A FIELD GUIDE FOR

CONSULTANTS & PUMPING TEST OPERATORS

For Small Production Wells
Serving Small Community Water Systems

RevisedJuly2011

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DESWD0333

AFIELDGUIDEFORCONSULTANTS&PUMPINGTESTOPERATORS
ForSmallProductionWellsServingSmallCommunityWaterSystems

Preparedby
DianaMorgan,P.G.
WaterDivision,DrinkingWaterandGroundwaterBureau

NewHampshireDepartmentofEnvironmentalServices
29HazenDrive;P.O.Box95
Concord,N.H.033020095
6032712947
www.des.nh.gov

ThomasS.Burack,Commissioner
HarryT.Stewart,DirectorWaterDivision

RevisedJuly2011

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TableofContents

I.INTRODUCTION

II.STANDARDPUMPINGTESTREQUIREMENTSOFENVDW301

A.SETUP
1.Pump
2.DischargeSetupandLocation
3.WaterLevelMeasurementEquipment
B.DISCHARGE
1.ConstantRate
2.MeasuringDischarge,Accuracy,&Equipment
C.WATERLEVELMEASUREMENTS
1.MeasurementFrequencyinNewWells
2.OtherWaterLevelMeasurements
3.Accuracy&EquipmentforMonitoringNonSystemorNeighboringWells
4.WeatherConditions
D.TROUBLESHHOTINGTHEPUMPINGTEST
E.WATERQUALITYSAMPLING
1.Timing
2.Lab
3.CollectionandDelivery
F.DURATION
G.RECOVERY

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III.NONSTANDARDPUMPINGTESTREQUIREMENTS
A.HYDROFRACTUREORDEEPENING
B.REPLACEMENTWELLS
C.DEMONSTRATIONOFSOURCECAPACITY/INACTIVEWELLS

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IV.TERMSANDABREVIATIONS

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APPENDIXA:PUMPINGTESTLOG

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APPENDIXB:GUIDEFORCREATINGA180DAYCHART
CreatingaSemiLogPlotinMSExcel

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APPENDIXC:SDWAandQATERQUALITYSAMPLINGGUIDE
HowtoTakeWaterQualitySamplesDuringAPumpingTest

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APPENDIXD:MPASAMPLINGGUIDANCE

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I.INTRODUCTION

Anextremelyimportantpartofthewellsitingprocessisthepumpingtest,whichmustbe
performedasoutlinedinNewHampshireAdministrativeRulesEnvDw301,SmallProduction
WellsforSmallCommunityWaterSystems.

Thepurposeoftherulesistoensurethatasmallcommunitywatersystemcanprovideenough
goodqualitywaterfromitswellstomeetawatersystemsneeds.Thepumpingtestprovides
thedataneededtodetermineifawellcanmaintainaparticularyieldforlongperiodswithout
rain,snowmeltorotherrechargetotheaquifer.Thisguidewascreatedasatoolforpumping
testoperatorsandapplicantstobetterunderstandhowtosatisfythepumpingtest
requirementsintherules.

Whenanapplicantchoosestositeanewwell,apreliminaryreportincludingapumpingtest
proposalwithwaterqualityanalysismustbesubmittedtoDES.Eitheroftwopumpingtests
mayberequiredforthepreliminaryreport,dependingonthewellsitingapplication.Themost
commonpumpingtestistheStandardPumpingTest,butunderspecialsituationstheoperator
mayneedtoperformaNonStandardPumpingTest.Bothpumpingtestsareexplainedinthis
guideandboththeStandardandNonStandardPumpingTestsectionsshouldbereadtobetter
determineyourneeds.

PLEASENOTE:Atemporarygroundwaterdischargepermitisrequiredbeforeapumpingtest
starts.ContactMitchLockerat(603)2712858forapermitapplicationform.Thereisno
applicationfeeassociatedwithatemporarydischargepermit,andtheapplicationcanusually
becompletedandreceivedwithin10daysorless.Dischargingwatertoasurfacewaterbody
requireswaterqualitysamplingandanalysisbeforeapermitisissued.

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II.STANDARDPUMPINGTESTREQUIREMENTSOFENVDW301

BeforeStartingtheTest

Thepumpingtestoperatorshouldobtainacopyofthepumpingtestdesign,whichcontains
veryimportantinformationtheoperatorneedstoknowbeforebeginningthetest,including
theproposedpumpingratesforallwellsbeingtested.Thishelpssizethepumpsandinlineflow
meters.Italsotellsifotherwellsorsurfacewatersneedtobemonitoredduringthetest;
documentsthetypeofwaterlevelmonitoringequipmentthatshouldbeused;howoftenwater
levelmeasurementsmustbetaken;describeswaterqualitysampling;frequencyofsampling;
parameterstobesampled;whichlabtouse;andwhethertheoperatorortheconsultantis
expectedtocollectthesamples.Thepumpingtestproposalwillalsonoteifmicroscopic
particulateanalysis(MPA)samplingmustbedone.Thissamplingrequiresspecialplumbingfor
thefiltrationassemblythatmustbeinstalledpriortostartingthepumpingtest.

Ifnopumpingtestdesignisavailable,besuretoasktheclientifthisisacommunitywater
supplywellandremindtheclientthatthesesupplywellsmustbeapprovedbythestate.Single
familyhomedevelopments(10housesormore),condos,apartmentcomplexes,mobilehome
parks,schoolswithdorms,andvacantacreagesuitableforsubdivisionareexamplesofexisting
andpotentialhousingthatmightuseacommunitywatersupplysystemandrequireapproval
fromDES.

Sometimes,nonstandardpumpingtestsarerequired.Theoperatormaybetestingawellthat
isbeingreactivated,deepened,hydrofracturedorreplaced.Thesesituationshavedifferent
pumpingtestrequirementsandaredealtwithinSectionIIIofthisguide.Theoperatorneedsto
knowwhetherthewellisbeingtestedasanewwell,areplacement,orasarehabbedexisting
well.

Replacementwellsaredrilledintothesameaquifertypeandinthesamegeneralareaasan
existingwellthatfailed.Whenareplacementwellissited,theexistingwellmustbe
abandoned,unlessthewatersystemobtainsawaiver.Pumpingtestrequirementsfor
replacementwellsaredealtwithinSectionIIIofthisguide.Justbecauseawellisnewlydrilled,
donotassumeitisa"new"wellinrelationtothepumpingtestrequirements.Ifthereisan
existingwellnearby,askifthenewoneisreplacingtheoldwellbeforeyouchargetheclientfor
astandardpumpingtest.

Microscopicparticulateanalysissamplingwillberequiredifsurfacewateroraninundated
wetlandiswithin200feetofanewbedrockwellor100feetofanewgravelwell.MPA
samplinganalyzesthewellwaterforbiologicalindicatorsofsurfacewater.Thoughthe
consultantmayperformtheMPAsampling,theoperatorwillusuallysetuptheplumbingfor
thefilterdevice.GuidanceonMPAsamplingandthecorrectplumbingsetupareincludedin
AppendixD.

Itmaybenecessarytomeasurewaterlevelsinneighboringwells.Theapplicantwillhave
obtainedwrittenpermissionfromthewellownerpriortothepumpingtest.However,if
possible,introduceyourselfandtelltheownerwhenvisitstothepropertyareplanned.Avoid

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takingmeasurementsafterdarkonprivateproperty.SeeSectionC3formeasurement
equipmentrecommendations.

A.SETUP

Trytosetupallpumps,plumbing,hoses,andotherequipmentatleastadayinadvancesoany
jointcompoundsorothermaterialsaredryanddonotaffectwaterqualityresults.Ifthewellis
chlorinatedaftersettingthepump,allowatleastadayforthechlorinetodissipate.Detections
oftoluene,phthalates,andchloroforminthewellwaterarecommon,evenaftertwodaysof
pumping.Thesecontaminantsareassociatedwithelectricaltape,PVCpipingusedforstillwater
tubes,andchlorination.Awellcontaminatedbythesecompoundscannotbeapprovedwithout
furthersamplingandanalysistodemonstratetheynolongerexistinthewellwater.Avoidusing
largequantitiesofelectricaltapesincethatisthemostcommonsourceofintroduced
contamination.

Settingupadayortwoearlyalsoallowstheoperatortocheckallequipmenttomakesureit
works.Delaysinstartingthetestcancauseahugerippleeffectthatmightcosttheoperator
andtheclienttimeandmoney.Labtestsmayneedtoberescheduled,theconsultantmayhave
tospendmoredaysinthefieldthanbudgeted,ortheoperatorstimemaybewastedchasing
downreplacementequipment.Ifequipmentisnottestedinadvanceandfailureoccursafter
theteststarts,thetestmaybestoppedorevencanceled,causingproblemsforboththe
operatorandtheclient.

Theequipmentattachedtothedischargelineshouldincludeaninlinetotalizingmeter,avalve
tocontrolflow,asamplingtapforwaterqualitysamples,and,ifnecessary,theplumbingfor
MPAsampling.Aseparatetubeshouldbeinserteddownthewellforeaseandaccuracyof
waterlevelmeasurements(stillwatertube).

Plantomanthepumpingtestfortheduration.Evenifdataloggersareutilizedforwaterlevel
measurement,thetestsiteshouldneverbeleftunattendedforlong.Vandalismhasoccurredin
thepastatunattendedsites,somesevereenoughtoabortthetest.Inaddition,meterreadings
anddischargeratesmustberecordedatregularintervals.Mostdataloggersdonotrecordthis
information.

1.Pump

Thepumpandelectricalservicemustbeabletorunfortheentiretestwithoutstopping.
Thepumpshouldbesizedcorrectlytopumpattheratedesignatedinthepumpingtest
design.Overorundersizedpumpscanmakeitdifficulttomaintainaconstantpumping
rate.Thepumpshouldbelocatedaboveawaterbearingfractureinthewellsothatwater
flowsupwardoverthepump,coolingit.Besuretheelectricalsupplymatchesthepump.A
twophasegeneratorwontrunathreephasepumpwithouttrippingthecircuitbreaker.

Ifusingaportablegenerator,makesurethereisenoughfuelonhandtorunitforthewhole
test.Storeextrafuelawayfromthewellhead.Thenifanyspillsoccurtheywillnot
contaminatethewell.Iftheoperatorleavesthetestsiteforanyreason,makesurethe
generatorisadequatelyfueledbeforeleaving.Ifrefuelingthegeneratorduringthetestwill
benecessary,outfititwithaplastic"diaper"tocatchanyspills.Layalargeheavymilplastic

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sheetortarpflatonthegroundandbackthegeneratoroverit.Pullthesheetinguparound
thewheelsandsecureitwithducttapetoformacatchbasinunderthegenerator.Seta
fivegallonpailunderthefillerpipeasanextraspillcatcher.

Spareequipment,suchasanextraelectronicwaterlevelmeasurementdeviceorgenerator,
shouldbeonsiteorreadilyavailableincaseoffailure.Timespentsearchingforbackup
equipmentmayresultinrepeatingthepumpingtest.

Pleasenotethatifthepumpwillbepermanentlyinstalledinthewell,ratherthan
temporarilyforthepumpingtestonly,thatpumpmustbeinstalledbyaNewHampshire
licensedpumpinstallerandthestilltubemustremaininthewellaftertestingisfinished.
2.DischargeSetupandLocation

Thedischargepipeshouldbeequippedwithagatevalveorsimilardevicetoregulateand
maintainaconstantpumpingrate.Aswaterlevelsfall,thedischargeratewillslowin
responsetohydraulicheadloss.Theoperatormustopenthevalveoccasionallyinorderto
maintaintheconstantpumpingrate.Aninlineflowmetermustbeusedtodeterminethe
rate.Abucketandstopwatchisnotacceptable,thoughthismethodmaybeusedasarough
checkofmeteraccuracy.Chooseameterthatreadsingallonsratherthancubicfeetto
makerecordingflowrateseasier.Acumulativeortotalizingmeterisrecommendedsince
theoperatormustrecordmeterreadingsalongwiththepumpingrate.

Awaterqualitysamplingtapisnecessary.Locatethetapwhereitisleastlikelytobe
affectedbyturbulenceinthepipe.Someofthesamplebottlesaresmallandrequireaslight
butsteadyflowtofill.Makesurethatthetypeoftapinstallediscapableofdeliveringthis
kindofflow.Waterqualitytestingisveryexpensiveandasamplingtaphelpskeepthe
watersamplesclean.Donottakewaterqualitysamplesfromtheendofthedischargehose.

IfMPAsamplingisrequired,theoperatormustequipthedischargelinewithadiverter
valveforthefilterassemblybeforepumpingisstarted.Verylowflows(12gpm)mustbe
maintainedthroughthefilterassembly.Turbulencemustbeminimalinthefilter,so
pressureregulationisveryimportant.SeethediagraminAppendixDforaschematicofthe
divertersetup.

Thedischargelinemustbelongenoughsothatthepumpedwaterwillnotaffectthe
aquifersresponsetopumping.Agoodruleofthumbisatleastthelengthofthesanitary
protectivearearadius,butitmayneedtobelongerdependinguponsiteconditions.A
dischargelocationwasproposedinthePreliminaryReport,buttheproposedlocationmay
notbepracticalonthedayofthetest.Onsiteconditionsmaydictateadifferentsiteis
necessary.AnychangefromtheproposeddischargelocationrequiresDESapproval.DES
personnelwillattendthepumpingtesttoassessthedischargelocationandsetup,andcan
approvechangesatthattime.

Wetlands,flatterrain,sandysoil,exposedbedrock,oranurbansettingallofferchallenges
whenchoosingadischargelocationthatwillnotaffectpumpingtesthydraulics.Most

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wetlandshaveanaturalormanmadeoutlet.Trytosetthedischargeasclosetothisoutlet
aspossible.

Watershouldeasilyflowawayfromthewellsite.Searchoutnaturaldrainageareasanduse
them.Forexample,thewellislocatedinalowspot.The200footdischargelinedumpsthe
wateruphill,butitrunsbacktowardsthewellhead,puddlingthere.Theoperatormustadd
morelengthstothedischargelineuntilthewaterflowsdowntheothersideofthehilland
awayfromthewell.Ifthelandaroundthewellsiteisextremelysandyorbedrockoutcrops
arenoted,thedischargepointmustbesetasfaraspossiblefromthewelltoprevent
pumpingtestwaterbeingdrawnbacktowardsthewell.Bringextrahoselengths(atlease
1,000feet)incasethedischargelocationmustbemoved.

Urbansettingsposedifferentkindsofproblems.Donotdischargepumpingtestwaterto
stormdrainsorroadsideditcheswithoutpermissionfromtheregulatingagency.TheN.H.
DepartmentofTransportationfrownsondischarginganythingotherthanstormwateronto
staterightsofway,especiallywhenfreezingcanoccur.Donotfloodneighboringlots;the
ownerswillnotappreciateit.Inthiscaseashorterdischargelineorachangeinlocation
maybeappropriate.

Monitorthedischargelocationperiodicallyduringthetesttomakesurenopondingoccurs.
Checkforleaksinthelineandfixthem.Also,watershouldnotcauseerosionorscouringat
thedischargepoint.Bringalargesquareofplywoodorsimilarmaterialtoplaceunderthe
hoseendorsetitonalargebouldertoavoidsoilerosion.NOTE:Unlessasurfacewater
dischargepermitwasobtained,watermaynotbepumpeddirectlyintoasurfacewater
body.Pumpedwatershouldbedischargedontothegroundinanareawhereitwillreadily
sinkinandatleast75feetbackfromthesurfacewaterbody.

Dischargingwaterfromanunapprovedsourceintothewatersystemstoragetankisusually
notallowed,butinsomecasesmaybenecessarytoadequatelysupplythewatersystem.
ObtainpermissionfromtheDESDrinkingWaterandGroundwaterBureaupriorto
dischargingpumpedwaterintoastoragetank.ContactCindyKlevensat(603)2713108for
furtherinformation.Pleasenote,aflowmeter,samplingtap,andamethodforcontrolling
theflowrateonthedischargelineareallstillnecessaryifpumpedwaterisdirectedintothe
storagetank.Anoverflowlinefromthetankmayalsobenecessary.
3.WaterLevelMeasurementEquipment

Alwaysmeasurewaterlevelsfromthesamepointonthetopofthecasing.Waterlevels
mustbemeasuredwithadevicecapableofreadingtolessthananinchandrecordedin
eitherfractionsofaninchor100thsofafoot(0.00).ThereasonforthisisthatDESdefines
stabilizationasawaterlevelthatvarieslessthananinchintwohoursfora12hourperiod.
Thismeansthatfortheentire12hoursthewaterlevelcannotchangemorethananinch
pereachtwohourblockoftime.Electronicmeasurementequipmentshouldbeused.Make
sureallpersonnelknowhowtoreadthetapeontheelectronicprobebeforestartingthe
test.Sometapesreadininches,othersin10thsofafoot.Othersmayonlyreadinfeet.Some
equipmentevenreadsininchesand10thsofafoot,oneoneithersideofthetape.Knowthe
equipment!Remember,waterlevelsmustbereadandrecordedatlessthananinch.One

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inchequals0.083feet,soifanelectronictapeiscalibratedin10thsofafoot,theoperator
needstobeabletodetermineavariationof0.08feet.Thisrequiresmeasuringtothe
nearest100thofafoot.

Ifthescaleonthetapedoesnotreadto100thsofafoot,orifthescaleisininches,ametric
ruleoracarpenterstapeisnecessarytoread100thsofafootorfractionsofaninch
betweenthetickmarksonthetape.Theeasiestwaytodothisistomeasurefromthe
nearestfootmarkontheprobetape.Remembertomeasureupfromthelowerfootmark,
notdownfromthehigher.Itseasiertoaddthansubtract.

Pressuretransducerswithdataloggersmaybeused,butshouldbecheckedoftentoavoid
havingtorestartorrepeatthetestincaseofafailure.Beware!Thesedevicesmayappear
toberecordingwaterlevels,butwhendownloadedthedataisabsent.Ifunfamiliarwith
dataloggers,makesuretogetsometrainingonsettingupandrunningone.Ifmultiplewells
arebeingtestedamultichanneldataloggercanbethemostefficientmeasurementtool.
However,thesedevicesarecomplicatedtosetupandrun.Thoroughlyunderstandhowthe
deviceworksbeforeusingit.Atrialrunisadvisedafewdaysbeforestartingthepumping
test.Trytohavealaptopcomputerinthefieldtoperiodicallydownloaddataandcheck
thatthedeviceisworking.

Astillwatertubemustbeusedforwaterlevelmeasurementstoavoidgettingtheprobe
stuckinthewell,andfaultyreadingscausedbywatercascadingfromfracturesabovethe
waterlevel,orfrompumpturbulence.BecarefulwhenchoosingPVCpipeforthe
measurementtube.Someiscoatedwitharesinthatcontaminatesthewatersample.
Flexibletubingcankink,especiallywhenusedinverydeepwells.Kinksorbendsinthetube
willmakeitimpossibletolowertheprobepasttheobstruction.

Makesurethediameterofthetubeislargeenoughtoaccommodatetheprobe.Oneinchis
usuallylargeenough.Eachwellbeingtestedshouldhaveitsownwaterlevelmonitoring
device.Completelyremovingthetapefromthewellateachmeasurementistime
consuming,cancausethetapetokinkgivinginaccuratereadings,ormayintroduce
contaminantsintothewell.

B.DISCHARGE

Note:Ifthewellheadisfloodedorthereisanypondedwaterwithin20feetofthewellhead,do
notstartthepumpingtestuntiltheareaisdry.Ifopenslurrypitsarelocatednearthewellhead,
theymustbefilledinbeforestartingthetest.Thestandingwatermaycontainbacteriaor
microbesthatmightreachthewellwaterandcausefalsepositivesinwaterqualityanalyses.
1.ConstantRate

Thenewwellandallotherwellsneededtomeetthesystemssourcecapacityrequirements
mustbepumpedtogetherataconstantrate.Systemsourcecapacityshouldbelistedinthe
pumpingtestdesignsubmittedwiththepreliminaryapplication.Newwellsmustbe
pumpedattheirproposedpermittedproductionvolume(PPV).Existingwells,ifnotneeded
todemonstratesourcecapacity,shouldbeshutoffduringthepumpingtest.Ifshutting

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downexistingwellsisimpracticalorthewellsareneededtodemonstratesourcecapacity,
theymustbepumpedateithertheirPPVorthevolumeneededtosupplythesystem,even
ifthatmeansdischargingexcesswaterontotheground.Ifnotshutdownorrunata
constantrate,pumpscyclingonandoffcancausewaterlevelsinthenewwellstojump
aroundandastablewaterlevelcannotbereached.However,iftheexistingwellsarefar
enoughawaytonotaffectwaterlevelsinthewellsbeingtested(1,000ft.),theydonot
needtobeshutdownduringthetest.Thepumpingratesforallwells,newandexisting,
shouldbeoutlinedinthepumpingtestdesign.

NewwellsmaybepumpedatvolumesgreaterthanthePPVaslongasthetotalrateforall
newwellsdoesnotexceed40gallonsperminute(gpm),oravolumeof57,600gallonsover
any24hourperiod.Wellsthatpumpmorethan40gpmareregulatedbyrulesrequiring
moretechnicalanalysisandinvolvelonger,moresophisticatedpumpingtests.Dividethe
permittedproductionvolumeby1,440togetthedischargerateingpm.
2.MeasuringDischarge,Accuracy,&Equipment

Changingthepumpingrateduringthetestcauseswaterlevelsinthewelltochangetoo.
Theconsultantusesthesewaterlevelstotellhowtheaquiferreactswhenpumped.
Changingthepumpingratecloudsthispicture,makingithardtoassessaquiferconditions.
Forthatreason,thepumpingratemaynotchangemorethan+/5percentafterthefirstsix
hoursofpumping.Fora10gpmwellthismeans+/gpm,+/1gpmfora20gpmwell,
and+/2gpmfora40gpmwell.Dischargemustbemeasuredwithadevicethatcangive
thiskindofaccuracy,preferablyanondigitalinlinecumulativewatermeterorthe
equivalent.

Dischargemeasurementsmustbetakenevery15minutesforthefirst2hoursandatleast
onceeveryhourafterthat.Manyoperatorsfailtotakethismeasurementoftenenough.
Alsorecordthemeterreadingbeforethestartandaftertheendofthetestandonceevery
hourduringthetest.

Somemetersreadingallonsonly,othersingallonsperminute(gpm),andsomemayeven
readincubicfeetpersecond.Knowtheequipment!Ifadevicereadsingallonsonly,usually
acumulativemeter,theoperatorwillneedtodeterminegpm.Thebestmethodfordoing
thisistotaketworeadingsoneminuteapartandsubtractthesmallerreadingfromthe
largerone.Dothisseveraltimesandaveragetheresults.Ifthemeterreadsincubicft/sec,
notethisonthelog.

DESdiscouragestheuseofdigitalflowmeterscommonlyusedtomeasureflowin
pumphouses.Unlessthesemetersareroutinelycalibrated,theymaygivefaultyreadings
andrarelyprovidethe+/5percentaccuracyrequired.Althoughitmakesformoreworkfor
theoperator,anewinlineflowmeter,whichisproperlycalibrated,shouldprovide
accurateresults.

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C.WATERLEVELMEASUREMENTS
1.MeasurementFrequencyinNewWells

Recordthewaterlevelmeasurementsfromthetopofthewellcasinginfeet,inchesand
fractionsofaninch,orinfeet,10thsand100thsofafoot,andwritedowntheelapsedtimein
minutesfromthestartofthetestforeachwaterlevelmeasurement.Enteralldataona
welllogsheet.Asamplelogsheet,foryouruse,canbefoundinAppendixA.Eachwell
shouldhaveitsownlogsheet.Puttingseveralcolumnsofwaterlevelsononesheetleadsto
mistakes.Itisveryeasytorecordawaterlevelinthewrongcolumn.Ifyouknowwhenyou
shouldbetakingwaterlevelanddischargemeasurements,youcanfillintheelapsedtime
columnbeforethepumpingtesttosavetimeduringit.

Thepumpshouldhavebeenoffforatleast24hoursbeforestartingthetest.Thisallowsthe
welltofullyrecoverifpumpoperationwastestedduringsetup.Recordthestaticwater
leveljustbeforestartingthepump.Donotrecordthestaticwaterlevelearlier.Atmospheric
pressurecanaffectwaterlevelsinnonpumpingwells,sothestaticwaterleveltodayisapt
todifferfromyesterday.Measureandrecordwaterlevelsevery5minutesforthefirsthour
ofpumping.Thismayrequiresomescramblingifseveralwellsarebeingtestedatonce,
sincepumpingratemustalsobemeasuredandregulatedfrequentlyduringthefirsthour.
Considerusingextrahelpersforthefirsthour,especiallyiftestingmorethanonewell.One
personcanregulateandrecorddischargeratewhileanotherismeasuringandrecording
waterlevels.

Afterthefirsthouroftesting,waterlevelsmustbetakenatleasteveryhouroratthe
frequencythatwasproposedintheapprovedpumpingtestdesign.Ifthepersonwho
designedthepumpingtestisnotpresentduringthetest,theoperatorshouldhaveacopy
ofthepumpingtestdesignasapprovedinthepreliminaryreportbeforebeginningthetest.
Donotstartthepumpingtestwithoutknowinghowitwasproposedinthepreliminary
report.Iftheconsultantdoesnotsupplyyouwithacopyofthepumpingtestproposal,
contactDESforone.
2.OtherWaterLevelMeasurements

Ifthereisanysurfacewaterbodyorinundatedwetlandwithin150feetofthewell(s),water
levelsmustbemeasuredtherealso.Aninundatedwetlandisonethatisfloodedforatleast
30consecutivedays.Thepumpingtestproposalshouldnoteifsurfacewaterorwetlands
mustbemonitored.Useastaffgaugeorsimilardevicetotakereadingsbeforepumping
startsandevery12hoursthereafter(oratthefrequencystatedinthepumpingtestdesign).
Themeasurementdeviceshouldbeaffixedtoastakedrivenintothebottomofthesurface
waterbody.Besurethecalibratedsideofthedeviceisfacingthebank.Ayardstickworks
wellforthis.However,besuretorecordtheprepumpingwaterlevelregardlessofthe
deviceused.

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IfMPAsamplingisrequired,thepumpingtestoperatormayalsoberesponsiblefor
measuringpH,specificconductance,andtemperatureofthedischargedwellwaterandthe
nearestsurfacewater.Ifso,makesuretheequipmentnecessaryforthesemeasurementsis
onhand.Chooseameasurementpointonthesurfacewaterbodythatisbothnearand
accessible.Putastakewithflaggingatthemeasuringpoint.Forsafetyreasons,DESdoes
notexpecttheoperatortotakesurfacewatermeasurementsduringnighttimehours.
Thoughnorequirementsregardingthefrequencyofthesemeasurementshavebeen
developed,DESrecommendstakingmeasurementsatleasthourlyforthefirsteighthours.
SeeAppendixDforcompletedirectionsforMPAsampling.
3.Accuracy&EquipmentforMonitoringNonSystemorNeighboringWells

DESrecommendselectronicequipmentformeasuringwaterlevelsinthesewells;however,
toreduceoperatingcosts,atapeandploppercanbeusedinprivatewells.Whenusingone
becarefulnottotangleitinthepumpwires.Alwaysmarkthetapewithbluecarpenters
chalk.Takeatleastthreereadingsforeachmeasurementandaveragethem.Dryandre
chalkthetapebetweeneachreading.Readthetapetofractionsofaninch.Wheneveran
invasivedeviceisusedinanonsystemwell,samplethewellforbacteriapriortodeploying
thedevice.

Newermodelnoninvasivesonicmeters,oftencalledpingers,areallowedforallwellsother
thantheproductionwellbeingtested.Makesurethemeterreadsto100thsofafootand
wasrecentlycalibrated.DESrecommendssonicwaterleveldevicesformonitoringprivate
wells,ifpossible,duetothenoninvasivenatureofthedevice.Thedeviceoperatesby
bouncingsoundwavesoffobjects.Thetimeittakesforthesoundwavetoleaveandreturn
tothemeterisrecordedandthedistancetotheobjectiscalculated.However,becareful.
Theydonotworkonallwells.

Forthesonicdevicetoworkproperly,thesoundwavemustbounceoffthewaterinthe
well.Ifthereareanyobstructionsinsidethecasing,likewireguides,themetermayonlybe
recordingthedepthtothatobject.Alwaystestasonicdeviceonawellbeforeutilizingone.
Takeameasurement,andthenaskthehomeownertoflushatoiletorturnonanoutside
spigot.Themeasurementshouldchange.Ifitdoesnot,trydifferentspotsinsidethecasing.

Onceithasbeendeterminedthatthedeviceworksforaparticularwell,markthe
measuringpointwithanindeliblemarkerandalwaysusethesamespot.Thatwaythe
deviceisalwaysbouncingsoundwavesoffwaterandnotsomethingelselikeawireguide.

Realitycheckthemeasurementsyoutakeinprivatewells.Forinstance,ifyouseesteam
comingfromadryervent,itissafetoassumethehomeownerhasrecentlydonealoadof
laundry.Ifyourwaterlevelhasnotchangedsincethelastreadingsomethingmaynotbe
workingproperly.Doublecheckyourreadingwithanotherdeviceoraskthehomeownerto
runwaterandcheckthatthemeasurementchanges.

Dataloggersareextremelyusefulformonitoringothersystemwellsandneighboringnon
systemwell.Makesuretheprobewillfitdownthewellandfollowalldisinfectionprotocols.

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4.WeatherConditions

Precipitationdatamustbecollectedforoneweekpriortotesting.Theconsultantmay
assumeresponsibilityforthistask,butfindoutifyouareexpectedtodoso.Theoperator
mustrecordonthelogsheetallrainorsnoweventsandotherweatherconditionsatleast
twicedailythroughoutthetestingandrecoveryperiod.Trytomeasurerainfallamounts
usingaraingauge,andsetoneupeveniffairweatherispredicted.Alsomakenotes
describingtheintensity,frequencyanddurationofallrainevents.Forinstance,offandon
drizzlefor6hours,orheavydownpourfor15minutesfollowedby2hoursofmoderate
rain.

D. TroubleshootingthePumpingTest

Thingscangowronginapumpingtestandfrequentlydo.Ifwaterlevelsaredroppingtoofast
anddewateringappearslikely,throttlebackthepumpingrate.Donotwaituntilwaterlevels
droptotheelevationofthepumpbeforetakingaction!Theexperiencedoperatorcanusually
tellwithinthefirsthourifthewellisbeingpumpedattoohigharate.Waterlevelchangesof
morethanacouplefeetevery5minutesattheendofthefirsthourusuallymeanstheaquifer
isbeingoverstressedandthewellwillprobablynotreachstabilizationor,worse,dewater.

Ifanythingaffectspumpingduringthetest,rememberthatpumpingataconstantrateforat
least12hoursisneededtodeterminestabilizationandpumping24hoursataratethatvaries
lessthan+/5percentisrequired.Examplesofeventsthatmayaffectpumpingarethe
generatorrunningoutoffuelandpumporelectricalfailures.Noteallchangesmadeduringthe
testonthelogsheetandthereasonsforthechange.

Thetestmayruntheentire48hoursandnotreachstabilization.Ifwaterlevelsdonotmeetthe
lessthananinchinanytwohourperioddefinitionofstabilizationattheendof48hours,
eitherreducetherateandcontinuepumpinguntilstabilizationisreached,ordetermineifthe
180dayestimatedwaterlevelmeetsstabilizationrequirementsasdefinedbyEnvDw301.
Usually,theconsultantwillmakethisdeterminationforyou.SeeAppendixBforanexplanation
ofhowtodeterminethe180daywaterlevelestimate,ifnecessary.

E.WATERQUALITYSAMPLING
1.Timing

Unlessproposeddifferentlyinthepumpingtestdesign,thewatersamplesmustbetaken
rightattheendofthetestbeforeshuttingdownthepump.AfullSafeDrinkingWaterAct
(SDWA)analysismustbedone.Alistingoftheparametersforthatanalysiscanbefoundin
AppendixC.ChecktheDESwebsiteforthemostcurrentversionofthislist.
(www.des.nh.gov.GototheAtoZLISTandsearchforDrinkingWaterandGroundwater
Bureau,andthensearchforAnalyticalRequirementsforCommunityPublicWater
Systems.)

13
13

IfusingtheDESLaboratoryfortheanalyses,schedulethetestsinadvance((603)2713445
or3446).Besuretocoordinatethelaboratorysampleanalysiswiththetimingofthe
pumpingtest.Commerciallabsmayalsorequireschedulingofthetests.Makesuretocheck
withanylabbeforeassumingtheywillacceptorbeabletoprocessthesampleswithinthe
holdingtime.GenerallywatersamplesshouldnotbetakenonaFridayafternoon,since
holdingtimesonsomeparametersarelessthan48hours.
2.Lab

ThelaboratorychosenmustbeaccreditedbythestateofNewHampshireforalldrinking
watercategoriesbeingtested,useapprovedmethods,andbeabletomeetrequired
detectionlimits.Alistoflabsandtheparameterstheyareaccreditedtoanalyzecanbe
foundatwww.des.nh.gov.GototheAtoZLISTandsearchforDrinkingWaterand
GroundwaterBureau,andthensearchforAccreditedLaboratoriesforDrinkingWater
Analysis.
3.CollectionandDelivery

Beverycarefulwhencollectingwatersamplesandalwaysuseasamplingtap.Thiswillhelp
ensurethesampleisnotcontaminatedduringthecollectionprocess.Ifpossible,wearlatex
glovesandavoidtouchingtheinsidesofboththesamplebottlesandtheircaps.Directions
fortakingwatersamplescanbefoundinAppendixC.Anycontaminationintroducedintoa
watersamplewillmakeituseless,andadditionaltestingwillhavetobeperformed.Thefull
rangeoftestingforSDWAcostsover$1,000forjustonewell,andthisdoesnotincludethe
costofMPA.Also,storethesamplesinacoolerwithice,notcoldpacks,whiletransporting
themtothelab.Mostlabswillmeasurethetemperatureofthesampleswhentheyarrive
andrejectanysamplewarmerthan50F.

F.DURATION

Asmallproductionwellpumpingtestmustberunforatleast48hours.Apumpingtestcanbe
stoppedafter48hoursonlyifstabilizationhasoccurred.SeeSectionIIA3foradefinitionof
stabilization.DESurgesthepumpingtestoperatortocontactthepersonwhodesignedthe
pumpingtestbeforeshuttingdownawellinwhichawaterlevelhasnotstabilized.DESmay
alsobecontactedat(603)2712947foradvice.

G.RECOVERY

Thesmallcommunitywellsitingrulesrequirethepumpingtestoperatortorecordwaterlevels
duringtherecoveryperiod.Thereisnosetscheduleformeasuringwaterlevelsduringrecovery
aslongasatleast10measurementsaretakenandrecorded.Therecoveryperiodmustlast
untilthewellhasrecovered95percentor24hours,whicheverisshortest.

14
14

III.NONSTANDARDPUMPINGTESTREQUIREMENTS

BeforeStartingtheTest

Note:Pumpingratesforsomeofthesetestsmayexceed40gpm,ifsuchayieldwasoriginally
approvedforanexistingwell.Iftheownerofthewellintendstousetheincreasedyieldtoadd
serviceconnectionstothewatersystem,thenafullnewcommunitywellandsystemdesign
reviewapprovalmustbeobtained

Thepumpingtestoperatorshouldobtainacopyofthepumpingtestdesignifhedidnot
proposethetest.Thedesigncontainsveryimportantinformationtheoperatorneedstoknow
beforebeginningthetest,suchastheproposedpumpingratesforallwellsbeingtested.This
helpssizethepumps,ifnecessary,andinlineflowmeters.Italsotellsthelengthofthetest,if
otherwellsorsurfacewatersneedtobemonitoredduringthetest,thetypeofwaterlevel
monitoringequipmentthatshouldbeused,andhowoftenwaterlevelmeasurementsmustbe
taken.Thedesignalsodescribeswaterqualitysampling,frequencyofsampling,parametersto
besampled,whichlabisbeingused,andwhethertheoperatorortheconsultantisexpectedto
collectthesamples.RefertoSetupinSectionIIforinformationonsettingupthewellhead
anddischargeforthetest.

A.HydrofractureorDeepeningtoRegainLostWellCapacity

Thedeepenedorhydrofracturedwellmustbepumpedataconstantrateforatleastsixhours
attheyieldestablishedwhenthewellwasoriginallyapproved,ortheyieldtherehabbedwellis
capableofproducing,whicheverisless.Iftheownerwishestousethewellatahigheryield
thanwasoriginallyestablished,thenastandardpumpingtestmustbeperformedandanew
wellsitingapplicationsubmitted.Waterlevels,dischargerate,andmeterreadingsshouldbe
recordedatregularintervalsduringthepumpingperiod.Awaterqualitysamplemustbe
collectedjustpriortoshutdown,andanalyzedforallcurrentdrinkingwaterparameters.No
recoveryperiodisrequired,butishighlyrecommended.

B.ReplacementWells

Thereplacementwellmustbepumpedataconstantrateforatleasttwelvehours.The
pumpingrateinthereplacementwellcanbenogreaterthantheapprovedyieldoftheexisting
wellbeingreplaced.Waterlevelmeasurementsmustbetakeninthesamemannerasoutlined
inSectionIIC.Awaterqualitysamplemustbecollectedjustpriortoshutdown,andanalyzed
foralldrinkingwaterstandards.Norecoveryperiodisrequired,butishighlyrecommended.

C.DemonstrationofSourceCapacityonExistingInactiveWells

Typicallythesepumpingtestsfollowthestandardpumpingtestrequirementsoutlinedin
SectionII.Exceptionsaremade,socheckwiththeclientorDESpriortostartingoneofthese
tests.Ifanonstandardtestisallowed,followtherequirementsforReplacementWellsabove.

ForFurtherInformation,visitwww.des.nh.govorcall(603)2712947.

15
15

IV.TermsandAbbreviations

AquiferAnundergroundwaterbearinggeologicformation;fracturedrockorsandandgravel.
CommunityWaterSystemApublicwatersystemthatserves15serviceconnectionsor25
residents,yearround.
ConstantPumpingRateOnethatdoesnotvarymorethan+/5percent.
DischargeTheprocessofpumpingwaterfromawellandmovingthewatertoanother
location.
DataloggerAcomputerizedelectronicdevicethatautomaticallyrecordswaterlevels.
DESTheNewHampshireDepartmentofEnvironmentalServices
DWGBTheDESDrinkingWaterandGroundwaterBureau.
EnvDw301TheAdministrativeRulesregulatingthesitingofwellspumpingataratelessthan
40gpmforsmallcommunitywatersystems(smallwells).
GroundwaterWaterstoredinwaterbearingundergroundgeologicformations.
NonSystemWellsThosenotownedorutilizedbytheapplicantswatersystem.Maybe
publicorprivate.
MicroscopicParticulateAnalysis(MPA)Samplingthatanalyzeswhetherorganismscommon
tosurfacewater,butrareingroundwater,existintheproductionwellwater.
PermittedProductionVolume(PPV)ThemaximumwatervolumepermittedbyDESthatmay
bewithdrawnfromthewellinany24hourperiodanddeterminedbythepumpingtest.
PreliminaryReportReportsubmittedtoDESbytheapplicantorconsultantthatoutlineshow
thepumpingtestwillbeoperated.
PrivateWellsThosenotownedbythesystembeingtestedorbyanotherpublicwater
system.
RecoveryTheperiodjustafterapumpisshutdownwhenthewaterlevelinthewellreturns
toaprepumpingcondition.
SDWAThefederalSafeDrinkingWaterAct
StillWaterTubeAnytubeplacedinawellthroughwhichwaterlevelmeasurementsare
taken.
SurfaceWaterAnybodyofstandingorflowingwater,suchasalake,pond,streamor
wetland.
WetlandAnyareathatisinundatedforgreaterthan30daysandsupportsvegetationtypically
adaptedforlifeinsaturatedsoilconditions.

16
16

AppendixA
PumpingTestLog

WaterSystemName:_____________________________________EPAID#:_______________________________
DescriptionofWellLocation:_____________________________________________________________________
WellDepth:________________DepthofPumpIntake/Screen:__________________________________________
ReferencePointUsedtoMeasureDepths:____________________CasingStickup:________________________
TestPerformerName:__________________________________________________________________________
DateTestStarted:_______________________________Static(NoPumping)WaterLevel:___________________

Day/Time
ElapsedTime
DepthtoWater
PumpingRate
Comments/Weather/MeterReading

17
17

AppendixB

GuideforCreatinga180DayTime/DrawdownChart

Thecriterionforendingapumpingtestafter48hoursisstabilization.Theprimarymethodfor
determiningstabilizationisreachingawaterlevelthatvariesnomorethanoneinchintwo
hoursfora12hourperiod.Oftenapumpingtestwillnotreachstabilizationbythismethod.

Anothermeansfordeterminingstabilizationisthe180daytime/drawdownchart.Thisisa
semilogarithmicgraphthatestimateswhatthewaterlevelinthewellwouldbeat180days.It
assumesthedrawdowntrendattheendofthepumpingtestdoesnotchangeandthat
pumpingcontinuesataconstantratefor180dayswithnorecharge.Iftheresultingestimated
waterlevelismorethanfivefeetabovethelevelofthepump,thereshouldbeenoughwater
availableforthesystemsneeds.

Beginbyrecordingthepumpingtestwaterlevelmeasurementsandtheelapsedtimesatwhich
themeasurementsweretaken.Thesedatapointswillbegraphedonasemilogarithmicplot.A
semilogplothasoneaxisinlogarithmicscaleandtheotherinnormalscale.Eachincrementon
alogarithmicaxisis10timesthepreviousone.Forexample,alogaxiswithamaximumof1,000
wouldhavetheincrements1,10,100and1,000.Thelinesonthegraphbetween1and10
represent2,3,4,,andtheonesbetween10and100are20,30,40,,etc.(Seethesemilog
graphbelow.)Plotthedataonsemiloggraphpaperorbycomputer.Directionsforcreatinga
semilogplotinMSExcelcanbefoundinthenextsectionoftheGuide.

Whencreatingtheplot,timeinminutesshouldbegraphedonthelogarithmicscaleaxis
(usuallytheXaxis)anddrawdowninfeetonthenormalscaleaxis(usuallytheYaxis).Markthe
pointsonthegraphbymatchingthedrawdownmeasurementontheYaxistotheelapsedtime
ontheXaxis.Forexample,thegraphbelowshowsonemeasurementof11.51feettakenat10
minutesintothetest.

Drawdown (ft) [y axis]

Semi-log Graph
15
10
5
0
1

10

100

1000

Time (min) [x axis]

18
18
Therestofthemeasurementsarethenplottedthesameway.SamplePlot1employsthedata
pointslistedinthetablebelow.Forsimplicity,onlyfourdrawdownmeasurementsareplotted.
Useallthemeasurementstakenduringthepumpingtest.

Time(min)
Drawdown(ft)

10
11.51

60
21.24

120
23.46

360
25.03

Sample Plot 1
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1

10

100

1000

Time (min)

Nowextendthetimeaxisoutto180days,or259,200minutesandthedrawdownaxisto20or
30feetmorethanthelargestdrawdownmeasurement,asinSamplePlot2.

Sample Plot 2
50
40
30
20
10
0
1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000

Time (min)

Drawabestfitlinebylayingaruleralongthedatapointstakenfromthelast12to36hoursof
thetestandmarkingastraightlinethroughthem.Extendthestraightlineouttothe180day
point,or259,200minutes,asshowninSamplePlot3.

19
19

Sample Plot 3
50
40
30
20
10
0
1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000 10000000

Time (min)

Readthedrawdownat180daysfromthechart.Inthisinstancethatwaterlevelis
approximately35feet.Ifthiswaterlevelisbelowthepump,eitherlowerthefinalelevationof
thepumporcontinuethepumpingtest,usingaslowerpumpingrate.After12hoursof
pumpingataconstantrate,repeattheprocessaboveifstabilizationisnotreachedbythe
primarymethod.Pleasenotethatthepumpingratemaynotvarymorethan+/5percentfor
atleast24consecutivehours.Thismaymeanextendingthetestforanotherdayorlonger.

20
20

CreatingASemiLogPlotinMSExcel

Step1.

PlotthedataintwocolumnsinanMSExcelspreadsheet.Headthecolumnswiththe
titlesoftheXandYaxes,usuallyelapsedtimeintheXaxiscolumnandwater
levelintheY.IfyouwanttimeontheXaxis,besuretolistthesedatapointsinthe
firstcolumn.Highlightbothcolumnsincludingtheheaders.

Step2.

Step3.

Step4.

Step5.

Step6.

ClickonInsertandthenChart.
Choosexy(scatter).
Choosethestyleyouwantbyclickingontheappropriatebox.
Clicknexttwice.
Fillintheappropriateboxesforallthetabs.Checkmajorandminorgridlinesonthe
Xaxisvaluessectionofthegridlinestab.Ifplottingpumpingtestresultsforonlyone
well,unchecktheshowlegendboxonthelegendtab.

Step7.

Step8.

Step9.

Clicknext.
Clickfinish.
Movethecharttoitsfinallocationbyclickingonituntilthecornerboxesshow,and
thendragthechartintoposition.

Step10. RightclickontheXaxisdatanumbers.

Step11. Chooseformataxisfromthepopupmenu.

Step12. Clickthescaletabandclickintheboxlabeledlogarithmicscaleatthebottomof
thewindow.Changethemaximumscaleto1,000,000.Ifnecessary,changethe
majorandminorunitto10.

21
21

AppendixC

GuidanceforConductingandReportingSDWAAnalyses
ForNewCommunityWellsandGroundwaterSourcesofBottledWater

Thefollowingparametersarerequiredforwaterqualityanalysisofanewdrinkingwatersourcefora
communitywatersupplysystemorsourceofbottledwater.Thisguidancewillbeupdated
periodically.Theapplicantisresponsibleforobtainingandusinguptodateinformation.ContactDES
at(603)2712947withquestionsandforthemostrecentguidance.

Thelaboratorymust: ApplyEPAapproveddrinkingwatermethods.

Havecurrentdrinkingwatercertificationforallanalyses.

Identifyallsubcontractedanalyses,laboratoriesandtheircertification.

Parameter

Group

MCL(mg/l)

Trigger(mg/l)

E.coli

Bio

Absent

Presence

FecalColiform

Bio

Absent

Presence

TotalColiform

Bio

Absent

Presence

Arsenic

IOC

0.010

Aluminum

IOC

0.05 0.2

0.05

Barium

IOC

IOC

0.005

Cadmium
d

0.0025

Chloride

IOC

250

Chromium

IOC

0.1

0.005

250
0.05
c

Copper

IOC

90%oftrigger

1.3

Copperd

IOC

1.0d

1.3

Cyanide(asfreeC)

IOC

0.2

0.1

Fluoridea

IOC

4.0a

2.0

Fluorided

IOC

2.0d

2.0

Iron

IOC

0.3

0.3
e

Lead

IOC

90%oftrigger

0.015

Manganesed

IOC

0.05d

0.05

Mercury

IOC

0.002

0.001

Nickeln

IOC

n.e.n

Nitrate(asN)

IOC

10

Nitrite(asN)

IOC

0.5

Selenium

IOC

0.05

Silver

IOC
e

Sodium
d

Sulfate

IOC

0.025

0.1

0.1
e

100250
d

250

IOC

250

Sulfide

IOC

0.05

0.05

Antimony

IOC

0.006

0.003

Beryllium

IOC

0.004

0.002

250

22
22
Parameter

Group

MCL(mg/l)

Trigger(mg/l)

Thallium

IOC

0.002

0.001

Zinc

IOC

pHd

IOC

6.58.5d

8.5

Rad

30ug/L

IfDetected

Rad

Uranium(Mass)
e

Radium226
e

Radium228
Radium226&228(Combined)
AnalyticalGrossAlpha

Radon
ComplianceGrossAlpha
BetaParticles

Rad

n.e.

Rad

5piC/l

IfDetected

Rad

n.e.

n.e.

Rad

n.e.

Rad

15piC/l

IfDetected
i

Rad

4mrem/yr

IfDetected

Endrin

SOC

0.002

IfDetected

Lindane

SOC

0.0002

IfDetected

Methoxychlor(DMDT,Martate)

SOC

0.04

IfDetected

Toxaphene

SOC

0.003

IfDetected

SOC

IfDetected

Dalapon

0.2
h

Diquat
Endothallh
Glyphosate

SOC
SOC
SOC

0.02
0.1h
0.7

0.02
0.1
IfDetected

Di(2ethylhexyl)adipate

SOC

0.4

IfDetected

Oxamyl(Vydate)

SOC

0.2

IfDetected

Simazine

SOC

0.004

IfDetected

Di(2ethylhexyl)phthalate

SOC

0.006

IfDetected

Picloram

SOC

0.5

IfDetected

Dinoseb

SOC

0.007

IfDetected

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene

SOC

0.05

IfDetected

Aldicarbsulfoxide

SOC

0.004

IfDetected

Aldicarbsulfone(aldoxycarb)

SOC

0.002

IfDetected

Carbofuran(Furadon,4F)

SOC

0.04

IfDetected

Aldicarb(Temik)

SOC

0.003

IfDetected

Atrazine(Atranex,Crisazine)

SOC

0.003

IfDetected

Alachlor(Lasso)

SOC

0.002

IfDetected
h

2,3,7,8TCDD(Dioxin)
Heptachlor

SOC
SOC

0.00000003
0.0004

IfDetected
IfDetected

Heptachlorepoxide

SOC

0.0002

IfDetected

2,4D

SOC

0.07

IfDetected

2,4,5TP(Silvex)

SOC

0.05

IfDetected

Hexachlorobenzene

SOC

0.001

IfDetected

Benzo(a)pyrene(PAHs)

SOC

0.0002

IfDetected

SOC

0.001

IfDetected

Pentachlorophenol
h

Polychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCB)
Dibromochloropropane(DBCP)h

SOC
SOC

0.0005
0.0002h

IfDetected
IfDetected

Ethylenedibromide(EDB)h

SOC

0.00005h

IfDetected

23
23
Parameter
Chlordane

Group

MCL(mg/l)

Trigger(mg/l)

SOC

0.002

IfDetected

Methyltertiarybutylether(MtBE)

VOC

0.013

Methyltertiarybutylether(MtBE)d

VOC

0.020d

0.020

Tertiaryamylmethylether(TAME)e

VOCU

n.e.e

VOCU

n.e.e

IfDetected

(2methoxy2methylbutane)
Tertiarybutylalcohol(TBA)e
e

Ethyltertiarybutylether(ETBE)

VOCU

n.e.

Diisopropylether(DIPE)e

VOCU

n.e.

1,2,4Trichlorobenzene

VOC

0.07

IfDetected

1,2Dichloroethylene(cis)

VOC

0.07

IfDetected

f,m

Chloroform
f,m

Bromoform
f,m

Bromodichloromethane

f,m

VOCU

n.e.

VOCU

n.e.

f,m

n.e.

f,m

f,m

VOCU

Chlorodibromomethane
f,m
(Dibromochloromethane)

VOCU

n.e.

Xylene(total)

VOC

10

IfDetected

Dichloromethane(methylenechloride)

VOC

0.005

IfDetected

1,2Dichlorobenzene(o)

VOC

0.6

IfDetected

1,4Dichlorobenzene(para)

VOC

0.075

IfDetected

Vinylchloride

VOC

0.002

Ifdetected

1,1Dichloroethylene

VOC

0.007

IfDetected

1,2Dichloroethylene(trans)

VOC

0.1

IfDetected

1,2Dichloroethane

VOC

0.005

IfDetected

1,1,1Trichloroethane

VOC

0.2

IfDetected

Carbontetrachloride

VOC

0.005

IfDetected

1,2Dichloropropane

VOC

0.005

IfDetected

Trichloroethylene

VOC

0.005

IfDetected

1,1,2Trichloroethane

VOC

0.005

IfDetected

Tetrachloroethylene

VOC

0.005

IfDetected

Monochlorobenzene(Chlorobenzene)

VOC

0.1

IfDetected

Benzene

VOC

0.005

IfDetected

Toluene

VOC

IfDetected

Ethylbenzene

VOC

0.7

IfDetected

Styrene

VOC

0.1

IfDetected

Abbreviations:

MCLTheMaximumContaminantLevelallowedindrinkingwater

SDWISSafeDrinkingWaterInformationSystem

Biobiological

Radradiologicalparameter

IOCinorganiccompound

IOCUinorganiccompoundunregulated

SOCsyntheticorganiccompound

SOCUsyntheticorganiccompoundunregulated

VOCvolatileorganiccompound

VOCUvolatileorganiccompoundunregulated

n.e.notestablishedreportingisrequired

24
24

Footnotes:
a
FluoridehasasecondaryMCLof2.0mg/L,andaprimaryMCLof4.0mg/L
b
pHisexpressedinunitsofhydrogenionactivity
c
LeadandCoppersamplesarecollectedintapwatersamplesthroughoutthedistributionsystem
d
AestheticRegulatedSecondaryMCLs
e
Recommendedadditionalreportingparameters
f
TotalMCLscombinedequals0.100mg/L
g
MtBEhasasecondaryMCLof0.020mg/LandaprimaryMCLof0.013mg/L
h
Statewaiverinplacesamplingrequiredforinitialwaterqualitytestingonly
i
BetaparticletestingrequiredonlyforsystemsdeemedvulnerablebytheDepartmentandnotifiedthattestingis
mandatory.
k
Radontestingonlyrequiredforinitialwaterqualityofnewwells

25
25

HowtoTakeWaterQualitySamplesDuringPumpingTests

Thissectiondescribesthedifferentbottlesusedforaninitialwaterqualitysamplingofnewcommunity
watersupplywells.Samplesshouldbetakenatasamplingtapinstalledinthedischargepipe.Please
readthisinformationcarefullysincesomeofthebottlescontainpreservatives,whichshouldnotcome
incontactwitheyesorskin.KeepinmindthatthebottledescriptionsareforbottlesusedbytheNew
HampshireDepartmentofEnvironmentalServicesLab;otherlabsmayusedifferentbottles.Pleasecall
theDESLabat(603)2713445withquestionsabouthowtotakethesesamples.Holdtimesforthe
samplesvaryfromassoonaspossibletosixmonths,dependingonthetest.

Allsamplesmustbekeptonice.Icepackswillnotkeepthemcoldenough.
Labswillrejectallsampleswarmerthan50F.

InorganicCompounds(IOC)Sampling
Bottlesused:

1roundplastic125mLbottleforbacteria.
1square,500mLprecleanedbottleformetals.
1pearshaped,100mLbottleforcyanide.
1oblongshaped,500mLbottleforanions,alkalinity,andpH.

Preservativesinbottles:5mLofconcentratednitricacidaddedtometalscontainer.
3pelletsofsodiumhydroxidetocyanidecontainer.
Nopreservativeinanioncontainer.
1sodiumthiosulphatepelletaddedtobacteriacontainer.

Procedureforfillingbottles:Turnonsamplingtapandrunwaterforfourtofiveminutesoruntil
thewatertemperaturehasstabilized,whicheverislonger.Thenreduceflowsothatthestream
ofwaterisnogreaterthan1/8inchindiameter.Removecontainercaps.Donotputcapsface
downorinpocket.Donotallowinsideofcaps,insideofcontainerorbottlethreadstobe
touchedbyanyobject.Usecautionwhenfillingthesebottles.Thesquarebottlecontainsacid.
Asthewatercomesincontactwiththeacidawhitecloudwilldriftfromthebottle.Thisis
normal.Donotputyourfacewithinthecloudorinhalethefumes.Fillbottlestoshoulder.Do
notoverflow.Screwcapsonsecurely.

Nitrateand/orNitriteSampling

Bottleused:Precleanedplasticorglassbottle(usually40mL),yellowcap.

Preservativesinbottle:None

Procedureforfillingbottle:SameprocedureasIOCsampling.

RadiologicalSampling
BottlesUsed:1precleaned,1gallonplasticbottleand140mLglassvialwithTeflonsepta.

26
26

PreservativesinBottles:Therearenopreservativesineitherbottle.
Procedureforfillingbottles:SameprocedureasIOCsampling.

SyntheticOrganicCompounds(SOC)Sampling:

Pleasenote,ifusingtheDESLab,SOCsamplesmustbescheduledpriortocollection.
Callthelabat(603)2713445foranappointment.Ifusingaprivatelab,callinadvance
fortheirpoliciesregardingtheschedulingoftests.

Bottlesused:

2precleanedoneliteramberglassbottleswithTeflonlinedcaps.
6precleaned40mLglassvialswithTeflonlinedcaps.

PreservativesinBottles:Bothtypesofbottlescontainchemicalpreservatives.Usecautionwhen
takingsamples.

Procedureforfillingbottles:Turnonsamplingtapandrunforfourtofiveminutesoruntilthe
watertemperaturehasstabilized,whicheverislonger.Thenreduceflowsothatstreamofwater
isnogreaterthan1/8inchindiameter.

Foreachoneliterbottle:Removecontainercap.Donotputcapfacedownorinpocket.Donot
allowinsideofcap,insideofbottleorbottlethreadstobetouchedbyanyobject.Donotrinse
bottle.Usecautionwhenfillingthesebottles,openthemslowlyandcarefullytoavoidacid
burns.Filltoshoulderofthebottle.Screwoncapsecurely.

Foreachofthe40mLvials:Removecontainercap.Donotputcapfacedownorinpocket.Do
notallowinsideofcap,insideorvialorbottlethreadstobetouchedbyanyobject.Usecaution
whenfillingthesebottles,openthemslowlyandcarefullytoavoidchemicalburns.Donotrinse
vial.Fillvialtothetopcreatingacrownbutdonotoverflowduetothepreservative.Screwon
capsecurely.Checkforairbubblesbyinvertingthevialandgentlytappingthecap.Ifbubbles
arepresent,addadditionalwater.

VOCMTBETTHMandHAAS:

PreservativesinBottles:0.25mLof1:1Hydrochloricacid.

Bottleused:2precleaned,40mLglassseptumvialswithTeflonseptaeachsamplesite.

ProcedureforFillingBottles:Turnonsamplingtapandrunforfourtofiveminutesoruntilthe
watertemperaturehasstabilized,whicheverislonger.Thenreduceflowsothatstreamofwater
isnogreaterthan1/8inchindiameter.Removecontainercap.Donotputcapfacedownorin
pocket.Donotallowinsideofcap,insideofbottleorbottlethreadstobetouchedbyany
object.Donotrinsebottle.Usecautionwhenfillingthesebottles,openthemslowlyand
carefullytoavoidacidburns.Filltothetop,creatingacrown,butdonotoverflowdueto
preservativesinthebottle.Screwoncapsecurely.Checkforairbubblesbyinvertingthevialand
gentlytappingthecap.Ifbubblesarepresent,addadditionalwater.

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AppendixD

MicroscopicParticulateAnalysis(MPA)SamplingGuidance

Ifthewellisbeingapprovedasanewwell,oranexistingwellbeingreactivatedandastandard
pumpingtestisrequired,themicroscopicparticulateanalysis(MPA)samplingcanberuneither
attheendofthetestorduringit,providedtasksakbelowareperformed.Thesewellsare
typicallynotplumbedtoapumphouse.

IfthewellisanexistingwellandMPAsamplingisrequiredbecausethewellissuspectedof
producinggroundwaterunderdirectinfluenceofsurfacewater(GWUDI),orifthewellis
alreadyplumbedtoapumphouse,tasksltbelowshouldbeperformed.

Thedischargeflowrateforsamplingisverylow,only12gpm,sothesamplingvalvemustbe
equippedwithametertodetermineflowrate.AlsotheMPAsampler(s)mustbeableto
measurethetemperature,pH,andspecificconductanceofthedischargedwater,either
throughthediverterfortheMPAanalysisorfromthedischargewaterthatistobepumpedto
waste.

NewWellorReactivatedWellWithPumpingTest:

a. DESgenerallyfollowsUSEPAsConsensusMethodforDeterminingGroundwaters
UndertheDirectInfluenceofSurfaceWaterUsingMicroscopicParticulate
Analysis(MPA).Themethodconstitutesdiverting5001,000gallonsofsource
waterthroughasyntheticfilteroveranapproximate8to24hourperiodata
flowrateofbetween12gpm.

b. Equipthepumpdischargepipingwithadivertervalvethatistobeusedwiththe
filterassemblybeforethestartofpumping.SeeFigure1foranexampleofthe
typeofsetupneeded,pertheguidelineinitema.above.Pleasenotethatthe
valve/faucetcontrolcanbeeitherontheinletoroutletline.Itismorecommonly
locatedontheinletline.

c. Ifthefiltercanisterisclearplasticitshouldbeprotectedfromsunlight.Wrapthe
canisterwithanymaterialthatwillexcludelight.Sunlightcausessomesurface
waterorganismstomultiply,resultinginafalsehighcount.Iftestingis
performedincoldweather,thecanistermustbeprotectedfromfreezing.

d. Beginpumpingtheproductionwellattheconstantraterequiredfornewwell
approvalandstartmonitoringpH,conductivityandtemperatureinboththe
dischargewaterandthenearbysurfacewaterfeature(s).Preferably,monitoring
fortheseparametersshouldbeginassoonasfeasibleduringthepumpingtest,
however;anacceptableminimummonitoringperiodpriortoMPAsample
collectionis8to10hours.

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e. Thestabilizationcriteriafordischargewaterscreeningparametersisconsidered
thefollowing:

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

pH:+/0.2standardunits
SpecificConductance:+/3percent
Temperature:+/2degreesCelsius(about3Fto4F)
Minimumstabilizationtimefortheparametersi.iii.abovethatneedto
bedemonstratedpriortosamplecollection:8to10hours

f. After8to10hoursofdemonstratedstabilityforpH,specificconductance,and
temperature,theMPAsamplingshouldcommence.Iftheparametersine.above
varywidelyordonotconvergethenscreeningshallcontinueuntilscreening
parametersmeetthestabilizationcriteriaandthenMPAsamplingshould
commence.Ifconvergencehasnotoccurredpriortotheendofthestandard
pumpingtest,contactDESforfurtherguidance.

g. DivertwaterthroughtheMPAfilterapparatusonlyafterfieldparametershave
stabilized[seee.above].

h. PriortostartingtheMPAsampling,runpumpdischargewaterthroughthe
emptycanisterforseveralminutestorinseit.Afterrinsing,turnoffwatertothe
canister,pourouttherinsewaterandinsertthefilter.Uselatexgloveswhen
handlingthefilter.Reassemblethecanister.

i.

ContinuetomonitorpH,specificconductanceandtemperaturethroughout
sampling.

j.

Whensamplingiscomplete,carefullyremovethefilterfromthecanister,again
usinglatexgloves,andpackageaccordingtothedirectionsreceivedwiththe
unit,asprovidedbyyouranalyticallaboratory.

k. Pleasenotethatthestabilizationcriterialistedabovearegeneralguidelinesand
arenotfixed;DESrecognizesthatsitespecificissuesandprofessional
judgmentplayaroleindeterminationofstabilization,andencouragethe
samplertocontactthisofficeanddiscusstheissueshoulditarise.

ExistingorNewWellPlumbedtoaPumphouse:

l. DESgenerallyfollowsUSEPAsConsensusMethodforDeterminingGroundwaters
UndertheDirectInfluenceofSurfaceWaterUsingMicroscopicParticulate
Analysis(MPA).Themethodconstitutesdiverting5001,000gallonsofsource
waterthroughasyntheticfilteroveranapproximate8to24hourperiodata
flowrateofbetween12gpm.

m. Equipthepumpdischargepipingwithadivertervalvethatistobeusedwiththe
filterassembly.Withanexistingsourcethatisonlineandhookedtothesystem,
thislocationwillmostlikelybethesourcetapontheincomingsupplylinefrom

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thewell.Pleasenotethatattentionshouldbegiventotheneedforbackflow
preventionbetweentheinletlineofthesamplingapparatus(showninFigure1)
andboththesourceanddistributionsystem.

n. Ifthefiltercanisterisclearplastic,itshouldbeprotectedfromsunlight.Wrap
thecanisterwithanymaterialthatwillexcludelight.Sunlightcausessome
surfacewaterorganismstomultiply,resultinginafalsehighcount.Iftestingis
performedincoldweather,thecanistermustbeprotectedfromfreezing.

o. Settheproductionwellforhandormanualoperationandbeginpumpingat
aconstantrate.Thepumpedwatercanbedirectedintothestoragetankor
dischargedtowaste.StartmonitoringpH,conductivityandtemperature
immediatelyinboththedischargewaterandanearbysurfacewaterlocation.
Theseparametersshouldbemonitoredforatleast2hoursbeforestartingthe
MPA.

p. Ifthepumpedwaterwillbedirectedintothestoragetank,excesswatershould
bedivertedfromthetanktoavoidoverflow.Insomecasestemporarilyshutting
downothersystemwellssothattheydonotcontributewatertothetankcan
helpreduceoverflow.Ifitisnotpossibletodivertenoughwaterfromthe
storagetanktoavoidoverflow,careshouldbetakenthatoverflowofthetank
doesnotcausesoilerosionoutsidethepumphouse,orfloodinginsidethe
pumphouseitself.

q. Afterthe2hourpumpingperioddivertwaterthroughtheMPAfilterandbegin
thesamplingprocess.PriortostartingtheMPAsampling,runpumpdischarge
waterthroughtheemptycanisterforseveralminutestorinseit.Afterrinsing,
turnoffwatertothecanister,dumpouttherinsewaterandinsertthefilter.Use
latexgloveswhenhandlingthefilter.Reassemblethecanister.

r. Ifthewellisequippedwithahighcapacitypump,itmaybedifficulttomaintain
a12gpmflowthroughthefilterassembly.Inthesecasesasplittershouldbe
attachedtothedischargetapusedtodivertwaterthroughthefilter.Agarden
hosecanbeattachedtoonearmofthesplitterandthefilterassemblyattached
totheother.

s. ContinuetomonitorpH,specificconductanceandtemperaturethroughout
samplingfortheentiredurationittakestocollectasample(824hours).

t. Whensamplingiscomplete,carefullyremovethefilterfromthecanister,again
usinglatexgloves,andpackageaccordingtothedirectionsprovidedbyyour
analyticallaboratorywiththeunit.

LaboratoryConsiderationsandMPASamplingMaterials:

WhenyourprojectneedstocollectanMPAsample,youshouldplantocontactyourlabwellin
advanceofthepumpingtest.SincemostlabsdonotperformMPAinhouse,theywillneed

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extratimetoarrangetheanalysiswithaseparatelabandorderyoursamplecontainersand
filter.IfyourregularlabdoesnotsubcontractMPA,contactDESforassistanceinlocatinga
laboratorythatperformsMPA.

Figure1

Inline cumulative
meter (gals)

Faucet
control

Pressure
gauge

Pressure
Regulator

Filter
Holder

Inlet line
w/
backflow
preventor

Discharge
line

Figurefrom"ConsensusMethodforDeterminingGroundwatersUndertheDirectInfluenceofSurfaceWaterUsingMicroscopic
ParticulateAnalysis."USEPA,October1992.Findthecompletedocumentonlineathttp://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/GWI.htm.