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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence Miscellaneous 4/28/2000 .\.. Ross Penhallegon 950 West 13 Avenue Eugene, OR 97402 RECE\VED , -1~n {j) By' VfWJ,AA~ ._~ I I work for Oregon State University Extension Service as a Horticulture Extension Agent. I have been with the Extension Service for 16 years and involved in agricultural and water quality related activities for over 34 years. I work daily with growers, helping them solve agricultural and water quality issues. I am also the regional Ambassador for the national Groundwater Guardian organization out of Lincoln, Nebraska, Groundwater Guardian is a program of the Groundwater Foundation, a private, non profit educational organization that informs and motivates communities to care about, support, and protect groundwater. Over 80% ofthe United States get their drinking water from groundwater sources. Since surface water has a direct connection to ~he groundwater, ALL water is connected to groundwater. The purpose of Article 17 ofthe Lane Development Code is to help protect a very valuable resource, the Springfield groundwater. Over 50,000 people in the Springfield city limits use this resource. ~- Pk~ e.J.U" I i.-, ~ Pi<t.,tc,", I R<,:-c.~. ! f{u.... GYr'1' ~ : ~On'0 a> Article 17 has been an on going effort which has involved the best technical minds in the surrounding Springfield area. The technical committee developed Article 17 in an effort to ,-- 'protect Springfield's vulnerable groundwater resource. I ,. Article 17 is a direct effort with controls that are specifically designed to help prevent and reduce contamination to the groundwater. It was designed to be able to work with the different business within the different zones of traveL There are 1500 wells that were drilled by registered well drillers and are on record at the Water Resource Division, Water Master Office. At least 1000 private driven wells in the Springfield area are used for drinking water and irrigation which are not registered. Wells driven or installed by non professionals provide a direct route for contaminants to the groundwater. I live in Springfield and am very conscious about groundwater. I have served on the Coburg Wellhead Protection technical group and the Springfield Wellhead Protection technical group. The purpose of these two groups were to look at how the local communities could develop and implement protection plans that would help ensure clean groundwater for future generations. The area where I live has septic systems. Many of the septic systems are known to be very old, I have been monitoring the water from my well for 5 years. The data is showing that the nitrates in the area are increasing and are beginning to contaminate the groundwater. For the past seven years, I have attended groundwater protection events across the nation, I have presented educational classes on groundwater protection in San Antonio, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, and in many communities in Oregon. The biggest surprise to people at these meetings is that Oregon, namely Eugene and Springfield still has groundwater that is so clean! I have talked with people from Lincoln, Nebraska; Dayton, Ohio; Chesapeake Bay, Maryland where their water is contaminated with 50-150 parts per million with nitrates. Many places have salt water intrusions from over pumping of the groundwater. I have listened to hundreds of talks where local utility boards had to begin remediation after the groundwater became polluted, The Oregon Department of Environment a] Quality tells of a small community in south Portland that had contamination from dry cleaning fluids. The remediation costs were in the millions, Remediation is very expensive. Protecting the groundwater before it becomes contaminated is very inexpensive compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been spent in Dayton, Ohio; Lincoln, Nebraska; Chesapeake Bay, Maryland; or Oregon iil reducing nitrates and other contaminants. In the last seven years, volunteers have tested 1600 private home wells for nitrates. Levels ranged from 0 to 33 part per million nitrate. Three areas were found in Lane County that were showing increased levels of nitrates, namely Coburg, Junction City, and Springfield. Coburg and Junction City currently have state recognized Wellhead Protection plans in effect. Springfield has the opportunity to become a leader in the protection of groundwater. Springfield needs to protecttheir value resource of clean . . groundwater.