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Tips On How To Keep Your Drinking Water Safe
Protecting our drinking water is a community effort!
Did You Know That...
• Less than one percent of Earth's water supply is suitable for drinking?
• Water is a finite resource. Water from your faucet may contain molecules that dinosaurs drank!
• In a recent survey, 88% ranked a shortage of good drinking water as their #1 environmental concern!
• How you use your land and your well not only impacts your water quality, but your neighbors water quality as well!
Most People In Minnesota Get Their Water From Wells!
Residents of Elk River rely on ground water for their drinking water supply. The Municipal Utility owns and operates seven wells which draw water from an aquifer several hundred feet underground. While unlikely, this aquifer could become contaminated by accidental or intentional land surface activities.
If you are one of the 45% who have your own well, your water supply may be even more vulnerable to surface contamination because it probably draws from a shallow aquifer.
What Is Groundwater?
Groundwater is the water that fills the small spaces between rock particles (sand, gravel, etc.) or cracks in solid rock. Rain, melting snow, or surface water becomes groundwater when it seeps in and fills these spaces. The top of this water-saturated zone is called the Water Table.
When water seeps in from the surface and reaches the water table, it begins moving towards points where it can escape, such as wells, rivers, or lakes.
An aquifer is any type of geological material such as sand or sandstone which can supply water to wells or springs.
The groundwater which supplies wells often comes from within a short distance of the well. How fast it moves depends on how much the well is pumped and what type of rock particles or bedrock it moves through.
Elk River Municipal Utilities does its utmost to assure its water customers have a continuous supply of high quality drinking water. In addition to periodically testing for over 70 possible contaminants and issuing an annual report on the findings, we also have a Wellhead Protection Plan in place. That Plan identifies a number of action items designed to increase public awareness of drinking water issues, and to ensure our aquifers are not adversely impacted by land use practices. For copies of the latest Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, call 763-441-2020, or stop by our office for a copy. If you would like to view a copy of our Wellhead Protection Plan, stop by for a look at that as well.
Elk River Municipal Utilities is committed to keeping our drinking water safe, but we can't do it alone. Here's how you can help!
| 1. | If you have a private well, keep a copy of your Well Record on file. For houses bubilt after 1974, obtain a copy by calling the MN Dept. of Health at 651-215-0811. |
| 2. | If you have a septic system, pump it at least once every two years. Also, have your well water tested periodically. Call 763-241-2900 for information for well testing. |
| 3. | Use insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers sparingly and follow the manufacturers directions in applying them and disposing of their "empty" containers. |
| 4. | Keep animal waste, fuels, and chemicals far away from all wells and ponds. |
| 5. | Retire unused buried fuel storage tanks in a manner prescribed by the MPCA. Call 651-296-6300 for details. |
| 6. | Be sure to abandon unused wells properly. Unattended, they are pathways to our aquifer and yours! For more info go to www.health.state.mn.us or call 651-215-0811. |
| 7. | Report suspicious activity in and around city wells or well water facilities. |
How Do Wells Get Polluted?
Wells become polluted when substances that are harmful to human health seep into the groundwater. Water fromt hese wells can be dangerous to drink when the contaminant level rises above health standards.
Many of our everyday activities including improper use of herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and even some household chemicals can pollute our drinking water resources. Improper disposal of unused chemicals and their "empty" containers can create quite a problem. Just one gram of 2,4-D, for example, can contaminate 2.6 million gallons of water!
Accidental chemical spills and leaking underground fuel storage tanks can also be a problem. And fuel additives can be added to the list as well. The recent discovery that Methyl Tertiary Buty; Ether (MTBE) is showing up in drinking water wells has prompted a ban on its use as a "safe" gasoline octane enhancer.
There are also naturally occuring sources. Radon, which is a naturally occuring radioactive gas is one that requires special attention if it gets into our groundwater supply. Septic systems also add to the list even if they are "properly" installed and maintained. It depends on what goes into them!
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