Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry Well Water Analysis

Friend of mine is testing his well water used for pond irrigation, per my suggestion, but is facing questions from the testing facilities on the "type" of testing he wants performed. I assume they need a list of the elements we need tested. From memory I could think of hardness, salinity, ph - but not sure what else I should include. Can anyone help me with a list of important elements to request to be tested?

Here's a partial report on the well water thus far - maybe we don't need more than this? Also, how do these results look below? Thanks in advance, all!

Hi TJ

Here is what I have so far.

CYA=12
T.CHL=0
F.CHL=0
PH=7.2
ALK=240
HARDNESS=500
PHOSPHATE=0
COPPER=0
SALT=<500PPM

I have called a lot of labs. But it looks like everyone wants to know what test I want done. So if you can tell me or call them and see what test you want done.

http://www.siouxlanddistricthealth.org/servicesclinics/enivronmental-health-servicesinspections.html (in Sioux City) Can do any test you want

http://acslab.net/tests_offered.html (In Sioux City) list of test

http://cedar.unl.edu/water-environment UNL Extention has a water kit test

http://www.foundationanalytical.com/drinking-water.cfm Close to Sioux City

And what's the well water ultimate goal? Accumulate in the pond, after irrigation along the bank, and support the pond's biota?

If so, what's in the pond? Aquatic species? amphibious species? Size of the pond?

Just a note that the salt concentration may be low, along with other minerals and unknown metals, it will accumulate over time to higher concentration.

Hi Leo - thanks for your feedback

This is a 22 acre lake sustained 100% with well irrigation and we are interested in learning the impact of the well water chemistry on the fishery. Need a list of important elements we need tested, and feedback on the values already provided above, if possible.

Thanks!

Ah, looks like fishery is involved, and it's a huge one no less. So, here goes:

1. You've got the hardness down, which indicate the binding to heavy metal is readily available, but is there both suspended and dissolved heavy metal? Heavy metals of concerns, from natural to hydrological blooms from underground contamination, are:

Arsenic
Selenium
Lead
Mercury
Chromium

These will effect primarily human/animal health. However, bio-accumulation occur from the base food chains to the apex predators, before human/animal consumption. Since you're exposing yourself to the water for recreational purposes, ingestion is also being accounted at this point.

2. You have salinity level down. If water comes in, but does not go out, salinity will increase over time. Dilution is not the solution. It's just a patch job. So, if there's no water going out, you also need to know the primary water body's current salinity concentration. This will aid you to come up with a plan to expel out some water in the main water body before accepting more water from the well.

3. If you live near a heavily urbanized area, or the ground water is close to a landfill, make sure to check for chemical oxygen demand (COD), as well as cadmium, PCB. If you are smacked in the agricultural area, check of Nitrate-Nitrite+Nitrogen level, and any known organo-pesticides/herbicides that may be used within the area.

4. Check for dissolved oxygen content in the ground water, which you may first off-gas the well water and infuse additional oxygen content prior to introducing to the main water body. Fish kill can occur. This also go in tandem with total suspended solids (no need for total dissolved solids since the hardness already dictated that your friend well water has minor amount) to predict possible water clarity coming from the well water.

So far, that's my chime on water quality from underground source to above ground, into recreational and fishery water body.

Ortho-P
Ortho-N

That's about all I can add.

Thanks guys, good feedback.