Russellville wellhead protection committee sets 2013 agenda

RUSSELLVILLE -- The Local Planning Team held an annual meeting on Sept. 17 to discuss the Wellhead Protection Program in Russellville.

The town's Wellhead Protection Program focuses on public awareness, education, spill prevention and reporting. This year, notification letters with educational information for protecting groundwater will be sent to some residents in the community who own private septic systems and/or agricultural fields.

In the upcoming year, the Local Planning Team will continue public education efforts and will also focus on identifying active, inactive, and abandoned water wells.

The source of Russellville's drinking water is groundwater produced from wells located in the community.

To help protect the underground aquifer and the water supply wells from contamination, Russellville has developed a Phase I Wellhead Protection Plan, which was approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in September 2005.

Water wells that become damaged, or are no longer in use, are a potential conduit for surface contamination to reach the groundwater and contaminate the underground drinking water source.

Below are some tips to help you protect your drinking water source:

- Recycle used oil, automotive fluids, batteries, and other products. Don't dispose of hazardous products in toilets, storm drains, wastewater systems, creeks, alleys, or the ground. This pollutes the water supply.

- Reduce the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, or other hazardous chemicals used. Buy only what is need to prevent disposal of leftovers. Read labels and follow all directions on household chemicals and other hazardous products use around the home.

- Check cars, boats, motorcycles and other machinery and equipment for leaks and spills. Place drip pans under leaking vehicles/equipment and make repairs as soon as possible. Clean up spilled fluids with an absorbent material such as kitty litter or sand and properly dispose of the material. Do not rinse spills with water or into a nearby storm drain.

- Properly abandon water wells that are no longer in use.

The town of Russellville believes drinking water protection is the responsibility of all citizens.

By assisting the town with its wellhead protection efforts, residents and business can help ensure the people of Russellville have a safe water supply now and in the future.

The Wellhead Protection Local Planning Team meets annually to update the plan and implement management strategies to protect Russellville's drinking water source.

A complete copy of the Wellhead Protection Plan and educational pamphlets are available to the public at the Russellville Town Hall (211 South Harrison Street).

If you have a well on your property, please contact Devon Davis, Russellville Clerk-Treasurer, at 765-435-2371 so that it can be added to a tracking database.