Groundwater Guardian Community Profile
Brown County, OH - US
Years Designated: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
Community Profile:
The Brown County Rural Water Association is a rural water system relying completely on groundwater, with wells over 70 feet deep tapping into the Ohio River Aquifer. This aquifer is highly susceptible to contamination, due to the sand and gravel composition of the aquifer and its proximity to potential contaminant sources. Specific contamination concerns include septic tanks, agricultural chemicals, highway traffic, and potential gravel mining operations. One production well was contaminated by VOCs in 1996. A pump-and-treat remediation system was installed as a result. Brown County uses Groundwater Guardian to educate the public about the importance of protecting groundwater resources and to instill a sense of ownership of the well fields in community residents.
Result Oriented Activities:
- Began work to complete Phase III of the local wellhead protection program by starting the development of a wellhead protection management plan.
- Updated and maintained a website for the Brown County Rural Water Association and Groundwater Guardian team.
- Distributed a Brown County Wellhead Protection Program newsletter for local residents. Over 8,000 copies were published and distributed.
- Conducted quarterly wellhead protection committee meetings for local groundwater users.
- Adopted a section of highway US52 between White Oak Creek and Straight Creek for quarterly cleanups. This section of the highway is near community wellfields and is part of the wellhead protection area.
Community Contact:
Lowell Allen, President
Brown County Rural Water Association
3818 US 52
Ripley, OH 45014 US
Phone:937-375-4106 ext. 232
Fax:937-375-6036
E-mail:
bcrwa@verizon.net
Website:
www.bcrwa.com
