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"We are your TRAILER HITCH SPECIALISTS"
Already in bloom
Gaye Datema holds a tray she began planting, even though
spring seemed far off. Datema wanted to get a head start on
her greenhouse, so maybe spring would soon follow. (Elyse
DeBwn photo)
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2004. PAGE A-19.
On the farm
Recommendations to protect water
Water contamination and well care
are issue that shouldn't be
overlooked or uncared for especially
in rural areas.
Geoff Peach, a coastal resources
manager for The Lake Huron- Centre
for Coastal Conservation, said there
can be many reasons why well water
can get contaminated on rural
properties.
For example water run-off after a
heavy rain, manure residue and
.septic systems.
"If septic systems are close to the
well, it can be a route to
'contamination as bacteria and
viruses from the septic systems can
seep through the soil. We try to
encourage proper maintanence of
wells and septic systems through
Well Aware," said Peach.
To protect well water from
contamination, Well Aware
recommends keeping the following
away from wells; pet and livestock
Greenhouse
shortens
winter
Continued from A-18
and the greenhouse is kept at 68° F.
Nonkes said one of the benefits of
owning your own home greenhouse
is how short the winters seem.
"There are green plants inside where
it is warmer. It just makes winter
shorter and it is a nice atmosphere to
work in," she said.
She said she is always amazed at
how quickly the plants grow and how
"beautiful it all looks."
Aside from the basic everyday
greenhouse business, Nonkes said
she also does some custom work for
specific occasions for example,
weddings which she uses mixed
containers with various colours.
"People bring their pots here where
we fill them with the colour and plant
they like, then they pick them up
whenever they're ready," said
Nonkes.
Datema also has been supplying
cut flowers for reception tables with
a lot of centrepieces for the past two
years.
waste, gasoline, diesel fuel, home-
heating fuels, pesticides and
fertilizers. de-icers and any other
hazardous chemicals, including
paint, solvents and barbecue starter
fluid.
A Well Aware guide booklet said
that a responsible well owner should
carry out a regular program of
maintanence with a three-step
process. Protect well water at the
ground surface by eliminating or
reducing contaminants, inspect the
well regularly and keep it in good
running order and test the well water
on a regular basis.
It suggested walking around the
grounds within a 30-metre radius of
the well, looking for potential
threats.
Peach said a properly-designed
well should preVent surface water
from having an impact on the
groundwater.
Abandoned tanks that may pre-
date the new property ownership,
should be investigated by searching
the property for protruding pipes out
of the ground. These tanks may still
contain harmful liquids that can leak
as the tank corrodes.
Eliminating gardens adjacent to
the well can also help in preventing
water contamination. "Groundwater
protection is critical for them (well
owners) to know and how to
maintain systems and prevent
problems from happening," said
Peach.
He said testing the well water
should be done regularly.
"Check it at least three times a
year by taking it to the public health
lab for free testing service," said
Peach. "Good times to do that are in
the early spring or a day after a
heavy rainfall." The labs test for
coliforms (bacteria) and E. coli.
Bob Worsell with the Huron
County Health Unit, said a kit from
the health unit is used to ,lake the
water sample from a tap inside the
house.
The sample is taken to the health
unit then sent to London for testing.
The results should read zero for
coliforms and zero for E. coil.
The water sample must be taken to
the health unit within 24 hours.
He suggests a good time to do it is
if there is a change in colour or taste.
if a neighbour reports some
problems, if there is a chemical or
manure spread within 100 feet, if a
new well is drilled or if there is
construction nearby.
"If there is bacteria present. the
system should be flushed out. The
most common way is using a
chlorine flush. It usually takes a
couple of days," Peach said:
Other possible contaminants are
nitrate, the end result of a chemical
reaction, sodium,- caused from a
common domestic water softener
that increases the level of sodium
metals and minerals.
The Well Aware booklet suggests
two possible ways of eliminating
harmful bacteria contaminants, but
not to use both methods.
The first method is by bringing the
water to a boil and let it boil for at
least one full minute. Although
boiling is an effective method, it may
actually concentrate other types of
contamination such as chemicals,
nitrate, metals and minerals. hypochlorite, to one gallon of water
The second method is mixing one- and let it stand for 30 minutes.
quarter teaspoon of fresh liquid Finally refrigerate boiled or
household unscented chlorine bleach treated water in a clean food-grade
containing 5.25 per cent sodium container.