Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 6 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
Route 211 spring. . . . We consider I the spring as constructed along I Route 211 in Rappahannock County to be an unprotected spring. Be- ' cause it is an unprotected water - source, it would be considered to be $ contaminated intermittently throughout the year, if not permanently. . . .This spring, as presently constructed, is considered to be a contaminated water source. . . . Sampling the water for bacteria and chemical content would not reveal anything because the spring is not properly protected....”
By this line of reasoning, VDH would have to close up every spring in Shenandoah National Park, particularly those serving trail shelters and other recreation areas. It would have to seal up every Virginia spring in the National Wilderness Preservation System. It would have to eradicate every spring in the Commonwealth.
If VDH wants to deal with threats to drinking water in Rappahannock County, we suggest it examine some real problems:
• Improving regulations governing location, design, and management of septic systems;
• Monitoring septic systems to assure their proper maintenance and operation;
• Assuring that all materials pumped from septic tanks go to approved septage treatment facilities;
• Figuring out what to do about the alarming percentage of household wells showing contamination, according to the current Extension Service testing program. (Incidentally, why doesn’t VDH regularly conduct such tests?)
RLEP asks VDH to solve actual big problems, not minor ones that don’t even exist. RLEP asks VDOT to reopen a public supply of clean water that gives residents an available alternative to private wells that may have become contaminated due to VDH inattention to big problems.
FRANKLIN’ REYNOLDS JR.
PRESIDENT, RLEP
Washington
94.2%