Jo-Anne Smith- Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga Region Real Estate, Ont

There are numerous sources of contaminants for well water and all of these should be taken into consideration when choosing a site for a new well or when upgrading an existing well.
Purchasers of vacant land in the country or of country homes should make themselves aware of the possibility of contamination from any of the following sources before they choose a well location or sign an agreement of purchase and sale:

• Waste Products from Animals~Livestock and pet manure are serious problems when it comes to wells. The Walkerton tragedy was a direct result of an improperly located and maintained well which became contaminated with livestock manure run-off.
  Review farm and kennel management practices by following the guidelines put out by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. In addition, be wary of where you are locating your pet's run or a barn in relation to your well.
  
  
• Underground Storage Tanks~Underground fuel storage tanks may pose a particular hazard, particularly if they are over 10-15 years old and/or lack protection against corrosion. It's a good idea to remove underground storage tanks and replace them with above-ground storage tanks that have been installed according to government requirements and standards.
  
  
• Above-ground Storage Tanks~Storage tanks for any toxic chemical or fuel should be kept at least 50-100 feet (15-30 metres) away from a well, depending on the well type. This is a requirement under Ontario's Regulation 903. Tanks should have a spill containment system capable of holding at least 125 % of the volume of the tank.
  
  
• Toxic Chemicals and Fuels~Toxic chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, oils and fuels should be stored in proper containers and well away from any wells. When filling your lawnmower's gas tank or that of any other machinery, be aware that one litre of gasoline can contaminate one million litres of groundwater. It's a good idea to refuel far away from a well and preferably on a hard top surface in case of spills. Clean up any spills quickly with sand or kitty litter. Never us water to hose down a spill !
  
  
• Gardens~Gardens should not be located near a well. Low-growing permanent ground covers such as grass should be planted around wells and fertilizers and pesticides should not be used anywhere near a well.
  
  
• Septic Systems~Septic Systems should be located down grade and far away from your well. The system should meet the Ontario Building Code and all chemicals other than human waste should be kept out of the septic system. Most septic systems should be kept 100 feet away from any wells in the vicinity. Keep your septic system well maintained and have it pumped it out every 2-3 years.
  
  
• Farm field run-off~ Locate your well a good distance from any cultivated farm fields due to the dangerous affects of the pesticides and fertilizer run-off on the people who consume the well water. Some herbicides leach into the ground water for many years after they are spread and the nitrates and nitrites from fertilizers can cause devastating, permanent damage to the livers and tender bodily systems of young children.
  
  
• Be Aware of Abandoned Barrels and Tanks~ Check for evidence of any abandoned tanks that may have been buried by previous owners. Look for pipes sticking out of the ground or other evidence that something may be buried nearby. Harmful liquids may leach out of corroding barrels and contaminate the ground water, including your well, in the vicinity. There are many tragic stories of people who have become extremely ill or died from drinking well water that was contaminated with chemicals which leached in from surrounding decaying toxic waste barrels.
  
  
• Road Salts, De-icing Chemicals and Oils~ Keep your well far away from sources of contamination that may come from driveways or nearby roads. These may include chemicals used in de-icing as well as oil leaks from vehicles.

When it comes to your family's health, pure, uncontaminated water is of a paramount importance.
Where you choose to put your well today will impact all those who depend on it's water now and well into the future. Choose wisely!

Part One~Buying Country Property-Choosing a Location for Your Well

©2008JoSmith

Pure, crystal, health-giving and necessary. For as long as there have been
people, water has been one of the basic needs for survival.

In today's world, water is becoming a high-priced and steadily more rare commodity which is disappearing due to over and mis-use.

If you're considering buying property outside of a city/town, chances are your family's water source will be a well.
There are many important things to know as you begin your home search and learning about these now will not only save you a great deal of heartache and money down the road, they may also save the health of your or a family member.

All wells get their water from an underground water source known as 'groundwater'. Groundwater is replenished via the earth's surface water which comes from rain and snow.
Below the earth's surface, rain and melting snow seep down to pool in saturated layers below the water table. These saturated layers are known as 'aquifers'.

Depending on the type of soil or rock above an aquifer, pollutants coming in with the rain, snow or environmental spills, can seep down and render an aquifer unusable or contaminated. Areas where the soil is very coarse or where there are fissures in the bedrock are more susceptible to this kind of contamination.

Faulty septic systems, decaying toxic waste or fuel barrels or tanks may also contaminate all wells in the vicinity.
If one well is poorly maintained or not constructed properly or sealed when no longer needed, it can be a source for contaminated surface water to pollute the aquifer that feeds into many surrounding wells.

The government of Ontario has therefore set out Regulation 903 of the Ontario Water Resources Act in order to protect all citizens.

Within the structure of this law, are obligations that well owners must follow in Ontario, or risk being brought to court under contravention of the law.

Groundwater is not static. Rather it flows just as a river or stream on the surface does.

The water under the earth's surface flows much more slowly than surface water. Depending on the substrate it is flowing through, it can flow as slowly as a few millimetres a day to a few metres a day or more.
In the area where there are wells, the groundwater flows in as the well water is being used. The closer a souce of contamination is to your well, the more danger there is, however be aware that groundwater contaminants may spread several kilometres away from their source.

If you are buying a vacant piece of land and considering building a new home, choosing a location for your well is of paramount importance and one of the first steps you should take.
The area you pick should be on a higher point of land and as far away as possible from contaminant sources.

The ground surface near the well should be landscaped to direct surface water contaminants to flow away from the well. It's best to contact a Ministry of the Environment licensed well contractor to assist you in locating the proper location for a new well on your property.

The basic guidelines, when considering a well location away from sources of contamination such as septic systems, road salts, manure piles, livestock fuel storage tanks, etc are as follows:

• ~For drilled wells which have watertight casings 20 feet (6 metres) or more below ground level, potential contaminant sources must be located at least 50 feet (15 metres) away.
  
  
• ~For all other well types, contaminant sources must be at least 100 feet (30 metres) away.

Please be aware that even these minimum distances are not a guarantee that your well will always be safe to drink from. It's extremely important to maximize the distance from contaminant sources as much as possible and to reduce the sources for contamination or eliminate them entirely.

Part Two~Buying Country Property-Well Contaminants and What You Need to Know.

©2008JoSmith

The Bay of Quinte Region rests serenely on the north-east shore of Lake Ontario, one of the 5 Great Lakes of North America. It has a 4 season climate with hot, humid summers and the winters, although variable, can be very cold and snowy.

We do not have alligators here nor any poisonous snakes of any kind. The lakes and rivers are all fresh-water and can be swam in safely without the worry of being attacked by any creature.

There are a few animals to be wary of though, especially if they are acting aggressive or if you come upon one by chance.

The Snapping Turtle is a prehistoric looking creature with a ridged back and tail and a sharp looking snout (because it is!). This turtle can grow quite large and is capable of jumping forward with amazing agility and speed if threatened. It can inflict a very hard bite withe snap of it's jaws, strong enough to break a human bone. These turtles generally keep to themselves and will not bother mankind, unless they are cornered or threatened.

They will only attack on land and are not to be feared in water. In the spring you will often find their nests in sandy or gravelly areas such as beaches or along the shoulders of roads that run near water bodies. Their eggs are the size and appearance of ping pong balls and are a treat for skunks and racoons, amongst other wildlife.
Snapping Turtle Photo Courtesy of Flickr

Their numbers have become greatly depleted over the years, due to 'turtle' hunters, as their meat is considered a great delicacy for turtle soup, served in the finer of restaurants. They are protected now and there is a ban on hunting snapping turtles in Ontario.
We do have an abundance of coyotes, foxes and the odd wolf visits our region, as well as black bears and the occasional eastern cougar, which has been spotted a few times in recent years.

Coyotes, Wolves and Foxes, unless rabid or protecting their young, will not bother you and are more wary of you, than you are of them.
You would be lucky to see one as they are all extremely secretive.
If you spot one in the woods or in your yard, stay well away. A canid coming into a built-up area or approaching someone deliberately in the forest, usually signifies a rabid animal and these can be very dangerous.

The government of Ontario puts out immunization pellets throughout the forests in the hopes that wild mammals will find them and in consuming them, be immune to rabies; however not all mammals find and consume one of these pellets.
Similarly, if you spot a racoon who is acting aggressive or strange, stay far away and report them to a local animal control operation.

Black Bears have been known to attack people, although rarely and usually only if their young are threatened. If you are camping, do not leave any food around and definitely do not keep food in your tent. Keep all food in the trunk of your car or bundled up and slung high up over a tree branch and out of the bear's reach. It's also wise not to have any soiled or sweaty clothes in your tent at night as bears are attracted strongly by scents that they may perceive as food and have been known to come right through a tent to get what they want. Bear attacks are very rare , however they do occur and you'd be wise to practice precautions if you plan on hiking or camping in our region.

Please read this excellent article put out by Parks Canada on what to do if a Black Bear comes after you, especially if you plan on spending time in our beautiful wilderness areas or parks anytime soon.

This area of Ontario also is known of porcupines and although you are not likely to be close enough to one to be harmed, your pet may encounter one and subsequently require a very expensive trip to the veterinarian to have quills removed.

They say a smart dog gets one or two quills in the lip or snout and backs off (which my pet coyote Neeka did when she and her son Badger encountered one), and a not so smart dog will get angry after the first few quills enter and go on an all out attack on the porcupine
(which is what Badger did when he saw his Mother yelp in pain from being stuck with a few porcupine quills.
Badger had thousands of quills stuck in his mouth and thoughout his face and required extensive sedated quill removal at the vets involving a two day stay and a bill in the neighbourhood of $400.00).

Keep your pets on a leash at all times if you plan on hiking or camping in any of our parks or forests.

In addition, always keep your children close by and preferably make a fair bit of noise as you are hiking through the woods in order not to surprise any of our wild creatures and suffer an unpleasant encounter.

©2008JoSmith

~Continued From Part One:Sometimes Your Heart Just Says, "Yes"~Buying an Old House, Part One

As we stepped across the deep opening into the parlour, I couldn't help but notice how heavy the old door, that separated the winter kitchen from the parlour, was.
I reached out and swung it gently to ascertain it's heft and , feeling it's weight, wondered what kind of wood lay beneath the multitude of old paint layers.

An intricate cast iron door latch, that had been painted over, caught my eye and my heart skipped a few beats as my tender heartstrings began to flutter with the thoughts of how many thumbs had pressed down on that latch over the past 100+ years.
This weary old farmhouse was definitely having it's way with me and bit by bit I realized I was succumbing to it's charms.

A strong smell of heating oil reached my nostrils as we stepped into the parlour and noticing the old, oil spaceheater standing against one wall, I asked the REALTOR if that was the only source of heat in the house besides the cookstove.
He nodded his head as he said 'yes and it seems to be doing a fine job'.
I had grown up in a house where a gas spaceheater had stood in the living room and it brought to mind the memory of those cold mornings where I had jumped out of bed, raced downstairs with clothes in hand and stood near the spaceheater to dress.
This was turning out to be a bit more than I had bargained for as dollar signs started multiplying in my head.

The little, round woman led us to another room that was tucked off of the parlour, and she announced that this was the 'nursery or infirmary' room and was where the elderly, an infant or the sick were kept during the day so they could be carefully and lovingly tended to during the busy daytime hours of farm life.
The door, when left open, also allowed warm parlour air to keep the small room toasty and comfortable for the weak or very young.

I gazed out the tall windows of the small room and noticed the tilting, red outhouse in the backyard, tucked safely into a grove of lilacs.
Another expense, I reminded myself. Septic sytem, plumbing and bathroom required. The dollar signs quickly took another jump in my see-sawing brain.

Leading off the small room was another door that opened into the remaining room of the main floor of the original part of the farm house.
The small woman explained that it was the main bedroom of the house and was where the heads of the household slept, close to the nursery or the infirm and at the ready for early morning stoking of woodstoves and prior to that, an old fireplace that had once heated the functional, little dwelling.

My heartstrings were playing again as I was swept back into a gentler time where families stuck together and loved one another, throughout each stage of life that came their way.

The elderly were treasured family members and were always kept nearby, stories were told in the evening hours, fiddles were brought out, jigs were danced and laughter peeled out across open windows to the woods beyond where deer lifted their gentle heads in wonder at the new forest sounds that had recently come to the valley.

A song came to my mind and I found myself humming a few of the notes as my eyes carressed the view of the front yard that stretched off in the distance.

Far off, I could see the old gravel road that had led us to this enchanting place, long ago forgotten by time, and as I began to hum the tune a bit louder, the REALTOR gave me a half smile and the small woman reached for a porcelain doorknob to lead us on our way.
~to be continued.

©2008JoSmith

As we rounded the final corner of the old, narrow gravel road, we spotted it.
Sitting in the distance, at the bottom of a large, pine-covered hill, it seemed so small and grey beneath a large old hybrid poplar and the fields beyond were pale and lifeless in the late winter air.

Turning down the long driveway, the wheels of our truck spun and dipped as we drove through deep pools of mud and thawing ice.
The old farmhouse stretched back into the hill as we approached and into view came, what appeared to be, two separate additions coming off the original structure.
This old house had seen it's better days.

We parked and hopped out into the muddy back yard and walked across the old wood planks that had been placed precariously on the muddy slick that led to the back stoop.

A scrawny, grey, barn cat ran off into some overgrown lilacs as we approached the old, weathered back door.

After knocking firmly and waiting for a number of minutes in the brisk country air, a small, but round, woman finally came and, opening the door, ushered us inside with a quiet 'hello, come in'.

The door opened into an old pine-floored, summer kitchen with uninsulated walls and old two-over-two water-glass, single-pane windows that looked out at a lonely barn in the distance.

Stepping up another step we followed the small woman as she opened another door and led us into a cosy, winter kitchen where an old Beech Cookstove gave off a welcome warmth and heavenly smells of fresh bread and bubbling stew.

Kittens played with a little, stuffed, calico ball on the weathered, old, flowered linoleum floor and a fat, old dog appeared at the door that opened into the parlour on the opposite side of the old farm kitchen.

I gazed around in wonder at the lime-green wainscotting and red-flowered wallpaper covering the walls and as my eyes wandered up to the narrow, tongue and groove ceiling, I felt like I had stepped back into my Grandmother's kitchen in the 1920s.

A red handpump next to an old, white porcelain kitchen sink reminded me of the fact that this house did not have indoor plumbing, other than the cistern below the parlour beyond.

The place seemed small and cluttered with leggy geraniums covering every window sill and pony bridles, harnesses and barncoats hung from hooks stuck haphazardly into any empty wallspace.

There was a smell of leather and horse mixed in with the stew and fresh bread aromas and every now and then I would catch a whiff of woodsmoke as the old cookstove sputtered when a wood-knot crackled and burst.

This certainly was like stepping back in time, I thought to myself as I followed the REALTOR® where he led into the main part of the tired old house.

"Just what was I thinking?" , I admonished myself as I began to remember how I had insisted on seeing this house even though I had been warned that it needed far too much work and was basically a tear-down.
My heart began to sink as I saw my dream evaporating before my very eyes.

~to be continued.

©2008JoSmith
"...Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days"~Buying an Old House, Part Two.