Most new housing developments in the booming Atlanta suburbs
have city water. But many
homeowners still rely on a well for their water. And University of Georgia scientists have found
that not everyone who has
a well knows how to protect that water supply.
“We’re customizing a water quality program for Gwinnett
County,” said
specialist with the UGA
Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences. “We’re working with residents to gather
information in a survey and
on-site assessments.”
With the nationally acclaimed Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst program, UGA
scientists are helping homeowners
figure the likelihood their well could become contaminated.
“We work in a cooperative effort between the state staff and
the county agent when
approaching the homeowner,” Kelley said.
The program helps find current and potential pollution
problems. And it finds ways to
correct them. On-site water sampling reveals any problems in the
water source.
“This survey is totally voluntary,” said Gwinnett County
Extension Agent
Steve Brady. “We leave all assessment information with
individuals. All we ask them
to do, after they get their water analysis back, is to let us
know if they did take any
corrective measures. That helps us know the impact of this
survey.”
Though he does see extremes, Brady said most home or
landowners need only minor changes
to protect their well.
“One well can have a tremendous impact, not only on the
particular homeowner’s
water quality but with their neighbors, too,” Brady said. “Their
water source
might be the very same source other people are using nearby.”
Though Gwinnett County is mostly suburban, many landowners
have horses or cattle. And
many have large gardens.
Kathy Radford has both. She has horses and uses their manure
as fertilizer on her
three-acre organic farm.
“I learned animals can cause problems near the well because
of the manure
buildup,” Radford said. “When it rains, it washes the manure
down to the well.
And if there is a way of it running into the well, it can cause
a contamination
problem.”
Radford made some changes to protect her well. But she’s
still concerned about
potential contamination. She hopes to build a shelter over her
well for better protection
than the tarp she now uses.
“Actually, I may even consider putting in a well in a
different location in the
future,” she said.
A mile or two away, Dick Waterworth’s well is newer. But it’s
also at risk for
contamination. His yard rises steeply from the well site.
Several times last spring,
Waterworth applied fertilizer to green up his lawn. But that
also increased the risk of
contaminating his well.
A water sample taken from his pressure tank during his
assessment will tell him if the
fertilizer has found its way into his water supply. For about
$30, he can build a concrete
barrier around his well to prevent surface runoff water from
entering it.
“I’ll probably take some action on that,” he said.
Yard fertilizer and animal waste are the two main
contaminants in Gwinnett County. But
by safely placing the well when it’s drilled, most homeowners
can avoid problems with
these and other contaminants.
“The one thing I think everyone who participates in the
program will gain from it
is the chance to look at things they wouldn’t normally
consider,” Kelley said.
The Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Program will be on display at
FutureScapes Sept. 3 at the
Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, Ga.
FutureScapes features research exhibits from the UGA CAES,
University and
College. The exhibits focus on landscaping, ornamentals and
the environment. The event
begins at noon, and admission is free.
To learn more, see your county Extension Service agent. Or
visit the FutureScapes Web
site at
