Earl Brunner on sun 22 aug 04
Let them get specific, just what chemical's are you using that are
contaminating the water? How is it getting into the ground water? What
practices that you do cause this contamination?
Some things we can't answer, because we don't know how you deal with waste
water, what specific chemicals you use, etc. But using good studio
practices should be able to eliminate any alleged contamination on your
part.
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of njzappa
Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2004 3:45 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: chemical ground water contamination
Our County Government here in Montrose Colorado is trying to prohibit Are
Studios. They claim that the chemicals potters use are contaminating the
ground water. Does anyone have information to refute this claim?
I personally live over 300 feet above my well. This is a long 6 year battle
that started with a rather nasty neighbor that moved in after our studio was
established. To long to go into with details.
Please reply to info@zappapottery.com
Thanks Nick Zappa
Nick & Joan Zappa
Zappa Pottery
18220 Puma Trail
Montrose, CO. 81401
970-249-6819
Toll Free 1-877-504-6819
e-mail
www.zappapottery.com
____________________________________________________________________________
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Dave Finkelnburg on sun 22 aug 04
Nick,
You do not say which chemicals are alleged to be contaminating the
groundwater. Which are they?
Are you disposing of studio chemicals into the groundwater, perhaps
through a septic system? I have proven to my satisfaction it is possible to
have a zero-discharge studio, especially as far as glaze goes. It's just a
matter of draining off the wash water from the solids and using the solids
as glaze or firing them to a glass and landfilling them. If you aren't
disposing of any chemicals to the ground, you cannot be contaminating the
groundwater!
Regards,
Dave Finkelnburg
----- Original Message -----
From: "njzappa"
Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2004 4:45 PM
> Our County Government here in Montrose Colorado is trying to prohibit Are
> Studios. They claim that the chemicals potters use are contaminating the
> ground water. Does anyone have information to refute this claim?
njzappa on sun 22 aug 04
Our County Government here in Montrose Colorado is trying to prohibit Are
Studios. They claim that the chemicals potters use are contaminating the
ground water. Does anyone have information to refute this claim?
I personally live over 300 feet above my well. This is a long 6 year battle
that started with a rather nasty neighbor that moved in after our studio was
established. To long to go into with details.
Please reply to info@zappapottery.com
Thanks Nick Zappa
Nick & Joan Zappa
Zappa Pottery
18220 Puma Trail
Montrose, CO. 81401
970-249-6819
Toll Free 1-877-504-6819
e-mail
www.zappapottery.com
Ivor and Olive Lewis on mon 23 aug 04
Dear Nick & Joan Zappa
What is your neighbours gripe?
As I see it any residue from a pottery studio which has been
distributed on the top soil or buried on land which is subject to rain
fall or some form or irrigation has the potential over time to react
then percolate into the ground water system. The only thing which
would prevent this is impervious strata above the Aquifer, such as a
thick layer of dense clay,
To refute the link would be difficult. You need a comprehensive
knowledge of the geology of the crustal rocks, analyses of soil and
water and a way of proving that there is no connection between what
you are doing and what they claim is happening. Sounds to me that a
fight might prove to be a lawyers banquet.
Could cost less to sell up and move to a more congenial environment.
Sorry to be so negative, but this is one of the reasons certain wet
mining process are discouraged in the US.
Earl Brunner on mon 23 aug 04
However, NOT everything we use is water soluble; in fact MOST of our
chemicals have limited solubility. It would take some doing to get most of
it down 300 feet I would expect.
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Ivor and Olive
Lewis
Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2004 10:42 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: chemical ground water contamination
Dear Nick & Joan Zappa
What is your neighbours gripe?
As I see it any residue from a pottery studio which has been
distributed on the top soil or buried on land which is subject to rain
fall or some form or irrigation has the potential over time to react
then percolate into the ground water system. The only thing which
would prevent this is impervious strata above the Aquifer, such as a
thick layer of dense clay,
To refute the link would be difficult. You need a comprehensive
knowledge of the geology of the crustal rocks, analyses of soil and
water and a way of proving that there is no connection between what
you are doing and what they claim is happening. Sounds to me that a
fight might prove to be a lawyers banquet.
Could cost less to sell up and move to a more congenial environment.
Sorry to be so negative, but this is one of the reasons certain wet
mining process are discouraged in the US.
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Wes Rolley on mon 23 aug 04
Nick,
If you have not done so already, I suggest that you spend some time=20
reviewing Regulation No. 31 of the Colorado Department of Public Health and=
=20
Environment, Water Quality Control Commission, Basic Standards and=20
Methodologies. I was interested in thinking about how to deal with this=20
problem because something similar is an issue in my home town.
I found that document at=20
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/regs/waterregs/100231.pdf A quick review of=
=20
that document shows several possible areas in which you could proceed, not=
=20
the least of which is the concept of "low flow exemptions" from the=20
regulations. This is to say that even if there are pollutants, the amount=
=20
is so small that it is irrelevant. They give exact standards for=20
determining "low flow". Also, the list of materials that has their concern=
=20
has only a small relevance for the potter since most of the materials are=20
generally not used in the pottery and those that are go mostly into the=20
glaze and not down the drain. That list does contain zinc and copper but=20
surprisingly not Barium.
Good luck with this. I would be very interested in knowing how it turns=
out.
"I find I have a great lot to learn =96 or unlearn. I seem to know far too=
=20
much and this knowledge obscures the really significant facts, but I am=20
getting on." -- Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Wesley C. Rolley
17211 Quail Court
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
(408)778-3024
AMY WOLF on mon 23 aug 04
Nick,
Look into a local (state certified) environmental laboratory. =20
There are a few in Denver. Find out how you would go=20
about getting the ground water tested. Being that you have
a well, ideally you would just be able to pull a sample from your
tap. You might think the cost of testing would be prohibitive, but=20
I think it would be worth investigating. If you know the specific
contaminants you are being accused of producing then you would=20
be able to cut costs by having the lab specifically test for those=20
contaminants. I am guessing you might find that you can test for
a specific metal in the area of $25-$50. Uranium is quite natural=20
and abundant in most areas of Colorado so don't let anyone pin=20
that one on you.
Amy Wolf
Fort Collins, CO
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