Inventory of Class V Injection Wells Using Pocket PCs

摘要

EPA was mandated by Congress in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to protect current and future underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). EPA has determined that Class V injection wells may contaminate, or have the potential to contaminate, USDWs. Class V injection wells are typically shallow fluid disposal systems that inject non-hazardous waste into or above the uppermost USDW. In many situations, these Class V wells provide conduits for a variety of wastes to enter the subsurface and ground water. Examples of Class V wells include industrial waste disposal wells, large-capacity cesspools and septic systems, stormwater drainage wells, agricultural drainage wells, and other well types. EPA Regional staff are responsible for implementing the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program in Direct Implementation (DI) states and tribal lands (I.e., states and tribes that do not have primary authorities to implement a UIC program). These EPA Regional staff are responsible for collecting Class V well inventory and inspection data under their DI programs. The purpose of this pilot project is to research, customize, and test the use of personal digital assistant (PDA) technologies to enhance the collection of inventory and inspection data, including locational and site-specific data for Class V injection wells, for input into existing Regional databases. This pilot project currently covers three EPA Regions (I.e., Regions 4, 5, and 7). For this pilot project, we have performed a survey of the Class V well inventory and data management practices across the various EPA Regions. We have also conducted a review of the hardware and software appropriate for the deployment of Pocket PCs to collect inventory and inspection data. In addition, we have worked with EPA Regional staff to learn about their data management and standard operation procedures. By taking into account the current work flow processes at the participating EPA Regions, we are developing Pocket PC data entry applications and data transfer programs to enhance the inventory and inspection data gathering capabilities of the three participating EPA Regions, and at the same time, minimize changes to the existing data gathering and entry procedures. Upon completion of this pilot project, we will evaluate the success of the project and share the lessons learned and the applications with interested states.