Information for Water Well Owners in the Raton Basin

Domestic Water Wells in Las Animas County, ColoradoJohn Fontana, Geologist, PGVincent E. Barlock, Hydrogeologist, CPG

Sponsored By: Las Animas County Cattlemens Association Las Animas County Health Department Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce Trinidad State Junior College Vista GeoScience LLCCommon Issues for Well OwnersPoor Water Production (Quantity)General Water Quality Odors and/or Taste Color, Staining or SedimentNatural Gas (Methane) in WaterSolutions, Testing & MaintenanceResources Available

Las Animas CountyConstruction of Water WellsWho Regulates? Division of Water Resources (DWR) State Engineers Office (SEO) Permits & Well Ownership TransfersBoard of Examiners (BOE) of Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Contractors Licensing & CertificationConstruction & Design RulesProtection of Ground WaterYour Well Permit & Construction Record Files

Common Aquifer TypesAlluvial AquiferStream Valley Sands and GravelsGenerally ShallowerBedrock AquiferSandstone, Siltstone, Shale or CoalPorous or fractured RocksGenerally Deeper

AQUIFER: The water bearing sediment or rock your well is drilled into

Alluvial WellsSurface CasingFilter packWell Seal

5Bedrock WellWith a well seal & filter pack, or

Open bore completion

Open Borehole Bedrock WellHarder Formation

Steel Surface Casing

No filter-pack or Annular Seals

Poor Water Production (Quantity)Well Yield = Gallons Per Minute1 Gallon per Minute = 1400 Gallons per DayDoes Your Well Go Dry? Seasonally or Under Heavy Use?Could be from:Tight or Low-Flowing AquiferDry Season Low Water TableDrawdown (Over-pumping)Fouling of the Well Screen or PumpPump Damage or FailurePoor Well Design or Construction Approaching Lifespan of the Water Well

Yield in Alluvial Aquifers

Better YieldSandsGravelsPoor YieldSiltsClaysYield in Bedrock AquifersBetter YieldSandstoneFractured RocksLower YieldClaystone (Shale)Siltstone

SHALE

Seasonal Fluctuation or DroughtSpring/SummerFall/WinterHigh water levelLow water level

Drawdown Over-Pumping of the Aquifer

NO PUMPINGFouling (blockage) of the Well Screen or Pump

Silts and ClaysEncrustationHard WaterIronBio-FoulingBacteria Growth

Poor Well Design or ConstructionMinimum Construction Requirements were Met? May not be adequate Sand/Gravel Filter or Open BorePost-Drilling Development(Required Cleaning after Drilling)Adequate Bore-Hole Diameter/DepthCasing Size & Screen TypeIs the Casing too big for the bore

Solutions to Low-Yield WellsISSUES:Naturally Low Yielding AquiferSeasonal drop in ground water table, or droughtDrawdown (over-pumping of the aquifer)SOLUTIONS: Install a Cistern

Drill a deeper well

Reduce usageSolutions to Low-Yield WellsISSUES:Pump FailureFouled Screens or PumpPoor well design or constructionLimited lifespan of the water well

SOLUTIONS: Inspect, Repair PumpRedevelop the wellChemical , or Physical Cleaning of WellLast Resort : Drill a New Well.

Limited Lifespan of a Water Well

Typically years to decades:The Geology Well Design/ConstructionMaintenance Normal Corrosion/ Wear & TearAmount of Use/PumpingGeneral Water Quality:

Odor

Taste

Color & Sediment

ODORSMy water smells! BACTERIA!Stagnant Water SmellSeptic Tanks Like OdorsRotten Egg or Sulfur Smell Bacteria + Sulfates in Well = Hydrogen Sulfide GasYour nose is very sensitive to this gas

SOLUTION: Chemical treatment or other cleaning by an expertLook around for sourcesTesting, inspection, and maintenance

TASTETastes Metallic or Salty! Dissolved Mineral Content BacteriaNitrates

SOLUTION: Water quality testing by an expert Check whether some minerals are above drinking water standards. Filtration and treatment system See CDPHE for guidance on drinking standards.

COLORDissolved MineralsExcessive Bacteria Activity SedimentSOLUTION: Water Quality test Bacterial Activity Reaction Test (BART) Chemical well treatment for bacteria issues and/or Well filtration/treatment system for high mineral content

SEDIMENT Grit / Particulates Cloudy Water - SettlesCauses: Improper or damaged well screensPoor well development: original drilling, or formation debris is getting into the wellLack of a sand/filter pack around the screens SOLUTION: Filtration systems/traps can remove some sedimentRedevelop and clean well if not done originallyContact a consultant or licensed pump installer for options

GAS BUBBLES It looks like soda water!Causes:Dissolved Air or Natural Gas - Methane and/or Carbon DioxideSourcesNatural Bacteria Coal Bed MethaneRaton & Vermejo FormationLas Animas County, West of I-25

COAL BED METHANE DESORPTION

NATURAL GAS (METHANE)Is natural gas (methane) hazardous?Non-Toxic. Not Regulated by EPA.Flammable & Explosive (5% in air)

SOLUTION: If suspected: Request a dissolved methane test. If methane is in your water, test the air in the home.Methane Mitigation SystemsVented Cistern Methane or Gas Removal System (works for methane, radon, other gases)Potential Impacts to Water Wells

Potential Impacts to Water WellsMalfunctioning septic systems Fuel spills Chemical pesticides or fertilizersHousehold hazardous wastes, paints and solvents storage and spillsRoad salt runoff Livestock manure, animal fecesImproperly abandoned historic mines & wellsContamination & spills from nearby industry

Livestock Pen, Well Head & Cistern

Testing, Maintenance & TreatmentHave your well records on hand (DWR-SEO)Maintain and Test your WellLaboratory TestingColorado Dept. of Health & Environment (CDPHE) LabPrivate Water Testing LabsWell Maintenance ContractorsWell Drilling & Pump ContractorsLicensed through the DWR-SEOOptionally Certified by a NGWAConsultantsHydrogeologists Certified Water Well Maintenance Contractors

ResourcesLaboratory Testing & InformationCDPHE & Private LabsEPA - The Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791.Consultants & ExpertsColorado Ground Water Association - coloradogroundwater.orgWell Drilling ContractorsDWR-SEO (Permits, Licensed Water Well/Pump Contractor)Colorado Water Well Contractors Assoc. - cwwca.orgNational Ground Water Association - wellowner.orgColorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

Well Owner AssociationsNational Ground Water Association - wellowner.orgWater Systems Council - Well Owners Network - watersystemscouncil.orgAmerican Ground Water Trust agwt.orgThe Goal: To insure your water is enjoyed by everyone!

THANK YOU Sponsored By:

Las Animas County Cattlemens Association Las Animas County Health Department Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce Trinidad State Junior College Vista GeoScience LLC

This presentation is intended to provide general information regarding water wells. It is not intended to address any specific circumstances regarding individual water wells. For specific questions regarding your individual circumstances contact one of the agencies listed above or a qualified water well maintenance or repair contractor. The sponsors make no representation express or implied as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in this presentation, and are under no obligation to update or correct such information. The sponsors expressly disclaim any liability resulting from the use of this presentation or any errors therein or omissions there from.