Enter your search termsSubmit search form
	Web Blanco-Texas.com

Protect Groundwater at Home

Strategies to protect groundwater from contamination at home can involve changing waste disposal and storage practices, switching to nonhazardous products, and properly managing septic systems, underground storage tanks, and wells.

Waste Disposal

Most community wastewater treatment plants are not designed to treat harmful substances such as paints, solvents, oil, or pesticides, so these chemicals should not be flushed down the toilet or dumped into the sewer (and they are bad news for your septic tank, too).

Also, most community landfills are not equipped to handle hazardous materials; these substances should not go in the trash or be dumped on the ground, buried, or burned.

If you DO use harmful materials, please use and dispose of them properly.

More importantly, limit use of these kinds of products and substitute a nonhazardous product when possible (many are available, even in a small town like Blanco).

When this isn't possible, buy only as much as you need.

Hazardous products used around the home include some oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners, bleaches, rust removers, paints, solvents, polishers, carpet and furniture cleaners and glues.

If you don't completely use up a hazardous product, give it to someone who needs it or take it to a hazardous waste or recycling center.

Take advantage of household hazardous waste collection days when our community offers them (the Keep Blanco Beautiful organization sponsors a "Trash-Off" every year for disposal of hazardous substances, abandoned appliances, and such).

If you must use pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn and garden, use them in moderation. Blanco County Master Gardeners can provide information on natural ways to control lawn, garden, and tree pests which can reduce reliance on chemicals and protect groundwater.

Alternatives to Hazardous Cleaning Products

You can protect groundwater by using cleaning products that will not harm the environment whenever possible. Look for "environmentally friendly" products at the market.

Many household products such as shampoo and baby ointment contain zinc. Paints and solvents may contain lead.

You can make your your own household cleaning solutions from nonhazardous materials such as vinegar, pure soap, baking soda, washing soda, borax and household ammonia.

Try this recipe for an all-purpose cleaner:

1 gallon hot water
1/4 cup household ammonia
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon baking soda

Clean household drains with hot water mixed with a half cup of baking soda.

Instead of using pesticides on house plants and your garden, try the following:

Septic Systems

Anything you pour down the drain or flush down the toilet will enter your septic system and will affect its ability to treat human wastes.

Have your septic system inspected annually and pumped out frequently so that solid materials do not leave the tank and enter the drainage field (if you're not using hazrdous materials, your septic system will function better).

Do not put hazardous substances or items like coffee grounds, cigarette butts, or grease in your toilet or garbage disposal. Limit the amount of water entering the system by using water saving fixtures and appliances.

If you replace or install a septic system, find out what the state and local requirements are for locating the system relative to water supply wells, and natural creeks and rivers.

If soil on your proprty is sandy or gravelly, discuss with your system designer how to protect groundwater by increasing the separation distances to account for the rapid ground water flow.

Minimize the amount of water entering your septic system; for example, try spacing loads of laundry throughout the week instead of all in one day.

The best way to protect groundwater?Minimize the amount of hazardous household chemicals that find their way into your septic system.

Underground Storage Tanks

Be aware of the existence and condition of undergound storage tanks on your property.

Property records (your own, or those maintained at the city clerk's office), may contain information on the age and construction material of any tanks on your property.

Have your tank tested for thickness to determine if it is leaking.

If your storage tank is more than 20 years old, consider removing it, replacing it, or properly abandoning it in place, according to state requirements.

To ensure your undergound storage tank doesn't contaminate a source of drinking water, remove it and replace it with an exposed tank than can be easily inspected for cracks or leaks.

If you keep your existing undergound storage tank, install corrosion protection, spill prevention, and leak detection equipment.

Floor and Stormwater Drains

Some homes have floor drains in the garage or barn which may lead to disposal systems that then discharge into the ground.

Wash water and other types of waste fluids could enter the ground, particularly during vehicle maintenance activities, such as washing a car, changing oil, or making repairs.

Residential storm drains also provide a conduit and will take wastes directly to the river.

Use less water during vehicle maintenance and avoid spilling, pouring or washing automotive and other waste fluids down garage floor, carwash, or community storm drains.

Wells

If you are replacing a well, hire a contractor who follows proper well abandonment procedures for the old well. Contact the health department for a list of water well contractors who are members of the state or national associations of ground water contractors.

Consider the locations of nearby septic systems, undergound storage tanks, and above ground tanks storing fuel, oil or chemicals when having a drinking water well installed.

The well should be located as far as possible from all potential sources of contamination.

The well should be located on the highest suitable ground with surface drainage directed away form the well site.

Periodically inspect the well casing and seal to make sure there are no cracks or opening through which insects, plant debris, or other material can enter the well.

Perform periodic chemical analysis of the water to identify the presence of chemicals.

Keep up to date records of well installation, repairs, pumping tests, and water quality tests. The records can help identify changes in the water supply, contamination of the water source, or deterioration of the water system.

Properly plug and abandon old wells. Such wells are a direct conduit to ground water for wastes.

Learn how you can do more to protect groundwater by visiting the Preserve Our Water website.

Back to Blanco Water Issues