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Government and Legislative Protections
Numerous federal, state, and local ground water protection laws and programs exist.
Many are designed to protect ground water from chemicals, biological waste,
or petroleum hydrocarbon releases; such as the federal Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) and Virginia’s Underground Storage Tank Program. On the Eastern
Shore the most important programs are aimed at protecting drinking water supplies
from over-pumping and over-development, rather than from contamination of the source
from unintentional releases of hazardous substances.
Federal Protections
The primary federal regulation for protection of potable ground water supplies is
the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Amendments to the SDWA that were passed in
1986 include the Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP) and the Sole Source Aquifer
Demonstration Program.
Virginia Protections
At the State level, both the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) enforce regulations relating to ground water
protection. The most important ground water protection law enforced by DEQ is the
Ground Water Management Act of 1992 (9 VAC 25-610). The Eastern Shore of Virginia
was designated a Ground Water Management Area in 1976 and any withdrawal of 300,000
gallons per month or more in this area requires a ground water withdrawal permit
from DEQ. VDH is the primary state agency that enforces provisions of the Safe Drinking
Water Act and
related state laws such as the Waterworks Regulations (12 VAC 5-590). Other relevant
laws include the Virginia Department of Health's
Private Well Regulations
(12 VAC 5-630) and the
Sewage Handling and
Disposal Regulations (12 VAC 5-610).
Local Protections
At the local level, the Eastern Shore of Virginia Ground Water Committee was formed
in 1990 to assist local governments and residents in understanding, protecting
and managing the ground water resource. The Ground Water Supply Protection and
Management Plan for the Eastern Shore of Virginia (1992) provides the basis and
guidelines for protecting the ground water resource. In addition to the Ground
Water Committee, the two counties have adopted provisions in their ordinances that
provide protection to the ground water resource. In November 1998, Accomack County
passed an ordinance that includes provisions specific to ground water resource
protection. In June 2003, Northampton County passed an ordinance requiring that
certain new developments implement specific measures designed to protect and
preserve the water resource.
Protections You Can Undertake
The American Waterworks Association's
Residential End Use of Water Report shows how water is used indoors. For
homes that do not use water efficient fixtures, the toilets used the most water,
followed by clothes washers, and then by showers. The City of Albuquerque, New Mexico
has a much more detailed list
that agrees with this report but has the breakdown
by total use. One important part of this list shows that leaks account for 13.7% of the
water you use each day. Some simple tips for reducing water use inside your home are presented:
- Fix any leaks
- Install water saving toilets, clothes washers and shower heads
- Turn off faucets while shaving or brushing teeth
- Fill your dishwasher up before using it
- Defrost food in the refrigerator, not the sink
- Adjust washer water levels for each load of laundry
To prevent contamination of our aquifers, consider using cleaners that are less toxic.
Simple alternatives are presented:
- Borax can be used in place of bleach, put on a damp cloth to remove
grease, a mixture of 2 tablespoons liquid soap + 2 teaspoons borax + warm water can be used as
an oven cleaner, and when made into a paste and mixed with lemon juice can be used
as a toilet bowl cleaner.
- Vinegar can be mixed with water and used as a linoleum floor cleaner,
mixed with equal parts salt and used as a mildew remover, when heated can be used
as a paint brush softener, used as a pet oder remover,
used as a water softener, or mixed with water and used as a
window cleaner.
- Baking Soda can be used with water to remove car battery corrosion,
when mixed with liquid dish detergent can act as a grease cutter, can remove perspiration spots,
as a scouring powder, and can be used with water and vinegar as a tub and tile cleaner
(be careful: baking soda and vinegar are the staples of the grade school volcano
experiment).
- Lemons can be used with salt to clean copper, 1 tablespoon of lemon oil can
be mixed with 1 pint of mineral oil and used as furniture polish, used lemons can be garbage
disposal deodorizers, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice + cold water + 1 tablespoon
cream of tartar can remove ink spots, lemon juice + salt + sunlight can be used to
remove rust stains from clothing, and lemon juice can be used as a spot remover
as can club soda and salt.
- Salt can be moistened and used as a coffee cup stain remover, and can be mixed
in a glass bowl with 1 quart warm water + 1 tablespoon baking soda + a piece of
aluminum foil + 1 tablespoon salt as a soak for silver, rinse and dry, salt can also be used
as a wine stain remover.
- Grated Onions can be used as a scorch mark remover.
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