Hearthmakers to present Well Aware Public Forum July 16
The biggest threats to groundwater protection in Ontario are wells that are not maintained, not tested or abandoned, according to the Sustainable Water Well Initiative Expert Panel Report released in January 2006.
On Wednesday July 16, Hearthmakers Energy Co-operative will host a Well Aware community forum to help provide private well owners with the information they need to care for their water supplies, and protect the groundwater system as a whole. The event will take place from 7 pm to 9:30 pm at the Loyalist Council Chambers, located at 263 Main Street, Odessa.
"Regional groundwater studies have shown our groundwater is highly vulnerable in many areas. Over 43,000 residents in this region rely on groundwater for their drinking water source, which means protecting our groundwater is critically important" said Brianna Rustige, Well Aware Program Coordinator for the Kingston area.
People who attend the event will learn about issues affecting their water through short presentations delivered by five field experts, including a well technician, a hydrogeologist, and representatives from the health unit and the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority. There will be presentations on well maintenance, septic care, water testing, groundwater basics, and a stewardship and funding program available for certain well projects.
"It is the responsibility of every private well owner to be well aware, but well owners need access to the appropriate information in order to properly care for their water supplies. Attending a Well Aware community forum is a great way to learn about proper well maintenance and protection: it provides an overview of well maintenance basics, information about where to go for help, and most importantly, gives well owners a sense of empowerment that they have the knowledge to care for their wells in the future," said Mary Jane Conboy, executive director of Well Wise and technical advisor for the Well Aware program.
The community forum is a free event and is open to the public. Please call 613-547-8122 for more information.
Well Aware encourages Ontario's residential well owners to protect their wells and our common groundwater supplies. Well Aware is a project of Green Communities Canada and has received funding support from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Technical support is provided by the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario.
Hearthmakers Energy Co-operative (HEC) is a Kingston-based non-profit organization, and member of Green Communities Canada. HEC has been delivering residential energy efficiency programs in the region since 2000, including the completion of over 2,200 EnerGuide for Houses evaluations. HEC is proud to deliver the Well Aware educational stewardship program to well owners in this area.
