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Greetings!
Pyramid Environmental & Engineering invites you to take a look at this month's publication providing the latest news and information on environmental issues.
In this issue:
- Water shortages in North Carolina - A general discussion of the implications and water supply alternatives.
- Community Wells
- July 2012 Conferences
 
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Water Shortages, Conservation, and Alternatives
Water supply has been an issue of increasing concern throughout the last decade in North Carolina. The addition of water supply wells throughout the state has resulted in documented drawdown of the aquifer, the threat of salt water intrusion in coastal aquifer systems, and more rigorous changes to water supply design and utilization regulations for water wells throughout the state.
The following 2012 statistics from ncgwa.org represent water use in North Carolina:
- 52% of NC's population depends on ground water for its drinking water supply
- 2,700,000 NC residents are served by privately owned individual wells
- 1,492,066 NC residents are served by ground water supplied community water systems
- 912,113 NC households are served by privately owned individual wells
- 15,972 Public supply wells are serving North Carolina
Pyramid has been intimately involved in projects that have helped to understand the effects of increased production on groundwater quality. As a result, we are able to assist our clients in developing water supply alternatives that can aid in conservation and meet the state regulatory agencies' demands.
Water supply alternatives are an important consideration for all residents of North Carolina. Below are some general conservation approaches and supply alternatives, followed by a detailed discussion of community wells. Additionally, click HERE for a link to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources web page listing the Rules Governing Public Water Supplies.
Water supply alternatives:
- Community wells
- Aggressive water conservation methods
- Water re-use (industrial reclamation, etc.)
- Development of underutilized or alternate aquifers
- Surface water use (rivers)
- Regionalized water supply systems
- Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), or pumped storage
Pyramid will be providing you with more detailed descriptions of each of the above-listed alternatives in our newsletters over the next several months in a short Water Shortage in NC segment. This month we address Community Wells...
Community Wells
Community well systems are used in many areas of North Carolina and consist of a centralized water source for a community of homes or businesses. They can be used as a method to provide better quality water if contamination or other water quality issues exist, or they can be used to supply a more uniform and consistent water supply if individual wells are inadequate. They can be difficult to arrange and are usually considered only where contamination has affected several public or private supply wells, and the other potential solutions are not workable. However, they can result in a system that is both good for the hydrogeologic environment and beneficial to its users.
Consideration for Community Well Projects include :
- Well users agree that the community well system will meet their needs.
- Potential community well sites are available and property owners agree.
- Community well location is reasonably far enough from contamination to protect the well.
- A water company is willing to build and maintain the system, assure the community of water quality issues, provide testing, and billing.
- Current supply well owners must establish written agreements with potential new users to connect to their well and abandon the contaminated or dry well.
Community wells are a useful alternative not only for residential systems but also schools, hospitals, churches, etc.
image courtesy of www.ncdrought.org
Pyramid's professional staff have expertise in understanding the specific advantages and disadvantages of the various types of water supply alternatives discussed above. It is imperative to be aware of the threat of water shortages and salt water intrusion throughout the state of North Carolina, as increases in population and water use as well as fluctuating drought conditions continue to result in aquifer drawdown.
Contact us today to discuss your own water supply issues and choices for alternatives!
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Pyramid will be exhibiting at the following conferences this month, stop by and see us!
- 2012 Technical Forum - Geohazards Impacting Transportation in the Appalachian Region (West Virginia Department of Transportation and Marshall University), Beckley, WV, July 31 - August 2.
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Pyramid maintains the most up-to-date knowledge of the industry's regulations, changes, and events, and we will continue to pass this information along to YOU. Once again, thank you to all our loyal customers, vendors, and employees for your continued support . Pyramid can't do it without you. |
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Sincerely, 
DOUG CANAVELLO
Pyramid Environmental |
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