Water well in hand

With the exception of air, our survival depends most on water. Yet 1 billion people lack access to safe water. Half of hospitalizations worldwide are due to water-related diseases, which cause 1.4 million children's deaths each year.

Clean water is not to be taken for granted.

Americans are fortunate to have so much of it readily available that we waste without thought. We let taps run, leave sprinklers on during rain, and use as much water in one bath as some get for five days. One pinhole-sized leak can waste 73,000 gallons per year.

Ever think about how water reaches the tap? Thanks to administrator Alan Miller and well technician Mike Parker of Hayden Lake Irrigation District, who gave me a guided tour, I now have a better picture.

On their Dakota office wall is a white map of the district splashed with red: pipelines, faucets for water samples (testing seven times per month), and the four well sites in the district (plus one for future expansion). Next to it is a computer system (under lock and key) which monitors and adjusts water pressure as it literally senses demand.

Yes, pumps can also be controlled manually at each site; they're checked daily. Inside the main well house is a blue pump with an electric motor. The motor turns a vertical shaft reaching 250 feet underground. The drawn water is pulled into an above ground, horizontal pipe where pressure is electronically controlled, then routed back down into the pipe system, eventually reaching customers.

Consider pressure for a minute. You might think spring is a good time for water managers; between runoff and rain we have plenty of it in North Idaho. The reality is that spring is when our water system begins to work the hardest. Why? Sprinklers. They draw more and pull it fast, so the biggest pump (600 HP) - not used at the moment - draws 3,500 gallons/minute from the aquifer by June. The other pumps operate around 300 HP and 1,750 gal./min. In winter, Hayden residents consume about a half-million gallons per day and in summer, 5 to 6 million.

The county's comprehensive plan has an impact on our aquifer. Public comment on the current draft ends Oct. 26; you can read and comment online at www.kcgov.us.

I asked about security and contaminants. The biggest threat surprised me: sprinkler blow-outs. Federal law requires a 50-foot protection area around the locked well sites and other measures. Common coliform bacteria - not dangerous but an indicator of other contaminants, such as E.Coli - get regular checks. Testing for other contaminants such as nitrate is annual. If anything is off they do four more checks in 24 hours. Depending upon the risk and ease of correction, the public is notified in 24 hours to 30 days.

Still it's the blow-outs which worry Alan and Mike the most. Properly done they're not a problem, but too many are improperly done. Oils and contaminants inside the compressor end up in our water supply. Doing it yourself? Call your water district for instructions. And speaking of communication, office manager Sherri says, "Please, read the announcements with the bill!"

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network who appreciates her clean water. E-mail Sholehjo@hotmail.com