The Pahrump Town Board was given a presentation on Wellhead Protection Planning (WHPP) and its implementation Tuesday.

The protection of well water, especially in a county where 20,000 community and individual wells are in use, is crucial.

After all, it only takes one contaminated well to spread the problem through the aquifer to other wells, tainting an entire water system.

Eileen Christensen, of Beck Environmental, gave the board a brief explanation of the program and what its implementation consists of.

"We do this because in places like Ely there have been problems," Christensen said. "Once we go through the education, people realize how susceptible they are to wellhead contamination."

A protection program provides information on strategies used to protect the surface and sub-surface area around a groundwater well in order to prevent both individual and widespread contamination.

In addition to the health hazards and environmental concerns a contaminated well presents, there are steep financial consequences as well.

Christensen said the clean-up for a contaminated well can cost at least $50,000, so prevention is not only safer, but cheaper as well.

Most communities in the county already have an approved or pending wellhead protection program, including Amargosa Valley, Beatty, Gabbs, Manhattan, Pahrump, Round Mountain, and Tonopah.

In addition, because the state endorsed Pahrump and Amargosa's WHPPs in 2006, the county could receive funding to implement the program county-wide.

Nye County has a 12-member wellhead protection team, made up of environmental experts, county residents, and community leaders.

The team includes Brent Jones, director of Nye County Emergency Services; Donna Lamm, of the Southern Nye County Conservation District, and Dave Richards, Pahrump town manager.

Another facet of implementing a protection plan is passing an ordinance.

For one thing, official legislation helps to prevent potentially new sources of contamination from locating next to existing public wells.

Also, the number of state regulations protecting drinking water wells is slight. For more information on wellhead protection, pick up a fact sheet that is being distributed through the town office.

Exchange students host homes needed

DM Discoveries, a government-monitored exchange student program, is seeking host families in Nye County and the surrounding areas for foreign exchange students due to arrive in August for the 2007-08 school year.

Each student has full medical coverage, pocket money and has expressed a true desire to become a participating member of an American family - pitching in on everything from household chores to family discussions.

DM Discoveries is a non-profit, public benefit program. For more information, contact Mary Ann Gantvoort at 775-727-7977.