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Serving - Macedon - Gananda - Walworth - Palmyra - Marion - Ontario -Williamson When Wate Goes Many residents take drinkiig water for grant- ed, but in some areas fewer than 50% of the homes are connected to municipal water supplies. For people relying on wells, drinking water often comes 08 store shelves. Have you ever looked at your water bills and thought perhaps, how lucky peo- ple on well water are? After all, once the well is drilled they get all their water free! In truth, the vast majority of well reliant households would gladly change their headaches and costs for a regular municipal water bill. Uncertain water supplies, bacterial contamination, sulhr infiltration and well maintenance costs are the ingredients leading to homeowner frustrations. According to Ed Bastian, Director of Operations for the Wayne County Water & Sewer Authority, the Town of Marion has only about 50% of its households connected to municipal water supplies. Palmyra only recently broke the 50% mark with the addition of 25 miles of new line. Today, 65% of the town residents are hooked up. That number, surprisingly matches the Town of Walworth. Williamson and Ontario have close to 90- 95% of their residents hooked up and in the Town of Macedon, there are less than 100 homes still depending on well water. The times have changed when a rural country farm style could rely on the farn- ily well to see them through the droughts of summer and the uncertain winters and spring seasons. Along with progress and growth came agriculturd fertilizers, com- mercial contamination, and development that stretched thin the undergound water sources. \In the Vienna Road area in Palmyra they had all kinds of problems. The State Health Department said there was a dire need for municipal water lines there. The problem they had was coliforrn contami- nation,\ Bastian pointed out. \There were Vince Lammers has lived on Cory Comers Road in Marion for 13 years. During that time the family has spent close to $13,000 getting \free\ waterfmm wells on their homestead. Vince is pictured above next to a well gone bad due to sulfir contamination. a lot of people over there buying and hauling water,\ he added. In parts of Marion, the major concern is sulfur contamination in wells. When the Vince and Barb Lammers family built their home on Cory Corners Road, they knew that there was a chance of sul- fur in the ground water supply. Still, they figured that filters, luck and a bit of inconvenience was well worth the coun- try living atmosphere. Within a short time, the realization of major problems hit home. The family's first well was 180 deep and had only a \touch of sulfur\ in it. The biggest prob- lem they saw was in the quantity of water they could draw out of the well.The fam- ily of seven would have to adjust. Minor treatments for sulfur led to an aeration treatment and a 1000 gallon holding tank. as time went on the sulfur contamination wdksened. a water softener and sediment filter were added.Soon, bottled water for drinking became a reality. Major build-ups in water lines caused corrosion and countless plumber calls.Vince would regularly climb down into the holding tank and clean out inch- es of black sulfur sludge. The final straw came when he entered the tank and clumps of cement broke off in his hands. \I didn't know sulfur could eat through cement,\ he stated. The family was forev- er replacing sinks, fixtures and piping as the sulfur stained or ate through enamel finishes. Over the 13 year period, the Lammers have worn out three clothes washers. \Then there was the time we had some visitors up for Christmas,\ remembered Barb, with her eyes up towards the heav- ens. On December 26th, the family and guests, 11 in all, awoke to no water at all. Finally, two years ago a new well was drilled on the opposite side of the proper- ty. A 130' well was drilled and luckily, the water smelled and tasted good. After over $13,000 in well drilling, equipment, chemicals, plumbing, appliances and embarrassing sulfur smells, the Lammers are getting good water. Vince admits that this could change at any time. This well too, could go bad without warning. Both Vince and Barb would welcome with open arms a municipal water source. Another reason given by Barb for a municipal water supply is for property values. \People expect a water supply when they buy a house,\ she admitted. Vince added that safety of your water supply is the chief concern and reliability and resale also figure into the formula. \One of the things people often overlook with wells is the safety issue.\ The ironic part about sulfur contami- nation is that while one house is plagued with it, the house next door can escape unscathed by the mineral. Ken Adriaansen lives next door to the Lammers. \I guess I've just been lucky.\ Thirteen years ago when he built his home, a \dug\ well (one not using the drilling technique but actually dug out with a backhoe) of only 17' deep was necessary. The well is located about 150' to 200' behind the house and it was nec- essary to install a deep water pump to get the water to a pressure tank. Ken also installed a water softener and has run out of water only on a couple of occasions. Even though he admits to being lucky, he knows the plight of his neighbors and said he to would hook up to municipal water. \I get my water free now. When it comes I will probably still use the well,\ he added Neighbor Betty Frank described her sulfur contamination as \unreal.\ \I used to get white clothes, but now they are kind of gray,\ she admitted. She too has spent a small fortune on treatments and chemicals and today gets bottled water from her son. \We need water. We have the highest taxes and the fewest services,\ she exclaimed. Other neighbors told of frequent trips to buy 10 gallons of bottled water at a time. The rotten egg smell of sulfur per- meating their homes and clothes and the countless excuses to first time guests. Shirley Ameele has lived on the fami- ly homestead for years She has also expe- rienced the inconvenience of uncertain wells. Although she has avoided the sul- fur curse, the houses on either side of her have been not been so lucky. Diana Ameele over on Goosen Road in Marion has been hit with sulfur in two drilled wells and low or no water on many occa- sions. Story continued on page three Volume 8, Number 33 April 8,1997 In this issue ... Nozzolio Blames Democrats For Missing April 1st State Budget Deadline see page 20 Macedon Library Offers Public Access To New York State Real Property System story on page 17 Pontillo's Pizza Takes Over Food Operations At The Station story & pies on page 14 - - Question of the week! How Can You Stand The Yoo-Hoofs? Read Legal Briefs on page 8 Pal-Mac Rotary Donates To Community Groups see page three Williamson Man Charged With Robbery story on page 7 In Religion A look At St. Anne's & St, Gregory's Catholic Churches see page 15 To contact the Times call 986-4300
