House Committee Holds Hearing On Water Well Standards Bill

The House Consumer Affairs Committee held a hearing Tuesday on House Bill 48 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) setting drinking water well construction standards (sponsor summary).

Kelly Heffner, DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Management, told the Committee Pennsylvania is one of two states which did not have statewide standards for private water wells, even though about 3 million Pennsylvanians depend on wells for their water.  She noted about 15,000 new wells are drilled each year.

In the absence of a state standard, some local governments have taken the responsibility and adopt standards.

Heffner said House Bill 48 was a step in the right direction, but recommended the bill include licensing standards for well drillers.

William Reichart, PA Ground Water Association, testified in support of the bill, but advocated adding several provisions, including--

— Creation of minimum state standards for location, inspection, construction, alteration, closure and decommissioning of water wells;

— Establishment of criteria for proficiency-based licenser and certification of water well contractors and drillers;

— Establishment of a State Board of Certification;

— Submission of water quality and well yield reports;

— Grandfathering of existing agencies and ordinances;

— Establishment of a Water Well Conservation Fund that will assist landowners decommission old wells;

— Protection of construction of wells prior to this act from decommission requirements; and

— Establishment of a permanent technical advisory committee to DEP to assist in the development of rules and regulations.

Mark Ioos, PA Council of Professional Geologists, said his organization has long recognized the need for private water well construction standards to protect public health and Pennsylvania’s water resources.  He described a 2009 study that found only 16 percent of wells had a sanitary cap, only 18 percent had cement or grout to prevent surface contamination, 54 percent had two or fewer of the five recommended well construction features and 41 percent failed to meet at least one health-based drinking water standard

Bryan Swistock, Water Resources Specialist, Penn State University, discussed the University’s research into water resource issues.  He too noted a high percentage of private water wells in Pennsylvania fail to meet drinking water standards and inadequate well construction is a contributing factor to these failures.

The PA Builders Association submitted comments opposed to the legislation.

Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Rep. Peter Daley (D-Washington) serves as Minority Chair.