Save Our Wells
Protect our Water Supply in the Black Hills of South Dakota
Protect the Black Hills of South Dakota from Overdevelopment and Mining Operations which may affect our wells and water supply.
You do want clean water for your home, right?
Questions?
Contact blackhillspreservationproject@gmail.com to get more information on the project
Private Water Wells
Testing wells to safeguard your water
You should also test your private well immediately if:
There are known problems with ground water or drinking water in your area
Conditions near your well have changed significantly (i.e. flooding, land disturbances, and new construction or industrial activity)
You replace or repair any part of your well system.
You notice a change in your water quality (i.e. odor, color, taste).
In addition, well owners should also determine if the ground water you rely on for household use is under direct influence from surface water. Ground water under the direct influence of surface water is susceptible to contamination from activities on the surface. Direct influence is determined on a site by site basis under state program criteria.
Well Water Contaminants
Well owner's are responsible for protecting their drinking water. To do so, a well owner must be aware of their well's potential for contamination and the possible health effects those potential contaminants can have
Private Water Well
Private well owners can use the listed activity types and sources as a quick checklist to identify concerns to be aware of and address to protect their water quality and health. The U.S. Geologic Survey's "Ground Water and the Rural Homeowner" provides additional information on ground water contamination.
Potential Well Contaminant Sources
Agriculture
Fertilizer storage and use, animal feedlots, animal waste disposal systems, animal burial, manure stockpiles (e.g. pits and lagoons), manure spreading, general waste disposal wells, pesticide storage and use (e.g. spread by airplane), field irrigation.
Commercial
Airports, boatyards, railroad track and yards, junkyards, recycling and waste transfer stations, auto repairs shops, carwashes, laundromats, dry cleaners, paint shops, gas stations, construction sites, golf courses, floor drains and waste disposal wells, research laboratories and medical institutions, funeral homes and cemeteries.
Industry
Oil and gas production and storage, pipelines, petroleum refineries, chemical manufacture and storage, mining, electroplating facilities, foundries, metal fabrication facilities, machine shops, waste disposal wells, paper mills, textile mills.
Residential
fuel oil storage tanks, household chemical storage and use, swimming pool chemical storage, septic tanks and leach fields, sewer lines, floor drains, lawn fertilizer storage and use.
Other
road de-icing, landfills, sewer lines, storm water pipes and drains, abandoned production and disposal wells, nearby active disposal wells, illegal dumping.
Water is a precious resource because it is essential for life on Earth and is limited in supply:
Life-sustaining
Water is a fundamental need for all living things, and humans are made up of 70% water. Without water, a person can survive for about a month, but less than a week.
Limited supply
Although water covers 71% of the Earth's surface, only 3% is fresh and drinkable. Much of the remaining water is frozen in glaciers and permafrost, or is inaccessible in the atmosphere and soil.
