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sembly must act. “People are generally ignorant on the state of this resource and how we impact on its use . . . over-fertilizing the lawn, dumping old motor oil on the ground, using salt to clear the ice from the walk and driveway, burying an animal in the backyard - we consumers just do not understand the impact of all these things on our water, and therefore, we often do the wrong things.”
Under questioning from Sen. Wiley Mitchell, health department representatives confirmed that the only regular aquifer monitoring comes through the “routine testing” of 300 wells around the state. Neither the health department nor any other state agency has an obligation to test the water quality of existing or new private wells: “If it’s not going to be
a community water supply, you’re on your own,” said the health department representative.
And even those who drink from public water sources are on their own to some degree. According to the health department, full-spectrum testing is done only on community
water systems. Water for hotels, restaurants and other public systems serving transients is tested only for bacteria and nitrate - not for hazardous chemicals - and then the testing comes only upon issuance of a permit. Continuous, periodic monitoring and complete analysis is done solely for community water supplies.
“We’re all preaching the same gospel here,” noted Loudoun’s Supervisor Brownell, in asking that the Commission carry the recommendations back to the General Assembly for action.
Judging from the Commission’s response, the message was getting across. “We hope that meaningful legislation will come out of this meeting,” concluded Chairman Charles Colgan.
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