Three special districts offered to write El Paso County a check on Thursday to answer a perplexing question.

They want to help the county find the cause and extent of groundwater contamination in rural subdivisions, which could lead to a change in development rules.

“Are septic systems causing problems with aquifers? The answer is yes,” said development code administrator Mark Gebhart.

Before 1980, developers were limited to one home per five-acre tract to avoid well contamination. In 1980, the rule changed to allow 2.5-acre lots. Since then, wells and septics have been allowed on even smaller lots if developers showed there wouldn’t be contamination.

Now, a state study and anecdotal evidence suggest septic tanks might be fouling water wells.

Sean Chambers, with Sunset Metropolitan District east of Colorado Springs, cited a 2008 Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment study that found several wells in the Black Squirrel basin northeast and east of Colorado Springs, contain nitrates at risky levels.

Caused by leached sewage or fertilizer runoff, nitrates in drinking water above 10 parts per million are a health risk to humans, especially infants.

Tim Hunker, with the Meridian Service Metropolitan District, which serves Meridian Ranch, said a recent spot check found a residential well in that district registered nitrates at 13.9 ppm. A municipal well measured 8 ppm, he said.

Hunker and officials with the Upper Black Squirrel Groundwater Management District and Cherokee Metropolitan District said they’ll help fund a well-water study.

Gebhart said a similar study in Jefferson County triggered development restrictions in areas where aquifers were susceptible to sewage leaks due to shallowness or bedrock cracks.

Commissioners said they support a study, but it’s unclear when it will be done.

A second issue, relaxing the county’s 300-year rule that dates to 1986, didn’t get as much attention, because four commissioners left for other commitments before the public spoke. Commissioner Amy Lathen remained.

The county might issue “water credits” to developers who reuse sewage effluent or who inject treated water back into the aquifer. Developers would use the credits toward achieving the 300-year requirement.

The idea met with criticism and calls for in-depth study.

“Injection into the aquifer is a risky business, and what if it doesn’t work?” said Eddie Bracken, a county planning commissioner and well owner. “This is a very controversial and complex issue that cannot be resolved in a couple of months.”

Lathen said commissioners are caught between the push to “go green” and warnings to be cautious.

“When do you go ahead and try new and innovative approaches,” she said, “and when do you continue to wait and vet everything?”

–

Call Zubeck at 636-0238

Michael Johnson Photo by AP PHOTO