In Our Backyard
National Ground Water Awareness Week is March 8-14 this year. There are actions everyone can take to protect ground water, and a good place to begin is at your home, according to the Ground Water Protection Council and the National Ground Water Association. Here is a quick inventory you can take to see if you are helping to protect ground water quality.
First, locate any abandoned wells on your property. Contact a qualified water well contractor to determine whether the abandoned well is sealed properly. An improperly sealed well can be a direct pathway for contamination to enter ground water. Never dispose of any substance down an abandoned well. If the well has not been properly sealed, always use a qualified water well contractor to seal it. Proper well closure requires using special techniques, equipment, and materials so that the well will no longer be a threat to water quality.
Second, if you have a septic system, maintain it! A failing septic system may present a contamination threat to ground water. Every year you should check your leach field, looking for wet areas, bright green grass, or odors which might indicate a breakout of sewage. Also note if you start to have problems with your plumbing draining slowly or backing up. This could be a sign of a full septic tank or broken feeder pipe. Have your septic tank pumped every three to five years by a professional contractor. Regular pumping will help maximize the life of your septic system. Generally the lifespan of a well built and maintained system is between 18 and 25 years.
Also, keep roof drains, sump pump drains, and other rain or surface water drainage systems away from the leach field. Flooding can keep the soil from naturally cleansing the waste water.
Third, properly use, store, and dispose of hazardous household substances.
Hazardous household substances include, but are not limited to: gasoline and oil; paints and paint thinner; fertilizers; weed killers; pesticides and cleaning products.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use. Do not over-apply fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers. Also, do not apply or mix such substances close to your well. Keep hazardous household substances in sealed, original containers, and store them in a secure place such as a locked cabinet. Dispose of hazardous household substances properly. Don’t dump them on the ground, pour them down the drain, or flush them down the toilet. Instead, contact your local transfer station to learn about your options for proper disposal. Remember, if you think ahead and only buy what you need, you will reduce waste and the need to store these hazardous chemicals.
National Ground Water Awareness Week is a great time to become a better ground water steward. To learn more about ground water and wells, visit NGWA’s Web site, www.wellowner.org or Maine’s site, www.maine.gov/dhhs/eohp/wells/mewellwater.htm.
This column was submitted by Cliff Treyens, National Ground Water Association and Marianne DuBois in the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Bureau of Land and Water Quality. In Our Back Yard is a weekly column of the DEP. E-mail your environmental questions to infoDEP@maine.gov or mail them to: In Our Back Yard, Maine DEP, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.
