Dry weather means headaches for people who use well water
While this week's rain may have banished the summer dry spell from the minds of many, it's too little, too late for some who get their water from wells. Sarah Blazonis talked to one homeowner dealing with new lows when it comes to water levels.
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
LYSANDER, N.Y. -- Trudy Bisson has lived on the same property on Sixty Road in the town of Lysander most of her life. A well has always been it's primary water source.
"It's worked for us until this past summer, where the last four weeks, five weeks, it's been practically impossible," said Bisson.
Lack of rain means the water supply has been anything but steady. Bisson said she thought connecting to a local water supplier might be a possibility.
"I can look to the right, and at the top of the hill on the left, there's the village water hydrant. When I look over to the right, there is the OCWA hydrant. I can see it from my driveway, but I can't have it," said Bisson.
That's because OCWA says it would cost $26,000 to connect Bisson to the system.
She and her husband instead opted to install a water retention and storage system, meant to work as a back up when levels are low.
Nicholas Freeman owns New Beginnings Construction and installed the Bissons' system. He said he's seen increased requests for well services in general that suggest they're not alone in their water struggles.
"Pump protection, because their wells are running low and it's either burned out a well pump or it's had problems. A lot of filters put in because as water gets low it pulls in a lot of mud and sand," said Freeman.
The Onondaga and Oswego County Health Departments said they've only received a handful of reports of low wells this year. They do caution people who may be buying bulk water to do so only from certified operations.
As for the Bissons, Trudy said conservation is still a necessity, and for the first time, she's hoping the winter brings a lot of snow.