Wells of Virginia -2023 Annual Report

Private drinking water wells serve more than a fifth of Virginia’s population or 1.7 million residents.   Virginia created the Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP) to provide affordable water testing and education about private water wells to those residents of the Commonwealth. Extension Offices hold drinking water clinics and provide information to assist private well owners in understanding and maintaining their wells. 

The quality and safety of private wells are not regulated under Federal nor, in most cases, state law. In Virginia regulations control only construction and the absence of bacteria at the time of a well’s completion. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Act does not regulate individual households. As a result, individual homeowners are responsible for maintaining their own water supply and ensuring the quality of the water for their family.

The Virginia Household Water Quality Program was, originally created in 1989, was relaunched in 2007 with a USDA grant. In 2011 the program was expanded under another USDA grant to subsidize testing, quantify bacteria, add metals, and begin research out of Virginia Tech. Now the program is self-sustaining with clinics held in 91 of the 96 counties in 2021. The analysis is done by the Virginia Tech laboratory and research utilizing the data is being pursued by graduate students.

In all the Virginia Household Water Quality Program clinics the water samples are analyzed for: iron, manganese, nitrate, lead, arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium, copper, total coliform bacteria and E. Coli bacteria, and last year cost $65 in Prince William County. These are mostly naturally occurring contaminants and common sources of contamination: a poorly sealed well or a nearby leaking septic system, or indications of plumbing system corrosion. Though not an exhaustive list of potential contaminants, these are the most common contaminants that effect drinking water wells.

from VHWQP 2023 annual report

Though about 600,000 of Virginia households with 1,600,000 residents or 19% of the Virginia population have private wells, only around 3,611 households chose to participate in the Virginia Household Water Quality Program clinic in 2023 and may not be representative of all private drinking water wells in the Commonwealth. Nonetheless, the data collected over the past 17 years is the one of the largest databases on private drinking water wells available. Well water quality is driven by geology, well construction and condition, nearby sources of contamination, and, within the home, water treatment devices and composition of plumbing materials.  

Overall, the statewide sampling last year found that just under 38% of the wells have coliform bacteria present, and almost 5% have E. coli bacteria. Though 23% of wells were found to have acidic water (low pH) about 7% of homes have first flush lead levels above the EPA safe drinking water standard maximum contaminant level for lead and 8% for copper. Lead and copper leach into water primarily because of corrosion of plumbing and well components but can also result from flaking of scale from brass fittings and well components unrelated to corrosion. Copper and lead predominately come from the pipes and lead containing components in wells. Over time older pipes and fixtures corrode or simply wear away and the lead and other corrosion material (like rust) is carried to the drinking water. Time and water do cause corrosion, but this can be aggravated by the pH of the water or other changes in water chemistry. The amount of lead corroded from metal plumbing including faucets with brass interiors generally increases with increasing water corrosiveness.

About 34% of households have elevated sodium exceeding the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act limit. This could be a result saltwater infiltration from natural or man-made sources (like road salt) or could indicate that water softeners are adding too much sodium to the water. Of the 3,611 participants in 2023, 40% report that they NEVER tested their water before and 30% had tested only once (presumably at purchase). About 46% of participants have participated in the VAHWQP clinic before.  Virginia Tech recommends annual testing of well water to make sure it is safe to drink, and you have the appropriate treatment system(s).

 

The Wells of Prince William 2024

Earlier this month the well owners who participated in the 2024 Prince William County Well Water Clinic received their results by email. Below you can see the summary of what was found in the 84-water analyses performed. VA Tech tested for the naturally occurring contaminants and common sources of contamination: a poorly sealed well or a nearby leaking septic system, or indications of plumbing system corrosion. These are the most common contaminants that affect our drinking water wells. 

To determine if treatment is necessary, water test results should be compared to a standard-usually the U.S.EPA Safe Drinking Water Act (SDW) limits. Though private wells are not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Safe Drinking Water Act, the SDW act has primary and secondary drinking water standards that we use for comparison. Primary standards are ones that can impact health and from the tested substances include coliform bacteria, E. coli bacteria, nitrate, lead, and arsenic. Secondary standards impact taste or the perceived quality of the water.

Just because your water appears clear does not mean it is safe to drink. The 2024 Prince William County water clinic found that 27.4% of the wells tested present for coliform bacteria. This is higher than last year. Coliform bacteria are not a health threat itself; it is used to indicate other bacteria that may be present and identify that a well is not properly sealed from surface bacteria. The federal standard for coliform bacteria is zero, but the federal standard allows that up to 5% of samples can test positive for coliform during a month.

One of the bacteria contaminated wells tested positive for E coli. Fecal coliform and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water is contaminated with human or animal wastes. Disease-causing microbes (pathogens) in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. These pathogens may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and those with compromised immune systems. However, people can drink water contaminated with fecal bacteria and not notice.

If your well is contaminated with coliform but not fecal coliform or E. coli, then you have a nuisance bacteria problem, and the source may be infiltration from the surface from rain or snow melt. Typical causes are improperly sealed well cap, well repairs performed without disinfecting or adequately disinfecting the well, failed grouting or surface drainage to the well. Very low levels of coliform (1-5 MPN) may appear in an older well during extremely wet springs.

If your well was found to have coliform bacteria present you should shock chlorinate the well (according to the procedure from VA Tech), repack the soil around the well pipe to flow away from the well and replace the well cap. Then after at least two weeks and the next big rainstorm retest the well for coliform. If coliform bacteria is still present then a long-term treatment should be implemented: using UV light, ozonation, or chlorine for continuous disinfection. These systems can cost up to $2,000 installed (maybe more with recent price increases).

If you have fecal coliform in the well or E. coli, your well is being impacted by human or animal waste and you are drinking dilute sewage. If there is not a nearby animal waste composting facility, then you are probably drinking water from a failed septic system- yours or your nearest neighbors or in some areas a leaking sewer line. To solve this problem you need to fix or replace the septic system that is causing the contamination, replace the well or install a disinfection and micro filtration or reverse osmosis system. Giardia or Cryptosporidium are two microscopic parasites that can be found in groundwater that has been impacted by surface water or sewage. Both parasites produce cysts that cause illness and sometimes death. Chlorine can work against Giardia but not Cryptosporidium. Ultraviolet (UV) light works against both Giardia and Cryptosporidium so it is the preferred method of treating this problem.

The failing septic systems can often be identified by using tracer dyes. While continuous disinfection will work to protect you from fecal bacteria and E. coli, be aware that if your well is being impacted by a septic system, then the well water might also have present traces of all the chemicals and substances that get poured down the drain. Long term treatment for disinfection, and micro-filtration should be implemented: using UV light, ozonation, or chlorine for continuous disinfection, carbon filtration, and anything that is used for drinking should be further treated with a reverse osmosis systems or micro membrane system both work by using pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane. Large quantities of wastewater are produced by reverse osmosis systems and need to bypass the septic system or they will overwhelm that system creating more groundwater problems. Reverse osmosis systems produce water very slowly, a pressurized storage tank and special faucet needs to be installed so that water is available to meet the demand for drinking and cooking.

Nitrate can contaminate well water from fertilizer use; leaking from septic tanks, sewage and erosion of natural deposits. None of the wells in our group of 84 samples had nitrate levels above the MCL. The regulatory limit for nitrate in public drinking water supplies, 10 mg/L,  was set to protect against infant methemoglobinemia, but other health effects were not considered and are emerging as problems. Nitrate in a well tends to climb slowly over the years if the septic systems do not have at least 3 acres between them. Based on a study done years ago in Dutchess County NY at least 3 acres are necessary to naturally treat the nitrate.

Dr. Mary Ward of the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute has lead several important studies comparing all the research on the health impacts from exposure to nitrate in water. The first review was of studies published before 2005. In 2018 Dr. Ward was lead author on a review of more than 30 epidemiologic studies on drinking water nitrate and health outcomes. If your nitrate-N levels are climbing, you might want to read Dr. Ward’s work. Thre are AOSS systems designed to remove nitrate. These are very expensive (think new care expensive.)

This year they found 3.6% of homes had first draw lead levels above the SDWA maximum contaminant level of 0.015 Mg/L. After flushing the tap for at least one minute none of the homes had lead levels above the 0.15 mg/L level; however, many scientists do not believe that any level of lead is safe to drink over an extended period of time. AndOften homes that have elevated lead in the first draw, have lower pH values. Corrosive water is the primary risk for lead in well water. However, over time water with a neutral pH could dissolve the coating on galvanized iron,  in brass well components and plumbing fixtures.

Houses built before 1988 when the ban on lead went into effect and have low pH water typically have higher lead concentrations. Lead leaches into water primarily as a result of corrosion of plumbing and components in the well itself but can also result from flaking of scale from brass fittings and well components. Corrosion control techniques such as adjusting pH or alkalinity that are commonly used to neutralize aggressive water will not work in to reduce lead being leached from well components. For most instances, though, a neutralizing filter and lead removing activated carbon filters can be used to remove lead leaching from plumbing pipes, solder and fixtures. Recently, some home water treatment companies are offering home treatment systems that neutralize the water and add orthophosphate other phosphate solution to coat the piping to prevent further corrosion of metal pipes. It should work if maintained. This type of solution is used in public water supplies. I have no experience with this type of home system and am not aware of any testing.
Iron and manganese are naturally occurring elements commonly found in groundwater in this part of the country. 4.8% of the wells tested exceed the iron standard and 3.6% exceeded the manganese standard. At naturally occurring levels iron and manganese do not present a health hazard. However, their presence in well water can cause unpleasant taste, staining and accumulation of mineral solids that can clog water treatment equipment and plumbing and discolored water. The standard Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) for iron is 0.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L or ppm) and 0.05 mg/L for manganese. This level of iron and manganese can be detected by taste, smell, or appearance. In addition, some types of bacteria react with soluble forms of iron and manganese and form persistent bacterial contamination in a well, water system and any treatment systems. These organisms change the iron and manganese from a soluble form into a less black or reddish brown gelatinous material (slime). Masses of mucous, iron, and/or manganese can clog plumbing and water treatment equipment.

All systems of removing iron and manganese essentially involve oxidation of the soluble form or killing and removal of the iron bacteria. When the total combined iron and manganese concentration is less than 15 mg/l, an oxidizing filter is the recommended solution. (Iron bacteria, hydrogen sulfide and tannins can also be removed with pre-chlorination.) An oxidizing filter supplies oxygen to convert ferrous iron into a solid form which can be filtered out of the water. Higher concentrations of iron and manganese can be treated with an aeration and filtration system. This system is not effective on water with iron/ manganese bacteria but is very effective on soluble iron and manganese, so you need to do further testing to determine what type of iron/manganese you have before you install a treatment system. Newer iron filters have an option to add an ozone generator to kill reducing bacteria.  Water softeners can remove low levels of iron and manganese and are widely sold for this purpose because they are very profitable but are now being banned in some locations due to rising sodium and chloride levels, what is known as inland salinization. Increasing salinization of our water resources is a growing problem in our region. Also, water softeners are easily clogged by iron bacteria.

Chemical oxidation can be used to remove high levels of dissolved or oxidized iron and manganese as well as treat the presence of iron/manganese (or even sulfur which was found in one well exceeding the EPA MCL) bacteria. The system consists of a small pump that puts an oxidizing agent into the water before the pressure tank. The water will need about 20 minutes for oxidation to take place so treating before a holding tank or pressure tank is a must. After the solid particles have formed the water is filtered. The best oxidizing agents are chlorine or hydrogen peroxide. If chlorine is used, an activated carbon filter is often used to finish the water and remove the chlorine taste. The holding tank or pressure tank will have to be cleaned regularly to remove any settled particles.

The pH of water is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity. The pH is a logarithmic scale from 0 – 14 with 1 being very acidic and 14 very alkaline. Drinking water should be between 6.5 and 8.5. For reference and to put this into perspective, coffee has a pH of around 5 and salt water has a pH of around 9. Corrosive water, sometimes also called aggressive water is typically water with a low pH. (Alkaline water can also be corrosive.) Low pH water can corrode metal plumbing fixtures causing lead and copper to leach into the water and causing pitting and leaks in the plumbing system. The presence of lead or copper in water is most commonly leaching from the plumbing system or well rather than the groundwater. Acidic water is easily treated using an acid neutralizing filter. Typically, these neutralizing filters use a granular marble, calcium carbonate or lime. If the water is very acidic a mixing tank using soda ash, sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide can be used. The acid neutralizing filters will increase the hardness of the water because of the addition of calcium carbonate. 16.7% of the wells tested were found to have acidic water this year. One well had too high a pH. This is usually from over treating with a water softener, but can be an expression of other pollution.

Water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals is commonly referred to as hard. Groundwater very slowly wears away at the rocks and minerals picking up small amounts of calcium and magnesium ions. Water containing approximately 120 mg/L can begin to have a noticeable impact and is considered hard. Concentrations above 180 mg/L are considered very hard. Hard water can be just a minor annoyance with spotting and the buildup of lime scale, but once water reaches the very hard level 180 mg/L or 10.5 grains per gallon, it can become problematic. Overall, 17.9% of homes tested had very hard water. (It is to be noted that 53.6% of homes reported having a water softener.)

Two methods are commercially available (and certified) to treat hard water. A water softener and a water system that work through a process called template assisted crystallization (TAC), have been certified by DVGW-W512 and are available in whole house units. In template assisted crystallization, water flows through a tank of TAC media. When the hard water comes into contact with the media, the magnesium and calcium ions are caught by the nucleation sites. As more calcium and magnesium ions build up within the sites, small micro-crystals form and flow through your plumbing. They do not attach themselves to your water pipes as scale.

The ubiquitous water softening system is an ion exchange system consisting of a mineral tank and a brine tank. The mineral tank holds small beads of resin that have a negative electrical charge. The calcium and magnesium ions (along with small amounts of other minerals) are positively charged and are attracted to the negatively charged beads. This attraction makes the minerals stick to the beads as the hard water passes through the mineral tank. Sodium from salt is used to charge the resin beads. The brine tank is flushed out when the resin beads are recharged carrying the salty solution to the environment. Inland salinization of surface waters and groundwater is an emerging environmental concern. Research has shown that salinization has affected over a third of the drainage area of the contiguous United States even in areas without road salt. At the present time the EPA guidance level for sodium in drinking water is 20 mg/L. Given the number of homes with elevated sodium and our local geology, it is probably a reflection of the number of homes with water softeners-50.0% of the wells tested had elevated sodium.

One of wells was found that had arsenic exceeding the EPA MCL for drinking water of 10 ppm. While arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in soil and groundwater it is not typically found at significantly elevated levels in this geology. Arsenic is best removed by water treatment methods such as reverse osmosis, ultra-filtration, distillation, or as a last choice ion exchange (water softeners). Typically, these methods are used to treat water at only one faucet. Though anionic exchange systems (water softeners) are whole house systems, they may not be the best choice.

Dogs Know Words

It will come as no surprise to any dog owner that research scientists have found that pet dogs know the words for many objects. Though the understanding of object words had not been previously demonstrated as a general capacity in any non-human species,  despite many pet owners reporting the fact.  It has now been demonstrated.

This image is from Science News a great magazine where I read about this study

In non-verbal humans object word knowledge is typically tested using the semantic violation paradigm, where words are presented either with their matching image or another object (a mismatch).  Such mismatch elicits an N400 effect, a well-established neural correlate of semantic processing that can be measured with an EEG. Most famously this technique is used to test preverbal infants.  

Pet dogs live in our human environment and are surrounded by speech. They learn. In 2020 Gabor et al found similarities between humans and dogs in the neural processing of speech. Scientists developed a methodology of studying brain mechanics in dogs that is non-invasive using EEG much they way they study brain activity in infants.

This non-invasive canine neuroscience technique was developed and perfected in a laboratory at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. There are videos you can watch online of dogs participating in some of their research narrated by the lead scientist of this study, Marianna Boros. The dogs seem perfectly happy (tails waging) and are not restrained so they could walk away. They do have a couple of electrodes stuck to their fur. It looks harmless in the videos.

Now researchers in Budapest have tested word knowledge and found that all pet dogs tested in a small group know the words for things. Every dog I’ve ever had knew what a leash, Kong and ball were, and many, many more things. However, this is the first neuroscientific evidence that animals can understand word meaning the same way humans do.  Now if they could just test cats…but I’m afraid the two skills necessary-lying on a mat and staying awake are beyond pet cats.

 

My Well Test Results

The Virginia Tech Extension Virginia Household Water Quality Program finally emailed the water test results from the water clinic. This is what I saw when I opened my attachment:

 

Coliform bacteria was found present. Total coliform bacteria is called an indicator bacteria. They are  found on the ground surface and in surface water, generally do not cause disease. They are indicators of the possible presence of disease bacteria, and if found, point to the need for additional testing  for E. coli ,which was not found. Total coliform (and E. coli bacteria) results also include “MPN”, or “most probable number”, which is a statistical estimation of how many bacteria were found in 100 mL of sample. This number can range from < 1 (Absent)  to greater than  2,419, which is represented as “>2419” or “too numerous to count”. The MPN can give an idea of the extent of contamination of a water supply, but, ideally, no bacteria should be present. My MPN was 1.01.

My well tested positive with an MPN of 1.01/100 mg/L indicating that there is a very small amount of bacteria (about 1 per 100 ml of water). This could be an accidental cross contamination, a result of all the rain,  or it could be in the source water, plumbing or on the faucet. I have no water treatment devices in my house so that was out.

Standard protocol if a well tests PRESENT for coliform is:

1. Retest using proper sampling procedure and verify that E coli is tested for.
2. If the sample still tests positive for total coliform then treat the system with chlorine
3. Retest the water after the chlorine has left the system in about two to three weeks (make sure that the water tests negative for chlorine).
4. If your well water still tests positive for total coliform: Carefully check the well and water system for points of contamination. Make sure you have a sound and secure sanitary well cap and that the soil around the well is packed to drain water away from the well.
5. Then treat the well and plumbing system again making sure to disinfect any treatment equipment, replace filters, with chlorine for 12-24 hours to disinfect system (the 12-24 hours is essential). Then flush the chlorine from the system- not to your septic system. Make sure that this is done correctly.
6. Retest the water after the chlorine has left the system in about two weeks. If coliform bacteria is “ABSENT” you’re done. If not, then it is time to install a long term disinfection system. (UV light or continuous chlorination)

If the MPN is above 50-100 I would skip retesting and simply jump right to fixing the problem: methodically shock chlorinate the well (according to the procedure from VA Tech), repack the soil around the well pipe to flow away from the well and check and disinfect the well cap and replace as necessary. That is a lot of work for contamination that may have happened in taking or processing the sample.

Though I hate to think that I was the source of human error, taking a sample at 4:30 am I certainly could have been. The aerator or  lab, too, could have been the source of cross contamination.

There could be other sources of minor Coliform contamination and these are beginning to worry me. From Penn State Extension we also know “Time of year and weather conditions can affect the occurrence and amount of coliform bacteria in wells. “....Since coliform bacteria like to live near the surface of the earth and prefer warm temperatures, it is reasonable that bacteria would be more likely to occur in groundwater wells during warmer, wetter weather conditions when surface water is recharging groundwater aquifers. Thus, the highest number of bacteria will be found by testing your well shortly after several weeks of rainy weather, while the fewest bacteria will be found when testing during dry, cold conditions in the winter. These variations in bacteria with season and weather conditions need to be considered when testing your water supply for bacteria.”

This failed test had been taken during a two week period where we had several days of rain. Our geology is fractured rock with very little overburden...still 1.01 MPN spoke more of accidental cross contamination, but this is the second time in 4 years that I got this result. I always worry that with a fractured rock system we a susceptible to contamination. Over the weekend I went out and got a sample bottle from a certified laboratory and will carefully clean the spouts and take  another sample this week. If it is positive, I will chlorinate this month, if negative, I will think about it, maybe test the well for coliform bacteria quarterly and track it more closely. It is, after all, my family’s water supply.

Occoquan Overlay

To protect the Occoquan Reservoir that provides drinking water to the eastern portion of Prince William County, the county has created an overlay district in the lower Occoquan Watershed. Now that the overlay district is being added to the Comprehensive Plan, there are attempts to exempt the largest undeveloped parcels from the protections. The whole point of the ORPA is to prevent more intense development and protect the drinking water supply for eastern Prince William.

Protecting the recharge of groundwater within the Occoquan watershed serves to protect all of the water resources in the watershed. Today, the Occoquan watershed is often described as the most urbanized watershed in the nation. Certainly, there are far more urbanized areas in the United States, but they do no longer have functioning watersheds. We need to effectively protect ours and our source of drinking water.

from NVRC

As the US Geological Survey points out: “Nearly all surface-water features (streams, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, and estuaries) interact with ground water. These interactions take many forms. In many situations, surface-water bodies gain water and solutes from ground-water systems and in others the surface-water body is a source of ground-water recharge and causes changes in ground-water quality. As a result, withdrawal of water from streams can deplete ground water or conversely, pumpage of ground water can deplete water in streams, lakes, or wetlands.”

Ground water flow and storage, often viewed as static reservoirs, are dynamic and continually changing in response to human and climatic stress [Alley et al., 2002; Gleeson et al., 2010]. Increase or decrease in precipitation patterns impacts available surface and groundwater. Man’s hand in changing the land surface also impacts water resources.

Land use changes that increase impervious cover more than 5-10% from roads, pavement and buildings does two things. It reduces the open area for rain and snow to seep into the ground and percolate into the groundwater and the impervious surfaces cause stormwater velocity to increase preventing water from having enough time to percolate into the earth, increasing storm flooding and preventing recharge of groundwater from occurring. 

Slowly, this can reduce water supply over time. As groundwater levels fall, perennial steams that feed the rivers become ephemeral. The groundwater becomes disconnected from the surface water network. Once the hydrology is destroyed by development, it cannot be easily restored, if at all. Though there have been a few attempts we have not succeeded in restoring a watershed. According to the NVRC in 2015 impervious surfaces in this lower Occoquan area was already at 11%.

from NVRC

Protecting the Occoquan Reservoir requires protecting all the water resource in a region because all water in the watershed is connected. Precipitation moves into the water table (the hyporheic zone) down to groundwater or into rivers and streams. Disrupting the balance of water flow can have dire consequences. The available supply of fresh water is continually renewed by the hydrologic cycle and in the case of the Occoquan Reservoir the actions of mankind. The need for water is constant and grows with population, wealth and business activity. There is also a seasonality to water- we use more in summer.

There has been a six-fold increase in population from when the statistics were first collected in the early 1970’s. Ironically, the defining study of water quality issues within the Occoquan Reservoir (Metcalf and Eddy, Inc., 1970) which led to the development of a management plan for the Occoquan included one recommendation to “provide highest treatment technically achievable; discharge reclaimed water to the Occoquan Watershed; and limit basin population to 100,000.”

The quantity and quality of ground water in Prince William County varies across the county depending on the geologic and hydrogeologic group you are in. Generally speaking, the groundwater in the county is recharged in elevated areas and discharges to streams and estuaries. However, the paths and duration of groundwater flow are different between consolidated rocks and unconsolidated material. 

In the area of the proposed ORPA is beyond the Culpeper Basin in the Piedmont region. This area of the ORPA is primarily hydrogeologic group D composed of igneous rock formations with areas of hydrogeologic group E that transition at the bounds of the ORPA to group E and then to the Coastal Plain.

Hydrogeologic group D is located within the Piedmont formation and consists of three igneous plutons in the eastern part of Prince William County: the Goldvein, Lake Jackson, and Occoquan Plutons. Rocks within hydrogeologic group D tend to have moderate water-bearing potential and ground-water storage is predominantly in the overburden, which is the soils above the bedrock. Wells in this area are most susceptible to drought and tend to be slightly acidic. The igneous rocks have subhorizontal sheeting and near vertical joints overlain by thick overburden. Groundwater wells in the area tend to have yields range from 1.2 to 100 gal/min which has resulted in the development of homes with wells in the area due to the thickness of the water storing overburden.

Hydrogeologic group E is also in the Piedmont formation in the eastern part of the county, and consists of metasedimentary, metavolcanic, and other metamorphic rocks. Rocks within hydrogeologic group E tend to have poor water-bearing potential, and thin- to thick cover of overburden. Similar to the rocks of hydrogeologic group D, ground-water storage tends to be predominantly in the overburden. Some of the poorest yielding wells in Prince William County are located in this hydrogeologic group and can be as low a 0.25 gallons per minute, but can also reach upto 70 gallons per minute-, but tending towards the low end because of the thinness of the overburden beyond the limits of what is the proposed ORPA. Homes and businesses in this area have depended on public water supply due to the limitations on well development and that water comes from the Occoquan Reservoir.

Fauquier and PFAS

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) do not occur in nature, they are an entirely synthetic substance. Yet, most people in the United States have been exposed to PFAS and have PFAS in their blood, especially perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). 

There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, and they are found in many different consumer, commercial, and industrial products. This category of chemical has been widely used for over 80 years mainly for their ability to repel oil, grease, water, and heat. PFOS and PFOA found in Scotch Guard and an ingredient in Teflon and traditional Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) - the foam used to fight aviation and other chemical fires -were the first to become widely commercially successful.

But PFAS  has been widely used in consumer products. Spray coatings to cans and food packaging, flame retardants, waterproof coatings and on and on. PFAS are resistant to degradation and because they are so soluble in water simply flow through the wastewater treatment plant or septic leach field. PFAS remained in the biosolids and effluent. Biosolids were used as organic fertilizer and picked up by crops and grazing animals.

The reach and spread of PFAS was increased because effluent from wastewater treatment is released to rivers and used as source water for drinking water. Out it went to rivers and streams ultimately to the oceans. Fish and seafood were exposed to PFAS through the waste water effluent as were we. 

Ob April 10th 2024 the U.S. EPA finalized the national primary drinking water standards for six types of PFAS.

For PFOA and PFOS the U.S. EPA is setting enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) at 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, individually.  This standard will reduce exposure from these PFAS in our drinking water to the lowest levels that are feasible for effective implementation -a level they can be reliably measured.

• In addition, for PFOA and PFOS, EPA is setting a non-enforceable health-based goal of zero. This is called a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG).  This reflects the official position that the latest science shows that there is no level of exposure to these two PFAS without risk of health impacts.
• For PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (GenX Chemicals), EPA is setting MCLGs of 10 parts per trillion
• PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX Chemicals: EPA is also proposing a regulation to limit any mixture containing one or more of PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and/or GenX Chemicals. For these PFAS, water systems would use a hazard index calculation, defined in the proposed rule, to determine if the combined levels of these PFAS pose a potential risk.

According to the EPA, public water systems have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs.

Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority ( FCWSA) consists of 15 local water systems that are supplied by wells. There are more than 50 wells in total. FCWSA began testing their wells for PFAS in their largest water system, the New Baltimore Regional Waterworks and has continued testing all water sources. FCWSA has found a range of results both above and below the EPA’s final regulations. As additional results are received FCWSA will update the results below (click on the image link to check). These results exclude the Town of Warrenton and Vint Hill Waterworks which is the old U.S. Army base at Vint Hill water system now operated by Buckland Water and Sanitation Assets Corporation. It is not known if there is PFAS contamination in Warrenton, but the Vint Hill Waterworks has a very significant PFAS contamination problem.

from FCWSA

As you can see, FCWSA will likely have to address the PFAS contamination issues in the New Baltimore Regional, Bealeton Regional, Marshall, Waterloo Estates, Bethel Academy, and Fauquier County Botha systems. In addition, it is clear that the groundwater in several parts of Fauquier County contains traces of PFAS above the EPA safe drinking water act MCL. Private well owners will have to address this problem on their own. Until a reliable and affordable PFAS test is available to well owners (hopefully through the Rural Household Water Quality Program run out of VA Tech and the Extension Office) concerned well owners or water system consumers should by a filter tested by the Environmental Working Group.

The Path to Solving PFAS in Chelmsford MA

My younger brother lives in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. In 2020, the Massachusetts department of environmental protection (MassDEP) published its PFAS public drinking water standard or Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Level (MMCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L), or parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of the concentrations of six specific PFAS. The six PFAS are: PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFHpA, and PFDA. MassDEP abbreviates this set of six PFAS as “PFAS6” and has all public water systems test for them. 

Late last fall my brother received a notice from his water company, the Chelmsford Water District, that they had found a PFAS6 result that exceeded the Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for drinking water in the third quarter of 2023.  The Chelmsford Water District will need to build treatment facilities to address PFAS contamination that is beyond the limit deemed safe by the State and the newly finalized PFAS limits under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Testing conducted in Chelmsford in 2023 found PFAS levels exceeding MassDEP guidelines of 20 ppt in one of the three treatment plants that serves District customers.  Under the January 2020 Massachusetts guideline for PFAS Water District is mandated to submit quarterly PFAS results to DEP. The District has “triggered” quarterly levels above the guideline in the 3rd quarter of 2023, but since then has remained below the guideline in the 10-20 ppt range.  Regardless, the District must move forward with a solution to provide water to their customers with PFAS levels below State guidelines and also comply with the new federal limits.

Chelmsford Water District is small. It draws all its water from a series of water wells in two watersheds. There are two primary treatment plants and a backup plant. Crooked Spring Treatment Plant handles water from nine wells across the district. This plant utilizes aeration and greensand filtration techniques to remove elevated levels of iron and manganese from these wells and his plant has emergency redundancy built into it by the inclusion of a back up UV Disinfection System. The Riverneck Treatment Plant drawn from the other nine wells in the eastern area of the district and is also sent through the Greensand filtration system to remove elevated levels of iron and manganese from these wells. The Riverneck Road Treatment Plant can treat up to three million gallons of water daily. The Crooked Spring Treatment Plant, can treat up to four million gallons per day. This is a tiny water system compared to our own Fairfax Water that can treat hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day.

The Smith Street Treatment Plant and Wells was inactive from  1999 to 2012. The district refurbished the two wells and upgraded the treatment system. The  Smith Street Treatment Plant uses an aeration and membrane filtration system. This plant, along with its wells, serves as a relief system during times of withdrawal stress and an emergency backup for both the Crooked Spring and Riverneck Road Treatment Plants.

The Chelmsford Water District contracted with AECOM, a National engineering firm with a Chelmsford office, to design two treatment plants and a transmission line to remove the PFAS for all water customers.  AECOM is currently at the 30% design phase and is working with the District to communicate plans to the Town of Chelmsford public officials and District residents.  AECOM also submitted, on behalf of the District, an application to the Massachusetts DEP 2024 Draft Intended Use Plan for Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund.

The project completion is expected June, 2028 ahead of the federal deadline of 2029 for compliance with the federal PFAS rule. Chelmsford has always used the waste streams from their water treatment to recharge the groundwater. Waste streams from PFAS filtration should not be reintroduced to the environment. I look forward to learning how AECOM proposes to address this issue.

 At District meeting in this month the Chelmsford Water District will seek approval to accept assistance in the form of a loan in the amount of $43million from the state revolving loan fund. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law  dedicates $9 billion specifically to invest in communities with drinking water impacted by PFAS and other emerging contaminants. $1B of these funds can be used to help private well owners. The funds per estimated impacted water systems (if evenly given out) would come to about a million dollars, which as you can see does not go very far even at the smallest of water companies.

Today is Earth Day

Today, April 22 marks the 54th Earth Day. The first U.S. celebration of Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970. Many organizations have taken on the mantle of Earthday. Most encourage community events and providing a theme and slogans. Our communities also have outdoor events and observances.

I see Earth Day is a way to remind ourselves that we are citizens of the earth and we need to live gently upon her. Small little efforts add up and begin with you. Today and every day we need to live our values and engage our children so that we all may step back from our lives (or handheld devices) and see how our actions and choices can impact our immediate environment and the greater earth beyond. Saving the earth starts with you and a series of small changes, behaviors, and expectations will make a big difference especially if we all do it. So, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the little habits and behaviors that make a big difference and leave others to promote global action and sweeping regulations.

Conserve Energy. We use too much energy and are wasteful with it. Despite promises the carbon footprint of earth from burning carbon fuels has continued to grow despite a considerable increase in “renewable energy.” Begin by replacing your most frequently used light fixtures or simply the light bulbs in them with more efficient fixtures- LED and Energy Star certified products. This is a simple and relatively inexpensive first step.

The next step is to look for Energy Star products when burying new appliances and equipment for your home. When my air heat exchanges failed I looked into purchasing a geothermal heat pump, but as a retrofit to my home wa tens of thousands of dollars beyond my budget. Instead, I bought a multi-speed, high efficiency, Energy Star certified air heat pump, and upgraded my ducting and insulation. I ended up with a more comfortable house and a lower electric bill.

Heating and cooling costs are almost half of most energy bills. Replacing heating and cooling equipment and upgrading ducts is not the only way to save money. There are a lot of little steps you can take. Simple steps like changing air filters regularly, properly using a programmable thermostat, and having your heating and cooling equipment maintained at least annually by a heating and cooling technician.

Also, you can seal and insulate your home to avoid waste. Thermography using infrared cameras that show surface heat variations can be used to detect heat losses and air leakage in building envelopes and identify where insulation will be most effective. Seal and insulate your home and reduce air leaks and stop drafts by using caulk, weather stripping, and insulation to seal your home's envelope and add more insulation to your attic to block out heat and cold and prevent you from spending money to cool your attic in the summer and heat your attic in the winter.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reducing, reusing, and recycling in your home helps conserve money, energy, and reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and manufacturing. And for goodness sake, don’t litter.

Use water efficiently. It takes energy to pump, treat, and heat water, so saving water reduces greenhouse gas emissions. According to the EPA, 3% of the nation's energy is used to pump and treat water. For those on public water, saving water reduces your water bill. For those of us on a well saving water reduces my electric bill and ensures that my well can provide a reliable source of water. Saving water around the home is simple.

The typical American uses the most water (indoors)  for flushing, showering, washing hands and brushing teeth, and laundry. Buying water efficient appliances and fixtures, maintaining the fixtures and repairing any leaks can significantly reduce our water use inside the house.

Low flow faucets and shower heads and behavior modification (not running the water while you brush your teeth or shorter showers can save about a third of the water typically used for personal hygiene. Laundry is the largest or second largest use of water. A top loading washing machine uses 43-51 gallons per load while a full size front load machine uses 27 gallons per load and some machines have low volume cycles for small loads that use less. A standard dishwasher uses 7-14 gallons per load while a water efficient dishwasher uses 4.5 gallons per load and getting more and more efficient.

Outdoor water use is a significant use of water. Eliminating the watering of our ornamental gardens would significantly reduce water use especially in the most arid parts of the country where up to 75% of household water use is for the outdoors and there is the most pressure on water supply. Be green in your yard; work with nature to have a low maintenance and healthier garden.

Travel less. Americans use a significant amount of energy for transportation- all kinds. We need to reduce this by not only choosing the cleanest, most fuel-efficient, hybrid or electric vehicle that meets your needs, but by reducing the amount we drive and fly. I will not tell you how to reduce your driving or flying, these are actions determined by career choices and life choices- what you do for a living, where you live how you get to work and the kind of vacations you take. Think about it and make the best choices you can. Make your choices consistent with your values.

Finally, you might want to consider purchasing some green power to power your home. Green power is environmentally friendly electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources such as landfill gas, hydro power, wind and the sun. You can purchase some through your electric company (they all have programs) or you could go the expensive route and install solar panels. 

Fairfax Water 2024 Grant Program is OPEN

 

Every year Fairfax Water offers Watershed and Water Supply Education Grants. Local and state government educational and environmental agencies, homeowners and HOAs, civic groups and not-for-profit organizations may apply for funding, technical services or a combination of these, up to a total of $10,000. Grant Applications must be postmarked by May 15th, 2024 to be considered. Grant Awards will be announced later in the summer.

Grant requests must address water supply or watershed issues within Fairfax Water’s service area or watershed area in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, or Fauquier Counties. The project or activity for which the funding is requested shall address water supply and/or watershed issues within areas served by Fairfax Water, including wholesale customers, or within the portions of the watershed providing source water to Fairfax Water’s customers lying in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, or Fauquier Counties; the cities of Manassas, Manassas Park, Falls Church, Fairfax, or Alexandria; and the towns of Herndon and Vienna.

Although source water protection, education and water quality monitoring projects are eligible for grants, preference will be given to Occoquan Reservoir shoreline stabilization projects. Shoreline stabilization projects must have demonstrable water quality benefits to Fairfax Water. These grants may be in the form of funding, technical services or a combination not to exceed a total of $10,000. Grants for erosion control projects on private property along the Occoquan Reservoir may not exceed a total of $5,000 per property.

The type of projects that are eligible are:

Education. This would include seminars, programs, or tours aimed at educating the public on water supply issues. Topics may include, but are not limited to, hydrology, water treatment processes, water distribution, watersheds, non-point source pollution, erosion and sediment control, and water quality monitoring.

Source Water Protection Projects. Including stream restoration projects, non-point source pollution management projects, or other activities aimed at improving water quality within the Occoquan Watershed or Potomac River Basin.

Water Quality Monitoring Projects. Including stream flow measurement, water quality constituent concentration, biological health, or erosion.

Occoquan Reservoir Shoreline Stabilization Projects. Property owners may apply for a grant to support stabilization projects aimed at restoring the shoreline along the Occoquan Reservoir.

 Applications are available online. Along with instructions for project submissions here. For further information contact the Watershed Protection Specialist by phone at 703-289-6303 or by e-mail at outreach@fairfaxwater.org. Fairfax Water needs all their stakeholders to work with them to maintain the quality of all our source water.

EPA finalizes its PFAS Rule

Last Wednesday the U.S. EPA finalized the national primary drinking water standards for six types of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances commonly called PFAS, commonly referred to as forever chemicals because they do not beak down in nature.  PFAS do not occur in nature, they are an entirely synthetic substance. Yet, most people in the United States have been exposed to PFAS and have PFAS in their blood, especially perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

• For PFOA and PFOS the U.S. EPA is setting enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) at 4.0 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, individually.  This standard will reduce exposure from these PFAS in our drinking water to the lowest levels that are feasible for effective implementation -a level they can be reliably measured.
• In addition, for PFOA and PFOS, EPA is setting a non-enforceable health-based goal of zero. This is called a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG).  This reflects the official position that the latest science shows that there is no level of exposure to these two PFAS without risk of health impacts.
• For PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (GenX Chemicals), EPA is setting MCLGs of 10 parts per trillion
• PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX Chemicals: EPA is also proposing a regulation to limit any mixture containing one or more of PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and/or GenX Chemicals. For these PFAS, water systems would use a hazard index calculation, defined in the proposed rule, to determine if the combined levels of these PFAS pose a potential risk.

According to the EPA, public water systems have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs.

Within three years of rule promulgation (2024 – 2027) the regulated water utilities must complete the initial monitoring for PFAS.

Then over the next two years (2027 – 2029) results of initial monitoring must be included in Consumer Confidence Reports, compliance monitoring must begin, and the Public must be notified of levels that exceed the regulatory limit.

Starting in 2029, five years after this rule promulgation all water utilities must comply with all MCLs and the public notified of any MCL violation. There are 66,000 public drinking water systems subject to this rule. EPA estimates that only between 6% and 10% of the 66,000 public drinking water systems subject to this rule may have to take action to reduce PFAS to meet these new standards. Compliance with this rule is estimated to cost approximately $1.5 billion annually for hose water systems.

The final PFAS rule does not dictate how water systems remove these contaminants. This allows the water utilities to determine the best solutions for their community and there are several treatment options that the EPA reports are proven to work. These treatment options are;  granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange systems. In some cases, EPA suggests that water utilities can close contaminated wells or obtain new uncontaminated source of drinking water.

Our own Fairfax Water that supplies Prince William County as a water wholesaler to American Water and Prince William Service Authority says: “Due to decades of use, PFAS are everywhere in the environment. Industrial sites might release PFAS into the water or air. Consumer and household products containing PFAS enter landfills and are washed down the drain. Because of their chemical composition, PFAS do not break down naturally and can be found throughout the environment in surface water, groundwater, air, and soil. They build up in the environment over time, eventually entering our bodies through food and drinking water.”

“Our data shows that the PFNA, HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX chemicals), PFHxS, and PFBS levels in our water are all below the MCLs and HI. PFOA and PFOS results for Potomac treated water are less than the MCL of4.0 parts per trillion (ppt). PFOA and PFOS results for the Griffith Water Treatment Plant, which treats water from the Occoquan Reservoir, are slightly above the MCL of 4.0 ppt. Fairfax Water is evaluating treatment processes to ensure that our water will meet these standards.”

Fairfax Water is a large water utility, the largest in Virginia. PFAS contamination can have a disproportionate impact on small, disadvantaged, and rural communities, and there is federal funding available specifically for these water systems. The EPA points out that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law  dedicates $9 billion specifically to invest in communities with drinking water impacted by PFAS and other emerging contaminants. $1B of these funds can be used to help private well owners. Unfortunately there are over millions of private wells in the United States serving about 14% of the population owners and that funding will not go very far.

George Washington Regional Commission and Urban Heat Islands

In 1968 under the Regional Cooperation Act , Virginia was divided into planning districts based on the proximity and common interests among its counties, cities and towns. There are 21 regional commissions in Virginia. They are made up of elected officials and citizens appointed to the Commission by the member local governments. The Commission selects an Executive Director responsible for managing daily operations and has staff. Commission offices are located generally in a central location for the region as determined by the Commission charter. 

We in Prince William are part of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission that consists of Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William and Loudoun along with their independent cities and incorporated towns in these counties. Adjacent to the eastern part of Prince William County  is the George Washington Regional Commission which encompasses; Caroline County, City of Fredericksburg, King George County, Spotsylvania County, and Stafford County.

At the last Potomac Watershed Roundtable meeting, Meredith Keppel, the Environmental Planner at the George Washington Regional commission told us about some of their environmental work. Their region has several ongoing environmental programs intended to help the region use land wisely. Some of these programs are a septic relief program that pulls together various resources and funding to facilitate septic repairs for citizens. A native plant campaign and funding sources for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan funding sources. However, the program with the most fascinating story was the Green Infrastructure program.

The George Washington Regional Commission is hosting a Green Infrastructure charette to “collaboratively explore and envision how green infrastructure can address stormwater and urban heat island issues in the region.” This charette will take place on  Friday, April 26, 2024 starting at noon at the Howell Library Branch in Fredericksburg, VA. You can got to the GW Commission website for more information. https://gwregion.org/environment/green-infrastructure

One of the best definitions I’ve seen of green infrastructure comes from the American Rivers Association What is Green Infrastructure? (americanrivers.org) edited below:

Green infrastructure is an approach to water management that protects, restores, or mimics the natural water cycle. Green infrastructure means planting trees and restoring wetlands, choosing water efficiency, instead of building more water supply dams, restoring floodplains instead of building taller levees. Green infrastructure incorporates both the natural environment and engineered systems to provide clean water, conserve ecosystem functions, and provide a wide array of benefits to people and wildlife.

Green infrastructure solutions can be applied on different scales. On the local level, green infrastructure practices include rain gardens, permeable pavements, green roofs, infiltration planters, trees, and tree boxes, and rainwater harvesting systems. At the largest scale, the preservation and restoration of natural landscapes (such as forests, floodplains, and wetlands) are critical components of green infrastructure.

In its simplest terms green infrastructure is changing the way you live and build to capture rainwater where it falls and allowing it to absorb into the earth or be taken up by plants. Plants use the sun's energy and do not reflect it back. What is really interesting about this program at the George Washington Regional commission is its origin. The green infrastructure is intended to address flooding and the urban heat island effect.

Areas with a large amount of impervious surfaces (such as asphalt, concrete, buildings, etc.) not only are susceptible to flooding but are also susceptible to  higher ambient air temperatures because the man made roads, parking lots, concrete surfaces and buildings absorb and trap heat more heat than natural environments. Plants use the energy of the sun while man made surfaces absorb and radiate the energy of the sun. These clustering of heat absorbing manmade surfaces and structures create Urban Heat Islands that can impact a community’s environment and quality of life increasing energy consumption for cooling, increase emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, and impaired water quality.

Friends of the Rappahannock conducted a study of ambient temperatures a couple of years ago. Using  volunteers who obtained 320 air temperature measurements at 20 sample sites within the George Washington Region on July 10, 2022. These samples were then put into a Random Forest model in ArcGIS Pro (an ESRI product). The model was used to extrapolate temperatures across the region, ultimately identifying non-heat islands, heat islands, and urban heat islands. The data found that 3.57% of the landmass of the region (approximately 32,700 acres) was an EPA classified urban heat island.

 Geographically the heat island results were clustered in Fredericksburg and surrounding areas into Stafford and Spotsylvania. An area in north Stafford recorded the highest temperature in the study at 104℉. This temperature was a  17-degree Fahrenheit difference from forestland temperatures found. Other hotspots included the Route 17 corridor in Stafford County; Central Park and Celebrate Virginia South in Fredericksburg; the Spotsylvania Towne Center and Cosner’s Corner in Spotsylvania County; and Dahlgren and the King George Landfill/Birchwood Power complex in King George County.

This map is from the press release 

A 17℉ heat island effect was stunning to the George Washington Regional Commission and quite frankly, me. In the hottest days of summer, there is always a cooler breeze coming from the woodland behind my home in the evenings. With all the industrial development of data centers are we building urban heat islands, too. Maybe the Northern Virginia Regional Commission should take a look at that. 

The Fauquier Education Farm

Last week Jim Hankins the Executive Director (and only full time employee) of the Fauquier Education Farm came to speak at the Potomac Watershed Roundtable. Jim, who is no longer young, has been a lifelong gardener.  In 2001he started growing cut flowers commercially to sell to local florists and at farmers markets. In 2007 he was hired as Gardens Manager at Park Hill Orchard, an organic orchard and produce farm in Easthampton, Mass.

The original plan of establishing a community farm came from the Fauquier Community Action committee in 2009. In 2010, a new non-profit was established to develop a program of agricultural education and growing of fresh produce to be donated to food banks for lower income residents- the Fauquier Education Farm was created. Their mission is to advance agriculture and agriculture-related education through best-method demonstrations, classroom instruction, on-farm workshops, and hands-on learning. In addition, the farm supports the community by contributing all of its agricultural products to local food banks and by providing richly rewarding volunteer opportunities.

from FEF website

The Farm is on 10 acres off of Metz Road leased from Fauquier County for $1 per year. The Farm offers a broad range of activities to showcase how to plant, maintain and harvest fresh vegetables while also being good stewards of the land using sustainable farming and best practices. The Fauquier Education Farm also plays a role in support of the Northern Piedmont Beginning Farmer and Rancher Programs. These are two multi-week courses for folks who are new to, or dreaming of launching, a farming business. The Fauquier Education Farm Incubator Program is intended to offer real-world experience with small-scale farming to individuals who are ready to start commercial vegetable or cut flower production but do not own land and equipment.

Though  the farm has grown and donates over 100,000 pound of produce per year to several local area food banks, their fundraising had a significant setback last year with the local focus on fighting data centers. It seems that donors to the Fauquier Educational Farm and donors to the fight to limit data centers in Fauquier County are same and there are limits to dollars available.  

FEF website

So, spring is here, the high tunnels are filled with seedlings and planting will start soon. Grab you kids for a couple of hours of volunteering- they welcome all. There is no minimum or maximum age.  Young and old are welcome. The Farm only asks that parents of young children work closely with them to ensure that they are doing more good than harm. All minor age children must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers assist with planting, harvesting, tending to crops and delivering to local food banks. The Volunteer Coordinator sends out a weekly email during the growing season detailing the tasks they will work on and hours each week. Sign up to receive the emails. Also, consider a donation to keep this worthy operation going!

https://www.fauquiereducationfarm.org/get-involved

Cleaning the Water Distribution Systems

Beginning last week on March 25, 2024,  Fairfax Water and Loudoun Water  began flushing their water distribution systems. Because Prince William Service Authority purchases most of their water from Fairfax Water, they too, have embarked on the spring flushing of the water distribution system. The Washington Aqueduct which supplies water to D.C. and Arlington and a small area of Fairfax also began their annual program at the same time this year. Each spring for about 12 weeks in Washington DC,  Arlington , Fairfax Water and Loudoun Water flush their water mains by opening fire hydrants and allowing them to flow freely for a short period of time. In addition, the Washington Aqueduct, Fairfax Water and Loudoun Water temporary change how the water is disinfected.

For most of the year, chloramines, also known as combined chlorine, is added to the water as the primary disinfectant. During the spring the Washington Aqueduct and Fairfax water treatment plants switch back to chlorine in an uncombined state, commonly referred to as free chlorine. This free chlorine reacts with sediments suspended during flushing and kills bacteria that may be in the bio-film that forms on the pipe walls. Many water chemistry experts believe this short exposure to a different type of disinfectant maintains a low microbial growth in the bio-film and improves the quality and safety of the water. This change will last through May 6th 2024 for Fairfax Water,  Loudoun Water, Prince William Service Authority, and the Washington Aqueduct.

This change in disinfection is an annual program to clean the water distribution pipes and maintain high water quality throughout the year. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Aqueduct provides water to the District of Columbia, Arlington County, and Falls Church and McLean VA. Fairfax Water provides water to the Fairfax county (purchasing it from the Aqueduct for Falls Church and McLean) and parts of both Loudoun and Prince William County. Both Fairfax Water and the Aqueduct switch from chloramine to chlorine during this period. DC Water is completing their pipe flushing. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) abolished its preventative flushing program years ago to save money. In recent years WSSC has been plagued with discolored water complaints and will flush a hydrant on request.

Those of you in the Fairfax, Loudoun,  Arlington and Washington DC service areas may notice a slight chlorine taste and smell in your drinking water during this time, this is not harmful and the water remains safe to drink. If you are a coffee and tea lover like me, use filtered water or leave an open container of water in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to allow the smell to dissipate. Water customers who normally take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water, such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquarium owners, should continue to take the same precautions during the temporary switch to chlorine. Most methods for removing chloramine from tap water are effective in removing chlorine. The annual chlorination is important step to remove residue from the water distribution system.

Flushing the water system entails sending a rapid flow of chlorinated water through the water mains. As part of the flushing program, fire hydrants are checked and operated in a coordinated pattern to help ensure their operation and adequate flushing of the system. Water pressure should not be significantly impacted during this process. The flushing removes sediments made up of minerals which have accumulated over time in the pipes as well as bacteria on the bio-film. An annual flushing program helps to keep fresh and clear water throughout the distribution system. Removing the residue ensures that when the water arrives in your home, it is the same high quality as when it left the water treatment plant.

During the spring flushing program your water may look or taste different. Free chlorine is quicker acting than chloramines, which allows it to react with sediments suspended during the flushing which may result in temporary discoloration and the presence of sediment in your water. These conditions should be of very short duration and the water is reported to be safe. Though, remember you still need to treat tap water before using it in a fish aquarium. Disinfectants can harm fish. Check with a local pet store to learn what types of chemicals you need to add to the tank to neutralize the effects of the disinfectant.

During the spring flushing you may notice a white of bubbly appearance or a chlorine taste and odor in your drinking water. The bubbly appearance is simply a result of the oxygen in the water being stirred up during flushing causing visible air bubbles. Let the water sit for a few seconds and you will see the bubbles clear from bottom to top. The chlorine taste can be removed by filter or by simply letting the water sit in an open container in your refrigerator. If you are especially sensitive to the taste and odor of chlorine, filters commonly used in refrigerators are very effective at removing chlorine- change your filter.

Cicadas are Coming

This spring (late April and early May) the 17-year Brood XIII Cicadas will emerge in Northern Illinois, while the 13-year Brood XIX Cicadas will emerge in parts of Southeastern United States including parts of Virginia, but probably not more than a few stragglers in Northern Virginia.   Many people know periodical cicadas by the name "17-year locusts," but they are not the locusts of the bible. Those were a type of migrating grasshopper. However, if you live in the area of this year’s emergences , it may indeed feel like a plague for a few weeks. This is a big one, it is expected that this combined emergence will bring a trillion or more Cicadas.

However, counts of Cicadas are only estimates based on a very old data point.  “The oft-quoted figure of densities that can exceed a million per acre comes from a census taken during the 1956 emergence of Brood XIII in Raccoon Grove, IL (Dybas and Davis 1962). Ironically, Brood XIII appears to have gone extinct in Raccoon Grove in the years since 1956 (Cooley et al. 2016).”  If the estimate of a million cicadas per acre is valid, then more than a trillions of cicadas will emerge in 2024 when Cicadas will emerge from Maryland to Oklahoma, Illinois to Alabama. It is not common to have a dual emergence between Broods XIII and XIX. They occur once every 221 years and the last time these two broods emerged together was in 1803 when Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States.

When they emerge in mass, you can report periodical cicadas using the Cicada Safari App, available on the Google Play Store or the Apple Store.  This will help scientists map the full extent of Brood XIII and XIX then we can really know the full extent of the Broods. If it does not feel like you are being inundated and you only see a few cicadas, they are probably stragglers from other broods and should not be reported. Otherwise, users can submit video and photos of periodical cicadas to the app. Once verified, they will be added to an online map. The app greatly assists in Cicada research.

from University of Conn

In late April and early May, Cicadas, probably both Magicicada septendecim and Magicicada cassinii will emerge from the soil and climb onto nearby vegetation and other vertical surfaces. They then molt to the winged adult stage. The emergence is tightly synchronized, with most adults appearing within a few nights. Adult cicadas live for only two to four weeks. When the 17-year periodical cicadas emerge the density can be shocking and noisy. It is common to have tens to hundreds of thousands of periodical cicadas per acre, but there are records of up to a million and a half periodical cicadas in an acre. This is far beyond the density of most other Cicada species and half of the Cicadas are “singing.” Male cicadas sing quite loudly by vibrating membranes on the sides of their abdominal segment. Male songs and choruses are a courtship ritual to attract females for mating. 

The males’ choruses have been known to drive people to distraction-stay inside with the windows closed if needed. However, for most people, the droning song of the cicada is nothing more than a slight annoyance. To me the “song” sounds like wind on a cell phone connection, but you can listen to the actual chorus on this U-Tube video from Storyful Viral. Most people are more familiar with the dogday cicada that is prevalent annually in mid-summer. Their song is later in the summer and not as persistent.

The 17 year or 13-year periodical cicada is black, with red eyes and orange legs. “Adults have clear wings with distinctive orange veins. When viewed from the front the wings form an inverted "V" and meet at the top like a roof.” After mating, females lay their eggs in narrow young twigs slicing into the wood and depositing up to 400 eggs in total for each female in 40 to 50 locations each. It is the egg laying that does most of the damage associated with periodical cicadas. Cicada eggs remain in the twigs for six to ten weeks before hatching. The nymphs do not feed on the twigs and all but the youngest trees will recover.

  

Flooding in Massachusetts

Excerpted from U.Mass and Massachusetts press release.

Our climate is changing, and that is impacting water. Though much has been made of the reduction in precipitation in the Southwest and water shortages, in truth, on average, total annual precipitation has increased over land areas in the United States and worldwide. Since 1901, global precipitation has increased at an average rate of 0.04 inches per decade, while precipitation in the contiguous 48 states has increased at a rate of 0.20 inches per decade.

Massachusetts has one of the most robust records of hydrological variables, such as precipitation and groundwater levels that goes back many decades. Studies this century suggest that climate will change the timing and nature of precipitation- alteration in thy hydrologic cycle.

Although few observational studies on ground water and climate have been done, in 2010 a group from the University of Massachusetts used the state’s wealth of data to examine the response of the water table to the last 60 years of climate in New England. That work by Boutt and Weider at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst found that since 1970, precipitation has increased in New England by 15–20%. Due to the geology in New England , this increase in precipitation is leading to a rapid rise in groundwater levels. In some parts of Massachusetts are seeing the water table rise by a few centimeters every year. While this value may seem small, the cumulative rise over decades can begin to affect sub-surface infrastructure.

Dr. David Bout head of the Hydrogeology Group at University of Massachusetts- Amherst and a professor of Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences (EGCS) has been studying the impact of our changing climate on groundwater since 2005. Recently, the work being done by his group caught the eye of the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Department of Conservation and Recreation, both of which asked Boutt and his colleagues to build a new model that could assess flooding risk from groundwater rise to improve that model with data from an ongoing statewide survey and to file a final report, which the group is in the process of completing.

To date their conclusions are that shallow groundwater in Massachusetts will rise by an average of 0.14-0.8 ft in the coming  years. The Groundwater Rise Risk Zones will increase groundwater flooding by 8-16%, groundwater emergence will increase by 7-14% and groundwater shoaling will increase by 4-8%. University of Massachusetts- Amherst expects the greatest groundwater risks to occur in Western Massachusetts.

 

Types of Groundwater Flooding

• Groundwater rise: Movement upward of the water table due to short or long-term fluctuations in rainfall recharge and/or river, ocean or tidal levels.
• Groundwater shoaling: Water table rise in the subsurface closer to, but not reaching, the land surface.
• Groundwater emergence: Discharge/outflow of groundwater at the surface from the subsurface due to the rise of the water table at a point (spring) or diffuse locations.
• Groundwater flooding: Temporary process of the rise of the water table resulting in a groundwater emergence where the water level surface intersects or goes above the land surface due to a changing condition.

From U.Mass presentation and quoting Bosserelle et al., 2021, Earth’s Future