Why not install your own well?

[Daniel]

Aloha all! There seems to be several people concerned about cesspool contamination. I would be willing to answer any questions you might have concerning this subject feel free to call me at 966-4129. Also here is a section of the Hawaii well standards regarding the placement of wells.

Section 2.3 Well Location
a) Distance from Sources of Pollution
New wells shall be sited the maximum distance possible from sources of pollution.
Some possible pollution sources include wastewater lines, cesspools, septic tanks,
wastewater leaching fields, landfills, chemical storage and injection wells.
(b) Gradients (slopes)
Where possible, wells should be located hydraulically up-gradient (normally on a
higher slope) from potential sources of pollution. Consideration should also be given to
the fact that pumping a well may cause a localized reversal of the existing ground-water
gradient due to drawdown of the ground-water table.
2-3
© Flood and Drainage Areas
When avoidable, wells should not be located in flood zones. Potable water wells
located in flood and drainage areas shall have well casing terminated 2 feet above the 100-
year level of flooding, as shown on the latest FEMA (Federal Emergency Management
Agency) map and be properly designed to avoid potential contamination of the aquifer
from flood waters. If necessary, the immediate area around a potable water well should be
built up so that drainage moves away from the well.
(d) Accessibility
All wells shall be located an adequate distance from buildings and other structures
to allow permanent access for well modification, maintenance, repair, and
abandonment/sealing.

A properly constructed well poses very little risk of contamination. Regarding the rock formations beneath HPP, some layers are very porous, others are very hard. Sometimes the harder layers hold down the water so we have to drill until we puncture it through to allow for a sufficient amount of water to come up. The same holds true for the upper layers of hard rock, they filter the water very, very well. I drink it every day and I enjoy every drop of it [][].

Aloha,

Daniel R Diamond

[Tolleys]

Daniel,
Isn't there a testing lab (person)in HPP for well water? Would this lab have public information on how the wells test?


Susan

[Rob Tucker]

The Department of Water Supply provides test results on the county wells periodically. You could call them (961-8060) and have them mail you the most recent report or ask them if the data is opsted online.

[gtill]

For those with salt enroachment in wells, you may find the least salt at lo tide. Water your plants then and even draw from that to treat if r/o used, store enough daily for drinking and cooking. On a river 1/2 mi from the ocean, baracuda cruise at high tide and is salt free at low.

[Carey]

This information is slightly more speculation than fact, from working with Hilo Bay Watershed Advisory Group & taking a couple of hydrology courses at UHH(mainly because there is very little true facts on water movement in this county, seems scientists are still finding these things out):
The lens is a very bottom heavy lens (40' down to 2' up, so if you find water at 2' above sealevel, the lens is about 42' thick...fresh water is at or above sealevel at the coast, so there is at least 40' of water right at the coastline .... so although the lens is thinner by the coast, it is still thick by some mainland aquifer standards(mostly fact, with some speculation).
Surface waters do not tend to infuse into the groundwater, but tend to follow the downhill trend toward the ocean (more speculation than fact).
The groundwater here is some of the finest (Hawaiian Springs bottled water is from a well spring just north of Keaau town)(opinion + fact)
There are a few water testing labs in and around Hilo, the university now has an EPA certified testing lab, rates are cheaper than some of the west coast labs I have been using for WQ tests.(fact)

[Daniel]

Here is a the number for Pololei Labs water testing service. 938-0560 The gentleman's name is Carl and he does a great job. We love working with him.

Carey, the info looks good. Did you take any classes from Mr. or Mrs. Juvik? They "wrote the book" on this stuff. The lens is such an amazing thing, its hard to imagen that there are 618 million GPD of sustainable ground water right beneath our feet here in puna, and thats not counting the 740 million available in hilo and the 388 million available in hamakua. There's more water down there than we could ever use. You were right about the lens except for every foot of head water (above MSL) there are 40 feet of fresh water. So if there are two feet of head the fresh water would measure 80ft. The highest head level we have ever encountered is 20 ft. that was in keaau at shipman business park.

Daniel R Diamond

[Carey]

Daniel, taken classes with both of them, plus geologists J. Michaud & S. Lundblad. (Finishing up my degree THIS SEMESTER!!!whoohooooooo) (Waiting 30 years to finally do this was.....is almost OVER...ONE MORE CLASS!!!!)
The thing that truly amazes me is the 2-3 BILLION gallon per day influx of freshwater into Hilo Bay every day.... this side of the island is truly blessed with fresh water (the most important fluid on earth)
The PU'U Wa'awa'a ranch well had a higher head, but that is an almost 4,000 foot well (deepest water well in the world - re. J. Juvik)

[Tolleys]

Rob,
I contacted the Hawaii County water Department concerning wells (prior to your post). According to them, they have no water quality data because the wells under state jurisdiction.

---

Daniel,
Mahalo for the info.[]

Susan

[gtill]

That's our govt., pass on, no pass back.

[Rob Tucker]

Interesting. I get my water bills from the Department of Water Supply. Might be state might be county. They have inserted water quality data in the billings from time to time.

Sorry. I need some time to research the source of that data.

Depressing that the county wouldn't have that kind of data easily on hand.