The Henry and Stark County Health Departments’ Environmental Health Division is announcing that March 8-14 has been designated National Groundwater Awareness Week. Life, as we know it, would be impossible without groundwater. It is the world’s most extracted natural resource. Don’t take groundwater for granted. This week is also a platform to encourage consistent water well maintenance.
A representative from the Environmental Health Services staff said, “Through National Groundwater Awareness Week, we would like to recommend to area residents that maybe it’s time for your annual water well checkup!” Just as you check your furnace or smoke detector batteries seasonally, spring is a good season to have an annual water well checkup before the peak water use season begins, according to the National Ground Water Association, NGWA.
Why is it a good idea to have my water well checked annually?
“The truth is an annual checkup is the best way to ensure problem-free service and quality water,” said department officials. “Also, preventative maintenance usually is less costly than emergency maintenance, and good well maintenance, like good car maintenance, can prolong the life of your well and related equipment.” They recommend you test your water whenever there is a change in taste, odor, or appearance, or when the system is serviced. Health Department staff are always available for inspections if homeowners feel there may be an issue with or something wrong with their water; or if you believe someone is ill from the drinking water.
Schedule water well checkup. Wells can provide high-quality drinking water, and about half the U.S. population receives its drinking water from wells. But with well ownership comes the responsibility of keeping the water well in good working order.
The Health Department also recommends that well owners:
● Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil far away from your well, and maintain a “clean” zone of at least 50 feet between your well and any kennels and livestock operations.
● Remember, inadequately maintained wells can become a direct pathway for contamination to enter the water supply for you and your surrounding neighbors/communities.
● Maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, and chemical storage areas.
● Maintain your wastewater systems.
● Periodically check the well cover or well cap on top of the casing (well) to ensure it is in good repair and securely attached. Its seal should keep out insects and rodents.
● Keep your well records in a safe place. These include the construction report, and annual water well system maintenance and water testing results.
● Make sure abandoned wells are sealed properly within 30 days of abandonment.
● Need a permit to seal your well.
For more information on the Health Departments’ Water Program, water testing and sealing abandoned wells, contact the Environmental Health Division at eh@henrystarkhealth.org or call (309) 852-0197 Ext. 270. You can also visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or find them on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments or follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
Every spring we set our clocks ahead. The Henry and Stark County Health Departments’ and the Henry County Office of Emergency Management are encouraging the public to remember to also make sure that their emergency preparedness stockpiles are up to date.
This is all a part of the APHA’s Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign. The effort is designed to remind Americans to make sure that their emergency preparedness stockpiles have adequate food, water and supplies and ensure that nothing is missing or has expired. The biannual campaign is also designed to encourage Americans who don’t have an emergency stockpile to create one.
The next clock change for daylight savings time will be this fall on Sunday Nov. 1. When we turn our clocks back the Health Department and the OEM are also reminding people that they should check their smoke alarm batteries.
Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks is part of APHA’s overall Get Ready campaign, which is working to help Americans prepare themselves, their families, and communities for pandemic flu, other emerging infectious diseases and natural disasters like tornadoes and ice storms.
For a list of what should be in an emergency stockpile, information on rotating stored food and water, stockpiling recipes and other materials, visit https://www.ready.gov/kit.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments’ Environmental Health Division reminds residents that most local community calendars feature a wide variety of local events and other food service opportunities. The season is approaching for community activities, fairs, festivals, farmers markets, and other public food-service events; and some of the regulations for these events may have been recently updated.
Therefore, the Health Department would like to remind area residents that if you are preparing to serve food to the public through any event, whether a fee is charged or not, you are required to apply with the Health Department so that we can better assist you in the sanitation standards of food preparation. These forms must be filled out in their entirety and submitted no later than five calendar days with the proper fee included before the event, or there is a late fee assessed. Please don’t forget it is not permitted to prepare food out of a home, or other unlicensed kitchen, without a permit. Consumers must be vigilant and ensure the people you purchase food from are following the required food safety practices and hold the proper licensure.
If you are an event coordinator, please make sure you have completed their Event Coordinator application and submit it to the health department office ten business days before the scheduled event. Cottage Food Operators must complete the correct forms and apply for registration along with submission of water samples. Even at Farmer’s Markets, if you are providing samples, or if the product is chopped, sliced, bottled, jammed, jellied, or pickled, chances are there are rules about how these foods must be handled. If unsure, please contact the health department as ignorance of the rules is no excuse.
Megan Washburn, Food Program manager with the Henry and Stark County Health Departments, said, “The aim of this process is not to dictate rules but to educate our community on best practices. We really want local food handlers to have the latest and most up-to-date information on food safety so residents can be confident in the safety of these non-traditional venues. By applying with the Health Department locally, food vendors can have our staff’s expertise and guidance at their disposal.”
“Offering this education to local event food vendors really is a win-win for everyone. Event coordinators can ensure they are organizing a safe and approved event, food vendors can be confident in the food they prepare and serve, and local residents can rest assured that food purchased at local events is safe.” said Washburn
Help make our communities’ summertime fun, delicious, and safe. For more information on the Health Department’s Food Program, they have a newly updated website with resources and where all forms can be found at www.henrystarkhealth.com, find them on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments, or follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Program asks, “Do You Need Health Insurance?” Their Health Insurance Navigators will be present at the upcoming local events to assist anyone looking to set up health insurance coverage:
Briggs Bistro, 119 W. Exchange St., Cambridge, Ill.
Monday, March 23
11 a.m. -1 p.m.
Caffeine & Carbs, 1225 S. Oakwood Ave., Geneseo, Ill.
Wednesday, March 25
8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Their “Get Covered Illinois” Navigators can help you:
● Find affordable health coverage that meets your needs
● Fill out and submit your application
● Compare quality health plans side-by-side
● Find out if you qualify for financial help to lower your monthly premium
● Find out if you qualify for Medicaid or an affordability program
● Understand your benefits
● Understand health insurance terms
Remember you may be eligible to enroll in a Get Covered Illinois health plan outside of the usual Open Enrollment, or make changes to your existing coverage, if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, SEP. The SEP may require you to enroll within 60 days of a
Qualifying Life Event. A qualifying life event is a life change, such as:
Loss of Health Coverage, due to:
● Losing job-based coverage
● Losing Medicaid coverage
● Losing Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors or Health Benefits For Immigrants Adult coverage
● A divorce or legal separation
● Turning 26 years old, no longer eligible for parents’ coverage
Other Qualifying Life Events include:
● Getting Married
● Having a baby or adopting a child
● Moving to a new ZIP code or county
● Becoming a US Citizen
● Leaving incarceration.
For more information on this Get Covered Illinois Navigator Event or assistance in enrolling in a Get Covered Illinois Healthcare Marketplace please call 309-852-5272.
