Most Kootenai County and some Bonner County residents have a priceless resource beneath their feet. It's fresh, clean water from the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for more than 500,000 people in two states.

"It's regarded as one of the purest natural sources of groundwater in the United States," says Dick Martindale, program manager in the Panhandle Health District's Environmental Health division. "It is also one of the most productive aquifers in the country."

It's the kind of water bottled water distributors boast they're selling. But ours comes out of the faucet at a much lower price. It's worth a little appreciation. As clean and prolific as our aquifer is, it is also highly vulnerable to contamination from many types of activities.

For decades, Panhandle Health District and other agencies have worked to protect the aquifer from contamination. The number of on-site septic systems allowed over the aquifer was limited and many were replaced as cities invested in sewer systems. Regulations were passed to assure that chemicals used by business and industry didn't get released into the ground over the aquifer.

Grassy swales were developed to filter stormwater run-off so it didn't carry into the aquifer, lakes and rivers the oils, pesticides, heavy metals and other contaminants it picked up along the way.

The federal and then the state government funded aquifer protection for decades. But by 2006, aquifer protection had become a local responsibility. The state's first Aquifer Protection District was proposed and Kootenai County voters overwhelmingly supported it.

Not much more is asked of individual property owners. Aquifer Protection programs focus on the larger scale operations with potential for major contamination. But there is plenty that people living over the aquifer can do every day to help our aquifer stay healthy.

Garden chemicals, fertilizer and pesticides are out in full force now as life and bugs return to flowerbeds and lawns. Pour too much on and the extra that plants don't need washes down to the aquifer. Apply chemicals or fertilizer right before a rainy day and they wash down to the aquifer.

Over-watering also washes what you've applied down to the aquifer. It's a good practice to follow application directions on the bag or bottle. These treatments have been tested for optimum results.

Before you dispose of household chemicals or medicines down the drain, find out if you're on a septic system or a municipal sewer. Chemicals poured into a septic system could find their way to the aquifer. Even sewer systems don't digest all household or pharmaceutical products. Many household chemicals can be recycled at the Ramsey Transfer Station. The station takes motor oil, pesticides, solvents, fertilizers, paints and much more. Call 446-1433 for collection limits and times.

Rain from the last storm is a great help to cleaning sidewalks and streets, but it carries a lot of the gunk it collects into nearby lakes and rivers or is directly or indirectly discharged into the aquifer. Sweeping up fertilizers and chemicals spilled on sidewalks and streets helps protect surface and ground water.

It's also a good practice not to dump anything into storm grates including soapy water from washing your car. Again, this wastewater will either end up in our lakes, rivers or aquifer. Take your car to a carwash where drains are connected to a municipal sewer system.

Few areas of the nation are as lucky as we are to have such a clean, natural source of water so accessible. All we need to do is take care of it. For information on the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, visit www.phd1.idaho.gov.

Cynthia Taggart is the public information officer for the Panhandle Health District. She can be reached at [email protected].