Well Aware Community Forum

SMITHS FALLS, ON – Local concerns about the possible effects of solar farms on water wells and groundwater have prompted the Rideau Environmental Action League to hold another of its popular Well Aware Community Forums on Tuesday, June 28.

“We held about 15 of these some years ago, but none in the last couple of years. But we had requests from people living near some of the solar farms going in and decided it was time,” said Susan Brandum, Manager at REAL. “We really want to help people help themselves by becoming informed about their own wells and our common groundwater. What are genuine concerns and what aren’t? What actions can they take to protect their own wells?”

The Forum will feature:

Angela Gulley-Northfield – a Hydrogeologist and the Well Aware program’s Water Guide. She will speak on the Basics of Groundwater, including local groundwater conditions and how well owners can know more about their water supplies with baseline water tests.

Kim Yee – Coordinator, Water Well Management Program for the Ministry of Environment. Yee will use his compelling visual presentation to show what makes a Good or a Bad Well and to elaborate on Regulation 903 that governs well construction and maintenance.

Mark Green – Senior Public Health Inspector and Chief Building Official at the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. Green will give his entertaining and straight-shooting presentation on Septic and Wastewater Treatment Systems and the Health Unit’s water test.

Susan Brandum – Manager of Well Aware and a developer of the Well Aware program. She will describe the actions homeowners themselves can take to protect the source of their water supplies and the Well Aware program.

The Forum is free of charge.

Well Aware is a project of Green Communities Canada and is delivered locally by member Rideau Environmental Action League. Funding support is provided by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Technical support is provided by the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. Well Aware is endorsed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Conservation Ontario, and the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (Ontario branch).

For more information on the Well Aware program, wells and groundwater, go to www.wellaware.ca