Fearful of overuse and contamination, Islesboro has established a committee to oversee the protection of the island’s groundwater.
The committee is unique to the area. Allen Mirk, member of the Islesboro Groundwater Protection Committee (IGWPC), said, “we feel like we are in the vanguard, we are trying to find out what we have before we lose it.” The IGWPC monitors the island’s water table height as well as water quality in 22 test wells. The IGWPC has been an official town committee for nearly two years.
Islesboro’s groundwater, like that on many islands and peninsulas, comes from a “sole source” aquifer, meaning the entire island shares one body of fresh groundwater. The only way to recharge it is through rainfall. Because the means for aquifer recharge are limited, and the entire community is dependent on one body of water, it is essential that the resource be monitored and protected.
“It will be three to four years before we really know what is going on, but water quality now looks pretty good,” Mirk said. Hydrogeologist Lissa Robinson agrees that Islesboro is ahead of many towns in its water monitoring and management. “Their program should serve as a model for other communities,” she said. “Instead of waiting for a crisis to occur, Islesboro is working hard to ensure that a crisis does not occur.”
Islesboro is experiencing rapid growth. The increase in development worries some town planners. Many residents are wondering how much water is available and if present use is too high. Understanding groundwater availability will help planners construct a sustainable development plan for the island.
One aspect of such a plan could be to impose regulations on development in areas identified as key aquifer recharge zones. If the water table were to become too low, saltwater could be forced through porous bedrock by the pressure of the surrounding ocean, resulting in contaminated groundwater. Such “saltwater intrusion” is a major potential threat.
Beyond questions of overuse, aquifer contamination is the island’s most immediate threat. The IGWPC has identified several known sources. They include leaching from the old town landfill (closed in 1995); leaching from the town sand and salt pile; runoff from the septic sludge disposal field; malfunctioning, old or inadequate waste disposal systems; unplugged or abandoned deep drilled wells; and improper use, storage, or handling of chemical fertilizers, petroleum products, paints, solvents and chemicals.
The IGWPC monitors 22 test wells monthly. The goal is to build a background data record and to monitor and evaluate any changes that occur. The IGWPC has received a $4,500 grant from a private foundation to aid in this monitoring.
Mirk recommends that residents be careful in their water use. “I can’t say that we are short of water, but until we know, conservation is the best practice,” he said. Mirk also urges residents to be “proactive” and help to minimize groundwater contamination.
Robinson hopes that the efforts of Islesboro will be observed by other communities. “There is no time like the present to be watching this,” she said, adding, “there is little many island and coastal communities could do if they were to lose their freshwater sources.”