city of portland wellhead protection

Public Notice Portland Continues to Work on Wellhead Protection The source of Portland's drinking water is groundwater produced from wells located in our community. To help protect the underground aquifer and the water supply wells from contamination, the City of Portland continues to implement the Wellhead Protection (WHP) Plan, which was originally approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in December of 2003. A Phase II Plan was approved by IDEM in March of 2011. A 5- Year Update to the Phase II Plan is due to IDEM on March 30, 2016. A complete copy of the WHP Plan and educational pamphlets are available to the public at the Portland Water Department (205 S. Wayne Street). The Local Planning Team (LPT) held a WHP meeting on January 12, 2016 to discuss development of the Phase II 5-Year Update, public education and pollution prevention efforts. Portland's WHP Program focuses on public awareness, education, spill prevention and spill reporting. This year, the LPT will focus on identifying and notifying potential contaminant sources located within the WHP Area. Water, oil and gas wells that become damaged or are no longer used are a potential conduit for surface contamination to reach the groundwater and contaminate our drinking water source. Additionally, inactive wells should be plugged to ensure the well does not allow oil/gas to discharge to the ground and so wells do not pose a threat to public health or safety or interfere with agricultural uses of the land. The city is working to identify the location of wells and determine whether these wells are active, inactive, or abandoned. The landowner is ultimately responsible for the proper plugging of an inactive well. If you have a well on your property, please contact Doug Jackson, Portland Water Department at (260) 726-4525 so that it can be added to a tracking database. Below are some tips to help you protect your drinking water source: • Learn about groundwater and your water source and participate in watershed clean-up activities. A brochure is available at the Water Department on the WHP Program. • Recycle used oil, automotive fluids, batteries, and other products. Don't dispose of hazardous products in toilets, storm drains, wastewater systems, creeks, alleys, or the ground. This pollutes the water supply. Contact the Jay County Solid Waste Management District for recycling events in your area at 260-729-5071 or visit their website at http://www.jaycosolidwaste.com. • Limit your use of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and other hazardous products. Buy only what you need, reducing the amount to be later discarded. Be sure to follow label directions. • Check your car, boat, motorcycle and other machinery for leaks and spills. Collect leaks with a drip pan until repairs can be made. Clean up spills by absorbing the spill. Do not rinse with water or allow it to soak into the ground. • If you have a septic system, have it inspected and serviced every three years. • Plug abandoned wells on your property as these old wells provide a direct route for surface contamination to reach groundwater supplies. Contact a licensed well driller for assistance. Brochures on proper abandonment of water wells and oil/gas wells are available at the Water Department. • Keep in mind that groundwater aquifers collect and store rainwater and snowmelt that soaks into the ground. The City of Portland feels that drinking water protection is the responsibility of all citizens. By assisting the City with its WHP efforts, residents and business can help ensure the people of Portland have a safe water supply now and in the future. CR 2-6-2016- HSPAXLP