Three things every well owner should know
By JEREMIAH O’HAGAN Staff Reporter
Dale Tyler, president of Camano Water Systems Association, said it’s important that individual well owners take part in the discussion of water supplies on Camano Island.
Private, outlying wells may be the first to experience signs of low water levels, he said, but because the owners aren’t part of a system or association, they may be the last to hear about concerns regarding the aquifers.
Tyler hopes to remedy this by inviting individual well owners to become part of the larger discussion that takes place at the Camano water forum meetings, the next of which is May 26.
“There are a number on individuals on Camano and in the Stanwood area who have expertise in wells,” Tyler said, and the forum is a place where that knowledge can be accessed.
Often times there’s an unrealistic optimism about water, Tyler said. People seem convinced that every time they turn on the tap, it will come flowing out. And, so far, it has, but that may not always be the case.
“How much is your home worth without water?” Tyler asked.
His point isn’t to panic, it’s to raise awareness. Carefully regulated observation and maintenance can minimize operating costs and prolong the life of the system. It also generates data and creates a baseline — anything out of the ordinary is a “heads-up.”
Ralph Ferguson, a member of the Juniper Beach water district, said there are three things every well owner should know, and track on a regular basis:
• Know your well. How deep it is, what size is the pump, what is the output, where is the screen located and when was it last cleaned?
“Often, a plugged screen can make it seem like you’re running out of water,” Tyler said.
• Know the quantity of water in the well. What are the static levels and pumping levels? How do those levels compare to when the well was drilled? Ferguson recommended that a well’s water level be checked at least once per year. Most importantly, though, it should be checked on a regular schedule.
• Know the quality of water in a well. Chloride levels, ph balance and mineral levels are all important things to collect data on. These aspects often vary by location, and in one way or another are related to the water that pours from the tap.
Individual well owners are invited to learn more about these issues at the May 26 water forum meeting at the Lost Lake Community Clubhouse. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m., with an open house at 6:30 p.m., for a “meet and greet” and refreshments.
“We all hold hands underground,” Tyler said, “because we’re all part of the same aquifers. It’s important that we hold hands above ground, too, to protect the water supply we rely on.”
