Well drilling companies face new state, county regulations

By Rose Hooper

"All water samples were tested for coliform bacteria, which is an indicator of bacterial growth in the water," said Dendy. "Coliform bacteria are not harmful, but their presence indicates other harmful bacteria could possibly contaminate the well. This test alone does not necessarily determine that the aquifer is contaminated."

The water samples were taken by request from privately-owned wells from July 1999 to June 2000. The 30 percent contamination rate alarmed officials with the Jackson County Department of Public Health, who decided to take a more pro-active role in well drilling in hopes of preventing illnesses. What resulted is a new well drilling program, according to Mack Dendy, the environmental health supervisor at the health department.

Dendy admits the health department can't pinpoint one reason so many wells have become contiminated because too many variables exist. Homeowners tend to put the blame on well drillers, but homeowners and plumbers can be just as responsible, Dendy said.

"If they change the pump or the plumbing and don't disinfect, coliform bacteria could be present," he said. "We test the whole system as it comes from the tap, not just the well."

Checks for contamination are just one part of the new program, which also incorporates state regulations adopted by the board of health. For example, previously in Jackson County when well drilling companies were drilling for water, they could use water from a nearby stream.

"You have to add water as you are drilling for water, and before you could use a local source as long as you chlorinated it," said Dendy. "But some things just aren't killed by chlorination. New state regulations from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources require well drillers to now use potable water while drilling."

That means well drillers must haul potable water to the site instead of using water from a nearby creek or stream.

"That's well and good if you have a public water system; you can generally hook up to a hydrant," said Dendy. "But take Cashiers, for instance, where you have no city water. You might have to go a long way to hook your truck up to a potable water source."

The added requirement may result in an added cost for consumers. There's also the new $200 charge the health department assesses for a well permit. This cost is to make sure the wells are constructed properly and inspected by an environmental health specialist.

"Sometimes it takes us four or five trips to do the necessary work," Dendy said.

The burden of the new program should be on the user, not all of Jackson County, the board of health decided. That's why the $200 fee is paid by the person having the well drilled, Dendy said. "Our regulations can be as stringent or more stringent than the state, but we can't be less stringent," said Dendy. "Using these new standards is our way of saying, ŚLet's go ahead and get a handle on this.'

"A lot of banks now require a clean water sample before the homeowner can get a loan," said Dendy. "And consumers today are much more savvy. When they buy property, they want to know beforehand if they can get a septic tank permit and a well drilled.

"More and more, people are realizing that water is our most valuable resource," he continued. "It is truly 'the drink of life.' Each of us has an obligation to keep it clean."

Area well drilling companies are cooperating with the health department in these new regulations, Dendy said.

"Before, a homeowner could exercise control over a well drilling company by telling them, 'Drill it here, in this exact spot, or I'll get a company that will.' That doesn't work here anymore. This is the well drillers livelihood, and they are all abiding by the new state regulations," he said. For more information about the county's new well program, call the health department at 586-8994.

Back to Archive: 01/11/01.