was to limit the developmentof calcium- and iron-based scales thatare common in wells. Without fully un-derstanding the changes in pH, tempera-ture, pressure, and water chemistry, thishas resulted in wells becoming fouled

with insoluble hydroxyapatite, amor-phous hydroxyapatite, and the harderwhitlockite (Ca3Mg(PO4)6(HPO4)). Thedevelopment of these accumulations hasbeen counterproductive to the intendeduse of these chemicals.

A number of dissolved phosphoruscompounds can be used for growth byalgae and bacteria. However, the use ofcomplex organic phosphates has to beproceeded by the external liberation oforthophosphate. Orthophosphate is gen-erally recognized as the prime phospho-rus uptake mechanism in both algae andbacteria (Jansson 1988).

Unfortunately, aquifer sediments canabsorb these ions, allowing for poten-tially harmful influence for extendedtime frames. Phosphorus is adsorbed toclays by cation exchange and availablefor bacteria to use in metabolism, cellgrowth, and development (Borch et al.1993).

Phosphate-based chemistries havebeen employed historically for well de-velopment in an effort to remove finesediment and clay particulate. Phos-phates supply a surface activity so thatbetter penetration of the gravel pack and formation is achieved, as well as a

deflocculation action on clay to aid inmud or bentonite removal.

The theory is that the longer chainphosphate blends can attach themselvesmolecularly (as noted above) and aid inthe removal of these sediments throughthe secondary use of mechanical energy.However, phosphates are not as efficientas some polymer deflocculants and arerequired at rates of 10 to 15 pounds per100 gallons of water to be effective.This level amounts to a phosphate con-centration as high as 9000 ppm.

In some lithologies, the applicationof phosphates has proven useful, but ad-equately removing the phosphate com-ponents has proven difficult. To combatthe potential negative influence, chlo-rine products are often used to retard orprevent any bacterial activity. This pro-vides some biological control as long asthe chlorine is present. The use of cal-cium hypochloride, however, actuallypromotes the precipitation of phosphatein the well.

A condition commonly observed insand-and-gravel wells treated repeatedlyover time using phosphate compoundsis a change in the type of biofoulingpresent. It is transformed from a low-

PHOSPHATES/from page 16 Tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) in granular form

Generic polyphosphate molecular structure


biomass filamentous form toward abulkier, slimy type of biomass that ismore difficult to remove using conven-tional rehabilitation methods. Thischange results in an acceleration of theperformance decay in such wellfields.Successes in the 1980s have been fol-lowed by rapid declines in performancepersisting to the present (Umble andSmith 1999).

● ● ●Another phosphorus-containing

chemical that is employed in well reha-bilitation is phosphoric acid (H3PO4).This acid usually is available in foodgrade and National Sanitation Founda-tion-certified qualities. The two mostcommon concentrations (strengths) are75% and 85%.

Unlike other liquid acids, they do notgive off harmful vapors, but sprays ormists of the acid are considered acidicand dangerous.

Phosphoric acid is far less corrosiveto metal than the commonly used hy-drochloric acid and can lead to somepassivation of the metal with the properchemistry. These benefits have led to theincreased use of phosphoric acid in wellrehabilitation efforts. It is a slower re-acting acid than hydrochloric, and whileit has less ability to dissolve phosphate(because of the similar ion concentra-tion), it is effective against iron andmanganese compounds because of itsability to sequester these metals. Its se-questering ability also leads to a greaterability against large concentrations ofcalcium and magnesium minerals.

The chemical reactivity of phos-phoric acid in aqueous systems is highlydependent on the composition and pH ofthe solution (Butcher et al. 1992). Ionpairs within the dissolved solution playa central role in controlling the aqueousphosphate speciation, preventing theprecipitation of phosphates downhole.

Additional control of the phosphoruspresence is added through the use ofdispersants, which not only aid in thecleaning reaction (dissolution) but alsoin the removal of the dissolved materi-als. Thus, maintaining a depressed pH(>3) and application of dispersants dur-ing phosphoric acid use is important, although these points have proven to be true for all acid reactions in well re-habilitation. As with any treatment, the

choice of acid and the means in which itis employed should be balanced with thewell structure, the identified problem,and aquifer characteristics.

One argument that is often raisedwhen phosphates have been used in awell is that no immediate detriment wasidentified. As discussed earlier, the natu-ral degradation of phosphates variesgreatly with pH changes, pressure fluc-tuations, and temperature changes allimpacting the timeline. In responding to such a question, one would be forcedto say “not yet”—in that each well isunique and as there is no defined time-line for the negative impacts of phos-phate use to be seen. One well couldbegin to see immediate problems, whileanother well system may not experienceissues for several years while the phos-phates degrade and convert to a moreominous form.

Concerns that phosphate use may in-fluence the development of scale downhole, and that the degradation of thesematerials could lead to an increase inthe stimulation and growth of bacteriawithin the well and aquifers, are wellfounded. Given the potential for long-

term detrimental impact, balancing theunderstanding of these processes withthe desired benefits and use of acceptedbest practices is very important, and is true for all applications in the well.PGWSJ

ReferencesBorch, M.A., S.A. Smith, and

L.N. Noble. 1993. Evaluation andRestoration of Water Supply Wells.National Ground Water Association(NGWA).

Butcher, S.S., R.J. Charlson, G.H. Orians, and G.V. Wolfe. 1992.Global Biogeochemical Cycles. Academic Press.

Gerardi, M. Wastewater Bacteria. 2006.J. Wiley and Sons.

Jansson, M. Phosphorus in FreshwaterEcosystems. 1988. Academic Publishers.

Langmuir, D. Aqueous EnvironmentalGeochemistry. 1997. Prentice Hall.

Umble, A., and S.A. Smith. A Caution-ary Tale: Well Rehabilitation inElkhart, Indiana. 1999. AmericanWater Works Association (AWWA).


CALL 800-457-2096 TO LEARN MORE TODAYCALL 800-457-2096 TO LEARN MORE TODAY

Hurricane Sandy and its hor-rific effects that struck theNorth Atlantic coast canserve as a wake-up call to

remind us how important it is to be prepared for disasters large or small. Two additional storms struck after

Sandy hit the East Coast and some companies and businesses are still notfunctioning. Many of those businessesprobably thought they were exemptfrom the impact of a devastating hurri-cane in their region, but in reality theyweren’t.

Disasters Take Different FormsMultiple types of disasters must be

taken into consideration to make sureyour groundwater business and youremployees are properly prepared. Theseinclude disasters related to weather,earthquakes, epidemics such as the flu,and terrorism. And disastrous weathercan be more than superstorms. For in-stance, it can include conditions broughton by severe drought, such as what hitthe country last summer. A drilling company working last year

in Oklahoma saved the lives of 12 crewmembers by preplanning for the strongwinds that accompany a tornado. Know-ing that Oklahoma receives an averageof 52 tornados a year, the company pre-pared their crew trailer by securing it to the ground to hold it firmly in place.This simple action provided a strongplace of refuge for the workers to safelyprotect themselves when a tornadostruck on a job.

In the summer of 2012 in the Mid-west, drought conditions required waterwell drillers to ramp up and do heavierdrilling, sometimes down to depths of1000 feet, to create wells that wouldhave required 300 to 400 feet of drillinga few years ago. This is also a disasterpreparedness issue. We tend to think only the single inci-

dent types of disasters require disasterresponse preparations that are includedin the company business plan. Thedrought of 2012 taught us differently.Disasters can be of long duration andbecome severe over time. Regardless of what kind of disaster,

the priority is always to make surepreparations have been taken to assurefirst of all the safety of all employees,and secondly the security of the sur-rounding areas. This means lookingaround and checking that nothing hasbeen left behind or unsecured that coulddo additional harm. This could includehazardous liquids such as fuels thatcould contaminate soil or objects thatcould become airborne.

Having a Disaster PlanThe first thing a company does to

prepare is to craft a written plan. Theplan should be created around those dis-asters most likely to occur in the regionwhere the company is operating—just

like the preparations made by thedrilling company in Oklahoma. A disaster plan for a company in

Florida will focus largely on preparingfor a hurricane, while a firm in the Mid-west will have a plan preparing for atornado, severe rain, a windstorm, and a massive snow or ice storm. With thechanges in weather patterns we havebeen witness to lately, we might need tobe a little more flexible regarding thecategory of disaster that could occur inour region. The elements of a disaster prepara-

tion plan include the following:• Conduct a risk assessment for thearea and determine what the hazardsare for a potential disaster to occur.

• Focus on life-saving measures suchas knowing the route to the nearesthospital, performing CPR, and firstaid training.

• Identify equipment needs such as tie-down supplies, food and water, addi-tional clothing, shelter needs forworkers, routes of escape, or spillsupplies.

• Have emergency contact phone numbers for each location.An understanding of what can hap-

pen will give you confidence that youhave evaluated the resource require-ments and developed a plan and proce-dures to prepare your crews should anemergency happen.

Communication Is KeyYou then must communicate the plan

to your employees. That could be donethrough formalized training or on-the-job training while employees are work-

The priority is always to make sure preparations

have been taken to assure thesafety of all employees.

By Gary Ganson, CIH, CSP

Gary Ganson, a certified industrial hygienistand certified safety professional, is a seniorconsultant for Terracon in Lenexa, Kansas.

Safety in Disasters Part 1: Disaster preparedness is the key to keeping workers safe on the job.


ing—so long as the workers are familiarwith how to conduct pre-task planning. Prior to every project and every daily

assignment, it’s good practice for allcrews and individual employees to un-derstand how important it is to reviewthe challenges they face at each job site. They need to ask themselves, “What

are the hazards and how do I preventmyself and others from being injured?”This includes disaster planning.

Workers must have a good understand-ing of how to be prepared if somethinghappens. This will mean less confusion,less chance of damage and injury, andbetter chance of a more speedy recovery. Plan for communication devices.

Crews sometimes work in remote loca-tions, and mobile communication de-vices anymore are typically carried byeveryone. But towers, lines, or evenweather can damage or interfere withelectronic signals and prevent mobilephones from being of service. Old sys-tems such as CB radios and walkie-talkies carried in a response kit haveturned out to be useful devices whenmobile phones aren’t functioning.

Each employee should have a copyof the disaster plan, and there should beone at every work site. If the disasterpreparedness plan requires specialequipment such as tie-downs, absorbentmaterial, personal protective equipment,or cover for employees, that equipmentshould be readily accessible—or evenbetter—carried on the truck or trailer.

Being PreparedEmployees should also go through

some method of disaster preparednessexercises. This can even be done as atabletop exercise, but it’s better to actu-ally do the exercises out in the field. Itmight take an hour or two, but it’s wortha life being saved or equipment notbeing damaged. Not to mention it canalso mean the savings of many dollars. Training should be repeated fre-

quently. If nothing happens for a yearand you have a 50% turnover in yourworkforce—repeat the training! Even veteran employees will benefit

as repeated actions will reinforce theirknowledge that in the instant a disasterhappens, knowing what to do and how

to react will mean the difference be-tween injuries, loss of equipment, andhow quickly work can resume. By wayof example, under OSHA’s Hazwoper(Hazardous Waste Operations andEmergency Response) standard, all per-sonnel are required to go through eighthours of retraining annually. It is aboutbeing proactive in the act and the art ofprevention. The last thing you want to say to

yourself is, “I wish I had planned betterand been prepared.”Taking the time and some simple

steps to think through a potential disas-ter is time well spent. The outcomes include never having to implement the plan, which is not a bad thing, andknowing that if it does happen, youwere ready. And your employees wenthome safe to work another day. PGWSJ

This is part one of a two-part series. Part 2 focusing on disaster recovery will be published in the Spring 2013issue of Public Groundwater SystemsJournal.


Thanks to the auction’s sponsors, those who donated items, made cash contributions, attended, and made purchases, nearly $35,000 was raised at the NGWREF Fundraising Auction that took place during the 2012 NGWA Groundwater Expo!

A special thank you goes out to our: Auction sponsors—

Operated by NGWA, NGWREF is a 501(c)(3) public foundation focused on conducting educational, research, and other charitable activities related to a broader public understanding of groundwater.

Thank you for making a difference at the 2012 NGWREF Fundraising Auction!

For more information about NGWREF and the many ways you can make a difference to the groundwater industry, visit www.NGWA.org/NGWREF or call customer service at 800 551.7379 (614 898.7791).

Platinum level donors—

Thanks to the auction’s sponsors, those who donated items, made cash contributions, attended, Thanks to the auction’s sponsors, those who donated items, made cash contributions, attended, Thanks to the auction’s sponsors, those who donated items, made cash contributions, attended, Thanks to the auction’s sponsors, those who donated items, made cash contributions, attended,

NEWSMAKERSNEW NAME, LOGO

Mesa Consolidated Water Districtin Costa Mesa, California, has renamedthe organization Mesa Water District,with “Mesa Water” for short, and bylaunching a new logo and look. Thenew logo features waterfall-type wavesin two clear blue colors representing the “M” and “W” of Mesa Water. MesaWater also named James R. Fislerpresident and Shawn Dewane first vicepresident of Mesa Water’s Board of Directors in December 2012.

BUSINESS GROWTHConnecticut Water Service Inc.

announced it has completed the acquisi-tion of the Biddeford and Saco WaterCo. BSWC serves nearly 15,500 cus-tomers, or a population of 50,000 peo-ple, in four communities in the state of Maine. In less than 12 months, Connecticut Water Service has grownits customer base by 35% through acquisitions in the state of Maine.

AWARDSFlowserve Corp., a provider of flow

control products and services for theglobal infrastructure markets, an-nounced its Durco Mark 3 ISO chemi-cal process pump won the 2012 RingierTechnology Innovation Award in thecentrifugal pumps category. RingierTechnology Innovation Awards weredeveloped to encourage, acknowledge,and reward those individuals and com-panies at the forefront of the interna-tional pump and valve industry.

The U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency honored two Lancaster County,Pennsylvania, communities for protect-ing sources of drinking water used bymore than 20,000 people. The SourceWater Protection Award recognizes or-ganizations and communities that takeextraordinary steps to protect drinkingwater sources in the EPA’s mid-Atlanticregion. Warwick and Lititz were recog-nized for their joint wellhead protectionprogram to protect groundwater sourcesfrom contamination.

CERTIFICATIONThe American Public Works Associ-

ation announced that 22 public worksprofessionals have earned their creden-tials as Certified Public InfrastructureInspectors. Since its inception, a total of242 U.S. and Canadian public infra-structure professionals have receivedthe CPII certification. APWA announced that 14 public

works professionals throughout theUnited States have earned the CertifiedStormwater Manager credential. TheCSM certification is intended for waterexperts in both the public and privatesectors who coordinate and implementstormwater management programs for city, county, state, provincial, andfederal agencies. APWA announced that five public

works fleet professionals have earnedthe Certified Public Fleet Professionalcredential. Since its inception, theCPFP program has certified 105 publicworks fleet professionals in NorthAmerica with the CPFP credential.

March 10–13/ Alabama Rural Water Association 35th Annual Technical Training Conference/ Montgomery, Alabama. Web: http://alruralwater.com/conference/am-1.aspMarch 10–16/ National GroundwaterAwareness Week/ PH: (800) 551-7379,Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail: [email protected], Web: www.NGWA.orgMarch 20–22/ Michigan Rural Water Association Annual Management andTechnical Conference/ City TBA, Michigan. PH: (989) 539-4111March 20–22/ Texas Rural Water Association 44th Annual Convention/Austin, Texas. Web: www.trwa.orgMarch 25–28/ Mississippi Rural WaterAssociation Annual Conference/ CityTBA, Mississippi. Web: www.msrwa.orgApril 9–12/ Texas Water 2013/ Galveston, Texas. Web: www.texas-water.comApril 22–25/ California Rural Water Association Expo/ South Lake Tahoe, California. Web: www.calruralwater.org/p/expoApril 28–May 2/ 2013 NGWA Summit—The National and International Confer-ence on Groundwater/ San Antonio,Texas. PH: (800) 551-7379, Fax: (614)898-7786, E-mail: [email protected], Web: www.NGWA.orgApril 30/ Asset Management for Ground-water-Based Public Supply Systems shortcourse/ San Antonio, Texas. PH: (800)551-7379, Fax: (614) 898-7786, E-mail:[email protected], Web: www.NGWA.orgMay 6–8/ Ohio Rural Water AssociationAnnual Managers and Directors Conference, Exposition and Golf Outing/Athens, Ohio. Web: http://ohioruralwater.org

*Dates shown in red are National GroundWater Association events.

COMING EVENTS

The Public Groundwater Systems Journal will be published quarterly in 2013. Make sure you get content that can help you on the job by filling out and mailing back the card on the cover of this issue. Each publication will be filled with feature articleson key topics, columns by industry experts, and departments featuring the latest news and products of the industry. Don’t miss PGWSJ in 2013.

Look for PGWSJ Once a Season in 2013


Solinst Offers Cost-EffectiveWater Level Datalogging

The Solinst Levelogger Junior Edgeprovides a cost-effective option forwater level and temperature datalogging.It uses a durable Hastelloy pressure sensor, which has superior corrosion resistance and can withstand up to twotimes over-pressure without permanentdamage. The Levelogger Junior Edgefeatures a memory capacity of 40,000sets of datapoints, accuracy is 0.1% FS,and the battery lasts up to five years.

If greater accuracy, sampling options,or ranges are required, the Solinst Lev-elogger Edge has the functionality tosuit your application. The LeveloggerEdge has 0.05% accuracy, a 10-year battery, and memory for up to 120,000datapoints using the linear compressedsampling option.

Hydroflo Pumps Provide ZeroLead Pump

Hydroflo Pumps USA Inc., a manu-facturer of turbines, pumps, and spe-cialty products fornumerous industriessince 1998, manu-factures the ZeroLead Pump thatmeets and exceedsregulations of theSafe Drinking WaterAct, including themost stringent lawsin the states of Cali-fornia and Vermont.

The standard Hydroflo Zero LeadPump features stainless steel impellersand hardware, cast iron lined bowls andVesconite bearings, a specialized ther-moplastic composed of internally lubri-cated polymers. Impellers are offered in 201, 304, and 316 stainless steel. The Hydroflo product line ranges fromvertical and submersible turbines to zerolead and drainage pumps.

SJE-Rhombus Lift Station Control Panel Has Three Phase,Three Voltages in One Panel

SJE-Rhombus, a pump control solu-tions provider, introduces the 331 LiftStation control panel. The 331 Lift Sta-tion control panel is a simple, versatilesolution for standard duplex applica-tions. It covers three phase (up to 32amps each) and three voltages (208V,240V, or 480V) with one panel.

The 331 Lift Station control panel ispre-engineered to simply “fit and click”the appropriate overload module intothe starter for operation. Available instainless steel or fiberglass wall mountenclosure, each 331 panel features sin-gle-point power connection; IEC HPrated motor starter with adjustable over-load module; 10 hp max at 208V, 240V,480V; class 10 ambient compensatedoverload relay; pump short circuit dis-connect and overload reset accessiblethrough the inner door; tri-voltage step-down control transformer; separatealarm/control fuses; override circuit tooperate lag pump if load float fails; al-ternator relay for even run time; seallead circuit for single- or double-probepumps; and more.

Xylem Introduces CentriProXtreme Duty 4-Inch SubmersibleMotor

Xylem Inc., a global water technologycompany focused on addressing theworld’s most challenging water issues,introduced the CentriPro Xtreme Duty4-inch submersible motor. Designed especially for sandy wells and coal bedmethane applications, the innovativeCentriPro Xtreme Duty motor uniquelycombines both sand fighting and coal bedmethane motor capabilities into one unit.

A silicon carbide mechanical seal anda felt diaphragm filter prevent coal fines

and other abrasives from entering themotor. All sizes feature a 17-4PH stain-less steel shaft and 1500-pound thrustbearings, compared to the industry stan-dard 2 hp and 3 hp motors with 900-pound bearings. The complete line isavailable in single-phase, 2-5 hp 230volt; three-phase, 3-7.5 hp 230 volt; andthree-phase, 3-10 hp 460 volt.

The Xtreme Dutymotor also features a new pressure equalizingdiaphragm cover to pre-vent debris from entering.Other features of theXtreme Duty motor include standard 15-footmotor leads; silicon carbide mechanical sealrather than lip seals; topend bell to accommodatethe mechanical seal withbronze seal cover; 304 Cast SS thrustbearing housing for corrosion resist-ance; and epoxy painted diaphragmcover.

New High Resolution ElectronicLCD Encoder Improves ReadingPerformance and Offers Programming Options

A new high resolution electronic liq-uid crystal display (LCD) encoder fromBadger Meter provides utilities with im-proved reading performance and impor-tant feature upgrades. The Badger MeterHigh Resolution Encoder (HR-E LCD)is fully electronic, solid-state, and fieldprogrammable.

Utilities have access to industry stan-dard encoder ASCII output with aneasy-to-read high resolution nine-digitLCD display. The display toggles be-tween nine digits, six digits, rate offlow, and meter model. Status indica-tors/alarms are sent as part of the highresolution encoded output for endpointscapable of receiving extended messages.

Encoders come factory-programmedto customer order specifications. Utili-ties may also program the unit of meas-ure, meter type, meter model, billingunits, and rate-of-flow parameters. Pro-gramming of the encoder can be per-formed at any time—helping to manageand reduce inventory requirements.

FEATURED PRODUCTS


Please fill out the following information to apply for a free subscription to the Public Groundwater SystemsJournal!Free subscriptions to U.S./Canada residents only.International residents can purchase a one-year subscription for $135 USD.

� Check here if you want to receive Public Groundwater SystemsJournal.

Select the category that best describes your work.

Operators of groundwater-supplied community water systems complete this section:

� a. Management

� b. Operator

� o. Other (please specify) ______________________________________________________________________

Contractors complete this section:� x. Contractor who works on or with groundwater-supplied

community water systems

Scientists, engineers complete this section:� x. Scientist or engineer who works with groundwater-supplied

community water systems

Wholesale suppliers and distributors of pumps and watertreatment equipment complete this section:

� x. Supplier of equipment for groundwater-supplied community water systems

Manufacturers of industrial pumps, water well supplies,and treatment equipment complete this section:

� x. Manufacturer of products and equipment for groundwater-supplied community water systems

* Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

* Title ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

* Company ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

* Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

* City/State/Province/Zip/Postal code ______________________________________________ * Country _____________________________Phone ____________________________________________________ Fax __________________________________________________

E-mail ____________________________________________________ Web __________________________________________________

* Signature ________________________________________________ * Date ________________________________________________

*Must be completed for fulfillment of free subscription.

Please allow four to six weeks to process your application.Due to the volume of requests we receive, we cannot reply individually to every denied request.

� Fax it! 614 898.7786

� Mail it! 601 Dempsey Rd., Westerville, OH 43081 USA

� E-mail it! [email protected]

Qualification Form


Your Cutting Safety is Our Concern

Call For A Free Demonstration

TODAY!

We Will Come To You!

1-866-987-7297

�ree Locations Available To Service YouDistribution Network Nation Wide

3317 West Warner Avenue 11 High Street 8004B East Broadway Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92074 Su�eld, CT 06078 Tampa, FL 33619

Go online for a video demonstration

www.airchainsaw.com

Model ACH-GB16Cuts Ductile, Cast, PVC, HDPE

Also Available in Gas & Hydraulic

Tiger Tooth diamond grit chain safely grinds through pipe without

sharp edges!

�e “Pipe Clamp” anchors chainsaws to the pipe for bottom up cuts and no

kickback.Visit us on the web at www.ussaws.com

We’re a leading independent manufacturer of wedge-wire screens for the water well and environmental markets. Our technical staff has over 150 years of combined industry experience, and the majority of our manufacturing personnel have spent their entire careers in this industry. We have one of the most modern manufacturing plants in the business, and the capacity to produce your screens on time every time. We work 24/7. If you need water well screens, don’t wait. Call us. Our products include:

Water Well Environmental Stainless Steel Rod Base Screens Screens Pipe Base Screens Risers Pre-Pack Screens Accessories Accessories

Phone: +1 281.233.0214Toll-free: +1 800.577.5068Fax: +1 281.233.0487Houston, Texas [email protected]

ISO 9001:2008 Registered QMS

www.alloyscreenworks.com

Documents

Winter 2013