First, I must disclose that I am a Methodist so it is ok for me to talk about them. I was in my office one day when a call came in to test the water at the Moore's Gap United Methodist Church. I of course jumped at the opportunity to fellowship with my fellow Christians, so I grabbed a sample bottle, a lighter, and some hand sanitizer and sped to the church. I knew why they were worried about the well water as soon as I pulled up, the church is less than a 1/2 mile from the Chestnut Ridge Landfill (think dump). I took the sample and sent it to the lab. The next day Bobby from the State Lab called me and said the sample had E. Coli in it along with a lot of other not so good for you organisms. I immediately called the contact number I had for the church to warn them. A kindly older lady answered the phone and after explaining who I was and that the water was unsafe she started to question me. "Can we wash dishes with it?" ......"No Ma'am"........."Can we wash our hands with it?"........No, definitely not"......."Can we use it to wash the towels?"........then I said " NO, DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT IF YOU CAN HELP IT." This finally drove the point home and I got off the phone. The next day my supervisor called me to let me know that I shouldn't scare little old ladies....Turns out, she had already looked at it.
PS: Turns out all of the wells we tested in this area ended up contaminated due to the landfill, so city water was ran to the people of Moore's Gap with grant money, all because the people at that little church were worried enough about their water to have it tested. Your pal the Envirocapitalist.
I've got a landfill about 1.5 miles away as the crow flies, but no worry. I live on a ridge full of dry holes and the only spring is down in the hollow at the far end of my property, where it's unusable. We have city water, but drink bottled spring water, since the chlorine seems to upset our stomachs.
ReplyDeleteThe people who bought my old homeplace filled in the old hand-dug well. I doubt if they thought about what they'd do if the water was ever off for an extended time. Best to try covering every angle.
Thats scary. Let me pick your brain a minute. Lee and I are wanting to put in a well. What sort of things should we watch out for? I'm a little nervous now.
ReplyDeleteHey Leigh
ReplyDeleteI still prefer well water. You should hire a licensed Well driller to drill your well (call 1-888-891-8332) and get a list of well drillers from the division of water supply. Then either test your well every year (about $115)for bacteria or invest in a ultra-violet light which kills the bacteria without ruining the taste or adding chlorine which hurts the garden. good luck and don't worry to much, your pal the Envirocapitalist.
Let me get this straight. You are a Christian, and environmentalist and a capitalist. This sounds like a jumbo shrimp that is afraid of the water. I am going to return and see where this goes.
ReplyDeleteGrace and Peace.