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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-09-30, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1992. Rural water well survey uncovers problems The findings of a survey of rural water wells in Huron County should be of some concern to those using the wells, according to Ron Fleming of Centralia College of Agricultural Technology. Fleming, an engineering instructor at the college who conducted the study, found that 59 per cent of dug or bored wells in Huron County have “unsafe” bacteria levels, and 39 per cent of these wells have levels of nitrate-nitrogen that exceed water quality guide lines. Fleming points out that the main Former resident reflects on Toll’s School glory days The recent sale of the Blyth area Snowmobile Club clubhouse, the school property known as Toll's School, has stirred up fond memo­ ries for a former student. The old S.S. #16 school has been used as a clubhouse by Blyth Snow Travellers Inc. for many years. According to Snow Traveller mem­ ber, Hebo Siertsema, the club decided to sell it last spring because it was costing the club more than it could afford. The deal was final­ ized in mid-September and the new owners plan to reside there. Stewart Toll, a resident of Lon­ don, wrote The Citizen when he heard about the sale. "Some background and history may be of interest to people resid­ ing in the area who remember the school and who will note its change in status with mixed emotions," he wrote. "The property naturally has spe­ cial interest to me," he said. "Not only was my early education attained at this school in the 1940's, but my family history is inextrica­ bly interwoven with the school." He goes on to report the building was constructed in the late 1890's and was used as a community school house until the mid 1950's. A quarter of a mile to the north-east of the school stood the Frederick W. Toll residence which became a focal point for school activities that extended beyond the immediate school site. "Schoolmates will recall many times that the teacher in charge allowed pupils to hop the fence at two locations on the Toll property to enjoy a big hill behind the Toll farm building for skiing, toboggan­ ing and sleigh riding," said Mr. Toll. The Tollhouse was also once used as a "Centre of Justice" according to Mr. Toll. "When the interior of the school was gutted by fire following a Hal­ loween adventure on the part of a new senior group of citizens, offi­ cial court was convened at the Tol­ l's kitchen table and, with judge presiding, various witnesses were called to testify regarding the antics that Halloween evening," he said. "The penalty was the cleaning of the school by those who allegedly participated, an adventure...that no doubt shaped the lives of some of the young adventurers of the day." S.S. #16's teachers and the Toll Grand plans Oktoberfest The Grand Theatre's eighth annual Oktoberfest Lunch is set for Friday, Oct. 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with Oktoberfest sausage, oom-pa-pa and merriment on tap. The entire staff of The Grand Theatre will be the congenial hosts of the afternoon's festivities. Tickets are now available at The Grand Theatre Box Office, 471 Richmond Street, (519) 672-8800; or toll-free from the 519 area: 1-800-265-1593. area of concern is bored or dug wells which tend to be up to about 30 feet deep, with diameters of three to four feet. Drilled wells, which in his study are 100 to 250 feet deep, with small diameters of four, five or six inches, do not have the contamination problems that the bored or dug wells have. Only 6.3 per cent of the deeper drilled wells exceeded the bacteria levels, while just four per cent of drilled wells were contaminated with nitrate-nitrogen exceeding the family are also interlinked. The Toll household served to provide the school with at least three teach­ ers over the years: namely Herbert Toll, Pearl Toll-Laughlm and Marie (MacCrostie) Toll, revealed Mr. Toll who became a teacher himself in later years. Mr. Toll says the schoolhouse was justifiably known as "Toll's School because of the generosity, commitment and contribution and caring of Frederick and Laura Toll." guidelines. Bacteria levels included testing for total coliform, fecal coliform or both. Water quality guidelines say that nitrate-nitrogen should not exceed 10 parts per million. More than 300 random water samples were taken in Huron County in the 1991 survey. Fleming said copies of the final report are available to anyone interested. Fleming's study also looked at five different pesticides. “Atrazine was the pesticide that was detected most often, but it was only found in low concentrations,” Fleming says. All the atrazine found was at a concentration of less than half of the drinking water standard of 60 parts per billion. Fleming recommends that anyone using a bored or dug well should have the water tested regularly. Testing for bacteria can be done at no cost to the home owner through the local county health unit. Nitrate-nitrogen testing can be done through private laboratories. High levels of bacteria are often caused by surface water entering the well. This can create health problems. Nitrate in drinking water can be especially harmful to babies. The babies have difficulties getting oxygen into their blood and in extreme cases it causes death. This is known as blue baby syndrome. “It's important to prevent any surface water from seeping into wells,” Fleming stresses. Bored or dug wells need to be covered carefully to prevent rain or field run-off from getting into the water supply. Drilled wells must be sealed in accordance with Ministry of Environment legislation. Unused wells must be properly abandoned to prevent contamination of the water source. “Don't take water quality for granted,” Fleming advises rural dwellers. John Wilson, a London area well driller, president of the Canadian Water Well Association and past president of the Ontario Water Well Association says that these associations are pleased to see the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food taking an interest in rural water quality. “Centralia College and in particular Ron Fleming should be congratulated for their efforts in bringing water quality to the attention of the residents of Huron County,” Wilson says. “Average citizens don't know about the bacteriological or chemical content of their water. Nitrates, E-Coli ... these are things they can't see, smell or taste. It's important that these be looked at, Wilson added. Wilson pointed out that once people realize that they may be creating a water quality problem, they can change their ways. Simple things like moving the location where they fill a sprayer tank, or repairing a septic system can make the different. “It's unfortunate that normally respon­ sible people have a tendency to abuse such a necessity as water,” Wilson says. Wilson said it was significant that the deeper drilled wells did not have the problems of the bored or dug wells. “The overall thrust of the survey points out that wells constructed by drilling have superior quality water,” he said. The Centralia College survey is not to be confused with a province­ wide survey for which samples were also taken last year. It will be interesting to see if the provincial results are similar to those found in Huron County, Fleming said.