Reducing risks: protecting water quality
We are a small island with a growing population. We are blessed with extensive forest lands, our clean water factory. Protecting this green infrastructure is vital. In developed areas, we need to commit to 'best practices' to minimize the risk of contamination.
We can learn from past mistakes. Turbidity is a problem for many water systems. Its source is road construction, land clearing, and poor storm-water management. Failed septic systems and poor livestock practices can lead to bacterial contamination. Leaks from buried fuel tanks, fuel spills, and illegal burn piles have locally contaminated groundwater. We should also be concerned about risks from herbicides and pesticides.
Septic fields are safe, economical, low-maintenance facilities for sewage disposal on Bowen Island, but they do need an annual check. Waste water flows into a tank where solids are trapped and bacteria break down wastes. Liquids flow into the drain field and percolate into the soil. Soil bacteria purify the effluent, producing clean water that becomes groundwater.
Septic fields fail when drain fields clog and septic effluent rises to the surface and flows overland, contaminating wells and streams. Wells downhill from a failing septic field are only protected if they are capped and grouted properly. Otherwise, septic effluent can enter a well from the surface.
Is your well protected?
Trouble occurs when contaminated surface water leaks down into wells. To prevent this, properly sealed wells have grout injected between the well casing (steel pipe in the upper well) and the well wall, and a cap is placed on the top of the casing; however, many wells are not properly sealed. Is yours?
