Testing water well for hydrocarbons

[bc.gold 3,406]

This property has an abandoned water well with an underground fuel tank nearby,  I'm going to test the water for hydrocarbons.

 

Environment filed against the property the owner forfeited the property back to the RM for tax arrears, thus shouldering the burden onto the tax payer. The building is no longer there but the hazards remain.

 

 

 

[bc.gold 3,406]

From the test sample you can clearly see an accumulation of hydrocarbons at the edge of the pan and inside the well an accumulation around the circumference of the well casing.

 

Several private residences and one business that makes Kubassa use water from this aquifer.

 

 

 

[bc.gold 3,406]

Dissolved table salt in water creates negative ions causing the oil to separate from the water, top image water from the community well which is a good 3/4 mile  from the contaminated well the bottom sampleis from a neighbor living up the hill from the contaminated well.

 

Our well is a good two miles from the contaminated site with a river between us, I'm curious to see if this oil has reached out this far.

 

Georges well has a depth of 60 ft. obviously the casing was not sealed with bentonite clay which would have kept water from a shallow well from entering.

 

In the pictures below the oil migrated ti the inner circumference of the jar.

 

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by bc.gold

[bc.gold 3,406]

The trick is to fill the glass to the brim and slightly over.

 

This sample as it came from the tap, our water.

 

[bc.gold 3,406]

if  you upload to youtube and make the video private, do not view the video as your view will be counted.

 

I've sent this video to the folks who inspect underground fuel storage tanks and the water board who looks after abandoned water wells as you can see from the views this video has been viewed two times.

 

The recipient  receiving the url is unaware the video has been listed as private.

 

[bc.gold 3,406]

Using salt water to test soil for hydrocarbon contamination, soil sample covered with sufficient water add table salt shake container then let it settle any oil present will float.

 

This similar to the process I used to clean up rancid fats used for making soap where the contaminants go into the water with the clean fat floating on the salted water.

[wh500special 2,267]

Interesting.

 

I had forgotten the trick of using salts to change the solubility of things dissolved in water.  I think this is usually used for things that are more miscible with each other than oil and water, but it appears to work from your results.

 

So, what's your plan (about the well)?

 

Steve