The Rural Voice, 1990-07, Page 34Well Record Form" upon the com-
pletion of each successful or attempted
water well. This information, which
has been compiled by the MOE, is
supposed to be tabulated, computed
onto hydrogeological maps, and made
available on request to well drillers.
But the record-keeping has been
criticized as inadequate.
"Ontario's filing system for such
information has not yet entered the
modern age," says Dr. John A. Cherry,
head of the Waterloo Centre for
Groundwater Research. "Ground-
water protection requires knowledge
of local conditions of geology and
hydrology," he adds. "(And) at a time
when it is increasingly difficult for
groundwater scientists and engineers
to keep up with advances in knowl-
edge, the Ontario Ministry of the
Environment has closed its technical
library."
A crusader for tighter groundwater
protection and legislation, Dr. Cherry
blames federal and provincial govern-
ments for the lack of appropriate regu-
lations, enforcement, and personnel.
"The Federal Water Policy issued
in November, 1987, committed the
Government of Canada to undertake a
wide variety of water -related activities
in the public interest," Cherry says.
"(But) since 1987, federal funds
directed at groundwater issues have
declined. The number of groundwater
researchers in Environment Canada
has gone from more than 20 in 1984 to
less than 10 today."
Neil Hopper shares Dr. Cherry's
concern.
A lack of government direction,
the failure to implement existing
programs, and slowness in providing
hydrogeological information ties the
hands of well drillers and often adds
more money to the cost of drilling a
new well.
"Present programs are complicated
and ambiguous," Hopper says. "We
(the Ontario Water Well Association)
have put in submissions and sugges-
tions designed to bring in better legis-
lation for the protection of ground-
water. It's not only our livelihood,
it's for the good of the public. Morc
(government) money and people are
required if we are going to have good
water in this province. A lot of
changes have to be made."0
30 THE RURAL VOICE
B&L
MIMEEIL FEEDER
• Hangs to prevent damage
• Wick fed apron oiler
• Controls face flies
• Simple heavy duty construction
• Available with single or double face fly attachment
Your local dealer is:
Howson & Howson Mills
Grubb's Feed & Farm Supply
Drayton District Co-op
Boyd's Feed & Supplies
North Wellington Co-op
Wright's Country Feeling
Saugeen Farm Supply
Gibson Feed & Seed
Hills Feed & Farm Supplies
Seaforth Co-op
Stratford Co-op
Ron Henderson
Owen Sound 376-5830
Cargill 366-2225
Clifford 327-8397
Drayton 638-3026
Kurtzville 291-2220
Mount Forest 323-1271
Harriston 338-2332
R. R. 1, Hanover 369-3658
Walkerton 881-0746
Lucknow 528-2447
Clinton 482-7706
Seaforth 527-0770
Stratford 245-3420
St. Marys 284-3395
B & L FARM SERVICES
CHESELY, ONT. NOG 1L0
519-363-3308 or 363-2242
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