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Environmental Sciences, Hydrogeological,
Environmental Engineering, Applied Earth Science, Research Project Summaries
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Environmental Education Programs
Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Groundwater Under the Direct Influence
Investigations (GWUDI)
Harveys Lake and other Lake and Watershed Water Quality Monitoring Program
Filtration Plant Performance Evaluations
Puremax Inc
Reclamation, Acid Mine Drainage, GIS, Environmental Assessments
Wetlands: Treating Milkhouse Waste
Barley Creek Brewing Company
PPL Residential Monitoring Program
Victoria Arms Townhouses - SWIP Study
Hydrogeological Investigations
Aresenic Project (2002 - 2004)
Smith Paint Project (2004)
Stormwater BMP Training and Testing (2003 - 2004+)
Crescent Lake Watershed Assessment (2003 - 2005)
Lake Carey Watershed Study (2003 - 2004)
Roamingwood Wellhead Delineation and Capture Zone Analysis (2004 - 2005)
Other Projects Not Highlighted
Groundwater Recharge, Rain Water Capture, and Rain Water
Use Project in India
Geological Interpretation and Assessment using Fracture Trace and Aquifer Analysis (Blakeslee, PA
- 2005)
Spring Water Development Project (Hazleton, PA- 2005)
Soils Testing, BMP Design, and Land-Based Wastewater Evaluations (Poconos
Region, 2005)
Filtration Plant and New Source Sample MPA and Giardia Testing
Featured Research - Looking for Funding
On-going Research in Phosphate and Arsenic Removal.
Integration of GIS and Watershed and Real-Time Monitoring.
Integration of GIS and Soil Science for Groundwater Recharge Projects.
Wellhead Protection Strategies and Wellhead Protection Zone Delineation.
Groundwater Data Analysis by Zip Code Using GIS (internal water quality
database)
The Center for Environmental Quality has participated in developing and conducting training programs and courses for students, teachers, environmental groups, environmental professionals, and the public in a variety of forums. The Center has assisted or developed workshops, educational material, laboratory/field training exercises, and conducted hands-on training workshops. Workshop topics include: environmental monitoring, sampling and testing, non-point source pollution, development of monitoring plans, quality control and assurance programs, water well construction and testing, and drinking water testing and treatment. Recently, the Environmental Quality Center has assisted with a number of teacher training programs in the areas of soil science, water quality, water quality testing, stream assessment, groundwater, well construction, watershed and pollutions studies, and developing training programs for students from grade 6 to 12. We recently participated in a teacher training program at the Ratchford Field Station and the Pocono Environmental Education Center (Camp Peec). We also have groundwater and surfacewater monitoring programs for Carbon, Monroe, Luzerne, and Pike Counties in Pennsylvania and have conducted education outreach programs in Carbon, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike, Wayne, Susquehanna, Northampton, and Lehigh Counties, Pennsylvania.
Homeowner Outreach Program - Workshops throughout NEPA
(Want to Schedule a Workshop - email me)
Featured Workshops in 2006
Stormwater
Management and Low Impact Development
Mr. Brian Oram, P.G. and Mr. William Toothill, members of the Department of
Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Wilkes University, will
be making presentations at the Low Impact Development and Storm Water Management
Seminar in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania on April 20, 2006.
Roamingwood Water
and Sewer Authority - Presentation and Workshops related to the
developing a groundwater and sourcewater protection plan.
Wilkes University Center for Environmental Quality, Wilkes University GIS and
Remote Sensing Center, PA Rural Water Association, PADEP, Hideout POA, and the
Roamingwood Sewer and Water Association develop a detailed hydrological
characterization of the region, conducted a groundwater capture zone analysis,
and compiled this information into a Source Water Protection Plan. With respect
to this project, the work included a geological and hydrological
characterization of the region, reviewing pumping test data, calculating aquifer
properties, developing GIS data-layers, developing a groundwater model to
determine the potential extent of the capture zone, and potential sources of
contamination that may impact the facility. During this project a number of
Wilkes University students were actively involved with collecting field data,
preparing GIS data, and preparing maps and outreach documents.
Pike County
On-lot Wastewater Alternatives for Non-Community, Individual, and Community
Systems
A Wastewater Alternatives that Support Conservation Design workshop will be held
Saturday, April 8th at 10 a.m. at the Pike County Conservation District, Rte
402, Blooming Grove. This program features Joe Valentine from DelVal Soil and
Environmental Consultants, Inc. and Professional Geologist Brian Oram from
Wilkes University. Alternative sewage management programs and
new technologies available for our communities will be among the topics
discussed. Department of Environmental Protection representative Darryl Fritz
will also be on hand to answer questions and review their role in wastewater
management.
Wayne County
Private Well Owner Education Program
Mr. Brian Oram, professional geologist, director of the Center for
Environmental Quality, and staff member of the Environmental Engineering and
Earth Science Department, will be the featured speaker for the Wayne County
Cooperative Extension Safe Drinking Water Program. The workshops will be held on
Monday, May 15th at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 20th at 10 a.m.
Newton Lake - Private Well Owner Outreach Program - Groundwater
Education, Lake Ecology, and Well Construction and Testing
Program including conducting analysis of private wells, preparing summary
reports, and developing a draft lake and watershed monitoring plan and
laboratory QC/QA Plan.
Harveys Lake -
Private Well Owner Outreach and Monitoring Program
Wilkes University and the Harveys Lake Environmental Advisory Council will
conduct a residential / private well monitoring and education program through
June 24th. Private well-owners can obtain water sampling kits at the Harveys
Lake Borough Building during regular business hours. The samples will be
collected on June 24th and returned between 10 a.m. and noon to the Harveys Lake
Borough Building meeting room.
Technical Support and Education Resource for the Carbon County Groundwater Guardians and the Carbon County Environmental Education Center - Children's Groundwater Day was the featured event and we will be attending the Carbon County Fair.
NOTE: We are available for public education programs in the areas of land-based wastewater disposal, groundwater education, wellhead protection, private well owner training and education.
Recent changes in the PADEP Drinking Water regulations have required water suppliers
using "springs" or "groundwater sources" to evaluate drinking water
sources for the presence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium and determine
susceptibility of systems to surface water contamination. The susceptibility to surfacewater contamination is based on the distribution of the surface water indicators, an
evaluation of hydrogeological setting, and well / spring construction. Because the Center for
Environmental Quality and the Environmental Engineering and Engineering Department
facility and staff includes three licensed professional geologists, the Center has been
involved in over 400 GWUDI evaluations and has assisted in the siting, construction, design and development of
both community and non-community water supplies, water wells, and springs. Evaluations have been conducted
throughout Northeastern and Southeastern Pennsylvania and as far away as up-state New
York. Currently, the Center for Environmental Quality is one of only a few facilities in the
state of Pennsylvania that conducts this type of analysis. The GWUDI
protocol is similar to the procedure to evaluate Water
Filtration Plants.
MPA - Microscopic Particulate
Analysis and MET - Microscopic Evaluation Technique are used to evaluate the
potential for influence.
During the period from 1993 to 1995, the Center for Environmental Quality was involved with the initial monitoring and investigation at Harvey's Lake in Luzerne County. The investigation was part of a Phase I Diagnostic Feasibility Study that was funded by the EPA. The Center was responsible for the implementation of a laboratory QC/QA program, training field technicians, and conducting laboratory analysis. Since the completion of the study, the Center has being working on the implementation of a groundwater and surface water monitoring and assessment program for Harveys Lake.
We have also been involved in the monitoring of Crescent Lake, Lake Carey, Lake Wallenpaupaupack, Susquehanna River, Toby Creek, Solomans Creek, Hunlock Creek, Lackawanna River and number of large watershed monitoring projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
During the period for 2002 - 2006, we have conducted limited watershed and subwatershed monitoring related to stormwater monitoring projects in this watershed and conducted multiple Private Well Owner Testing and Outreach Programs.
Filtration Plant Performance EvaluationsAs part of the new regulations regarding the filtration of surface water supplies, a protocol was developed to evaluate the performance of filtration plants. The protocol is similar to the method used for "GWUDI" investigations, but the ranking and interpretation is based on a combination of the system configuration, source water, and degree of particle removal. Because of the background of the laboratory Director, the laboratory has been involved in the evaluation of several pilot filtration and full-scale filtration plants in Northeastern Pennsylvania. For more information about this protocol, please visit the Filtration Plant Performance Evaluation Website.
The Environmental Quality Center has conducted a preliminary assessment of a new water and wastewater treatment device. Based on information provided by the manufacturer, the device has a wide variety of applications from disinfection, preventing or inhibiting scale formation, and possibly odor control. Bench scale testing has been initiated and further applications are being developed and tested. The preliminary results indicated that the unit significantly reduced the redox potential of water water and a decrease in the concentration of total coliform bacteria was documented.
As part of the formation and original development for the Earth Conservancy, the Environmental Engineering and Engineering Department and the Center for Environmental Quality provided technical assistance and expertise to assist in the development of laboratory/bench scale testing, experimental design, field monitoring and testing, data analysis, and the implementation of GIS/GPS technology. The technical services include the development and monitoring of pilot land reclamation strategies, acid mine drainage remediation systems, and assisting in the collection and interpretation of environmental quality data.
The Moyer Farm Constructed Wetland system is a joint study involving the Luzerne County Conservation District, National Resource Conservation Service, and PADEP that was fund through the non-point source (319 Grant Program). The scope of this project included providing the necessary laboratory and field support to assist in evaluating the effectiveness of constructed wetlands to treat milkhouse waste. The wetland system is located on a farm in Luzerne County. The constructed wetland and grasslined swale currently treats approximately 200 to 300 gallons per day of milkhouse waste. In addition, to the Milkhouse Waste Project, the Center has been involved in the preliminary siting, design, and testing of a constructed wetland system with an application to the treatment of small flow domestic wastewater treatment systems.
Barley Creek Brewing CompanyBarley Creek Brewing Company is a microbrewery located in Tannersville, PA that opened in 1996. Prior to construction of the facility, Wilkes University assisted with the preliminary soils, hydrological, and water quality evaluation of the site. In addition, the facility provided guidance in the development of environmental assessments that needed to be conducted to meet the requirements of the local municipality and PADEP. The scope of the most recent project is to provide assistance with the operation and management of an "innovative technology" to denitrify the wastewater generated by the facility, assist in the preparation of NPDES reports, and conduct monthly and quarterly water quality analysis of the treatment system and monitoring wells.
The scope of this project included the collection and analysis of 40+ surface water and groundwater supplies for trace metals, nutrients, major cations, major anions, and bacteria for residential wells surrounding PP&L Power Plants located near Sunbury, Montour, Holtwood, Martins Creek, and Brunner Island. In addition to providing comprehensive water quality analysis, PP&L required the laboratory to interpret the water quality data for both the technical staff at PP&L and individual well owners. One of the important faucets of the program included the development of a very stringent quality control and quality assurance program and the evaluation of split, duplicate and unknown samples as provided by PP&L. Currently we are conducting and assisting PPL with the evaluation of the potable water source for a facility in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Assisted in the on-site training and laboratory analysis of water quality data collected in the process conducting a SWIP Investigation of two on-site water wells servicing the Victoria Arms Townhouses in Kresegeville, PA. The protocol was a combination of a 6 month daily monitoring program and a Groundwater Under the Direct Influence Investigations (GWUDI). During the monitoring phase, water samples tested for pH, conductivity, temperature, turbidity, total coliform, and fecal coliform.
Crescent Lake - Small Watershed Assessment in Susquehanna County conducted in cooperation and partnership with
Cottagers Association, The Pennsylvania State University, and Borton-Lawson
Engineering. The Center for Environmental Quality provide laboratory
support, development of QA/QC plans, technical review of lake and stream
monitoring data, developed recommendations for lake management, assisted in the
development of the lake management plan, and trained volunteer monitors.
For More information about the Environmental Quality Center, please contact:
Attn: Mr.
Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG)
Laboratory Director
Wilkes University
Environmental Engineering and
Earth Sciences
PO Box 111
84 West South Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
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