Wellhead Protection
What is the Wellhead Protection?
In order to understand our need for the Wellhead Protection Plan, it is important to know the importance of our local groundwater supply and the area that contributes to it. Within Michigan, approximately 44% of the population relies on groundwater to supply their drinking water needs. Because we all depend on safe, reli- able water for continued growth and development, it is necessary to improve & ensure the quality of our groundwater.
Our water supply is our sole source of Marcellus’s drinking water; therefore protecting it will protect public health, enhance the quality of life & protect a vital natural resource.
Water is a known renewable resource because it is cyclical. Water travels from the ground to the surface and into lakes, rivers and streams. The water then evaporates into the air, only to return later, via rain, fog, snow or hail to the surface. It then seeps into the ground where it begins the cycle all over again. Contaminates and pollutants can be added at any point of this process, which constitutes significant risk to public health, recreation and the economy.
Our Wellhead Protection Plan is aimed at protecting the water supply from existing and future emitters of pollution.
Wellhead Protection Plan
The Wellhead Protection Plan is a common sense approach to the immediate and long - term protection of our water supply system. The objective is to manage and control the potential sources of contamination throughout the Village and other designated areas, focusing on our well field sites. In addition, the plan is taking positive steps to manage potential sources of contaminants and contingency planning for the future by trying to protect the areas around the Village from contamination.
The Village’s water system is composed of 2 production wells, one elevated storage tank and a distribution system. The Village DPW operates and maintains the systems. Below is a map of the Wellhead Protection Area for the Village of Marcellus.
Want to Help?
As concerned citizens, it is important that we do our part to protect our water. Once ground water becomes contaminated, it is extremely expensive and difficult to replenish our source of drinking water.
Ways to protect your future water:
~ Help identify land uses and potential sources of contamination.
~ Dispose of household hazardous waste, toxins, (insecticides, oil-based paints, chemicals) at a certified dump site.
~ Consider alternatives to household products containing hazardous chemicals.
~ Practice proper turf management techniques and avoid over using fertilizers in lawns and gardens.
~ Used motor oil and transmission fluid should be recycled. Many oil change service stations already recycle their oil and some accept used oil donations.
~ Conserve water when possible.
