We are over 25 concerned citizens on Tide Creek Road that believe we have already experienced
well water interferences from the last two wells that have been drilled up here. In order to protect ourselves from any further interference from any new wells we are now monitoring our water levels. Also, the state of Oregon is now doing regular scheduled measurements on our wells because of dry wells in this area. We have over 70 pages of letters and illustrations outlining our existing water well issues that we have filed with Columbia County. We are set up to claim our Senior well water rights in the event we experience interference from any new wells. We are uphill from new wells in our area. Aquifers run down hill. The elevation difference increases the possibility and probability of water being sucked out of the bottom of our wells by new deep water wells at a lower elevation. We mean no harm to anyone, but we will use the law to protect what water we have. We have no choice.
"THESE ARE OUR LONG TIME HOMES".
Please study the enclosed Government illustrations that show what can happen to old clustered neighborhoods such as ours ( especially ones with existing well water issues) when new developments move in. Please see the approximate 75 dead wells and the 55 altered wells between the Deer Island and Longview Bridge areas. See that our aquifer area is rated among the worst in the nation. We are living in a very problematic well water area. Note that aquifers are referred to as ground water . Dry wells are described as any well that has had work done on it i.e. re-drilled, deepened, shortened, low water volume, storage tanks installed etc. You may scroll the 18 illustrations or download them and view them in a PDF file.
Most of our homes have ongoing well water problems and in the future potentially a lot more .
All families living along Tide Creek Road each have their own well. Nearly all have had well water issues and the problems get worse each year! Many are currently on storage tank systems and even more are planning to do so out of necessity in the future. When many of the original wells were drilled the water volume was at least 10 GPM to 40 GPM. Oregon State
well water records reflect that. Now many years later since those records were established our wells average 2.3 gallons per minute. One of the wells is .4 ( point 4 ) gallons a minute and of course on a water tank storage system to survive. One of
the wells is recently dead. Many of the wells cannot be re drilled. Another issue is filtration systems for iron and sulfur.
These are common. Occasional sulfur smell in our water is common. Under low flow conditions such as ours running
out of water after 20-35 minutes(some less than this)of continuous running is very common. Because of less ground
water (that feeds aquifers) in the summer it is worse. It is very simple to explain and understand.
For example, one of our wells recovery is 2 gallons a minute or less. It has a standard 6" well casing. It has 54' of water
in the well casing. If the outside faucet is let run wide open for 20 minutes the well pump shuts off because the well is dry.
If the pumping of water out of a well casing is faster than it can recover, you run out of water. They cannot take 2 showers at
the same time . This particular property does not yet have an expensive water storage tank system so they trickle
feed 3 - 300 gallon water storage totes to pump water out of so that they can water flowers, pressure wash, or wash cars etc.
So it is very clear to see how well water interference from new wells could affect or even ruin our wells.
Our well water shortage situations, that are just across the road from a current sub division application, could be very
susceptible to well water interference from new lower elevation deep water wells . It could not only run our wells dry,
it could ruin our wells forever. Our property values would be drastically reduced.
Our low flow water situation has caused considerable expense to most of the local homeowners!
The water supply for each of these wells most likely come from a common aquifer that each property shares.
The State of Oregon is now monitoring our water levels and ongoing water problems . We are doing this in
order to protect ourselves from the interference of newer junior wells! If our wells are proven to be negatively impacted by additional junior wells, the junior wells can be shut off by Oregon state law. Please see enclosed application for well water interference.
Excerpt from ORS 537.545 pertaining to Senior well water rights:
Under Oregon law, “all water within the state from all sources of water
supply belongs to the public.” In general you must obtain a water
right permit before using water from any well. However, there are
exemptions called “exempt uses” (see ORS 537.545). These uses are excused
from applying for a water right permit, but must be beneficial and without
waste. Pumping groundwater under the exemption carries the same
weight as a water right and has a priority date. An exempt use
is subject to the same privileges and restrictions as any water right permit or
certificate and is subject to state water law. The Oregon Water Resources
Department (OWRD) has the authority to regulate, reduce or stop groundwater
withdrawals when they interfere with prior or “senior” water rights.
1. Describe what happens to water levels when the rate of pumping is greater than the rate of infiltration?
Answer: The water table drops a lot, so much that some of the shallower wells run dry.
2. In this situation, how do you think water needs can be met over the long term?
Answer: When infiltration is unable to replace groundwater as quickly as pumping removes it, the water table drops. Deeper wells could be dug to chase the table, but then the water table will just drop even further. Over the long-term groundwater (that supplies aquifers that feed wells) is a non-renewable resource in this situation, and won't be able to supply all the needed water.
When too much water is withdrawn from the ground, the land can collapse, a process called subsidence. When groundwater fills spaces in the soil, it supplies part of the integral strength of the ground. When the water is removed, leaving openings filled only with air, the weight of the overlying earth compacts and crushes the spaces. The well is ruined and water can never return. Another dead well repercussion is septic systems then leaching nitrates into the aquifer ruining all of the water.
Our team is made up of passionate individuals that are willing to fight with all legal means necessary to protect their water rights and their homes. We have banded together to present a warning to all future homeowners of Tide Creek Road. We have superior water rights, and we will exercise those rights if needed.
ASK YOURSELVES, AS WE HAVE, "WHAT IS A HOUSE WORTH WITHOUT WATER?"
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