Welcome to our November Newsletter
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~~Happy Thanksgiving~~
Thanksgiving is more than just one dinner.
Thanksgiving is a time for celebrating everything you love!
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In this Edition
Activated Carbon for Water Treatment
Water Quality for Marijuana Growing
Frequency of Well Water Testing
Industry News
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We care what you think! Please take our survey and lets us know how we are doing.
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Activated Carbon for Water Treatment
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Activated carbon filters, sometimes referred to as charcoal filters, contain small pieces of carbon in granular or block form. These pieces are extremely porous and have a large surface area. When the water flows through active carbon filters the various contaminants stick to the carbon through a process called adsorption. Unlike absorption which soaks up particles like a sponge, adsorption adheres particles to a surface like a piece of Velcro. Beyond physical adsorption, activated carbon also facilitates chemical reactions; chlorine creates a common reaction. When chlorine comes into contact with activated carbon, both molecules react to form chloride ions, effectively removing chlorine from water.
Due to the large and extremely porous surface area, carbon filters are very effective at reducing bad tastes, odors, and certain particles in the water. According to the EPA, carbon filters remove at least 81 chemicals and are effective at reducing another 52. It is also the only filtering material that removes all 12 identified herbicides and 14 pesticides, along with all 32 identified organic contaminants.
There are some materials that carbon does not filter such as some healthy minerals; magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium; dissolved solids such as salts and iron; microbiological contaminants such as cysts, coliform and other bacteria; inorganic contaminants such as arsenic or asbestos; and radionuclides, although these are reduced.
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Water Quality for Marijuana Growing
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Our country has come a long way in legalizing cannabis, aka marijuana; there are now 33 states that have laws broadly legalizing marijuana in some form. There are 11 states and the District of Columbia that have adopted expansive laws legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Consequently, there has been a necessary increase in specialized operations, such as growers, to meet the demand and legal guidelines of this expansion in marijuana production.
What does drinking water have to do with successfully growing
sellable crops of marijuana? Drinking water is typically the source of water used to grow the crops, knowing what is in the water is important so the plants can flourish. A few measurements that are very important to focus on are the pH level and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), which is a measurement that includes the combine content of all organic and inorganic substances. Both overly high and low TDS can be harmful to plants. pH is a measurement of hydrogen (H+) ion concentrations in aqueous solutions. If using a hydroponic system, nutrients need to be more available so a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 is preferred. In soil, a slightly more neutral measure is preferred, 6.0 to 7.0. In turn, nutrients that can affect pH include: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, iron, and zinc, which are all important to many plant’s growth.
There are other water components important to plants including: hardness, dissolved oxygen (DO), fluorine, chlorine and bacteria. Hardness is the measure of the minerals dissolved in the water -- common among these are calcium and magnesium. The amount of DO can indicate algae growth and large scale agriculture influx which can impact plant health. Fluorine, which can naturally occur in surface waters, should be measured because high concentrations can cause under-development of a plant’s bud size. There are two separate forms of chlorine that should be measured “combined” and “free chlorine”. Because chlorine is used in water treatment to kill microorganisms, either form can be common in the water supply. This is important to look at because chlorine can diminish the positive effects some microorganisms have and can bind to organic matter. Bacteria caused by animal and human waste along with other pathogens can contaminate groundwater sources; they are dangerous for human consumption and can compromise the quality of your end product.
Water quality can differ greatly; it’s very important do regular testing on your water source to know what challenges, if any, you are facing to maintain a quality crop. There are many water treatment options available, if necessary.
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Frequency of Well Water Testing
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Approximately 46% of New Hampshire’s population and 50% of Maine's population rely on a private well as their primary source of drinking water. Since there are no state requirements for testing private wells, it isn’t uncommon for private well owners to go years without testing. Public water systems in NH and ME are required to keep up with compliance regulations, sampling monthly, quarterly, and yearly for contaminants, ensuring safe drinking water for the customers they are providing to. It is just as important for private well owners to test their water, as most harmful contaminants are colorless, tasteless and odorless. So how often should water from a well be tested?
A bacteria analysis, which checks for both coliform and E. Coli bacteria, is recommended any time there is work done on the well or plumbing, as this type of activity can introduce bacteria into the system. This should be done after a thorough amount of flushing, to ensure most accurate results. Otherwise, bacteria should be tested at least once a year. This will not only help in telling if these contaminants are in the water, but can also indicate that there may be problems with the well, as loose well caps and cracks in the well casing can be a gateway for bacteria contamination. It is also recommended to test yearly for nitrate. Nitrate is very harmful to young children and pregnant women. High nitrate results can mean other contaminants are getting into the water, such as fertilizers, sewage, pesticides and herbicides. A good way to remember to test for bacteria and nitrate yearly is to add them to your “daylight savings time to-do list.” When it’s time to change the clocks backwards or forwards, lots of people also use these days as a reminder to change batteries in smoke detectors, flip their mattress, and replace filters in furnaces or air conditioners. Why not add water testing to that list?
It is suggested that a comprehensive water analysis be completed at least every 3-5 years. Water that supplies the well is replenished by rain and melting snow from the surface that is filtered by the ground, because of this it can pick up contaminants on the way. A comprehensive water test should include: Arsenic, Bacteria, Calcium, Chloride, Fluoride, Hardness, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Nitrate/Nitrite, pH, Sodium, Copper and Lead. Naturally occurring radiological contaminants such as radon, uranium and gross alpha should also be tested every 3-5 years. These radiological contaminants come from the decay of bedrock and granite, and are easily dissolved in water.
Other testing recommended every 3-5 years is for PFAS and Volatile Organic Compounds. There has recently been a change in the state standards for PFAS compliance testing, and since it is showing up in a significant number of wells around the state, it is now recommended for private well owners to test for these compounds. Volatile Organic Compounds, also known as VOCs, come from gasoline compounds and industrial solvents. Examples of these are MtBE, xylene and benzene. These contaminants can be found in wells even in remote areas.
These are general guidelines for testing, but there are times a well may need to be tested outside of these recommendations, such as:
- When looking to purchase a home with a private well, the buyer should run a test before purchase. Many home inspectors provide water sampling as part of their inspection process, and it is typically required by the mortgage company before moving forward with the loan process.
- When refinancing a home for a VA or FHA mortgage loan, often a water test is required.
- Anytime work is done on the well or plumbing, or if significant construction is going on around the area of the well, such as blasting.
- If any changes in the water occur, such as change in color, clarity, flavor or odor.
- It is recommended to sample for Synthetic Organic Compounds (aka SOC’s) which are fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, if nitrate/nitrite levels come back high or large amounts of these chemicals are known to have been used near the well.
- If any contaminants tested are at a level that exceeds the state limits, it is recommended to test more frequently than every 3-5 years after remediation is installed. This ensures that the treatment that is chosen continues to keep the contaminants at safe levels.
For more helpful information on contaminants and frequency of testing your private well, you can visit the two links below:
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NEWS THROUGHOUT OUR INDUSTRY
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