StoneHill offers a wide range of professional consulting services for the development and management of surface and groundwater resources. As groundwater withdrawals from aquifers continue to increase, it is becoming more difficult to locate and permit new water supplies, and protect existing supplies. Increased demands on groundwater supplies, as well as decreases in groundwater quality, have resulted in groundwater suppliers looking to increase withdrawals or drilling new wells to replace degraded wells. With few shallow well aquifers available, many suppliers are looking to deep bedrock aquifers to provide the additional supply. Contaminants such as MTBE and lawsuits over water use rights complicate the process even further. In addition, many states have extensive permitting requirements for new water supplies. Permit applications may involve drilling test wells, testing the aquifer, determining the land area contributing water to the well, and predicting the impacts of the proposed pumping on nearby supply wells and water resources. The permitting process requires the presentation of complex data in a form that can be understood by the public. The geologists and hydrogeologists at StoneHill can provide the expertise to locate, permit and develop new supplies, as well as prepare and implement wellhead protection plans to preserve existing water supplies. The water supply development process may include geohydrologic research, fracture trace and fabric analyses, geophysical surveys, test well drilling, aquifer pump tests, well recharge area determination, and groundwater supply permitting. A number of research methods such as air photo interpretation, field measurements and geophysical studies are available to aid in bedrock well exploration and an increase in the success of developing new water supplies. StoneHill can also develop supplies for groundwater heat pump systems.

The staff at StoneHill consists of individuals with advanced degrees in the disciplines of geology, hydrology, soil science, and geochemistry. Through our education and experience members of the StoneHill team understand the interaction of surface and groundwater systems that is necessary to effectively manage the ground water resources. StoneHill prides itself on providing a multi-disciplinary approach to projects, which leads to practical and economical solutions to water resource issues

Selected Project Summaries

Well Yield Ordinance Revision - Windham, NH
Due to the increased incidence of residential supply wells with inadequate yields to support household needs, the Town of Windham retained
	StoneHill to develop a revised well yield ordinance. StoneHill did an extensive review of other town ordinances, researched well yield standards established by regulatory agencies, and interviewed drilling companies to understand the realities of installing wells with adequate yield in the subject town. The ordinance was revised to include an increased minimum well yield, a pump test requirement, a well yield formula which properly accounted for available water storage in a well borehole, and a well yield certification procedure. The well yield ordinace revisions proposed by StoneHill
were subsequently adopted by the Town of Windham as part of their Water Supply Regulations.

Road Salt Water Impact Studies - Multiple Sites, NH

StoneHill has been retained on multiple occasions to investigate the presence of road salt contamination in water supply wells. A detailed site inspection is conducted in each case and potential sources if the salt contamination are identified, such as water softener brine discharges, roadway salt application or road department salt storage yards. Simple field testing of supply wells and surface water bodies is often successful in identifying the source and path of the contamination movement. A geophysical technique such as an electromagnetic conductivity survey is also often useful. Based upon the data collected, StoneHill will often identify the location for a replacement supply well if required.

Residential Development Impact on Water Supplies - Windham, NH
StoneHill assessed the potential impact of a proposed thirty home subdivision in existing water supplies at homes adjacent to the subdivision.
Existing well yield data, rainfall and recharge data, topography, geology, and hydrology were considered to evaluate whether the proposed additional water withdrawals would impact existing supply wells. Based upon this information and the development location within
the surface water drainage basin, StoneHill concluded that it was unlikely that the additional water supply withdrawals would impact existing water supplies.

600 State Street, Suite 2
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Telephone: 603-433-1935
Toll Free: 1-800-639-4503
Fax: 603-433-1942
info@stonehillenvironmental.com

| Home | Our Logo | Our Services | Our Team | Contact | Directions | Links |