City of Champlin Wellhead Protection Plan
The City of Champlin has completed its Wellhead Protection Plan for the City’s public water supply system, and the plan has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Health. This fact sheet is a way to inform City residents about Source Water Protection and what you can do to help protect drinking water supplies.
What is Wellhead Protection?
Wellhead protection is a means of protecting public water supply wells by preventing contaminants from entering the area that contributes water to the well or well field over a period of time. The wellhead protection area is determined by using geologic and hydrologic criteria, such as the physical characteristics of the aquifer and the effects which pumping has on the rate and direction of groundwater movement. A management plan is developed for the wellhead protection area that includes inventorying potential sources of groundwater contamination, monitoring for the presence of specific contaminants, and managing existing and future land and water uses that pose a threat to groundwater quality.
Why is the development of wellhead protection plans for public water supply wells required?
The Minnesota Groundwater Protection Act of 1989 grants the Commissioner of Health authority to develop wellhead protection measures for wells serving public water supplies. This action was in response to the 1986 Amendment to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act in which states are required to implement wellhead protection programs for public water supply wells. Minnesota Rules, parts 4720.5100 to 4720.5590, constitute the Minnesota Wellhead Protection Program.
While having a wellhead protection plan provides owners of public water supply wells with an exceedingly useful "tool" that can be used to provide a safe drinking water supply to their customers, the long-term goals are beneficial to all the residents of Minnesota. These goals are to:
- Reduce the use of costly treatment facilities,
- Avoid the drilling of new wells, and
- Avoid the need to clean up contaminated groundwater.
What should I know about the City of Champlin’s Wellhead Protection Plan?
The quality of ground-water supplying the City of Champlin’s water supply wells has historically been very good. Details about the quality of water supplied by the system are included in the annual Consumer Confidence Report sent to all public water supply customers. The local geologic conditions are such that the aquifers supplying the City’s water are not highly vulnerable to contamination from the surface. Nevertheless, appropriate management of certain land use activities within the Wellhead Protection Area will help to ensure a high quality drinking water supply in the future.
What role do I play in wellhead/ground-water protection?
An important aspect of protecting drinking water supplies is the proper management of wells. Properly constructed and maintained water wells can provide many years of trouble-free service, but like any other mechanical devices, wells will eventually deteriorate or become damaged, and allow surface contaminants to enter the water. In addition, some groundwater can contain one or more chemical substances in concentrations above state health limits. Public water systems are tested regularly for a variety of contaminants, but if you have a private well, regular testing is up to you.
For more information
The MDH publication, "Well Owner’s Handbook," is available free of charge to private well owners. Your can pick up a copy at the City of Champlin offices or call the MDH at (651) 215-0811.
Visit the following Web sites:
For further information, publications, or technical assistance, contact MDH staff in St. Paul, (651) 215-0811 or write to MDH at: Minnesota Department of Health, Environmental Health Division, Well Management Section, PO Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164.
Some recommendations you can follow to assure that your well water is safe:
First, make sure that your well is located and constructed properly.
Since 1974, all water wells constructed in Minnesota must meet the location and construction requirements of the Minnesota Well Code. Wells can provide safe water for many years, but as wells age, they will deteriorate and eventually lose their ability to keep contaminants out of the water. If your well is old, or has not been inspected for many years, contact a licensed well contractor and have the well inspected. If your well has outlived its useful life, it should be properly sealed and replaced with a modern, safe well.
When constructing additions to your house, adding new buildings, or making changes to septic systems or other contamination sources, be sure to maintain the required separation distances to your well. When landscaping, keep the top of the well at least one foot above the ground surface. Make sure that the well cap is undamaged and securely attached to the well casing, and that any connections to the well stay watertight. Keep hazardous chemicals like paint, fertilizer, pesticides, fuels, and motor oil away from your well. Seal any unused wells on your property to protect your groundwater from contamination (note: under Minnesota law, only a licensed well contractor can seal a well). For more information on wells, well maintenance, and well water quality, request your free copy of the "Well Owner's Handbook" from MDH.
Test your well water at least once a year for bacterial safety. Water that has become contaminated by human or animal wastes can transmit a variety of infectious diseases, including dysentery, salmonellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis. Symptoms vary, but nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, with or without fever, are most common. To assess bacterial safety, drinking water is tested for a group of indicator bacteria called "total coliform bacteria". These bacteria do not usually cause disease themselves, but their presence indicates that surface contamination has found its way into the well and disease organisms may also be present. When total coliform bacteria are found in well water, the water should not be consumed without boiling, and the well should be disinfected.
Test your well water at least once every year or two for nitrate, and always test the water for nitrate before giving it to an infant. Nitrate is a common contaminant of Minnesota groundwater. Elevated levels of nitrate are often caused by run-off from barnyards or feedlots, excessive use of fertilizers, or septic systems. Wells most vulnerable to nitrate contamination include shallow wells, dug wells with non-watertight casings, and wells with damaged, leaking casing or fittings. Well water containing nitrate at levels above the state health limit (10 milligrams per liter as nitrogen) should never be given to infants less than six months old, because it can cause a potentially fatal disease called "blue baby syndrome." In many cases, constructing a deeper well can reduce or eliminate a nitrate problem.
Flush standing water to reduce levels of lead. Well water in Minnesota usually does not contain detectable levels of lead. However, the pipes and other components of the household plumbing system (faucets, valves, or fittings) may contain lead. If they do, lead may slowly dissolve into the water. The longer the water stands idle in the pipes, the higher the lead levels can become. Too much lead in the body can damage the brain, nervous system, and kidneys, and it can be especially harmful to infants and small children. To minimize your exposure to lead in your drinking water, run the water until it gets cold before using it for drinking or cooking. This will flush out most of the lead that may have accumulated in the plumbing. Also never use water from the hot water tap for drinking or cooking. The best way to get a complete picture of how much lead may be dissolving into your water is to have the water tested for lead.
Test your well water at least once for arsenic. Arsenic occurs naturally in about half the wells in Minnesota, and about 15% of wells produce water which exceeds 10 micrograms per liter, the national drinking water standard. Arsenic is more prevalent in western Minnesota, but can occur almost anywhere in the state. Long-term consumption of arsenic above the drinking water standard may increase the risk of health problems of the skin, circulatory system, or the nervous system, including some forms of cancer. Every private well should be tested at least once or twice to determine if arsenic is present in the water, and at what levels. Arsenic levels in groundwater will not usually change much over time. Long-term consumption of well water with arsenic levels above 10 micrograms per liter should be avoided. Special types of water treatment systems which are proven effective in removing arsenic from drinking water include "reverse osmosis" with pretreatment, and "distillation" treatment systems. In addition, several promising new technologies for removing arsenic are currently under development. Contact a reputable water treatment dealer in your area for information about water treatment systems.
Testing your well water for other contaminants
Pesticides
When pesticides are detected in Minnesota wells, the levels are usually very low, typically less than one microgram per liter (part per billion). But there are exceptions. Wells most at risk of pesticide contamination are shallow or old, located close to areas of pesticide use or storage, and located in geologically sensitive areas such as sand plains or "karst" (weathered limestone) bedrock areas. Wells that have high levels of nitrate are also more likely to have detectable levels of pesticides. If you have an old or shallow well and you live in an agricultural area, or if your well has a high level of nitrate, consider testing your well water for one or more of the pesticides used most frequently in your area.
VOCs
Volatile Organic Chemicals, or "VOCs" are common components of gasoline and other fuels, as well as products such as solvents, paints, cleaners, and degreasers. It is estimated that two to five percent of private wells in Minnesota have detectable levels of one or more VOCs. Long-term exposure to VOCs above state health limits may damage the central nervous system, liver, or kidneys, and some VOCs are known to cause cancer. If you live near a commercial or industrial area, a gas station, or a landfill, and especially if your well is old or shallow, you should consider having your water tested for VOCs.
Fluoride
If children or adolescents are drinking the well water, a test for natural levels of fluoride will give your dentist valuable information when considering fluoride supplements. A small number of wells, primarily in northeastern Minnesota, do exceed the recommended health limit for fluoride, which can cause discoloration of tooth enamel.
Who can I contact to have my well water tested?
Your county health agency can provide testing for bacteria and nitrate, and some laboratories are certified to perform other tests. Prices vary, but usually fall in the range of $20-40 for both tests. Prices for other tests can vary widely. Regardless of which tests you want done, always make sure to use a laboratory that has been certified to perform each of those particular tests.
For more information
The MDH provides the publication, "Well Owner’s Handbook," free of charge. For your copy call the MDH at (651) 215-0811.
More information on each of the topics listed above and a list of laboratories certified by Minnesota to test drinking water can be found at the following web site or by calling the phone number listed above: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/index.html.
Visit the following Web sites:
For further information, publications, or technical assistance, contact MDH staff in St. Paul: (651) 215-0811, or write to MDH at: Minnesota Department of Health, Environmental Health Division, Well Management Section, PO Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164. |
