Big Bass Lake Drinking Water Sampling and Testing Outreach Program

Big Bass Lake Community Clifton and Covington Townships in Lackawanna County and Lehigh Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania Environmental Education Program.

In July 2025, the Big Bass Lake Community Association facilitated a community education program that included topics related to water well construction and groundwater quality, well water testing, drinking water quality and treatment, septic system siting, use and management, and a listing of suggestions where the community could work together to protect the resources of the community.  During the presentation we reviewed historically available water testing data from the community.

Resource Material‍

Presentation by Mr. Brian Oram (pdf) – Color each slide

Presentation in Handout form (pdf) – 3 slides per page

Planting Around Septic Systems

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Obtain a hardcopy of our educational booklet titled “Our Drinking Water."

Request a Free pdf copy of Version 6 of our educational booklet titled “Our Drinking Water.”

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Big Bass Lake Informational Well Water Testing Program

MailOrder Testing Kit for Big Bass Lake Water Wells

Comprehensive First Time Testing - Water Check Deluxe with Foaming Agents

Minimum Annual Screening Test, includes Volatile Organic Compounds

Problem Check:  Specific problems related to nuisance bacteria, iron, manganese, discolored water, tannins, water clarity, corrosion hardness

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In July 2023, the Big Bass Lake Community Association facilitated a private well owner water sampling and testing program. During this program, Mr. Brian Oram presented “Private Water Supply: A Pennsylvania Perspective Big Bass Lake Community”.  The theme of the presentation was “Groundwater and Surface Water are Connected.”  

The focus of the program provided information about what we know about the groundwater quality for the Big Bass Lake Region and how the Community and Individuals can implement programs or management to improve and/maintain groundwater quality.
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Brian Oram, Licensed Professional Geologist
BFEnviro@PTD.net

The presentation focused on the following topics:

The Water Cycle
Well Siting / Permitting or the Lack of an Ordinance
Well Construction or the Lack of Construction Standards
Hazards In Your Community (Order a Neighborhood Hazard Report)
Components of a Well Water System
Why Test My Well Water?
The Know Your H2ODiagnostic Tool
Most Common Problems with Well Water in this Region
Well Maintenance
Get Your Water Tested for What YOU Need

2023 Presentation PDF

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Get Informed

Based on pass work in the Big Bass Lake community, the following are the most common issues and concerns with respect to water quality issues and common water quality problems. This outreach page provides direct links to the information that some, not all, of the private well owners may need:

Learn about each of the following contaminants or conditions in our Contaminants Section
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Bacteria in Drinking Water‍

‍Lead in Drinking Water and potentially Corrosive Water

Corrosion (Copper, Zinc, low pH, low alkalinity, low hardness and other metals)‍

‍Iron and Manganese Issues with Drinking Water

Arsenic in Drinking Water‍

How to Shock Disinfect at Well and the Chemical We Recommend

Protect Yourself and Your Pets from Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

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Get Tested

We offer or facilitate a series of options when it comes to water testing.  In addition, we do offer community based or event based outreach programs.

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Level 1 – Observational Self Testing

Self-Test Web App - The quick and easy way to self diagnose your water quality issues by simply answering our online questionnaire. (If you have a problem you can see, smell, taste, or causes a nuisance – give this diagnostic tool a try).

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Level 2 – In-Home Self Screening Tests

Safe Home WELL WATER Test Kit – DIY Testing for 14 Different Parameters in a Well Water Supply - Bacteria, Lead, Copper, Calcium, Iron, Nitrate, Nitrite & More

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Level 3 – Mail Order Screening Lab Test Kits

Common tests kits recommended for private well owners:

WaterCheck Deluxe - Private Well Water Screening Test with Bacteria (Comprehensive Test – Done Initially)

WaterCheck Basic - Annual Screening

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Get Treatment

The products listed below may be a solution for your situation. If you would like to get any information about these products or make a purchase, click the links below to view the CrystalQuest website in a new tab or window.
If you would like to get an anonymous review of your results by Crystal Quest, we can send them a copy of your testing results without your contact information.

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Point-of-Use Products

Point-of-Use Filters to Remove Trace Metals
‍Point-of-Use Filters to Remove Lead
Point-of-Use Filters to Remove Arsenic

Whole House Applications

Greensand Filter (Iron and Manganese)
‍Standard Water Softener
‍Salt-Free Water Conditioner (Slight Hardness Reductions)
‍Neutralizing Filters (low pH or acidic water)
Arsenic Removal System

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Get Tools

Order a Neighborhood Environmental Hazard Report

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Local Professional Water Specialist

For systems with bacterial issues, we strongly suggest working a local water treatment expert.

Cresswell Drilling
(Shock Disinfection, Water Treatment, and Pump Issues)
211 N Lackawanna Trail,
Dalton, PA 18414
Phone: 570-563-1123
CressWellDrilling.com
‍View Page

Duane Moyer Well Drilling
(ShockDisinfection, Well Drilling, Pump Service, and Water Treatment)
336 Gilberts Hill Rd
Lehighton, PA 18235
Phone: 570-386-5508
MoyerWellDrilling.comView Page

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KnightWell Drilling
(ShockDisinfection, Well Drilling, Pump Service, and Water Treatment)426 Main St
Gouldsboro, PA 18424
Phone: 570-842-8142KnightWellDrilling.com

‍Pocono Well and Pump Service
(ShockDisinfection, Water Treatment, Pump Service, and Grinder Pump Repair)
21 Walbert Drive
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Phone: 570-243-1679
PoconoWellandPump.com
View Page