The Big IF
We all want to believe there’s enough water in Adams County to satisfy our current and future
needs. I believe there is, even during dry spells, if – and this is the Big IF – we take appropriate
steps now to protect and conserve our water resources.
So, what should we do? An important first step is managing stormwater (water that falls during
very heavy rains and mostly runs off into streams). As a headwaters county, we rely on
precipitation for our water supply, and groundwater for storage (Adams County has no
significant streams flowing in, and no reservoirs), so stormwater is precious, even though it
sometimes causes flooding. Instead of quickly draining stormwater, we need to control the rate,
volume, and quality of runoff to get the most from the precipitation we receive. Some
municipalities have good stormwater ordinances, but more are needed. Riparian buffers –
vegetation along streams that shades and protects them – also help control stormwater.
Preventing pollution is also very important. If the water we receive becomes polluted, it is
unusable or costly to purify. Homeowners play an important role in preventing pollution. On-lot
wells and septic systems must be properly constructed and maintained or else they can
contaminate groundwater far beyond the homeowner’s lot, so regulation is essential. Improper
use or disposal of lawn chemicals and fertilizer, cleaning products, medicines, auto fluids, or
other hazardous products allow contaminates to find their way into our water (so don’t dump or
flush what you wouldn’t drink).
Farmers and orchardists use large quantities of fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides so they have
an important role in preventing pollution; manure management is also very
important. Fortunately, there are financial incentives (fertilizer and chemicals are expensive) and
regulatory requirements that help reduce pollution from agriculture, but this is still an area of
concern. Large businesses, public institutions, and wastewater treatment plants are sometimes
thought to be sources of pollution, but that generally is not the case. They tend to be wellmanaged and regulated.
Protecting water through land use planning is vital, but often overlooked by municipal officials,
who tend to focus on surface features such as roads and density rather than water supply. But the
area of groundwater supplying a public well can extend a mile or more away. The amount of
impervious surface (roads, roofs, parking lots, etc.), in that area affects runoff and groundwater
recharge. Therefore, the area must be protected by zoning that keeps potential pollution sources,
such as chemical storage and gas stations, far enough away. Public water suppliers do a good job
of providing clean water, but their wells and stream intakes can be contaminated by pollution
from beyond their water sources. That’s why source water protection plans are necessary.
Conservation is often overlooked as a way to increase our water resources. We can minimize our
water needs by wise use of existing supplies, thus increasing available water. There are many
water-saving appliances, plumbing fixtures, etc., available, but ultimately it is water users – all of
us – who are the most important conservation factor.
What we do now is the Big IF of our water future. If we and our local governments act wisely
and plan prudently to protect our water, we will have enough water. If not, we will need Plan B,
the topic for another article.
Charles Skopic is a member of the Board and the past President of the Watershed Alliance of
Adams County (WAAC). WAAC’s web address is www.adamswatersheds.org.