Wondering about waste and water?
Well
Awareness Program provides the answers
by Julie Druker
Water and waste experts: (l to r) Mara
Shaw, Jana Levison, Titsia Praamsma, Cory Shea, Brianna Rustige and
William Vander Wilp.
Judging from the 50+ turnout at the
Sydenham town hall on Saturday, March 28 for the Well and Septic
Workshop, homeowners are hungry for basic information on building and
maintaining their wells and septic systems.
Brianna Rustige, coordinator of the
Well Aware Program, an educational stewardship program run by
Hearthmakers Energy Co-op in Kingston, hosted the event, which
included a number of local experts speaking on various related
topics.
Titsia Pramaasma, a hydrogeologist with
the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA), spoke first about
“Groundwater Basics” providing a general understanding of the
water cycle, the water table, and infiltration.
She stressed that aquifers are very
vulnerable to septic and agricultural contamination. A 1950-1954
Ontario study tested 484 wells and showed that 14% tested positive
for nitrates and 15% for bacteria. A similar study done in 1991-1992
on 1200 wells showed nitrates levels had stayed the same while
bacteria contaminants increased to 34%. She said, “If you can site
your well properly, you can prevent this situation from happening.”
William Vander Wilp, a chemist with
MacLellan Water Technology in Odessa spoke next on well construction
and maintenance, concentrating on drilled wells.
He focused on important factors such as
regular maintenance both by licensed professionals and homeowners.
Upgrades are often recommended when wells have been poorly
constructed or have been drilled into shallow aquifers, which can be
more susceptible to contamination. Often wells drilled prior to 2000
have not been properly sealed and may require a sealing upgrade to
prevent surface water from leaching down into the well.
Other simple and inexpensive upgrades
include acquiring a pitless adapter or a vermin-proof well cap.
There exist countless old unused wells,
which by law are required to be properly decommissioned by property
owners to protect water quality. This work should be done by a
professional as well.
Jana Levison, a geo-science technician
at the CRCA, spoke next about Water Source Protection and the
Multiple Barrier Approach. She stated unequivocally, “Protecting
water at the source is your first step towards ensuring clean
drinking water…It is always better to act preventatively than to
have to treat the water at the end of the pipe.”
She outlined simple steps to take at
home. Routinely surveying the 100-foot radius around the well and
eliminating potential contaminants from chemicals and fuels, lawns
and gardens, storage tanks, and animal waste is recommended.
Conservation is always an effective
strategy. The “less used, the less abused” rule stresses that
conservation ensures both water quality and quantity in the big
picture and long into the future.
Mara Shaw, a watershed management
coordinator for the CRCA, spoke about the Western Cataraqui Region
Ground Water Study, which includes areas of Napanee, Kingston, South
Frontenac and Loyalist townships and the 43,000 people in that area
who rely on ground water (well water) for their drinking water
supply.
Most of South Frontenac falls under an
Area 2 designation, meaning it is covered by Precambrian Shield. Shaw
stated, “According to the study’s findings, the water quality in
the area is generally good.” She added, however, “Sodium levels
are sky high although having said that, it is not sky high in terms
of health effect numbers. It’s at a level where people who have
sodium problems should be made aware of it and let their doctors
know.”
How vulnerable is our ground water to
contamination? Apparently very. Shaw explained, “In our region with
no soil to filter the water through, the water gets into cracks and
fractures and goes completely unfiltered to where it is going.”
Red areas on her study maps highlighted
the most vulnerable areas in the region of study and included one
near Harrowsmith and one south of Sydenham.
In the future official plans may
contain regulations to help protect these vulnerable areas. This
could include the prevention of the building of gas stations, and
landfill sites near them.
Shaw then focused on the importance
regular well testing. She recommended testing at least three times a
year, which is most effective when done after the spring, heavy rains
or after a flood, and always after repairs have been done on a well
and/or septic system. Similarly, testing should be done whenever
changes in water taste and colour are detected and when a family
member is pregnant.
Cory Shea of Shea Construction in
Kingston spoke last about septic systems and their maintenance. He
reminded the audience, “You are your own waste water management
plant.”
He stated the disturbing fact that
30-60% of septic systems inspected in Ontario got failing grades and
reminded the group that, “Whoever lies downstream from you gets to
enjoy your sewage.“
Systems need to be pumped out every 2-5
years depending on family size. Installing an inexpensive effluent
filter, which is now a requirement by law for all new septic systems,
will stop oil and grease from clogging up the tile bed and will
increase a system’s life span.
Rinsing out tanks when they are pumped
is recommended in order to assess them for wear and tear. Only
licensed installers should install new systems and make repairs.
Problem indicators include slow drains
and sewage backup odor. Everyone should know where their system is
located, should strive to conserve water, spread out flow use
throughout the day and week, and divert downspouts from the system.
Chlorine toilet packs, anti-bacterial cleansers, bleach, cooking
grease and paints, including latex, should never enter the system.
The ground over a septic system should never be driven or parked on,
or used as an ice rink.
Shea was inundated with questions and
when the workshop ended most felt armed with a wealth of knowledge of
the wonders of water and waste.
For more information, please visit
www.cataraquiregion.on.ca and www.wellaware.ca.
