Laserfiche WebLink
SA N J O A Q U I N Environmental Health Department <br /> COU NTY--- <br /> 2- THE AG WELL CONVERSION TO A DOMESTIC WELL. <br /> Generally, EHD does not allow conversion of an Ag well to a domestic well because generally <br /> it creates a higher risk of contaminants entering the well. However, Mr. Hussein's information <br /> that his Ag well was never used for Ag purposes and, in fact, never had electricity until recently, <br /> that the well was redeveloped, a new pump installed, the well sampled, and chlorinated, and <br /> resampled, was helpful in demonstrating that such a conversion poses a very low risk of <br /> contaminants already existing in the well. <br /> found that a pump permit application was submitted to our office last month. Once an <br /> appointment is scheduled for this permit, it will allow staff to inspect the condition of the well's <br /> sanitary seal and confirm its integrity. This pump inspection can be completed within 48 hours <br /> of scheduling the inspection with EHD. <br /> I reviewed well sample results that Mr. Hussein submitted. The sampling data was incomplete <br /> (not all required samples were included) and the sampling was not performed by a third party, <br /> which is required by the San Joaquin County Well Standards. I will assist Mr. Hussein in meeting <br /> these requirements. <br /> Unfortunately, the well remains a concern, but we may be able to address it. The well on the <br /> site is an Ag well, which is only required to have a 50-foot well grout seal pursuant to the San <br /> Joaquin County Well Standards. Domestic wells require a 100-foot well grout seal because in <br /> most areas of the County potable water is deeper and the deeper grout seal avoids <br /> contaminates. However, the knowledge that groundwater quality in the delta where Mr. <br /> Hussein's property is located deteriorates in the deeper aquifers due to increasing salinity, <br /> resulting in high Total Dissolved Solids, causing inferior quality water makes this a valid concern <br /> for this site. Therefore, this site might be appropriate to allow a domestic well with a shallower <br /> grout seal, like the seal on Mr. Hussein's Ag Well. To explore this, I will advise and assist Mr. <br /> Hussein in requesting an EHD Grout Seal Waiver for the depth of the grout seal. I expect that <br /> EHD could make a determination after the pump inspection and after the sample results are <br /> reviewed by EHD and found to be potable. <br /> In summary, for EHD to consider the use of the Ag well as a domestic well, the following steps <br /> are necessary: <br /> a. Schedule the pump permit inspection so staff can confirm the condition of the <br /> sanitary seal. <br /> b. Hire an independent third party sampler to take samples (after pump inspection) <br /> and have samples analyzed by a State Certified Laboratory for the chemicals of <br /> concern in the area: Dibromochloropropane (DBCP) and Nitrate (as Nitrogen), in <br /> addition to Total Coliform and E. coli. <br /> c. Complete and submit the EHD Grout Seal Waiver for approval. <br /> 3 of 4 <br />