Elora, June 8, 2010 – Rural homeowners in Wellington County are being offered a chance to have a free well check-up conducted by a certified well guide. The program, known as Well Aware is being delivered throughout Wellington County by the community-based environmental non-profit, Elora Environment Centre.

The program offers a guided self assessment and complete information kit to assist well owners in taking small actions that, when done cumulatively by thousands, can make a huge improvement in the ground and surface water quality in the region. 100 guided self assessments are being offered free of charge to Wellington County residents who want to find out more about proper care and maintenance of their water wells and septic systems. “The self-guided assessments offer rural residents an excellent opportunity to make a few simple changes that can have a huge impact on the quality of their drinking water” says program manager Sara Lin Barron. “It gives people practical ideas on maintaining a healthy well, septic system and minimizing other potential sources of contamination.”

The service includes recommendations on well maintenance and upgrading, decommissioning unused wells, water conservation, yard naturalization and septic system best management practices. The visits are also a great one-on-one opportunity for homeowners to raise specific questions and concerns they may have about their water quality. The water guide will also help well owners understand when they need to call a licensed professional for repairs or upgrading.
After the visit the homeowner is mailed a complete report containing all observations and recommendations for their well and property.

Well Aware is a project of Green Communities Canada and directed locally by the Elora Environment Centre. Well Aware is a province wide well stewardship effort funded by the Ministry of the Environment and supported by the Ontario Groundwater Association and the Association for Professional Well Drillers.

Ms. Barron would also like to remind rural residents serviced by a private well to regularly test their water for bacteria with the Wellington-Dufferin Guelph Public Health Unit. With the recent heavy rainfall, ground water is swelling and the risk of surface water runoff impacting your well is high. To ensure your family is using clean safe water, testing in the spring is of the utmost importance, stressed Barron.

You can also look for Well Aware information kits at municipal offices throughout the region and your local Health Unit.

For more information or to book your Well Aware visit, contact Sara Lin Barron at the Elora Environment Centre. Local: 519-846-8464 or Toll Free: 1-866-865-7337. Email inquiries to: bewellaware@eloraenvironmentcentre.ca Website: www.wellaware.ca