THE PERKINS JOURNAL, Thursday, December 2, 2004-AI3
MI CLUB
continued from A9
a well may
part of the overall
Water well system,
installed well cap
pollutants
water. The
should be sealed
times, keeps out
:from liquid con-
)bUgs that can crawl
wreak havoc.
more informa-
cap, a small
can make a big
water quality
water well
cap, and what
Cap is the cover on
casing that sticks
serves many
which are
or a thermo-
vented screen
Pressure difference
lhe inside and out-
:Well casing may be
pumped
~ell.~ However, the
is to keep
out of the water
of contaminants
Surface water can
natlonall,encounter many types
~/ut'~R~//11~l~v/-~v=~u~--L=~='/-~lg"lV'('~HrlO~l-i~l~v.~ of pollutants and
transport them. These
d33Uk.lOLIUH
are not always easily
it's more than just water
does the well cap keep out of
the well?
A properly sealed well cap
protects against all types of
contamination. It is the first
line of protection against non-
point source pollution, which
constitutes the majority of
ground water contamination.
Non-point source pollution
includes runoff of pesticides
and herbicides, soil erosion,
and elements from the street.
Well caps also keep out
insects, such as earwigs, which
prefer a dark, damp environ-
ment to nest. Insects can cause
major problems in a well. Bac-
teria levels can rise from their
droppings, and sometimes the
bugs themselves can get trapped
in the wells, die, and decompose
in the well water.
Does the well cap make my
water safe?
detected by taste or
smell. A properly
sealed well cap is a
safeguard in prevent-
ing those contaminants
from penetrating the
household water supply.
Having your well tested is the
surest way to determine that the
water is safe. Even if your well
cap fits tightly on your well and
your water tastes fine, the water
well system should be given a
checkup by a contractor every
year.
Is there anything else I can do
to ensure the water is safe?
Check the well cap from
time to time. Make sure that
it is sealed tightly, and look
for cracks and evidence of
tampering. If your well cap has
a lock, check to see if the lock
has been tampered with. Also,
practice safe water habits. Do
not landscape around the well
cap. If you landscape your yard,
make sure there is not a low area
near the well where rainwater
could collect. Rainwater can
carry pollutants that can seep
into a well. And when working
with oil and gasoline, or mixing
herbicides or pesticides, do so
over concrete so spills can't seep
into the ground.
Is it okay to cover the well
cap?
If you don't like the look of
the exposed casing and well
cap sticking out of the lawn,
you can camouflage it. There
are companies that manufac-
ture plastic covers designed to
look like landscaping boulders.
Often called "mock rocks,"
the products are lightweight,
hollow, and durable to the ele-
ments. The covers, which come
in a variety of sizes and shapes
and are growing in popularity,
have been used to cover every-
thing from wellheads to septic
access ports and risers, tanks,
utility panels, and water garden
devices.
Where can I get more infor-
mation?
For more information on your
private water well, contact
your local contractor or visit
www.wellowner.org, a Web site
of the National Ground Water
Association (NGWA). To find a
water well contractor near you,
go to www.wellowner.org and
click on "Contractor Lookup."
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: !i
aln,
I1
country is 5 percent Christian
and 95 percent Muslim. Larry
shared slides of all the differ-
ent areas - from the big cities
to the sheep herders, who
were women. The climate is
semi-arid, but the land is very
productive and prosperous. The
Jordan Valley produces three
crops a year with irrigation.
Larry shared his knowledge of
the country's rich Biblical his-
tory. He had slides of the Red
Sea, Sea of Galilee, Dead Sea,
Jordan River, etc. We enjoyed
viewing Roman ruins that
included watch towers, amphi-
theaters, and building facades
carved in the mountains. He
said the acoustics in the cen-
turies-old amphitheater was
incredible. Some of the runs
were ruins of Roman cities that
were members of the Ten Cities
of The Decapolis. His favorite
city is Petra. Larry said what
he appreciated most about
Jordan was the friendly, hospi-
table people. He made lasting
friendships with people he will
never forget. The group enjoyed
viewing a part of the world that
most people will never have the
privilege to visit.
The meeting was adjourned ,
and refreshments were served.
Those enjoying the evening
were guests Carol Dobbs,
Larry and Kay Jones and
members Judy Bartram, Vicki
Branstetter, Gaye Lynn Chancy,
Fern Downey, Jo Hyder, Patty
Johnson, Barbara Kirby, Nelda
Kirby, Joan McDaniel, Mari-
ann Miller, Judy Moorman,
Claudean Reynolds, Virginia
Sasser, Judy Spillars and Darla
Woody.
continued from A9
because a woodpile is on of
the stations of the year and
expresses the essential ambi-
guity, of all seasonal work. It
represents a job that we know
we can do well enough but that
we also know will never finally
be done. Woodpiles are built
up that they may be torn down.
Massive as they are, they're
ephemeral. You'll have to
build another next year, which
you will then once more thrown
down. The woodpile reminds us
of the fix we're in just by being
alive on this Earth. It connects
us with one another. We may as
well look at our woodpile with
affection, then, for it makes us
be philosophers.
After all this philosophy, we
don't have a woodpile anymore.
We did when we first moved to
Perkins, because our fireplace
was a wood burning apparatus.
Well! We used it for a few years,
and then Gerald said one morn-
ing, you know what? I've cut
wood almost all of my life (there
was a gas starter or pilot on the
fireplace). Voila, he bought a
burner, gas burning fireplace
now. Yep! Fixed that. Just as
cozy and worm, simple. As long
as we don't run out of propane. I
guess that's not a problem. Turn
up the central heat. HaM Then
all we have to worry about is the
electric bill, right?
After moon viewing, my
companionable shadow, walked
along with me.
Till we meet again, dear
friends, may your fires burn
warm and bright. Deo Volente,
Pour pren dre conge, I wish you
peace and love.
[]
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