Ground Water

Simple steps to ground water protection at the household level

Gov. Bobby Jindal has proclaimed the upcoming week of March 8 through March 14 as Ground Water Awareness Week in the state of Louisiana.

“There is something every person can do to protect ground water, and it begins at the home,” said Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle, who is also chairman of the state Ground Water Resources Commission.

Here is a list property owners who wish to be good stewards can follow during the awareness week.

First, they can locate any abandoned water wells on their property and contact qualified water well system contractors to ensure the abandoned wells are sealed properly. An improperly sealed well can be a direct pathway for contamination into an aquifer. Nothing should ever be disposed of down an abandoned water well.

If abandoned wells have not been properly sealed, qualified water well system contractors should always be used to seal them. The process requires special techniques, equipment and materials.

Secondly, property owners with septic systems must maintain those systems. Failing septic systems can present a contamination threat to ground water. Septic systems should be checked every one to two years, and pumped every three to five years by a professional contractor.

Also, roof drains, sump pump drains and other rain or surface water drainage systems should be kept away from the septic absorption field. Flooding can keep the soil from naturally cleansing the waste water.

Third, everyone should properly use, store and dispose of hazardous household substances, including gasoline, oil, paint, paint thinner, fertilizer, weed killer, pesticides and cleaning products.

Proper use of such substances means following the manufacturer’s instructions. Fertilizers, pesticides and weed killers should not be over-applied, nor should any such substances be mixed or applied near well heads.

Proper storage means keeping hazardous household substances in sealed containers in a secure place.

Proper disposal of such substances means they should not be dumped on the ground, poured down drains or flushed down toilets. Homeowners should contact local waste authorities about proper disposal.