Keeping it clean
Keeping water clean: it's just common sense
Doing it right - Protecting our water
- Organic farming
- Animals are fenced from creek
- Manure pile is covered
- Forest corridor protects creek
- Runoff filtered by constructed wetland
- Runoff filtered by constructed wetland
- Paved surface contains spills
- Treated lumber is covered
- Abandoned well is filled and permanently sealed
- Soil bacteria "clean" septic effluent
- Septic field is maintained
- Settling ponds and silt fences trap sediment
A good septic system is a maintained septic system. Make sure your septic tank is inspected and pumped regularly.
Doing it wrong - Degrading our water
- Pesticide and herbicide spraying
- Muddy storm runoff from land clearing and road building
- Poorly maintained septic field
- Heating oil tank leaks
- Poorly maintained septic field fails
- Abandoned well is unsealed
- Fuel spill escapes
- Animals in stream
- Uncovered manure pile
Is your well safe?
How do islanders protect the quality of water supplies?
There are many ways. Most protection is just common sense. For example, I check my septic tank annually to ensure it is functioning properly. Failed septic fields are a major source of drinking water contamination on the islands.