Rob Moulton, CPHI(C)

Spring is here, and with it comes the snow melt and the heavy rains.  This time of year brings floods and runoff to all of our waterways, and with it cones a lot of contamination of almost all kinds.  Some of the more common issues with spring runoff include salt and other chemicals from roadways, trash and debris from floods and melting ice, and bacteria and viruses washed into the waterways from a long winter of fecal matter and degrading plant and animal life.  All of these bring their own unique challenges for homeowners and businesses of all sizes.

The first concern with spring runoff is the salt and various other chemicals running off of the roadways with the snow and early season rains.  Chemicals like mercury and arsenic and other heavy metals saturate the snow and make their way into your water source, particularly if you live along a river or lake or you have a well that is considered to be ground water under direct influence (GUDI) of surface water.  If this is your situation, you may want to consider testing your water once a year just after the snow melts for chemical contamination, just to see if any adverse chemicals or contaminants are making their way through you treatment system.  If that is the case, you may need to speak to your installer about some changes or tweaks to your treatment setup.

One of the more obvious issues with springtime is the preponderance of flotsam and jetsam which end up in the water near intakes.  Some of that trash can pose leaching and chemical hazards, like used oil containers and used tires or household cleaners, or leftover trash from ice fishing huts left out or sunk into he lake or river as the ice melted. There seem to be one or two of those each year as fishermen leave their huts out just a little too long hoping to maximize the season.  These huts release chemicals from treated wood and insulation, heating fuel, and other physical debris.

Some of the debris causes physical hazards to pumps, wires, and pipes, as ropes entangle and wear out power cords, or smaller particles can plug pumps or ger pulled into the system, casing a blockage up the line, or contaminating the system.  The early spring thaw is a good opportunity to get in the small craft and inspect your water intake, and ensure that it is clear of physical hazards, and ready to run at its optimal level.  It is also a good chance to check your screens, power connections, and other aspects of your pump to ensure it survived the winter.

One of the biggest concerns this time of year however, is bacterial and viral runoff into the lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as shallow wells and sand points.  The biggest source of this contamination is spring is the fecal matter carried into the water from the forests.  Creatures of all kinds from wildlife to pets do their business on trails, and through the winter it all accumulates.  

This is normally not as much of a concern in summer, as individual droppings piles disintegrate as they are dropped.  In the winter, snow and ice preserve them, and come spring, there’s a bacterial and viral time bomb waiting to hit a watercourse near you. Mounds of degrading fecal matter and decaying plant and animal life breed a dangerous cocktail of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, so you may want to consider testing your tap water at your camp or cottage or waterfront estate to make sure you avoid any contamination. Most health authorities will allow residents to sample their water free of charge; all you need do is stop by the lab or health authority branch and collect a sample bottle, take it home, fill in the form, and drop it off again.  If you can’t make it to a lab or branch, find out if there is a professional in your area who may collect samples for you.

Remember, while spring is a time for growth and renewal, it is also a time where a lot of old waste is being brought to the surface, and a little bit of vigilance can go a long way. Watch your shoreline, watch your water intakes, and test your water to ensure its safety, and remember to contact your maintenance provider to keep everything flowing smoothly.