BASELINE GROUNDWATER SAMPLING PROGRAM
Rural water users have expressed concerns about the effects on water supply from oil field activities such as:
- Hydraulic fracturing and related activities (chemical storage, frac water injection & production water disposal)
- Waste management accidents at well-head pits and injection wells
- Accidents and spills that occur during transportation of chemicals and product
- Large withdrawals of groundwater for consumptive use.
The purpose of the baseline sampling program is to establish baseline groundwater quality and availability in advance of oil and gas activity and in areas currently at risk from oil field activities. The program will characterize well water and aquifers currently used for domestic or stock water.
How to Participate
Through Richland County Conservation District, domestic and stockwater wells will be evaluated for baseline conditions. Well selection priority is based on:
- Proximity to a potential source of contamination such as an active or abandoned oil/gas well, injection well, waste management area, or chemical management area.
- Landowner interest and cooperation
- Well accessibility for sampling.
- Well registration on the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Groundwater Information Center (GWIC) database
Each well selected in this program will be evaluated on-site for field parameters and water availability. Well samples will be analyzed for drinking water quality and for indicators of contamination specific to energy development activities.
Well sampling and lab fees total approximately $1,200 per well. Richland County CD requires a match payment of $100.00 and a signed participation agreement from the well-owner for every evaluated well.
If interested in participating in this baseline groundwater sampling program, please contact:
Julie Goss, District Administrator
Richland County Conservation District
2745 W Holly ST ~ Sidney, MT 59270
406-433-2103x101
Julie.goss@mt.nacdnet.net