The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is reminding the public that your well is your responsibility. It is up to you, the owner, to ensure your well water is safe for use and your septic system is properly cared for.
"A lot of people don't realize that their septic system can cause contamination to their wells and their drinking water," said Mary Lynn MacDonald, drinking water source protection co-supervisor at ABCA. "We find that upwards of 50 per cent of the time when contamination is found in a well through water sampling, that the septic system is the culprit."
MacDonald said there are a lot of wells in this area, especially in Huron County.
"Sometimes, people let cars and trucks drive over the top of their leeching bed and crush tiles, so they have blockages there," said MacDonald. "If the septic tank isn't pumped, it can back up. There are a lot of things that people are not aware of and if they're not treating their septic system with respect, it doesn't function well."
Your well is what ensures your water is clean for use. MacDonald said it filters human waste, liquid, and grey water that comes from the home.
"That whole system is a circular system," she said. "We take water from the well, we use it within our system, then it goes out through the tank and leeching system and then return that water down into the various soil layers to the ground water."
When the filter works as intended, the clean, filtered water is brought back up through the well for use. When it's not, contaminants can come into play. The recommended time span to get your septic tank pumped is every three to five years. But, MacDonald said that recommendation varies, depending on how many people live in the house and the number of appliances and bathrooms.
One of the ways you can tell if your septic system isn't properly working is if you see spongy areas where your leeching bed is.
"You may be starting to see some slowdown of your sink or your toilet that's not flushing properly, you may have some odour that you're realizing you have in that system," she said. "It's a bacterial system, so you need to avoid putting harsh cleaning products or chemicals down there, leftover pills, oil, grease, that shouldn't go down your drain because all of those things can kill the living system that is breaking down the waste."
Tips to ensure your septic tank stays in working order include: don't drive vehicles over the system, don't pave or place patio stones over top, don't put additions over your tank, and don't plant your vegetable gardens, flower beds, trees or shrubs there. Anything with roots can get into the leeching tiles.
MacDonald also said to get your septic tank pumped before any sort of big gathering or party at you residence.
If you're curious on the cleanliness of your water, free well water test sample bottles can be picked up, free of charge, at Huron Perth Public Health.
ABCA also holds Water Wise events, where they educate the public on water systems and contamination, as well as collect samples from your well and take them to get tested for you. The organization is working on getting more of those arranged for 2024.
You can find more information on drinking water source protection from the Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region here.
