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The Citizen, 2003-11-12, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2003. Small turnout to Well Aware forum By Elyse DeBruyn Citizen staff Water contamination and well care seem to be major issues these days, but only about 20 people were present tor the Well Aware seminar on Nov. 3. Well Aware, with the Ontario Ground Water Association, held a community forum at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex to discuss well issues with local residents including groundwater basics, well construction and maintenance, water quality testing and treatment, septic systems and source protection. Mike Fairbanks, a professional geoscientist and an associate with International Water Consultants Ltd., said groundwater is rarely found in giant underground lakes and rivers. It originates from surface water and precipitation like rain or snow that has infiltrated the earth. It fills in the cracks and open spaces in the rocks and soil under the ground. He explained that aquifers are the saturated layers below the water table that store and transmit an important amount of groundwater. He said it is extremely important to keep the surface near the well clear of contaminations like fuel spills, malfunctioning septic tanks, road salt and laundry detergent because they can infiltrate the soil and contaminate the groundwater. Depending on the type of soil or rock, groundwater can be filtered and clean, but if an aquifer is contaminated, it can take a long time to recover, if it does at all. He said between 1950 to 1954. 484 we'ls were sampled and 14 per cent had high levels of nitrate while 15 per cent had high levels of bacteria. From 1991 to 1992, 1,200 wells were sampled with 14 per cent testing high for nitrate and 34 per cent testing high for bacteria. Six of those wells had traces of pesticides. “Groundwater protection starts at home. We need to think about what we are doing.” said Fairbanks. Bill Davidson with Davidson Well Drilling in Wingham. said the three types of wells normally constructed for home owners are drilled wells, bored wells and sand point wells, which are used for cottages with sandy beaches and shallow groundwater. He said there are many different methods to install a well. One way is the cable method that was invented by the Chinese in 2500 BC. The bit breaks and consolidates material into smaller fragments. He said it is a goad method used around Toronto. Another way is to use the rotary drill rig. It transmits rotating action from rig to bit. Air or water removes cutting from the bore hole. The air drill rig is another method used on rock formations under ground. It blows air down the hole. It doesn’t work well in gravel. The last method he explained is the bucket auger Drilled wells must be 50 feet from contamination drill rig. This is large in diameter and makes the hole by digging up earth materials. Davidson explained that the ground must slope away from the well, it should be accessible for maintenance and construction and it must be away from contaminates like fuel tanks and livestock. He said the Ontario regulations state that drilled wells must be 50 feet away from contamination and auger wells must be 100 feet away. Davidson explained the different components of a well including the casing, well caps, annular seal and pumps. Ron Hopper with W.D. Hopper and Sons Ltd., said yearly maintenance of a well is important and should be performed by a licensed well contractor. The contractor will check that the pressure tank has the correct amount of air. inspect the pressure switch to ensure that it is operating properly, check the voltage and amps of the motor control and inspect the piping for weaknesses like rust and leakage. Hopper said plugging or sealing an unused well is also done by a licensed well contractor. A unused well can become a direct pipeline for surface water or run-off to reach the aquifer. If a well is filled with sand, gravel, stones, debris or garbage, it won’t prevent the flow of surface water to the well and to contaminate the water. Hopper said the first thing the contractor will do is pump out the water, chlorinate the well with 250 mg per litre, then fill the well in layers. Bob Worsell with the Huron County Health Unit, said some possible water contaminants are total amount of coliforms, E.coli, nitrate, sodium, fluoride, gas, oils and pesticides. A kit from the health unit is used to take 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 said a well sample should be done about three times a year. A good time to do it is after a heavy rain, 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. Pam Scharfe also with the health unit spoke about septic systems. It is important to have a septic system located on a downgrade and away from the well and that your system conforms with the Ontario Building Code. Pump out the septic system every two to three years. Brain Liunstra with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, said a responsible well owner needs to follow a regular program of well maintenance. Taking care of a well is a three-step process. Protect the well at the surface by avoiding, eliminating or reducing contaminants. Well inspection should be done regularly and kept in good running order. Finally testing the well water on a regular basis is very important because it can show potential contamination problems. A good way to keep a well maintained is to walk the grounds within a 30-metre radius of the well and look for potential threats. Some tips to ensure a well is safe from contamination include cleaning debris from around the well, check that the well cap and seal are intact and water tight, ensure ground is adequately graded around the well to direct surface run-off away, maintain low growing grass or ground cover around the well and keep animals and animal waste away from the well. Golden occasion Renny and Jake Hulzebos celebrated their golden anniversary at Westfield Hall on Saturday afternoon. The couple also has taken a trip to Holland to visit relatives to celebrate 50 years of marriage. (Vicky Bremnerphoto) Local couple marks 50th It was a special day on Saturday at Westfield Hall as Renny and Jake Hulzebos celebrated 50 years of marriage. The former Renny Haan, daughter of John and Aafke Haan from Usqert. Holland, came to Canada in 1949 with her family. Her groom, a son of Johan and Aafke Hulzebos from Nievwe Pekela. Holland arrived that same year with his army buddies. The couple met and were married at the First Christian Reformed Church. Chatham on Nov. 6, 1953 by Rev. G. Bouma. Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, On Sept. 4, Huron County will be going smoke- free. Huron County council passed a bylaw that will require all public places and workplaces to be 100 per cent smoke free except for long­ term care and psychiatric facilities. Huron joins many other municipalities and regions that have recently passed similar bylaws. Huron’s bylaw achieves the gold standard set by the Ontario Tobacco-Free Network and will be added to their Go for Gold: Become 100 per cent Smoke-Free map. The Coalition for a Smoke- free Huron-Perth would like to thank Huron County councillors for working to ensure a level playing field for all concerned businesses while also considering the For a brief time they resided in Chatham, then moved to the 16th of Grey where they farmed for 44 years. They retired to Bly th in 1998. The couple have three children Joe, married to Ann and living in Blyth. Effie and Ken Nesbitt of Mitchell and Kathie and John Jordon of New Hamburg. They are members of Blyth’s Christian Reformed Church. Jake enjoys woodworking and Renny likes knitting and crocheting. The open house was attended by guests from health of their citizens. The County’s Environmental Tobacco Smoke bylaw will provide significant protection to workers and the public from the health risks associated with secondhand smoke. The Coalition for a Smoke- free Huron-Perth would also like to thank everyone who spoke at the stakeholder and public meetings and came out Need help finding a lawyer? Call the Lawyer Referral Service HERE'S HOW IT WORKS • Call our 1-900 number • Coll a LRS member lawyer and receive up to • A LRS Representative will give you the 30 minutes of free consultation name and phone number of one local LRS • A $6.00 charge will be applied to your member lawyer who is able to deal with your phone bill 1-900-565-4577 TTY: (416) 644-4886 Barreau Toll Free Crisis Line The Law Society ol du Haut-Canad I Upper Canada |1-800-268-8326 Windsor, Chatham, Newmarket. Listowel. the Blyth area, New Hamburg, London and Stratford. Also present for the day were the couple’s seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Another highlight of this golden anniversary year was a trip the couple took to Holland to celebrate the occasion. While there, they were surprised by their two daughters who arrived to be part of the special family gathering. They spent the next week with their parents and their relatives in Holland. in support of a smoke-free Huron. The many letters received also helped to demonstrate the high level of support for a smoke-free county. Your contribution was vital and will have a lasting impact bn your community. Sincerely, Janet Jackson Coalition for a Smoke-free Huron-Perth. The free flu shot. The smart thing to do. Let’s Beat the Flu! We have all seen how serious infectious diseases can be. But influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease we can beat. Just get your free flu shot. It does more than protect you: it helps protect everyone around you, including people who are at high risk if they catch the flu. Getting your free flu shot has never been easier. Ask your doctor, local pharmacist, your employer or call for a clinic near you. l-866-FLU-’N-YOU TTY 1-800-387-5559 www.health.gov.on.ca I ® Ontario L