Huron Expositor, 2000-03-08, Page 5News
County -wide groundwater study
will look at water quality this spring
By Carl Stavros
Clinton News -Record Staff
A study to determine the
quality of groundwater across
Huron County will
commence this spring, thanks
to a $204,000 grant from the
Ministry of Environment
(MOE).
The study. a collaboration
between the county planning
department and Huron
County Health Unit, as well
as the Ausable-Bayfield and
Maitland Valley conservation
authorities, will test the
groundwater in existing wells
across the county.
"There has been a lot of
concern expressed (for
groundwater), especially
related to the protection,"
Scott Tousaw, Senior Planner
with the County of Huron.
"The money received from
(the MOE) will allow for the
creation of a very specific
study. It will (give) us an
understanding of the
groundwater system and
water quality ... and trace
positive or negative changes
in the future."
While the ministry grant
covers the vast majority of the
$240,000 price tag, the
remainder will be the county's
responsibility.
In a prepared statement,
Huron -Bruce MPP Helen
Johns said, "Well protected
groundwater is one of the
.cornerstones of healthy,
thriving communities. I am
pleased that we are able to
assist the County of Huron in
its search for ways to ensure
the Tong -term sustainability of
its groundwater resources"
Tousaw expressed the
necessity for the study, which
is similar to many urban and
municipal testing programs,
and appreciation for the
funding from the ministry.
The entire study will consist
of three separate project
phases spanning the next two
years. But first in order to
determine an accurate cross-
section of groundwater
quality in the county, Tousaw
stated that the study must first
determine how the county's
groundwater system is
connected as well as specific
geographic characteristics of
each region studied. This task
will be completed with the
assistance of a hydro
geological consultant.
According to Tousaw, the
study sites will be based on a
variety of groundwater and
. land use characteristics. such
as sensitivity and type of
groundwater, depth and
geographic area of wells, as
well as the type of agriculture
for which the surrounding
land is used. Adhering to
these criteria will ensure that
the study is taking into
account the diversity of the
groundwater system. Once
selected, the project team will
then approach the individual
land owgers and request that
they allow the study to take over time," he explained
"The findings should (alsol
lead to recommendations on
how to correct or avoid
problems."
Although the grant froin the
province has given the study
the necessary infusion of cash
to put the project in operation.
Tousaw stated that the grant
does not include funds for the
final phase - long-term
testing. He stated that the
necessity for regular testing to
continue beyond the study is
vital. For example, he said
that as agricultural practices
keep changing. groundwater
quality must be monitored to
ensure safety.
place on their property.
"The benefit to the land
owner is that they will have
their wells tested on a regular
basis at no cost." said Tousaw.
The results of the pilot
project will offer a more
developed, detailed
understanding of the
groundwater system, which in
turn, will indicate the main
project study sites. In
addition. the pilot tests will
allow the project team to
make any necessary
refinements in procedure, said
Tousaw.
The main portion of the
study will comprise regular
testing of six to seven clusters
of approximately 60 wells
each, as opposed to the two
cluster pilot project.
The main project is
expected to begin in late 2000
or early 2001. With the results
of the main project of the
study completed. the county
will then possess information
that creates a comprehensive
baseline, or 'sentinel' as
Tousaw called it, for
groundwater quality readings
in the county.
Tousaw added that the
county will then have an
"advance warning system". If
any noticeable fluctuations,
were discovered, the county
would then' be aware of the
problem at an early stage.
"With regular testing of the
representative wells, we will
be able to track the changes
Theft
from Dublin
General
Store
A small quantity of
-cigarettes were stolen from
the Dublin General Store in a
smash and grab reported to
police Feb. 23 at 1:15 a.m.
The owner of the store had
looked out his window and
saw an older model, white
Buick Regal or Century
idling in front of the store.
He investigated and saw to
men exit from a store window
and flee the scene.
Officers arrived minutes
later and found the window
had been forced open and a
small quantity of cigarettes
were stolen from a display
behind a store counter.
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Meeh 0, 2000-5
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