SOME PAST PROJECTS               

DRINKING WATER

In the Tabusintac Watershed, we are very fortunate to have such a high-quality of groundwater that we can use to drink from the wells.  There are many rural areas in New Brunswick that have wells but they need to use additional equipment (i.e. UV lights) to sanitize their water so that it may be consumed. 

There are not too many studies on drinking water but in 2001, the Department of Environment and Local Government evaluated the drinking water quality of six rural areas in the province, project entitled, "Domestic Water Quality Monitoring Pilot Project".  The report outlined several recommendations and conclusions regarding drinking water quality including:

     Estimated that 30% of rural drinking water supply is contaminated with total coliforms;

     Approximately 10% of rural drinking water supply is contaminated with      

       E.Coli;

     Many homeowners are poorly informed about their wells, often unaware

       of even the basic features such as the location of their well;

     Property owners often indicated that the responsibility for testing their

       water lies within the government;

     The cost of water quality tests was a concern by those participating in the

        project.

Many of the above conclusions were and are of great concern to the association; therefore, in 2006 and 2007 the Tabusintac Watershed Association was approved for funding for a project "Evaluation and Education of Domestic Drinking Water Issues in the Tabusintac Watershed".

There were 161 participants that did test their well water for this project; also these residents were given information on how to protect groundwater and well water. 

Out of these participants, 44 failed with either having total coliforms and E.Coli present in their well water; therefore, the study performed by DELG does correspond with the TWA findings.    

After the participants were notified of their test results; many "shocked" their wells to disinfect their pipes and well.   After this was completed, a re-test was carried out to confirm that there was an absence of total coliforms.  Other participants had contamination from surface water entering into their well via faulty well caps or rusted/cracked pipes.    

We should all test our drinking water at least once a year!

For any additional info on protecting your drinking water you may contact your local public health office; go on online at http://www.gnb.ca/; or contact the TWA. 

SEDIMENTATION PROJECT                    

  Since 2002, the Tabusintac Watershed Association has been educating stakeholders on the impacts of sedimentation occurring within the watersheds. 

Restoration work was completed on some of the tributaries that run into the Tabusintac River and the main river.  Cross ditches were implemented on both sides of the watercourses to divert run-off into the vegetation for filtration instead of it entering the watercourse directly.   Rock (5-6 inch) was placed in the cross ditches to help in reduce the amount of sediment entering the watercourse.  Silt fencing and bales of hay were also used to prevent sediment run-off.  Funding each year is needed for the upkeep of these restoration projects because these ditches can fill up with sediment rapidly.

Sedimentation increases turbidity, loss of benthic invertebrate productivity, smothering of fish eggs, and destruction of spawning areas and fish gill abrasion.

Causes of Sedimentation:

• ■ Natural erosion from heavy rainfalls and freshets.                              
• ■ Road construction including culvert and bridge crossings.
• ■ Clear-cutting.
• ■ Heavy equipment compacting ground.
• ■ Housing/cottage development.

SEPTIC SYSTEM UPGRADES                                                            

From 2001-2005, the TWA undertook a septic system remediation program to repair old and malfunctioning systems within the watershed.  A total of 59 systems were replaced.

Septic systems can be a major contribution of bacterial contamination within the watershed; therefore, the TWA focused on those systems that were old and/or malfunctioning to reduce the amount of nutrient loading in the watershed.