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GUPACA Members Well Water Analysis
Well Water Results
Notes to GUPACA members well water tests from August 2005:
This is the first year we have shared well water test results among GUPACA members. We instituted this project because protection of wells and water aquifers was cited as the number one issue of importance in the member survey we conducted this year. We have five results this year, with some geographic diversity. We hope that next year we will have greater member participation and geographic diversity.
John Portnoy, Ecologist, Cape Cod National Seashore, and Harry and Elga Wasserman were very helpful to me in understanding the results of our well water tests. John graciously responded to repeated questions. Although I have not foot-noted this small report, many of the comments come directly from John.
- Terms. "BRL" is Below Reporting Level; "NA" is Not applicable.
- John has assured me that all the reported values are very close to pristine, unpolluted groundwater. The concentrations of all the items are very low and do not pose a health concern. I want to emphasize the quality of the water because it is also a reality that in neighborhoods such as ours that have septic systems and wells, a possible source for some of the items in the water samples is leachate from the septic fields, highly diluted. For example, nitrate is diluted as it flows with groundwater, but it does not disappear.
- In addition to leachate, there are several other possible sources of nitrogen. Fertilizer is an obvious possible source, but nitrates occur naturally at low concentrations and are even carried in acid rain.
- Copper is from our supply lines. It leaches out in acid soil.
- Iron is abundant in most Cape Cod groundwater.
- The sources of sodium could be seawater intrusion, salt water spray or septic leachate. As there is a correlation in the samples between proximity to the ocean and sodium levels, it is most likely that the source of the sodium is salt spray, rather than salt water intrusion into the groundwater aquifer.
- Conductance is a measure of the electrical conductivity of the water. The more dissolved constituents of any kind, the greater the conductance.
- PH indicates the acidity of the water. pH 7 is neuteral. The levels we reported are typical for Wellfleet. Native vegetation that produces acidity and acid rain drive our groundwater pH below neutrality.
If you have questions on the results or notes, please contact GUPCA at info@gupaca.org. I am confident that John Portnoy would be helpful. He can be contacted at john_portnoy@nps.gov.
— Herb Gstalder
President
President