Groundwater Blog

Make Plans Now For Groundwater Awareness Week

2012-01-31T12:36:00.000-08:00

By Brian Reetz

Here’s a quick question! What is coming up in March? Well on a personal note I know it’s both my grandma’s, my mom’s and my sister’s birthdays. There is March Madness and all of the hoopla that surrounds the NCAA basketball tournament, but there is also an important week.

It’s Groundwater Awareness Week – March 11-17, 2012.

I’ve been talking with each of the communities that are part of my program about gearing up for an activity that week. I want them to do something to protect our groundwater, something that makes our groundwater sustainable for future generations. I encourage you to do likewise.

So maybe you pick that week to put in a rain garden at your home or your work. Maybe you put a rain sensor on your irrigation system for your yard. Maybe you take that motor oil that is just sitting in your shed, with a chance to spill, down to a recycling center.

What is important is that you do something! All of us can do our part!

Mark your calendars and start planning what you will do during Groundwater Awareness Week.

Read more and get more ideas at: http://www.ngwa.org/Events-Education/awareness/Pages/default.aspx

New Year, New Resolutions

2012-01-13T08:32:00.000-08:00

by Jennifer Wemhoff, Program Manager

Ah, January. The start of a new year. A clean slate for all those changes we hope to make.

The USA.gov website lists the following popular New Year’s resolutions:

Drink Less Alcohol

Eat Healthy Food

Get a Better Education

Get a Better Job

Get Fit

Lose Weight

Manage Debt

Manage Stress

Quit Smoking

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Save Money

Take a Trip

Volunteer to Help Others

While these are all great things, my personal New Year’s resolutions are much simpler:

Floss more.
Keep my kitchen table clutter free.
Get back to being a regular blood donor.

Last, but certainly not least:

Conserve water.

I wouldn’t say my household is a “water waster” by any means, but I know there are things we can do better. You may have read last week’s blog about our new five-minute shower timers. I resolve to use this every day, and encourage my husband to do the same. While we don’t generally water our lawn regularly in the spring and summer, I know we can be more efficient when it may be necessary; the same with watering the garden. For example, watering in the morning or evening to minimize evaporation. Another way I plan to save – collecting the water used for rinsing fruits and vegetable and using it to water my potted plants. See more ways to conserve.

How about you? Is water anywhere on your resolution list?

Use Your Time Wisely

2012-01-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

By Brian Reetz

The other day we received a shipment of 5-minute shower timers here at The Groundwater Foundation. From everything that I’ve read the average shower falls into the 5-7 minute range. The encouragement is to cut that time down to 3-5 minutes instead to help save water in the long run. Most of us don’t really need to take a shower longer than 5 minutes -- it’s just become part of our nature.

So with that in mind, I took a couple of them home and put them up in our showers. My daughter was the first one to use it while she was running her bath water. She announced afterwards that the tub was filled right when the hour-glass type timer ended – so 5 minutes.

My son was the next one to use it. I heard the shower kick on from downstairs and then heard it turn off. I knew that his shower was faster than normal, but if the timer made him change his speed then great! When I went upstairs to check the time, he had easily beaten it. He’s competitive like that!

My wife was the next one to be put to the test. She admittedly said that it ran out of time. She thought it was probably in the 6-7 minute range.

Finally it came down to me. Oh the pressure! I tried to follow my normal routine but I think I also noticed that I was going a little faster than normal. I easily beat the timer too. I’ve used it a number of times since then and have never came close to using up all of the sand.

How about you? A five-minute shower can use between 25-50 gallons so reducing the time you are in the shower by even a few seconds can make it more sustainable for everyone. Try timing your family’s showers and see if each person can shorten their time in the shower. Let us know how it works for you!

2011 Year in Review

2011-12-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

REAL OR FAKE?

2011-12-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

That is always the question during the Christmas season—do we get a real tree or get the artificial one back out of storage? Growing up our family always had an artificial tree--reason being you buy it once, it lasts for many seasons, and you don’t have to keep it watered. Seems reasonable right? After researching this subject, next year the family may be going on a tree hunt through the country sides!

Artificial trees are made from a kind of plastic called polyvinyl chloride, which is derived from petroleum and can contain lead or other harmful toxins. Also, about 80% of fake trees are manufactured in China, where most electricity is generated by burning coal—one of the dirtiest fuel sources. After the trees are made, they must also be shipped across the ocean, usually in diesel-fuel powered ships, resulting in even more greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. The average family keeps a fake tree for about five to six years, and then it goes to the landfill, where it just sits because it doesn’t biodegrade. In contrast, real trees are completely recyclable, and they are grown in the United States on thousands of farms that employ an estimated 100,000 people.

Here’s another interesting fact—for every real Christmas tree that is sold, about nine more are left to mature and grow to the desired heights on the farms. There are about 12,000 tree farms in the U.S. that are growing about 400 million trees right now. So there are actually more Christmas trees than there are people living in the U.S.! As the trees are maturing, they will recycle the air, purify groundwater, stabilize the soil and provide homes for birds, mammals, and insects. After the Christmas season is done, the trees can be recycled and used as mulch. Other uses for the recycles trees include being used as fish habitats, heron nesting grounds, used to prevent beach erosion, and to preserve freshwater marshes.

Real or fake—next year as the time approaches to get the artificial tree out again—maybe a trip to a tree farm may be in order!

Happy Holidays!

Out of the Mouths of Children

2011-12-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

The other day I was watching my three-year-old granddaughter, Brynn, as my daughter had some errands to run and it is always much easier to so without a wee one in tow. We had eaten a small, but messy snack and as I ran the water wanting it to warm some in order to wash her sticky hands, Brynn looks up at me and says “Grandma, don’t run the water too long, you’re wasting it.” I responded to this comment in two ways. First I was absolutely beaming with pride that my very young grandchild could understand that we need to conserve and be mindful about water use. And, secondly, that I, someone that knows better than to run water to warm it up yet wanted to make sure it was comfortable for her grandchild, was irresponsibly running the water in a very wasteful way. What an “aha” moment!

Each of us through our everyday actions protect groundwater and sometimes forget or justify why we can’t protect it just now. The Groundwater Foundation develops programs and projects that can help us better understand how our actions can impact groundwater – the water we drink and the water that grows our food. Help us as this year draws to a close by becoming a member of The Groundwater Foundation. Through our work, many other children and adults will know that we don’t need to run the water long enough to warm it up. It works just fine right out of the tap or if you really want to run it to get warm water then capture the water that is running in a watering can and use it to water your plants.

Sparks make the world go round!

2011-12-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

As I work with different communities across the state of Nebraska, each of them has their own way of getting projects accomplished. Some of them are lead by a strong central government, while others are more grassroots with citizens across the community taking up the good fight!

But all of them have sparks! You know that segment of the community that gets projects going and done with tremendous results. You just never know where you might find them. Sure they can be part of the governmental structure but many times they are behind the scenes in a community and just want to do their part to help a project succeed.

On Tuesday I was in Fairbury doing work for my Let’s Keep It Clean program and I was fortunate enough to have meetings with a couple of sparks. I won’t name them but be assured that they are doing the right things in Fairbury and moving the town in a direction that will be great. They give me energy too. After distributing toolkits throughout the community to make my program even more sustainable I left with a great feeling about the home of the Jeffs.

So what about you? Are you a spark? Let us know what you did today to help protect water resources within your community, state or the world!

-- Brian Reetz

Spaceship Earth

2011-11-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Spaceship Earth. A concept I was first introduced to in my high school environmental studies class. We are all on this one ship and must share the available resources. Are there enough resources for the people that live here? Are we taking care of these resources for future generations?
This past week there was some media coverage on the world reaching 7 billion people. It has also been estimated by 2050 the world population will be at 9 billion. What does this growing population mean for our “Spaceship Earth?”

Recently I read an interesting article on water use and population growth. With the growing population there is an ever growing need for water.

What are your thoughts on the growing world population and the future of the Earth’s natural resources?

Fall and Pumpkins!

2011-10-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

Fall is a beautiful time of year—the trees are painting a beautiful countryside picture, there is a crispness in the air, football is in full swing, and pumpkin patches are popping up everywhere. Have you ever grown a pumpkin in your garden? Well, here is a simple recipe to grow your own pumpkin. Of course, you will need pumpkin seeds, some good well-drained soil in a sunny spot and lots of water! If pumpkins could speak, their first words would probably be: “Gimme a drink!” Between 80 to 90% of every pumpkin is water; and water is an essential medium for bringing nourishment to the entire plant. Fortunately, the plant has a built-in water-gathering and water-conservation system. The huge leaves are a hovering mulch, mediating ground and sky, shading the soil, keeping it moist, and inhibiting competition from weeds. They are also exquisitely designed to draw nourishment from the sun and guide water to the base of the plant. If a pumpkin seed is planted in the spring, you should have a pumpkin in approximately 85-125 days depending on the pumpkin variety.

So here’s to fall, growing pumpkins, and our most precious resource--water! Without it, there would be no pumpkin pie!

Become a Part of the Winning Team!

2011-10-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

In these tough economic times we have been experiencing over the past few years, it has become more and more difficult to find the dollars to support the work of educating about groundwater and inspiring people to act to protect it for the future. I know there are hundreds of very worthy causes out there, each of them vying for dwindling philanthropic dollars. So how do we make potential funders understand the importance of our cause? Do we have to move towards scare tactics – you know the “without water we cannot survive” message?

This has never been the Groundwater Foundation’s way of operating. We have always felt that helping people understand groundwater’s importance in a positive way would inspire them to do the right thing; that the “winning team” approach of recognizing the good work done towards protecting and conserving the resource is the better way to go. So while these tough times put that belief to the test – let’s show that it will prevail -- join us as we work to “recharge our aquifer” through our membership campaign. You can become a member today by clicking here and supporting our goal of clean, sustainable groundwater for future generations.

What is your community doing?

2011-10-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

By Brian Reetz, Program Coordinator

During our national conference last week in Omaha, I was luckyto present to the group with the former mayor of Wayne, Nebraska, Lois Shelton.

I first met Lois at a League of Municipalities meeting acouple of years ago. I thought Wayne would be a great fit with our Let’s Keepit Clean program that we were just starting as they were just forming a GreenTeam in the community.

I think our growth of the program and the growth of theGreen Team has been a key to seeing sustainability. Our work helped them seesome possibilities that could be done. Their passion to do it in theircommunity helped us know it would be successful. From forming a GroundwaterGuardian team to establishing Green Sites in the community as well as communityevents and programs with youth, Wayne is doing its part to make the community andgroundwater sustainable.

What are you and your community doing today to makegroundwater sustainable for future generations?

Shall we Tweet?

2011-09-30T13:50:00.001-07:00

Do you tweet? Just a year or so ago, people would have givenyou a very disconcerting look if you posed that question that to them. Now it’sall the rage!

Just a year ago, Twitter delivered 65 million Tweets a day.Now that number of tweets is over 200 million a day. More than half of the 100million active users log in each day to see what is going on in the world.

So with that in mind, we (@groundwaterfdn) will be tweetingfrom our national conference next week. So if you aren’t on Twitter yet, getsigned up today. We will be sharing information from the differentpresentations that take place.

You don’t need to tweet yourself, just follow us or followthe hashtag (a hashtag is used to mark keywords or topics in a tweet and keepsyou organized) #GWF11 by doing a search.

Share this with your friends and followers too and thetweeting will travel across the globe as nearly 70 percent of the tweetswritten are from outside of the United States.

Pollution Prevention Week

2011-09-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The old adage rings true, especially during Pollution Prevention Week!

In recognition, the U.S. EPA has launched a new tool to help consumers make greener choices in selecting products, from cleaners to appliances to automobiles.

The Greener Products portal, online at http://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/, links users to various EPA programs and information about how each of us can make green choices.

Learn more about Pollution Prevention week at http://www.epa.gov/p2week/ and find tips on how you can help make pollution prevention an integral part of your life.

Not Just Another Tuesday!

2011-09-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

September 13, 2011, is not just another Tuesday! Do you know what makes September 13^th special?

It’s Protect Your Groundwater Day!

Visit the National Groundwater Association (NGWA) website tolearn more!

http://www.ngwa.org/Events-Education/groundwater-day/Pages/default.aspx

Groundwater Education - Santa Clara Valley Water District, California

Groundwater Guardian Affiliate

Shoreline Restoration Project/Education - Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, Florida

Groundwater Guardian

River Clean-up - Elkhart, Indiana

Groundwater Guardian

Rain Garden - Calumet, Wisconsin

Groundwater Guardian

Pharmaceutical Take-back Program - Marshfield, Wisconsin

Groundwater Guardian

What will you do on September 13^th and everydayto help do your part in protecting the water you drink and the water that growsyour food?

BACK TO SCHOOL!

2011-08-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

Smell the crispness in the air…hear the sounds of high school/college bands…see the crowds of shoppers at the mall—yes it’s back to school time! That can only mean back to the books, homework and tests. So I thought it would be fun to get you and your kids ready for the school year by playing a trivia game about water and groundwater. Good Luck! Answers and grading scale are at the end of the test—but don’t peek!

1) How long can a person live without water?

a. Approximately 2 days

b. Approximately 5 days

c. Approximately 1 week

d. Approximately 2 weeks

2) Name a possible source of groundwater contamination.

a. Fertilizer

b. Landfill

c. Septic tank

d. All of the above

3) What is water stored in an aquifer called?

a. Surface water

b. Groundwater

c. Aquafina

d. River water

4) What is the name for an underground layer of sand, gravel or other rock that is a source of groundwater to wells or springs?

a. Well

b. Sand pit

c. Aquifer

d. None of the above

5) The same water that Shakespeare used to wash his ink pens may be the water that you used to brush your teeth this morning.

a. True

b. False

6) What percent of people in the U.S. rely on groundwater for drinking water?

a. 25%

b. 50%

c. 75%

d. None of the above

7) How much of the world’s water is found in glaciers?

a. 2%

b. 4%

c. 8%

d. 10%

8) Over 80 percent of the trash floating in the ocean is what?

a. Aluminum

b. Cardboard

c. Plastic

d. Metal

9) About how many gallons of water does it take to produce a hamburger, fries and soft drink?

a. 100

b. 500

c. 1000

d. 1500

10) Who has the responsibility to protect groundwater?

a. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

b. State agencies

c. Federal government

d. All of us

Answers:

1) c; 2) d; 3) b; 4) c; 5) a; 6) b; 7) a; 8) c; 9) d; 10) d

8-10 correct answers – A+

4-7 correct answers – B

0-3 correct answers – You need to study more – check out the fun groundwater trivia game, Dripial Pursuit and many other educational materials at The Groundwater Foundation’s online catalog www.groundwater.org

Questions were taken from Dripial Pursuit, a product of The Groundwater Foundation.

Clean Drinking Water: A Precious Commodity

2011-08-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Last week ranked right up there as one of the scariest of my life. You see, my 10-week old grandson had been quite ill with a high fever since Sunday night. Then on Wednesday, the city in which they live declared a boil order for the city due to e-coli in the water. My son immediately knew he needed to call the baby’s doctor in order to discuss treatment. First step, take in a soiled diaper for sampling. As is often the case, the results could not be obtained for a couple of days. Talk about a long and somewhat grueling wait. In the interim, the doctor did give the baby an antibiotic just in case.

Today we just found out that this precious little baby tested negative for e-coli. And, thank goodness he is feeling much better now. However, what this reinforced for me is how very important the work of The Groundwater Foundation is to all of us. So many times we think that things like this will never happen to us. Fortunately my grandson did not have e-coli in his system, but just the scare made me realize that each of us must be vigilant in our day-to-day lives in order to make sure that the water we drink is suitable for consumption. We must educate everyone to care about this precious resource and to do their part to protect it.

Today is a good day! My grandson is no longer sick. I get to share my story with you. And each of us has the opportunity to protect groundwater. To learn more on how to protect groundwater, visit The Groundwater Foundation website, www.groundwater.org.

Evaluating Groundwater Concerns

2011-08-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

By Brian Reetz, Program Coordinator

One of my favorite parts about working at The Groundwater Foundation is spending time in communities and talking with the people. It doesn’t matter if it is the mayor, the local business owner or just someone walking down the street, it is important to me that all of them become aware about groundwater and the impact they can have on it.

When I make presentations in communities, I have them fill out a simple evaluation when they first come into the room. I don’t want to even have them talk to me first, just fill out the simple form that you see here.

I recently used the form during a visit to Fairbury, Nebraska. Of course they all feel that clean drinking water is “extremely important” to them but many of them initially say clean groundwater is just “very important.” But by the end of my presentation, I’m sure they switch over to the extremely side! I like to think that they are at least very informed about groundwater issues in their area by the end (many of them have great questions) and then know that they use groundwater every day.

So how about you? Print out the survey and mail it in to me today or email it back to me (breetz@groundwater.org) and include any questions that you might have. You can send a hard copy to The Groundwater Foundation, PO Box 22558, Lincoln, NE 68542.

Cruel Summer

2011-07-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

I heard the song “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama on the radio the other day. It was well into the 90s that day in Lincoln, with the heat index over 100 degrees. The extreme weather that’s been plaguing much of the country as of late leads me to believe it is indeed a cruel summer.

“Hot summer streets and the pavements are burning…”

Portions of the U.S. are experiencing drought categorized as “exceptional” by the U.S. Drought Mitigation Center (http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). Records for heat have been shattered across the country. In northern Texas, Amarillo reached the 100 degree mark for 30 days in a row. On July 19, Knoxville, Iowa had a head index of 131 degrees! Talk about cruel.

“It’s too close for comfort, this heat has got right out of hand…”

While the heat and humidity have me longing for the cool crisp days of fall, summer, with the heat it brings, is an opportune time to promote water conservation. Whether it’s installing water efficient appliances and fixtures in your home, utilizing native plants in your landscape, watering efficiently, or simply turning off the water when you brush your teeth, it’s important that each of us take measures to reduce our water use in these hot summer months, and encourage our friends, neighbors, and family members to do the same.

As far as the heat? Well, I have to agree with Bananarama:

“It’s too hot to handle so I got to get up and go…"

A Float Down the Niobrara

2011-07-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

by Jane Griffin, The Groundwater Foundation

Hopefully many of you read the most recent post “Beating the Heat in Water”; it gives some great suggestions for summer activities – many that are made possible by groundwater!

I personally had the opportunity to do one of the suggested activities: float down the Niobrara River.

In addition to being a beautiful trip, it was relaxing and inspiring. I highly recommend the trip to an amazing portion of the state of Nebraska. In addition to enjoying the float down the river the area is full of places to discover. One of the most remarkable is Smith Falls, but just as inspirational is the opportunity to enjoy the diverse nature and the different sounds and scents.

Constantly I was reminded of what is so important to creating this amazing area – groundwater. You don’t have to look very hard and you find evidence of its presence. For instance, from this photo taken from the Cowboy Trail southeast of Valentine, you can see the beautiful bend in the Niobrara River. You might think, that is nice but it is not groundwater. Well, in fact 80% of the streamflow of the Niobrara comes from groundwater, through the riverbed!

Share an experience you have had on the Niobrara – or elsewhere in water!

Beating the Heat in Water

2011-07-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

by Jamie Oltman, The Groundwater Foundation
It’s summer! In Nebraska that means heat and humidity.

To beat the heat of summer many of us tend to visit water rich places to cool off. Popular destinations in Nebraska include Lake McConaughy, the Missouri River, and the Niobrara River.

What does the summer of 2011 bring for these water rich destinations?

Lake McConaughy
Lake McConaughy is Nebraska’s largest reservoir spanning 35,700 surface acres. This summer flows have reached almost 100%. Last year the lake was at 75% capacity. The lake has not reached this capacity in over 10 years. Inflows to the lake have been above normal this year due to above average snowpack in Colorado and Wyoming. The lake is a great place to visit. To learn more about Lake McConaughy visit, http://www.lakemcconaughy.com.

The Missouri River
In past years the Missouri river welcomed many recreational water sports. This summer the US Coast Guard closed the Missouri river to all recreational boat traffic. High rainfall from Montana has increased water releases from the reservoirs upstream causing the need for increased discharge at Gavins Point Dam. There are many Nebraska State Parks along and close to the Missouri river. The flooding has caused the boat docks to close but the parks are still open and welcoming visitors. Visit http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/campaign/flooding.asp to learn more about the effects of the Missouri River flooding and impact on the State Parks.

The Niobrara River
The Niobrara River flows along the northern border of Nebraska and is known as a great river to canoe, tube, or kayak. The river provides beautiful views of prairie and bluffs. With all the rain and snow causing flooding this spring the Niobrara Scenic River portion of the Niobrara has not been affected. This is because this portion of the river is mainly fed by groundwater from the High Plains Aquifer. The river is impacted more by water withdrawals due to irrigation than rainfall and snowmelt. To learn more visit http://www.nps.gov/niob/index.htm.

Where does the water in your favorite lake, stream or river come from? Think about the environmental and human impacts that could affect that body of water. Is it currently affected by drought or flooding? Are there potential pollution hazards? Are there things you can do to help keep your favorite spot clean and healthy?

Next time you sit back and relax on a hot summer day with your toes in the water at your favorite water rich location take a second to reflect on this precious resource.

CELEBRATE THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE!

2011-07-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

As we celebrated our country’s independence this past weekend, we should also celebrate our precious resource water every day! Our country is blessed with ample, clean water supplies in comparison to other countries around the world. For example, almost one fifth of the world’s population (about 1.2 billion people) lives in areas where the water is physically scarce. One quarter of the global population also live in developing countries that face water shortages due to a lack of infrastructure to fetch water from rivers and aquifers. (World Health Organization)

Water is an essential resource to sustain life. As governments and community organizations make it a priority to deliver adequate supplies of quality water to people, individuals can help by learning how to conserve and protect the resource in their daily lives.

The Groundwater Foundation’s program called Groundwater Guardian encourages communities of all types (cities, counties, watershed, etc.) to begin and enhance groundwater education and protection activities. Groundwater Guardian supports communities in their efforts and recognizes their achievements. You can learn more about the Groundwater Guardian program at http://www.groundwater.org/gg/gg.html.

As you drink a glass of water, take your shower, water your garden—remember how precious water is to you and your fellow Americans. Take steps today to protect and conserve this precious resource—share your ideas with your friends and neighbors!

Environmental Education: What Difference Has It Made?

2011-06-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

How many of you have provided environmental education to youth? Whether it was at a fair, a water festival, a school, after school program, or community event, many of us have spent many hours and resources educating youth about water issues or other environmental topic. Have you ever wondered where these children are now? Grown up for sure, but how did the messages we shared with them make a difference in their lives? Wouldn’t it be awesome to know what they are up to now?

On occasion we hear from a former student and learn of what a groundwater festival meant to them. One such story comes from Brandon , now pursuing his master’s degree in sustainable rural development. Brandon wrote “It may be hard to believe that something like the Groundwater Festival could have such an impact on someone's life but it is true. The concepts I learned at an early age stayed with me and translated into a drive to deepen my knowledge in that area. That is exactly why programs like this are so important because they plant the seeds. Seeds that one day may grow into something great.”

What have you heard back from the students you have educated? Or better yet, if you are a student who attended one of these events, what impact has it had on your life? Did it influence your career path? Have you changed your habits to be more water friendly?

We’d love to hear from you.

It's time again for camp!

2011-06-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

By Brian Reetz, Program Coordinator

For those of you who follow The Groundwater Foundation on Twitter and Facebook, you probably know that last week we (lead by Jamie Oltman) hosted our Outdoor Adventures in H2O camp here in Lincoln.

The camp is for youth who just finished fifth through seventh grade and they brought a ton of energy to the camp each day! And they needed to! We are on the go all of the time and for us educators, we bring our energy too!

We try to make it a great mix of educating while allowing them time to be kids in nature -- from searching for frogs to playing in and around the water.

On Monday, we hiked to Antelope Park in Lincoln and along the way we did a city safari scavenger hunt. Once at the park we did a recharge vs. runoff activity, a well in a cup activity, built Awesome Aquifers and they began working on their watershed models that they would work on the entire week. On Tuesday, we taught them about macroinvertebrates in preparation for our trip to Spring Creek Prairie later in the day where we did dip netting and other observation in a beautiful setting.

On Wednesday, we were on the road first thing as we took a bus to Branched Oak Organic Farm. After a tour and a chance to taste their yummy cheese, we hiked down to the pond. While we were at the pond we did a clean water challenge (testing for turbidity) and also did more dip netting for macroinvertebrates. On Thursday, we spent the whole day at Holmes Lake. After surviving a morning rain storm, we worked with the groundwater flow model and did the water cycle journey. Then we worked on a lake cleanup.

Friday was the culmination of the entire week and we all met at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. The students took everything that they had learned during the week and shared it with visitors to the zoo. It was great to see how much they had learned and then were willing to share with an even younger group of kids. After a hike back to the school that hosted us, the kids shared the watershed models they had worked on all week with their parents.

But click the link and watch the video (thanks to Jennifer) …it really captures what the week was like!

Outdoor Adventures in H2O Camp

A New Perspective

2011-06-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

Since starting my tenure with The Groundwater Foundation, I’ve (obviously) been aware of and concerned about the quality of our drinking water. Growing up in rural Nebraska, I drank well water and never gave it a second thought. After I started at the Foundation in 2000, water and the many threats to its quality and quantity were much more prominent in my thoughts and helped shape my actions.

My husband and I had our first child, a daughter, in March (actually, she was born during National Groundwater Week!). Since her birth, I can’t help but think about Groundwater Foundation founder and President Emeritus Susan Seacrest and the concern over her infant son’s health that eventually lead to the creation of the Foundation. (Read more about the Foundation’s history at http://www.groundwater.org/au/history.html). Even though I’ve worked to be an advocate of clean groundwater for the past 11 years through the Foundation’s programs and projects, I now feel a more intense responsibility to help protect the resource; not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because the stakes are higher now because it will impact my daughter’s future. My new perspective as a parent has increased my respect for the communities, individuals, and organizations out there working to educate people and protect our precious water resources. My daughter thanks you!

What or who has inspired you to be a steward of water?

Why?

2011-05-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

That is the question that plagued me this morning as I took our dog for a walk.

Why are the sprinklers running in so many of the yards in our neighborhood when yesterday and throughout the night we received significant downpours which thoroughly nourished our lawns?

I kept walking and I kept counting the houses whose already soaked lawns were being watered.

Maybe your house was one of them, maybe you have meant to put a water sensor on your sprinkler system, but just haven’t gotten around to it.

Why not?

I don’t have an underground sprinkler system so I looked to see if maybe a water sensor is cost-prohibitive…well, that didn’t seem to be the case. In fact I found quite a few that are very affordable and some that are even on sale. Here is where I found the products:

http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RSD-BEX&gclid=CNjP24u0g6kCFcPrKgodLUL9Vw

So, why waste water? Why stress our lawns with too much water? Let’s all do our part to be wise about our water use.

Moms and Water--What's the Connection?

2011-05-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

As another Mother’s Day has just come and gone, I was reflecting on how precious our moms are to us. They are the driving force behind every family. How does water come into this picture? Just like moms, water is a very precious resource that is also the driving force behind everything we do on this earth.

Below is a quiz to test your knowledge of water use in your home and suggestions to conserve water. Good luck--answers are below!

Happy belated Mother’s Day! Give your Mom a hug—water used = 0!

1. The average family of four uses approximately __ gallons of water per day?

A. 50
B. 100
C. 250
D. 400

2. How much water can you save per day by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth in the morning and at bedtime?

A. Up to 2 gallons
B. Up to 4 gallons
C. Up to 8 gallons
D. Up to 6 gallons

3. Which of the following uses less water?

A. Taking a five minute shower
B. Taking a bath

4. In the average household, which of the following wastes the MOST water per day?

A. Running the tap while washing dishes
B. Using a garbage disposal
C. A leaky toilet
D. Long showers

5. How much water is saved per flush with a high-efficiency toilet?

A. 0.6 to 1.9 gallons
B. 2.2 to 5.7 gallons
C. More than 6 gallons

6. Which of the following uses less water?

A. Washing dishes under a running tap
B. Washing dishes in a fully loaded automatic dishwasher without pre-rinsing

7. High-efficiency washing machines save about how much water per load compared to traditional models?

A. 2-5 gallons
B. 7-10 gallons
C. 11-13 gallons
D. 14 gallons or more

8. Easily corrected household water leaks account for what percentage of the average water bill?

A. 2%
B. 4%
C. 6%
D. 8%

Answer Key

1. D	It may seem hard to believe, but the average person uses 100 gallons of water each day—that's enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses. This water use can easily be cut by as much as 30 percent if American households took a few simple steps to use water more efficiently.
2. C	The average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of 2 gallons per minute; by simply turning the tap off, you can save more than 100 gallons of water per person each month.
3. A	Taking a five minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons of water, while a full tub requires about 70 gallons. If you take a bath, stopper the drain immediately and adjust the temperature as you fill the tub.
4. C	A leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water every day! To tell if your toilet is leaking, place a drop of food coloring in the tank; if the color shows in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak.
5. B	If your toilet is from 1992 or earlier, you probably have an inefficient model that uses between 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. New high-efficiency models use less than 1.3 gallons per flush—that's 60 to 80 percent less water than their less efficient counterparts.
6. B	To waste the least amount of water in the kitchen, operate your automatic dishwasher only when it's fully loaded. Filling the sink or a bowl instead of running water can save an average of 25 gallons.
7. D	High-efficiency washing machines use less than 27 gallons of water per load, compared to traditional models that use an average of 41 gallons. To achieve even greater savings, adjust water levels in the washing machine to match the size of the load.
8. D	Leaky faucets that drip at the rate of one drip per second can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water each year. If you're unsure if you have a leak, read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.

Quiz was taken from WaterSense, a US EPA Partnership Program

Water: Can We Juggle All the Needs Without Dropping the Ball?

2011-05-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

As a child I was always amazed by the person who could juggle multiple balls or other objects without ever letting one fall – each one getting the attention it needed at the precise moment that it was needed. Now, as an adult I see all of the needs we have for water and wonder how we will be able to juggle this limited resource so that we can meet each of the needs.

Think about it, we need water for drinking, water for bathing, water for growing the food we eat, water for recreation, water for cleaning our homes, and probably many more items that don’t come to mind right now. How will we ensure that there is enough water to meet each of these important and in some cases vital needs? Remember it’s a finite resource. We can’t make more.

So what are the solutions? Is it new technologies? Figuring out how to do more with the same amount of water? Changing our wasteful behaviors? Or is it a juggling act that includes a variety of solutions, each getting the attention needed at the precise moment it is needed?

Confessing about groundwater

2011-04-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

Since joining the Foundation in the Spring of 2009, my family has become more and more aware of water and specifically groundwater. I’ve taken a lot of the practices that I have learned and that I teach on a daily basis at work home with me, from reducing the amount of water I apply to my lawn to taking shorter showers and encouraging them to do the same.

This week my son, Bret, is getting confirmed into the local Lutheran church. As part of that process there is a night of questioning to see what he has learned. In preparation for that night, we have been going over the questions at home. One of the questions was, what type of water is used in baptism? Of course the normal response would be regular water or H2O. When practicing I told him if by chance that he would get the question on the night of questioning he should answer it with “groundwater”, which is the same as regular H2O.

Last night was the big night. There were eight other classmates that were being asked questions as well so the chances were slim of him getting the question. But unbelievably when it was time for that question it came to Bret. I sat frozen and wondered how he would respond to our Pastor.

The response, “H2O, groundwater.” I got the biggest smile on my face as he shared this new knowledge with everyone in the church.

Who would you be willing to share this with today?

-- Brian Reetz, Program Coordinator

What does it take to get safe, reliable and sustainable water to our faucets?

2011-04-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

By Nancy Wright, Groundwater Foundation Board Member

Each state has their own way/laws of making that happen. One common aspect is moving water through pipes is not nearly as easy as it seems. It takes qualified, certified, experienced and dedicated people. It also takes lots of engineering to defy the laws of nature to make water move from a system comprised of a combination of surface water, groundwater wells, reservoirs to pumps and miles of pipeline to get that water into our faucets.

So this brings up the question: What is that service worth?

This is a relatively new question in the world of water, what are we willing to pay? Does our monthly cell phone charge or our TV cable or internet connection take priority? If so, should it?

I believe that this topic and all of these questions deserve attention. I believe educating the general public about the complexity of bringing water to our faucets will lead them to the same conclusion that I have reached – ensuring safe, reliable water arrives in our faucets is extremely valuable.

What will you do to celebrate Earth Day?

2011-04-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

April marks a lot of great spring events, including Earth Day! It is time now to find out what events are taking place in your community to celebrate Earth Day. You can do that by visiting http://www.earthday.org/.

There are quite a few things happening in my local area. I am excited to take part in a two-day celebration at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. The celebration will begin on Wednesday, April 20 at 4:00 pm at the Wayne Majestic Theatre. The landmark movie Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic For Our Time will be screened. Thursday events will include educational presentations, a bike ride and finish with a Nature Trail Cleanup.

If you can, join us at Wayne State College. Otherwise, find out what is happening in your neck of the woods and celebrate our beautiful planet Earth!

Jane Griffin
The Groundwater Foundation

Who’s Responsible for Protecting Groundwater?

2011-03-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was small, it has seemed that people look for someone else to take responsibility for things that need to be done. It is easier to let others ensure community safety, enact laws that protect us, take measures to ensure that we have clean and plentiful drinking water. Given that over 50 percent of us drink groundwater and all of us depend upon it to grow our food, whose responsibility should it be to protect groundwater?

In my opinion, that responsibility falls to all of us. Each and every person should act responsibly to ensure that groundwater is protected for future generations. Of course, that will mean working not only individually but also in cooperation with others. While each of us can be sure that our own actions, taking shorter showers, not dumping motor oil on the ground, etc. are accomplished, it is the bigger picture that will require collaborative efforts. Things like developing wellhead protection plans, creating zoning laws that protect groundwater, etc. that will require all of us to be on board and do our part.

What have communities done to create this collaborative approach to groundwater protection? What needs to be done on a community-wide basis to safeguard groundwater? When do we need to act and who will do so? These are exactly the questions that will be explored at the Groundwater Foundation’s 2011 National Conference to be held October 4-6, 2011. Mark your calendars and plan to join us as we explore a collaborative approach to groundwater protection.

For more information on the calendar, contact the Groundwater Foundation at 402-434-2740, email ckreifels@groundwater.org, or visit the Groundwater Foundation website.

Spreading Awareness

2011-03-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

by Brian Reetz, Program Coordinator

Awareness. It comes in many shapes, sizes and colors. It might be something that caught your line of sight while walking down the street. It might be something that you overheard at a coffee shop. It might have come to you as a stern message from someone whose opinion you value in the highest regards.

What is important is that you became more aware! This is National Groundwater Awareness Week and with our mission at the foundation to educate and inspire we share that awareness throughout the year, but put a special emphasis on it this week.

On Monday, we were able to help lead the discussion for the Wellhead Protection Network in Kearney. There were a lot of great thoughts on how we can make people more aware of protecting their drinking water throughout every community in Nebraska. Then on Tuesday morning, we were able to share more messages about the work that we have done in communities in the past year as part of the Natural Resource District Water Programs Conference in Kearney.

This week we also started airing our new radio spots on stations throughout the state of Nebraska and Channels 10/11 in Nebraska started airing our new television commercial (it’s also on MyTV). Earlier today, Jane Griffin appeared on the Clear Water Radio show. On Thursday morning, I will be appearing on 10/11’s morning show to talk about – you guessed it – groundwater awareness at 5:50 a.m. Many newspapers throughout the state have also run our awareness release that encourages everyone to take action in support of groundwater – the water you drink, the water that grows our food. Follow this link for all of our media tools -- http://www.groundwater.org/pe/GGAN/media_tools.html

Here’s something that you can do right now to benefit groundwater!

Rain Bird’s Intelligent Use of Water Awards program invites the public to use the final week of the 2011 Awards program (voting ends March 15) to help decide this year’s winning projects through online voting at www.iuowawards.com. The Groundwater Foundation has worked with Rain Bird as a partner to help promote and support the awards. Three Groundwater Guardian teams have submitted projects for consideration, including Lompoc, CA; Grand Island, NE; and Orange County, NC. Groundwater Guardian is a program of The Groundwater Foundation that recognizes communities of all types for implementing groundwater protection and education projects on the local level.

As you can see, it’s been a busy week but all for a great cause – keeping groundwater safe and available for future generations.

"Spring"ing into Groundwater

2011-02-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

By Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

The recent warm weather we’ve been enjoying here in Nebraska got me thinking about Spring. I’m hoping the groundhog was right in predicting an early Spring, and am already looking forward to the grass greening up, leaves budding on the trees, flowers starting to poke out of the ground, and sunshine. After a winter filled with snow and ice for many of us, Spring affords the opportunity to come out of our winter hibernation and get back outdoors.

Spring is also a busy time for groundwater education. It’s a perfect time of year to get people outdoors, immerse them in nature, and teach them about the importance of groundwater. There are many water-related celebrations in the spring as well, providing the perfect occasions for water education and protection. Take advantage of these upcoming events:

National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 6-12, 2011 (http://www.ngwa.org/public/awarenessweek/index.aspx)
World Water Day, March 22, 2011 (http://www.worldwaterday.org/)
Earth Day, April 22, 2011 (http://www.earthday.org/)
Arbor Day, April 30, 2011 (http://www.arborday.org/arborday/)
Drinking Water Week, May 1-7, 2011 (http://www.awwa.org/Government/content.cfm?ItemNumber=3862&navItemNumber=3863)

Are you planning to recognize these upcoming celebrations? If so, how? We’d love to hear from you! Comment here or on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groundwaterfoundation.

Six Degrees of Groundwater

2011-02-04T14:26:00.000-08:00

by Jamie Oltman, The Groundwater Foundation

Are you familiar with the concept of “Six degrees of separation?”

“Six degrees of separation” is the idea that we are, on average, separated by only six other connections. This is a pretty neat concept to think about. For example can I connect myself to President Barack Obama? My cousin and her daughter went to a dinner where they met Hillary Clinton who was appointed as Secretary of State by President Barack Obama. That seemed pretty easy! Can you connect yourself to the Mayor of your hometown, The Governor of your state, or the President? Without getting into the details or theories behind this concept it’s simply a fun and intriguing idea to think about. Some will say, “It’s a small world after all,” and maybe they are right.

Adding a little spin on this concept of “Six degrees of separation” I have a new game for you. Let’s see if you can connect the four items listed below to groundwater.

A. A hamburger
B. The garbage in your trash can
C. Ski slopes
D. You

Regardless of how you got there or how many steps it took were you able to make the connection?

Let’s see if your connections were the same or different as what is listed below.

A- A hamburger – have you ever thought about how much water it would take to make a hamburger?
1. The hamburger was once a cow
2. The cow was raised on a ranch
3. The feed provided for the cow was grown with water both from groundwater and precipitation
4. The cow also had to drink
5. The water for the cow was pumped from a well into a tank for the cow to access.

I have seen estimates range from 100 gallons to 1,300 gallons of water to make just one hamburger. It’s hard to estimate how much water is involved in the process depending on what you include in the calculation. Was the water the cow drank, the water used in the processing of the meat, and the water used in the cooking process all added? Regardless of exactly how much water, it’s a good reminder that water is an important resource in the production of the food we eat.

B- Garbage – did you know in 2009 the US produced 243 million tons of solid waste?
1. We throw away something we can’t use
2. The trash is picked up from our house
3. Trash is added to the landfill
4. Landfills, if improperly constructed and managed can be a source of groundwater contamination.

Landfills today are highly engineered and managed to ensure the materials in the landfill do not cause environmental harm. Landfills are required to be constructed with a base lining that prevents leachate, being released by the decomposing waste, from entering into the soils and groundwater. In addition, landfills are required to test groundwater wells to double check their site is working properly. Remember too that recycling is a better option than simply throwing waste in the trash. Recycling conserves many natural resources including water!

C- Ski Slopes – Do you ever think about how snow on the top of mountains plays a part in the water cycle?
1. Snow on the mountain will melt in warmer months
2. Snowmelt is a major source of water for rivers and streams
3. Snowmelt may also seep into the ground recharging the groundwater
4. Rivers and streams can provide water to farmers to irrigate crops
5. Irrigation water seepage and from ditches can recharge groundwater
6. Some rivers and streams will lose water to groundwater recharge

Now that we are at groundwater can you connect the groundwater back to the ski slopes? The water cycle has no beginning and no end. Water continues to cycle through the system changing from its liquid form to water vapor, a gas, and at times will be frozen in its solid form as ice. After water enters into groundwater it may eventually make its way to the surface filling a river or lake or even ocean. It may also be pumped up to the surface and fill our empty glasses for a cool drink of water. This water will evaporate and end up in the atmosphere and at some point become precipitation and fall back to the earth… and around and around it goes.

D- You – Do you know if the water you drink is from groundwater or surface water?
1. I drink groundwater! (That was pretty easy!)

If you drink water from a surface water source, river or lake, do you think at some point the water you drink may have once been groundwater or after you use it will it one day become groundwater? Remember the water cycle we mentioned in the ski slope example above. In addition, over 50% of the entire US population relies on groundwater for their drinking water source so if the water from your faucet isn’t groundwater I’m sure you know someone who does rely on groundwater for their drinking water source. Also, think back to the hamburger from the first example, I am pretty sure some of the food you eat was grown with groundwater too.

Play this game with your family and friends, try to think of other items and see if you can stump anyone, or see who can make connections with the least amount of steps or the most detailed. Have fun with this game and remember we are all connected to the amazing resource, groundwater!

A New Year and New Beginnings

2011-01-26T11:34:00.000-08:00

It’s a new year-- the perfect time to make our new year’s resolutions and new beginnings in our lives. Of course, there’s the usual ones – lose weight, eat healthier, get more exercise, spend more time with family, etc. In reality, without good, clean groundwater we couldn’t do any of these things. Groundwater accounts for 98% of the available water we use every day. Here are a few ideas to take action and protect groundwater in 2011 and many years to come—

• Shut off the water while brushing my teeth
• Run full loads of dishes and laundry
• Water plants only when necessary
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge
• Take used motor oil to a recycling center

Grab a glass of water and toast to a year of new beginnings! Cheers!

Geothermal Systems: How do they work?

2011-01-17T14:38:00.000-08:00

The other day I received the following e-mail requesting information about geothermal systems and the amount of groundwater they use each day.
“Anecdotally, I understand that geothermal systems extract thousands of gallons of water each and every day. Perhaps 20,000 to 40,000 gallons - solely for the purpose of extracting heat from the water. I'm not sure where the water goes after that: into a septic system? Into an injection well? If so, how deep? And if this much water is being extracted, circulated through household heating systems, and then forced back into the ground, how is the groundwater being affected?”

I was baffled as I thought most, if not all, geothermal systems used a closed loop system thereby not using great amounts of water. However, I have very limited knowledge of this topic and thought maybe some of you could provide more insight and potential answers to these questions.

Anyone?

Minnesota makes strides to help in protection efforts

2011-01-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

By Brian Reetz, The Groundwater Foundation

It’s great to see when everyone gets involved in the protection efforts of water, and specifically about groundwater. It seems like the state of Minnesota is making quite an effort!

I came across an article the other day at StarTribune.com about the efforts that are currently taking place in Minnesota. The Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework report is quite an undertaking but it has a great goal. According to the article, it would “start Minnesota down a path that would eventually ensure a stable supply of clean drinking water, restore the state’s legacy of clean lakes and rivers, and provide leadership nationally in identifying and regulating hundreds of new and potentially dangerous contaminants from pharmaceutical and other consumer products.” The report was presented to the state legislature this week.

Follow this link to read the article (the article also provides a link to the full report):

http://www.startribune.com/politics/local/112903904.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UthPacyPE7iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_27EQU

We currently have three teams in Minnesota as Groundwater Guardians, all of them in the City of Detroit Lakes. We also have two affiliates (LLMP Public Health Services and the Metro Area Groundwater Alliance). Work, such as this 25-year plan, should spur more people to take a proactive approach to protecting groundwater.

Another part of the article that was a highlight for me was this quote from Brad Moore, a government relations expert with Barr Engineering, “Imagine taking money out of a bank account without knowing how much is there.” This was in reference to a part of the plan that would measure the state’s groundwater.

In regards to that, I try to constantly add stories to our Twitter page so there is a source of information flowing. If you don’t currently follow us, do it today at groundwaterfdn.

Guardians of the Groundwater

2010-12-22T12:55:00.000-08:00

by Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

Groundwater Guardian and Groundwater Guardian Green Sites are two of The Groundwater Foundation’s most prestigious programs. They, and the people that participate in them, help the Foundation deliver our mission of educating people and inspiring action to ensure sustainable, clean groundwater for future generations.

I always enjoy reflecting back on the past year with these programs. There are always challenges, but more often, there are triumphs. In a year where funding for the work we all do is limited, I’m amazed at the resourcefulness, innovation, and commitment of the individuals that spearhead Groundwater Guardian efforts and the groundwater-friendly practices on Green Sites.

Mostly, I like to reflect on the collective impact of the work that Groundwater Guardians and Green Sites do. Though the teams and sites that participate in the programs are as varied as can be, all are working – on their own, and all together – toward a common goal of groundwater protection and education. This is my favorite part of being involved in these programs – knowing that people in Oregon and Florida and Maryland and California and places in between are coming together, perhaps without even knowing it, to be advocates for their community’s groundwater. I hope all Groundwater Guardians and Green Sites know and understand that they are part of something larger than what happens in their town and on their site. They are part of a cooperative effort by citizens, educators, turfgrass professionals, mayors, golf course superintendents, city council members, park superintendents, utility managers, and many more to ensure that groundwater is understood and protected.

We at The Groundwater Foundation thank our Groundwater Guardian teams and Groundwater Guardian Green Sites for all that they do for groundwater.

Get your community or site involved in these programs today! Visit www.groundwater.org and click on the Groundwater Guardian or Green Site logos to learn more and see how you can be a part of this Groundwater Guardian movement!

Hindsight is 20/20

2010-12-14T11:58:00.000-08:00

by Jane Griffin, Groundwater Foundation President

While it is great to learn from history it doesn’t work so well when your mission is to protect. Protection implies proactive efforts, not clean up.

Unfortunately, remediating unintended consequences is a big part of our efforts. Look at what we are finding after decades of flushing pharmaceuticals down the drain.

Now, questions are arising regarding the procedure of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas; or fracking as it is often referred to.

What chemicals are being released that could contaminate groundwater supplies? What implications will this have on water quality and quantity?

Organizations are mobilizing to study and predict the implications. But will the demand for natural gas continue to grow at a rate that precludes adequate studies and prevention measures to be put in place?

Information about the procedure is already out there. We at The Groundwater Foundation believe that knowledge is the first tool towards protection, so take a couple of minutes to educate yourself about the procedure - make yourself aware of what is happening, because it is important to you. It’s the water you drink. It’s the water that grows your food; the water that recharges your streams and lakes.

Here are a couple of excellent resources:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/101022-breaking-fuel-from-the-rock/
http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/index.cfm

If you have any further information about fracking please share it with us!

Leaping into groundwater!

2010-12-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

In October I wrote about one of my first experiences with a local middle school garden club and future plans to “LEAP in to groundwater” with these students. So what has happened since my first meeting with the students? They have learned a lot and next we will jump into the educate portion of LEAP. Here’s what we have been up to…

LEARN
We have talked a lot about water in the past month! We have built groundwater models, played games about the water cycle, planted seeds in a terrarium and talked about groundwater as a part of the water cycle and as an important resource in growing plants and food. We’ve discussed water quality including impacts of the rain garden they planted at their school, water borne diseases, and turbidity. They have learned about potential groundwater contamination sources including over-applied fertilizer, improperly abandoned wells, leaking underground storage tanks, sink holes, and improperly operated landfills through constructing models and demonstrating these issues. We have also built filters and learned how difficult it can be to “clean” water.

EDUCATE
The students brainstormed ideas on how they could take what they have learned and educate others. Some think a skit would be a fun way to spread the word about the importance of groundwater. Others want to make a video or visit the elementary school they attended to share the message with younger students. Their next step will be to decide which educate idea is the best for them and how to best move forward with their idea.
I will keep you posted on their education efforts as well as what type of groundwater stewardship/protection action they want to pursue.
If you would like to LEAP into groundwater check out the LEAP website at, http://www.groundwater.org/pe/LEAP.html

Until next time, happy LEAPing!

Clean, Safe Groundwater is a Blessing

2010-11-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year again when each of us takes stock of the blessings in our lives. Each of us should count clean, ample groundwater among our many blessings.

Why is clean, ample groundwater a blessing? Well the fact that over 50 percent of Americans rely on groundwater for drinking water and that water is vital to life ought to make it a blessing. Or how about the fact that groundwater supplies much of the irrigation water used to water the crops that grow our food supply. Or that many of us depend upon groundwater to bathe ourselves, wash our dishes, and clean our homes. Each of these reasons make groundwater something we should all be thankful for and not take for granted.

Here at the Foundation we are also thankful for each of you who in some way help to protect groundwater each day. It may be that you are a member of the Groundwater Foundation to support our educational work. It may be that you are a part of a Groundwater Guardian team or are a Groundwater Guardian Green Site manager and you work towards groundwater protection every day. It may be that you are an educator that helps us spread the word about the importance of groundwater and what each of us can do to protect it. However you are involved in groundwater protection, we are thankful for your participation.

During this holiday season, help us continue our work by considering one or more of these actions:

If you are not a member of the Groundwater Foundation, become one now. http://www.groundwater.org/au/membership.html
Sign up at http://www.goodsearch.com/ and choose the Groundwater Foundation as your charity, and download the search toolbar to your computer. Then each time you search the internet, The Groundwater Foundation will earn money for its mission.
Shop online through http://www.goodshop.com/ and a portion of each purchase will be directed towards the Groundwater Foundation.
Keep protecting groundwater in your community each and every day!

Again, thanks for all you do to help protect groundwater! And, we wish you many blessings in the year ahead.

Connecting to our communities

2010-11-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

Henry Ford said it best, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

I had the opportunity to attend and help lead an early morning coffee shop discussion during the first-ever summit of the Connecting Young Nebraskans (CYN) group in Grand Island a couple of weeks ago. CYN is a network of citizens under the age of 40 who live in rural Nebraska. The purpose of the network, through the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative, is to provide a forward looking organization for younger people to shape the future by sharing their knowledge, insights and desires while learning more about topics related to their personal, professional and civic growth.

The coffee shop discussion, that I helped lead with Alyssa Smola of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts and Jessica Kelling of ReTree Nebraska, was about natural resources. Much of the discussion, not surprisingly, centered on water issues in the state of Nebraska. There were people from all corners of the state taking part in the discussion and they all had a great appreciation of water and understood what a precious resource it is.

Many of the questions they had and statements they made centered on what they can do to help – they weren’t just talking about problems that were out there in their communities. They want to help! It is important these young Nebraskans receive the assistance and tools they will need to face issues in their communities and that’s where environmental groups can be there to help. That is what made it great to be around such a group as CYN as there was a sense of working together to help create a bridge to the future.

The breakout sessions then centered around personal, professional and civic development from managing stress to coordinating volunteers, tips and tools for running for office to managing professional connections online. They all led to potential for growth in each individual.

But like Henry Ford’s quote, coming together is just the beginning and the end result is how you make it sustainable. That is the challenge for CYN but I believe that they are up to it in regards to all issues facing Nebraska including water and specifically groundwater. From the local Natural Resource Districts to the University of Nebraska to The Groundwater Foundation, we can all work together for the future of all Nebraska communities.

-- Brian Reetz

For more information on the group visit:

http://ruralinitiative.nebraska.edu/connecting_young_nebraskans.html

For more information on what individuals and communities can do to protect groundwater visit:

http://www.groundwater.org/

Making a Positive Impact

2010-10-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

Diverse sites from around the country are making strides to implement groundwater and environmentally-friendly practices on their site. As part of the Groundwater Guardian Green Site application process, sites provide documentation about the impact of their activities, and the cumulative results are impressive!
Since the program began, participating Green Sites have documented:

A reduction in fertilizer use of 768,788 pounds. The majority of sites base fertilizer amounts on a nutrient analysis.
A reduction in pesticide use of 35.77%.
A savings of 372,796,204 gallons of water by tracking usage, modifying practices when necessary, and choosing plants adapted to the region's climate that require lower inputs.
The proper disposal of potentially toxic materials, including 13,110 pounds of batteries, 13, 874 gallons of oil, 835 tires, 140 gallons of antifreeze, 33, 604 pounds of hazardous waste, and 36,047 pounds of other materials.

Sites have made changes to improve their environmental practices, including implementing recycling programs, planting native vegetation, reducing or discontinuing fertilizer usage, updating irrigation equipment, implementing water conservation initiatives, creating wildlife habitat, converting managed areas to low or no-mow areas, and instituting education programs for site staff and visitors.

We at The Groundwater Foundation are proud of the efforts of these sites, and look forward to recognizing their good work now and into the future. We know there are more sites out there doing great things for the environment – help us add to these impressive statistics by getting these sites involved in the Green Site program! Interested sites can check out the Groundwater Guardian Green Site portion of The Groundwater Foundation’s website at www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites.html to find the program application, see a list of participating sites, and to find out more, or contact us at 1-800-858-4844 or guardian@groundwater.org.

LEAP into Groundwater

2010-10-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

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by Jamie Oltman, The Groundwater Foundation

I recently spent some time with a group of middle school students in their garden club planting bulbs in their school’s courtyard. These students were excited about what they were doing, deciding where to plant and learning how to correctly plant the bulbs. The students were involved in measuring the precise distant between and depth of the holes, digging the holes and making sure they were covered and watered before the end of the hour the club meets. Each student was enthused about being there and participating in this project, especially that they were doing something for their school.

As we dug holes we found insects and worms. We also found various different layers in the shallow holes that were dug, soil on the top to clay as you dug a bit deeper. When someone found something interesting the rest of the group would run over to see. The students were taking it all in, they were learning yet didn’t even realize that they were. It was inspiring to spend time with these students as they learned and worked together.

I will be visiting their school in the future to help jump start their new environmental leadership club, LEAP. LEAP stands for Learn, Educate, Act and Protect. Students who participate will learn more about water and the environment through hands-on activities. Students will then take what they have learned and educate others in their school or community. Then they will act and protect, working together to complete an environmental stewardship project. Just the short time I spent with these students I am looking forward to working with them through LEAP. Stay tuned to see what happens as they LEAP into groundwater.

To learn more about LEAP visit http://www.groundwater.org/pe/LEAP.html.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH DAY - October 4, 2010

2010-10-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

President Obama has proclaimed October 4, 2010 as Children’s Health Day! The presidential proclamation calls upon families, child health professionals, community organizations and governments to help ensure clean air, safe water and healthy communities for our nation’s children.

As a parent, our children’s health is our top priority from birth. There are many things we do every day to make sure that they live in a clean, safe environment. One of the most important things we can do to keep our children healthy is make sure the water they drink is clean and safe to drink.

Groundwater provides 51% of all the drinking water for the total population and 99% of drinking water for the rural population. Our city water departments monitor our water supply to make sure it is safe to drink. The rural population who get their water from private wells needs to have their wells tested annually to ensure the quality is safe for drinking.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is asking all Americans to join them this month and every month in making our communities across the country healthier places to live, learn and play for our children and future generations. See the link below for 31 tips to help keep our children healthy and safe. What other tips can you share for keeping the environment safe for our children?

Have a safe and healthy month!

http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/CHM_Calendar_English_2010_508_2.htm/$File/CHM_Calendar_English_2010_508_2.pdf?Open&preview

Youth of Desert Hot Springs, California Care about their Groundwater

2010-09-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

Students in Mrs. Williams’ class at Bubbling Wells Elementary School won first place, the Time Warner Cable Award, in the 2010 Palm Springs Unified School District’s DigiCom Challenge in the category of “Healthy Planet, Healthy People.” All students created short videos on the importance of groundwater to their home town of Desert Hot Springs, California and then created their entry to the DigiCom Challenge. A shortened version of their award winning video can be seen on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/DesertHotSpringsTV. Check it out – they did a great job!

Desert Hot Springs, California has been a Groundwater Guardian Community since 1995. A spring Mission Creek Preserve Field Trip sponsored by the Desert Hot Springs Groundwater Guardians, Mission Springs Water District (a Groundwater Guardian Affiliate), The Wildlands Conservancy, and Palm Springs Unified School District helped educate Mrs. Williams’ students about the source of their drinking water which inspired the Bubbling Wells Elementary School video. The Desert Hot Springs City Council also publicly recognized Mrs. Williams’ and her students as part of the city’s “Treasures of Desert Hot Springs” program.

Are the youth in your community involved in groundwater protection? Tell us about it here.

Groundwater in the news!

2010-09-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

As we continue to work in communities across the state of Nebraska as part of our Let’s Keep It Clean program, we’ve had the great fortune of getting some great press coverage along the way.

Being a News-Editorial major, it’s great to see the work that the reporters have done to inform the public about our programs and protecting groundwater for future generations. The Crete News has featured us twice on its front page above the fold!

Freddie Makes a Splash at Summer Reading

Tuxedo Park Named a Green Site

It is part of our mission to inspire action! If just one person does something different in regards to groundwater by reading the article that is a definite benefit. But I firmly believe that there are many people out there that make changes to their lifestyle after reading articles either in the newspaper, in magazines or online. I am one of them!

So now you can do your part. You can email one of the above links to a friend, or maybe you can post it as a link to your facebook page or maybe tweet it. Media comes in many forms but getting to a wide range of people is the most important part.

It’s all about making even more people aware of our precious resource – groundwater.

-- Brian Reetz

Web of Life

2010-09-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

"This we know: All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” (Excerpt from Native American Chief Seattle's Speech to President Franklin Pierce circa 1855.)

The Groundwater Foundation’s Groundwater Guardian Green Site program recognizes the stewards of environmental friendly practices towards our groundwater and our Earth. We need to enhance the “web of life” and not weaken it. Check out http://www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites.html to learn about involving Groundwater Guardian Green Sites in your community.

Groundwater on the Gridiron

2010-09-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

by Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

It’s football season once again, and fans all over the nation are getting ready for crisp autumn days, tailgates, fight songs, and touchdowns.

In honor of the upcoming season, let’s relate some football terms to groundwater and the work we do:

Pre-game warm up: The planning done by communities prior to implementing a wellhead protection plan or other groundwater protection effort.

Coaching: The leadership of community stakeholders to make groundwater protection and education a priority, and the education efforts to help people understand the value of groundwater.

Offense: Being proactive about groundwater protection and education, rather than waiting for a problem.

Defense: Putting protection measures in place to ensure our groundwater is protected from potential contamination threats.

Interception: When a protective measure does its job and prevents a contamination event from occurring.

Triple option: The numerous choices we have when it comes to protecting our groundwater.

First down: An important step in moving towards sustainable, clean groundwater for future generations.

Touchdown: The “aha” moment when someone understands how important groundwater is to their everyday lives and to the future.

Victory: A world with sustainable, clean groundwater where everyone understands how it impacts their life and acts responsibly and responsively on its behalf.

This season, we can all work towards Guarding Our Beneficial, Important Groundwater Resources Every Day!

ABCs of Groundwater

2010-08-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

by Jamie Oltman, The Groundwater Foundation

This past week was the first day of school for many students. All the discussion of the first day and week of classes inspired me to make my own back to school list. Here is my ABC’s of Groundwater:

A – Aquifer…Stores our groundwater resources.

B – Best Management Practices…Used to reduce and prevent water contamination.

C – Conservation…Water-saving methods to reduce the amount of water needed for homes, lawns, farming, and industry, and thus increasing water supplies for optimum long-term economic and social benefits.

D – Drinking Water…51% of the people in the United States rely on groundwater as their drinking water source.

E – Education…"We will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." Bab Dioum

F – Fresh water…Less than one percent of the world’s fresh water is available for human use. The majority of this is stored as groundwater.

G – Green Site…A green space where practices are implemented to reduce and prevent groundwater contamination. See what sites have been recognized at http://www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites.html.

H – Hydrogeology…The study of geologic materials and the processes of water, especially groundwater.

I – Irrigate…wisely. Make sure to water your lawn in the coolest part of the day and only as needed.

J – Jug of water…Keep one in the fridge for a refreshing cool drink.

K – Kids…are an important reason to make sure we have a clean and plentiful supply of groundwater.

L – Leaders…Talk with your local leaders about water related policy and action in your community.

M – Municipal Water Supply…Provides water to the public (homes, school, churches, businesses, etc.).

N – Nonpoint source…Pollution discharged over a wide land area, not from one specific location.

O – Off…Turn off the water when brushing your teeth to reduce the amount of water used.

P – People…"It is because of people we protect groundwater, but it is only through people that we can do so."

Q – Questions…about groundwater? Check out some fun activities to help you learn more at http://www.groundwater.org/kc/kc.html.

R – Recharge…Water added to an aquifer. The opposite, an outflow of water, is called discharge.

S – Source water…Water from streams, rivers, lakes, or aquifers that is used to provide drinking water for human consumption.

T – Toolkit…Let’s keep it clean! Check out the community toolkit at http://www.groundwater.org/pe/GGAN/lets_keep_it_clean.html.

U – Under the direct influence (UDI)…of surface water, is groundwater located close enough to a river or lake to receive direct surface water recharge.

V – Vadose zone…or the unsaturated zone is the area directly below the surface where air and water fill the pore spaces.

W – Well…Drinking water from a private well should be tested on an annual basis to make sure it’s healthy for consumption. Check out the wellcare Well Owners Network at http://www.groundwater.org/pe/wsc_well_owners_network.html.

X – Xeriscaping…Landscaping that uses a variety of indigenous and drought-tolerant plants, shrubs, and ground cover.

Y – You…can make a difference! Learn what you can do at http://www.groundwater.org/ta/ta.html.

Z – Zzzzs…Following the ABC’s of groundwater and you will sleep well knowing groundwater supplies are clean and plentiful for future generations.

PROTECT YOUR GROUNDWATER DAY

2010-08-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) will launch its first annual Protect Your Groundwater Day on September 14, 2010. This day will focus on preventing contamination and water conservation as ways to protect groundwater resources.

To be able to prevent contamination you need to be aware of common contamination sources in your household such as cleaning products, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, etc. and learn how to dispose of them properly. Proactive protection efforts are much more cost-effective than clean-up efforts. Here is what you can do:

Dispose of potential pollutants properly:
• Do not pour chemicals down the drain or on the ground, take to hazardous waste collection
• Take used motor oil to a recycling center
• Do not flush medications or personal care items down the toilet, mix with coffee grounds and put in trash

To be a responsible water steward, here are a few simple things you can do every day:

• Check for leaky faucets and have them fixed
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator
• Shut off the water while brushing your teeth
• Take shorter showers
• Run full load of dishes and laundry
• Water lawn and plants only as needed
• Install rain barrels

Make September 14, 2010 a day to remember—the day you took charge of protecting and conserving our precious resource—groundwater!

What will you do to protect and conserve groundwater today and every day?

Rain Barrels - One Solution to Decrease Storm Water Runoff

2010-08-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

The dog days of summer are definitely upon us and as such I find myself out in the yard watering flowers nearly every day. And I really wish I would have invested in a rain barrel this spring as I had planned. Rain barrels collect the rain water that falls on your home’s roof and stores it for use at a later time. Can you believe that most homeowners can save about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months? Of course, not only could I be saving money by having a rain barrel, but it would be much more convenient since I have a downspout just a few feet from the flowerbed.

And, along with the money savings and convenience, I would be doing my part to help protect the environment. Not only do rain barrels reuse water thereby conserving it, they also divert storm water from storm sewers, lakes, and streams which will prevent any potential pollutants the water may have picked up from making its way to these water bodies.

It really is clear that I need to stop procrastinating and just get a rain barrel now. You can find many options for purchasing your rain barrel on the internet and for those of you in Lincoln, Nebraska I just learned that HyVee and Coca-Cola have partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster County and have rain barrels available at local HyVee stores.

Make a difference today! Why wait? Let us know what you do to help protect water resources.

Maryland Green Sites get media attention

2010-07-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Nine golf courses in Maryland recently became designated as Groundwater Guardian Green Sites. These courses, all owned and operated by the Montgomery County Revenue Authority (MCRA), include Falls Road Golf Course, Potomac; Hampshire Greens Golf Course, Silver Spring; Laytonsville Golf Course, Gaithersburg; Little Bennett Golf Course, Clarksburg; Needwood Golf Course, Clarksburg; Northwest Golf Course, Silver Spring; Poolesville Golf Course, Poolesville; Rattlewood Golf Course, Frederick; and Sligo Creek Golf Course, Silver Spring.

The courses have been getting media attention for their efforts, thanks to the work of Jon Lobenstine, director of agronomy for all nine MCRA courses.

Check out the article in the July 2010 issue of Golfdom magazine:
http://www.golfdom-digital.com/golfdom/201007/#pg12

Make a Splash Read with Freddie

2010-07-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

As the kids would filter into the room for the summer reading program in select cities across the state of Nebraska, it was fun to see the looks on their faces as they sized up Freddie the Fish. With “Make a Splash Read!”, the theme of the libraries this year, it gave The Groundwater Foundation a perfect opportunity to spend some time working with kids at a program and sharing the protection message.

They would see Freddie hanging out in his fish bowl filled with water and ask, “Is he real?” I would always say, “No, but you will soon find out why.” We use Freddie to show how if we aren’t careful our water can become contaminated with different items. We use Kool-Aid and cereal and other items to represent those contaminants and show just how easily it can happen. The kids really form a bond with Freddie and make it an enjoyable adventure.

We also worked with each of them on making a water cycle bracelet that shows each part of the water cycle, represented by a different color of bead. We teach them about how it moves through the cycle and how each part is very important.

Over 1,000 kids took part in the 12 events in the towns of Wayne, Crete, Minden and Lincoln as part of the Let’s Keep It Clean! program, sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, The Nebraska Environmental Trust and the Water Systems Council.

We hope that each year we can tie the work of The Groundwater Foundation into the learning that takes place during the summer reading programs at our local libraries.

http://www.groundwater.org/pe/GGAN/communities.html

--Brian Reetz

Keystone XL Pipeline vs. Ogallala Aquifer

2010-06-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

For over 23 years, I worked to educate people about groundwater and related natural resources through the programs and projects of the Groundwater Foundation. On June 13, 2010, the Lincoln Journal Star profiled two education programs, Water Fest and Nature Explore. These programs, like those of the Groundwater Foundation, help people appreciate and protect natural resources. To me it was poignant to read about these efforts while in the same issue, Art Hovey wrote at length about another project that could contaminate, perhaps forever, a large portion the Ogallala Aquifer--one of the very natural resources all of us have worked so hard to protect for so many years.

The Ogallala Aquifer contains approximately 2/3 of the volume of the High Plains system and is considered one of the great fresh water resources of the world. The aquifer provides the ecological underpinning of the largest sand dune area in North America, the Nebraska Sand Hills, and the entire system recharges lakes, streams and wet meadows throughout the region.

The porosity and transmissivity of this system is very high and a leaking pipe--especially a buried one would cause instant and widespread damage to the quality of the groundwater. The pollution plume would spread indefinitely and the threat would grow as the plume traveled.

In addition, TransCanada has decided to use thinner than usual pipe and pump slurry at higher than normal pressures. These conditions increase the risk of a leak. Engineered projects have inherent challenges and pipes are notorious for structural weaknesses--note leaks in the Alaska oil pipeline and the current tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico. If asked six months ago, I am certain BP would have issued reassuring statements about the safety of off-shore drilling.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers pollution prevention the only viable management strategy for groundwater and this buried pipeline represents a direct assault on this principle. The health risks to the population that rely on the aquifer for drinking are unacceptably high and public benefit is at peril should the project go forward as planned.

The pipeline could be placed above ground where leaks and problems are more readily recognized and addressed. In addition, the route could be modified so the pipeline does not go though one of our country's greatest natural treasures. To stand by and let this project go forward ignores these risks and promotes a future environmental tragedy.

Susan S. Seacrest, President emeritus

The Groundwater Foundation

Gulf Oil Spill: What Can We Learn From It?

2010-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Information about the Gulf oil spill has inundated the news for weeks now. Efforts to stop the massive amounts of oil from polluting our oceans, coastlines and wetlands have been met with more challenges than solutions. Pictures of oil soaked pelicans, ravaged beaches, negative impacts to sea turtles, dolphins, and other mammals, in addition to economic impacts of fishing being halted, slowed tourism, and the impending costs of clean up are just some of the copious issues that are a direct outcome of this catastrophe.

There is a lot of time, work, and money that will be needed to clean up this current environmental crisis. But for me, the bigger question is “How do we prevent this from happening again?” There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that prevention of such events as this would have been much cheaper than the costs we have seen to life, to the environment, and to the economy.

This is just one of the many potential environmental challenges that we may face in the years to come. What will happen if an oil pipeline across a major aquifer leaks? What about all the chemicals that we use every day? Will they end up in our water supply, kill species of animals, alter the circle of life?

We need to address these issues now before they become catastrophic accidents that leave us scrambling for answers. We are all in a position to make a difference, just by altering our own lifestyles and habits. In addition, we can pay attention to the potential risks in our communities and areas, become involved in the local decisions being made concerning our world, and most of all speak up and act upon behalf of our environment and our water resources. It’s been said before but bears repeating – We only have one Earth, one planet on which we can survive – we must be a part of protecting it for the future.

Share your thoughts on what needs to happen to prevent these types of environmental catastrophes in the future.

Traveling the state for Green Site program

2010-06-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

During the month of May, I chartered a course to visit as many green sites as possible across the state to encourage them to become involved in our Groundwater Guardian Green Sites program. In my mind, a green site is a site that has highly-managed green space. I know that term can be open to interpretation but that gets the discussion going. We have green sites in the program that are golf courses, college campuses, city and state parks and the list goes on.

My trips started with a visit to the southeastern corner including Humboldt and then to a recent addition to the program, the Friend Country Club (bottom photo). It then led me up to northeast Nebraska including Norfolk, Madison, Columbus and moving over a bit to the middle including Atkinson, Ord and St. Paul. The big trip took me to the western part of the state last week including going through Kearney, Gothenburg and Bridgeport before visiting with people in Scottsbluff and then making my way back through Sidney and Overton.

Many of the visits I had were with people at the golf courses and it was great to hear many of the current practices that they have in place and the many things that are looking to do in the future in regards to both water and fertilizer usage.

Be sure to learn more about our Green Site program and how your green site can become involved in the program as well by clicking on this link: http://www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites.html

We recently added video testimonials from a couple of the top courses in the state, Wild Horse (top photo) and Bayside (second photo), who are both currently a part of the program. Click on this link to hear from them and others: http://www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites_testimonials.html

--Brian Reetz

Celebrating 25 years!

2010-05-14T14:20:00.001-07:00

The Groundwater Foundation is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, and will have special events throughout 2010 to mark the years of groundwater education and protection. On Monday, May 17, staff members, board members, and friends of the Foundation will gather for a celebratory dinner to honor the anniversary. A web page is currently in development which will recount milestones from the past 25 years, and the summer issue of The Aquifer will feature a “look back” at the evolution of the organization.

We hope you will join us in celebrating 25 years of educating people and inspiring action to ensure sustainable, clean groundwater for future generations. You can help ensure the Foundation goes on for another 25 years by becoming a member, involving your community in the Groundwater Guardian program, getting sites involved in the Groundwater Guardian Green Site program, and much more. Visit our website at http://www.groundwater.org/ for ideas and ways you can be a part of the next 25 years!

Water for Food

2010-05-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend the 2nd annual Water for Food International conference opened. The challenge is a huge one, but luckily for all of us there are people who are motivated by the challenge and there are forward-thinking philanthropists who recognize the importance and the scope of this issue.

The conference will surely have a very positive feel to it – as it should. It opens just days after the 2nd largest gift to the University of Nebraska has been announced. The Daugherty Foundation has pledged $50 million towards the Water for Food Institute.

These ingredients, plus the extensive work that the state, the University, governmental and non-governmental agencies have done towards understanding and protecting our water resources in order to meet the needs of today and tomorrow, are bound to make for an exciting conference.

The challenges are great, but are they any greater than some of the difficulties that have been overcome in the past?

Let’s see what all the people gathering from different corners of the globe believe.

Share your thoughts – and look back for updates as the conference progresses.

Learning About Groundwater

2010-04-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

The eager participants hands were raised, they wanted to learn more, ask questions, offer their own comments, and be a part of the conversation.

This past month I have participated in various youth education and outreach events. Meeting with school groups and presenting hands-on activities to help them better understand groundwater. I typically start off my discussions by asking the students to tell me about groundwater, at least one student will blurt out, “It’s water in the ground!” Then I ask the class to tell me more about this water in the ground, such as what we use if for and what might be potential causes for groundwater contamination. Our conversation becomes an exchange of questions and answers, a brief lesson prepping them for an activity. “The water turned green!” the group exclaims, as they realize the water in their model has just became contaminated.

I also had the opportunity, this past month to attend the National Ground Water Association Summit/Ground Water Protection Council Spring Meeting in Denver, Colorado. At the Summit I heard many great presentations about new research, technological advances, and experiences from the field. Computer models demonstrating groundwater quality and quantity issues and the potential solutions to these problems as well as images, maps, and charts from research studies were shared. The exchange of questions and answers following the presentations was extended into conversations held during breaks and meals. Plans for future projects buzzed about as new ideas were shared.

Two very different audiences, two very different situations yet there is commonality. From the question, “What is an aquifer?” and building a model out of a clear plastic box filled with gravel to the question “What can geophysical signatures of complex subsurface processes tell us?” and an explanation demonstrated through computer modeling, groundwater is the common topic, learning is the common theme.

Have you recently learned something new related to groundwater? Or maybe shared something about groundwater with others? Share your recent groundwater conversation topics, no matter how simple or complex, let’s see what we’ve all been talking about!

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY

2010-04-19T07:12:00.000-07:00

Earth Day will be celebrated around the world on Thursday, April 22. 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, but only 2.5% is freshwater. With so little water available to use for our daily needs, we need to do our part in protecting and conserving this precious resource. Here are just a few things you can do to be a good water steward:

1) Take short showers instead of baths

2) Run full loads of dishes and laundry

3) Water outside only when necessary

4) Check for leaky faucets and repair them

5) Limit amounts of fertilizer

6) Dispose of chemicals properly

7) Teach others about ways to protect and preserve water

Celebrate Earth Day each and every day by doing your part! How will you celebrate the day?

WATER ISSUES WITH AN OUNCE OF HUMOR: WILL THAT GET PEOPLE TO LISTEN?

2010-04-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email touting a segment on The Daily Show that the sender felt I should watch. So I took a few minutes and ran the short video. The video stars Robert Glennon, author of Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What To Do About It. Glennon is also the Morris K. Udall Professor of Law and Public Policy in the Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona.

Glennon’s book, as titled, shares the many water challenges and potential crises that face our country. Some of which are mentioned in the interview with Jon Stewart. Of course, Stewart adds a bit of humor to the topic and with some luck may have brought interest to a topic that many times is taken for granted.

Take a peek at this segment at http://www.rglennon.com/. Let me know your thoughts. Is humor what we need to get water messages to the public? Or does it make light of an issue that is in need of human action?

Green Sites calling all golfers

2010-03-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

Warmer weather in Nebraska makes me think of a few things but one of them highest on my list is venturing into the storage spot in my fairly messy garage and pulling out my golf clubs. I know they aren’t in the best of shape. I know I need a new bag. I know I need some new shoes. Maybe someday. And let’s not even talk about my pathetic swing. But none of that is going to stop me from enjoying such a great activity.

It’s great getting out and about, especially after the rough, cold winter that we had in the Cornhusker State, and enjoying a golf course.

I’ve gotten a new appreciation for them since I started as a program coordinator at The Groundwater Foundation nearly a year ago. We have a program called Groundwater Guardian Green Sites that recognizes good stewards of groundwater. Many of them are golf courses across the state and the country. I’ve had the great opportunity to sit down with some of the superintendents and PGA professionals one-on-one and talk about the practices they have implemented. I have shared some new ideas that we have heard about that will improve their practices too.

The program is continuing to grow every day. In 2007, there were just a few pilot sites and now I feel like I can venture across the state and the country and find one. I plan on doing that this Spring as well as finding more courses to become part of such a great recognition program.

You can find more about the program on our website: http://www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites.html

-- Brian Reetz

Fix a Leak Week

2010-03-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

Last week was National Groundwater Awareness Week, and in continuing with the water week theme, this week Americans are encouraged to Fix a Leak.

According to U.S. EPA, household leaks waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water per year—that's equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined—and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Fixing leaks in your home will help save money on your water bill, and more importantly, save water for future generations.

To check for leaks, examine your winter water usage. It’s likely that a family of four has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month. Or you can check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.

So check your faucets, toilets, showerheads, and hoses for leaks this week:

Check the washers and gaskets on your faucets and showerheads for wear and replace them if necessary. A faucet leaking at just one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year, and a showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. Most leaky showerheads can be fixed by ensuring a tight connection using pipe tape and a wrench.
Place a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank and check the bowl for color after a few minutes or before flushing. If your toilet is running constantly, you could be wasting 200 gallons or more of water every day. If your toilet is leaking, the cause is most often an old, faulty toilet flapper. Over time, this inexpensive rubber part decays, or minerals build up on it. It's usually best to replace the whole rubber flapper—a relatively easy, inexpensive do-it-yourself project that pays for itself in no time.
Check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.
Landscape irrigation systems should be checked each spring before use to make sure it was not damaged by frost or freezing. An irrigation system with pressure set at 60 pounds per square inch that has a leak 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.

In many cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers or a trusted professional plumber.

For more information on events going on to promote Fix a Leak Week, visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak.

For more information on U.S. EPA's WaterSense program, including tips, rebates, water use calculators, quizzes, and more, visit http://www.epa.gov/watersense.

Let's Keep It Clean launches

2010-03-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

Not only is it Groundwater Awareness Weeek, but we at The Groundwater Foundation are also excited to announce the launching of a new campaign, “Let’s Keep It Clean!” The goal of the campaign is to empower people to play a key part in protecting their groundwater. The main objectives are to create awareness and understanding of the vital resource and provide tools for individual communities to take proactive steps to ensure a safe, lasting supply.

One of our most precious is our groundwater - it’s the water we drink, the water that grows our food. Each of us relies on it and it relies on us so let’s keep it clean.

Thanks to our media sponsors here in Nebraska, the home of The Groundwater Foundation, radio and television ads will be running reminding people of the important resource. In addition The Groundwater Foundation staff will be working within communities all across Nebraska. The Groundwater Foundation will help communities put a plan into action by meeting with local leaders. It will generate awareness and inspire action in the communities by participation in city-wide events and presentations to local businesses.

If you don’t live in Nebraska, access to the ads and many more tools are available on our website, http://www.groundwater.org/. Just click on the Let’s Keep It Clean button.

While visiting the page you can make your pledge to protect groundwater, remembering that individually we act, collectively we make a difference.

Please let us know what you and/or your community are doing!

A special thank you to our Let’s Keep It Clean sponsors: the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Water Systems Council.

Cheers to clean groundwater for generations to come!

Jane Griffin, Groundwater Foundation President

Happy Groundwater Awareness Week!

2010-03-09T11:46:00.000-08:00

by Jane Griffin, Groundwater Foundation President

Happy National Groundwater Awareness Week!

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman has proclaimed this week, March 7-13, 2010, as Groundwater Awareness Week in Nebraska in recognition of the nationwide significance of our work here at The Groundwater Foundation and the vital need to protect groundwater in Nebraska.

Groundwater is the water that fills the cracks, voids and other openings in the soil, sand and bedrock. It’s the water we drink – over 85% of Nebraskans rely on groundwater for their drinking water. It’s the water that grows our crops – groundwater is the major source of irrigation.

Groundwater is a hidden resource that many of us take for granted - instead of taking it for granted, it is a resource that we must recognize for the vital role it plays in our lives and ensure that a safe, clean supply will be available for our children and grandchildren.

This week is also National Groundwater Awareness Week, so it is a perfect time for the Governor to make his proclamation and for The Groundwater Foundation to launch its new campaign, “Let’s Keep It Clean!” The goal of the campaign is to empower the people of Nebraska to play a key part in protecting their groundwater. The main objectives of the campaign are to create awareness and understanding of the vital resource and provide tools for individual communities to take proactive steps to ensure a safe, lasting supply.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Not sure what to do with hazardous substances? Contact local waste authorities about proper disposal of hazardous substances such as pesticides/herbicides, antifreeze, fertilizer, paint/paint thinner, oil and chemicals.
Use the recommended amounts of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
If you own a water well, have your water tested annually. Also test if there is a change in the odor, taste or smell.
If you own a septic tank, have it cleaned and serviced regularly to prevent a breakdown that could pollute your groundwater.

For more information about how you can get involved, visit http://www.groundwater.org/ and click on the Let’s Keep It Clean button.

Price of Water Vs. Conservation

2010-02-23T10:04:00.000-08:00

When your water bill comes in the mail do you look at it in shock and say, “I better cut back on how much water I’m using so my bill will be lower next time.” I know that’s not the case with me. Because water is priced so reasonably we don’t think about conserving it like we should. On the other hand, as an owner of rental property, I do watch the water bills to look for spikes that might indicate a leaky toilet, faucet or misuse by tenants. To help keep our water bill reasonable, we install low-flow shower heads in all of our units and do inspections to check faucets/toilets on a regular basis.

Even though water is so reasonably priced, that doesn’t mean we should abuse it and not conserve it. Take time to do some of these simple things to save this precious resource. What do you do to conserve water?

Remembering a Groundwater Hero

2010-02-17T14:02:00.000-08:00

by Cindy Kreifels, Groundwater Foundation Executive Vice President

Today I learned that the world has lost a hero, a groundwater hero that is. Vernon Haverstick, 91, of El Paso, Texas passed away on February 11, 2010. I had the pleasure of meeting Vern and his wife Ann many years ago because of the great work has done on behalf of groundwater.

Vern became involved in groundwater protection in 1989 by participating in the El Paso Wellhead Protection Project. Vern learned of the project through the El Paso Retired Senior Volunteer Program and took the initiative to assist in recruiting 23 citizen volunteers to conduct a potential contaminant source inventory around El Paso’s 144 public water supply wells. Vern helped to write a “how-to” manual describing the methods utilized which the EPA has distributed in many states throughout the country and has been translated into several languages and distributed in other countries. The methodology, techniques, and inventory forms developed by Vern and his team of volunteers to conduct comprehensive groundwater protection inventories have been utilized by communities throughout the nation. Vern and his team of volunteers also inventoried drinking water supplies and septic tank systems in the colonias throughout El Paso County, and he served as a mentor for many students participating in a bi-national groundwater protection project.

Vern was a perfect example of the action that could and should be taken locally to help protect groundwater resources. In 1996, The Groundwater Foundation had the honor to recognize Vern Haverstick for his achievements. Today, we do the same. Vern was a true friend to groundwater, the kind every community needs.

Whose Responsibility Is It?

2010-02-10T14:46:00.000-08:00

President’s Day will be celebrated on Monday, February 15, 2010. As we celebrate this day, most will be glad that it’s a holiday and hence they don’t have to get up and go to work.

Yet what is the true purpose of President’s Day? To commemorate the good our nation’s leaders have done?

Nearly from the beginning of this country, water has been an issue worth the consideration of our leaders. Much has been accomplished to protect and conserve our water resources since the founding of our country. Some notable accomplishments include:

• Creation of:
        - The Army Corp of Engineers
        - The US Bureau of Reclamation
        - The Inland Waterways Commission
        - The Tennessee Valley Authority
        - Soil and water conservation division of US Department of Ag
        - The Senate Select Committee on Water Resources
        - Earth Day
        - The US Environmental Protection Agency

• Authorization of:
        - The Reclamation Act
        - The Water Pollution Control Act
        - The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act
        - The Clean Water Act
        - Safe Drinking Water Act
        - The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
        - Superfund legislation
        - Public Health Security, Bioterrorism Preparedness & Response Act

The leaders of our country have indeed worked towards the protection and conservation of our water resources. But should that burden fall solely on their shoulders? Should we depend upon the lawmakers to protect a resource that is so vitally important to everyone’s life and livelihood? Shouldn’t we as citizens of this country and those who depend upon water for life take responsibility towards its protection as well?

Share what you and/or your community are doing to help protect groundwater. Give others inspiration to do the same.

Super 'bowl' Game

2010-02-04T05:59:00.000-08:00

I don’t know about you, but this year’s Super Bowl couldn’t be a better matchup in my mind.
On the one hand, you have the Indianapolis Colts. Led by one of the greatest quarterbacks and game-day managers in the history of the National Football League (Peyton Manning), they have a been-there, done-that kind of attitude that permeates throughout the team.
On the other hand, you have my favorite team in the NFL -- the New Orleans Saints. People used to go to their games and put bags over their heads because the team was so terrible. But with the help of Drew Brees and Reggie Bush, the Saints have brought a sense of rejuvenation to the entire city especially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

So what does water have to do with the Super Bowl? Denver Business Journal writer Cathy Proctor grabbed my interest when she mentioned the other “bowl” in her blog column this week. Of course, I’m talking about the toilet bowl. Legend says that during halftime of the Super Bowl toilets will be flushed 90 million times! I’m guessing that is an urban legend but even if that number is cut in half that is still a lot of flushing.

According to the Nebraska Lower Platte North Natural Resource District, the most common source of leaks is the toilet. To check your toilet for leaks, put a few drops of food dye in the tank and wait 15 minutes. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired. Leaky toilets can usually be repaired inexpensively by replacing the flapper or adjusting the water level. According to Proctor, toilets produced prior to 1994 used 3.5 gallons to 7 gallons per flush. Since 1994, federal law has required all newly manufactured toilets to use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. So maybe a new toilet before the Super Bowl game is another option to help conserve our precious resource.

Oh and my pick for the big game – the Saints.

Brian Reetz
Program Coordinator

Green Sites Make a Difference!

2010-01-29T13:58:00.000-08:00

The Groundwater Foundation knew the Groundwater Guardian Green Sites program had the potential to make a huge environmental impact. The numbers tabulated by the program show the positive impact on the future of sustainable groundwater. Groundwater Guardian Green Sites is a Groundwater Foundation program that educates and encourages managers of highly managed green spaces to implement groundwater friendly practices.

Thank you Green Sites! You are making a beneficial difference for groundwater by implementing groundwater-friendly practices on your sites. Here’s your environmental impact through 12/31/09:

Reduction in fertilizer use: 729,200 pounds
Reduction in pesticide use: 36.5%
Gallons of water saved: 330,517,895 gallons

Proper disposal of toxics:

Batteries: 809 (plus 13,105 pounds)
Oil: 4,197 gallons (plus 6,400 pounds of oil/water mix)
Tires: 369
Antifreeze: 65 gallons
Other: 46,315 pounds

If you know of a green space that would be a candidate for the Green Site program, please contact us at guardian@groundwater.org or call 1-800-858-4844. More information about the program can be found on the Green Site section of The Groundwater Foundation's website.

Crisis in Haiti Shows the Importance of Drinking Water

2010-01-21T06:53:00.000-08:00

Last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti once again illustrated the importance of water following a disaster. ABC’s World News Tonight on Tuesday, January 19 (http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9606970) reported that water is in short supply all over the capital city of Port-au-Prince. In some cases, those with access to well water were charging people to use the water and had no guarantees that the water was even safe to drink; others waited in line for hours for access to a functioning pump or for bottled water. It made me think back to the hurricanes of 2005, namely Hurricane Katrina, when floodwaters polluted drinking water supplies and created a dangerous shortage. Unlike a hurricane, an earthquake arrives without warning, and is an unpredictable kind of natural disaster, making planning for a response more challenging. The outpouring of support and aid from all over the world has been outstanding; but now comes the challenge of ensuring all those affected are receiving the basic necessities of food and water. It will be interesting to see as time goes on how Haiti’s infrastructure, including drinking water, is rebuilt and if contingencies for a disaster of this magnitude are put into place.

If we can take anything from this tragic event, I hope it’s to truly appreciate the luxury we have of going to the tap and filling a glass with clean, fresh water; a luxury that is all to often taken for granted.

Cheers to 2010 and a new mission!

2010-01-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

by Jane Griffin, Groundwater Foundation President

Many comments have been made about the New Year and the new decade, so I believe it is my job to point out yet another important milestone that 2010 brings - the 25th anniversary of The Groundwater Foundation.

In order to prepare for this important milestone The Groundwater Foundation Board of Directors and staff dedicated long and hard hours analyzing and evaluating our impact and our role today and for the next 25 years. Instead of boring you with the details of the work, I am going to limit myself to sharing with you only the exciting results.

The Groundwater Foundation has adopted a new mission statement that we believe more effectively identifies our purpose:

We educate people and inspire action to ensure sustainable,

clean groundwater for future generations.

The Groundwater Foundation has identified strategic programming goals that will move us towards achieving our mission. Details about our new program, updates on impact of our current programs and more will be posted to our website soon…check back to often to see what is happening in your community and across the nation at http://www.groundwater.org/.

Water is, and will continue to be, vital to our existence; as such, on behalf of all of us at The Groundwater Foundation, I affirm our dedication to educating people and inspiring action to ensure sustainable, clean groundwater for future generations.

Now, let’s pour ourselves a glass of groundwater (which means that one out of every two Americans only needs to go to their tap) and say “Cheers to 2010!” Yes, 2010 is the year for our organization and the people and communities we serve to celebrate 25 of education, and looking forward to 25 more years of mission delivery!

Groundwater's Important to Our Town

2010-01-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

I realize Christmas is past, but this little ditty is timeless. Check it out! Better yet, add a verse or two.

Groundwater's Important to Our Town
(set to the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town)

Oh, You better take care,
You better not pollute,
You better not waste it,
I'm telling you why:

Groundwater's important to our town!

It's what we drink,
It grows our crops,
It needs to be protected,
It's vital for life.

Groundwater's important to our town!

It's there when you are thirsty,
It bathes you when you wake.
It waters your lawn and washes your clothes,
So protect it for goodness sake!

Groundwater's important to our town!

It's what we drink,
It grows our crops,
It needs to be protected,
It's vital for life.

Groundwater's important to our town!

Use of tap-water in Copenhagen

2009-12-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

I thought this was an interesting piece of information coming out of the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen. On the official website (http://en.cop15.dk/) for the event it says:

“Water -- Due to the very high quality of groundwater in Denmark, all potable water at the conference venue will be tap-water served in decanters or at self-service automatic dispensers. This implies a considerable energy saving advantage because production, transportation and disposal of water bottles will be avoided.”

Good for them for practicing what they preach and for setting a good example when it comes to water usage! And yeah for groundwater – a great source of drinking water for everyone! It’s also great to see that their quality of groundwater is doing so well. It bodes well for the future generations.

I'm Thankful For...

2009-11-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

This Year I'm Thankful For...
by Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

I remember back in elementary school around Thanksgiving our teachers always had us go around the room and say what we were thankful for. I remember hearing things like “I’m thankful for my video games” or “I’m thankful for my new bike” or even “I’m thankful that I don’t have to share a room with my new little brother.” Our perspectives have obviously changed since the third grade! I’m thankful for so many things this year – my husband and family, great friends, good health, a job I enjoy, and even the Husker football team winning the Big 12 North title.

But in reflecting a little harder on the holiday this year, my list of thanks got bigger. I’m thankful to live in a country where we have some of the best drinking water in the world. I’m thankful there are people, agencies, and organizations that work to protect drinking water supplies. I’m thankful, of course, for groundwater, which nourishes my husband and family, my friends, my health, and even the Huskers.

When thinking about the big picture, groundwater should be at the top of people’s Thanksgiving lists. It’s so much more than a natural resource. It directly or indirectly enables us to enjoy those other things on our list. Because without clean, safe, sustainable supplies of drinking water, of which groundwater plays a huge part, we’re all in trouble. And I’m certain no one’s thankful for that!

What about you? What are you thankful for this year? Is groundwater high on your list?

Water - An Economic Stimulus

2009-11-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

Communities utilizing water as an economic stimulus?! Is this a new trend? If so, is it a wise one? Or does it further devalue this resource that is so vital?

I recently read about a community offering job producing businesses deeply discounted water rates in order to get them to re-locate to their community. Is this a first? Will other communities follow? What impacts will this have on a community’s water system?

I understand the need to draw businesses to communities so that jobs are available, but at what cost?

Share your thoughts, concerns, insights.

Ann Bleed Webinar and Twitter

2009-10-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

We are looking forward to having Ann Bleed as our presenter at our upcoming webinar: "Challenges and Opportunities of The Integrated Management of Surface Water and Groundwater." The event will take place at 2 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, October 27th. The registration is open for the event at our website: www.groundwater.org. Many people have already registered for the event and we don't want you to miss out.

On another note, Twitter has become a craze in social media. A recent article said that it is projected to reach 18 million users by the end of the year. You can find us at our Twitter account: groundwaterfdn. We like to share news about upcoming events, our thoughts on current issues as well as reposts of others that follow us or that we follow. It's another good source of finding out information or other activities in regards to groundwater. It's a free service to join. We are hoping soon to reach 100 followers and then continue our upward growth from there.

Growing Groundwater Awareness

2009-10-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

by Jane Griffin, Groundwater Foundation President

How appropriate that the first new program launched under new leadership at The Groundwater Foundation is titled "Growing Groundwater Awareness in Nebraska." Thanks to funding provided by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, the program is now underway.

As a person who has only recently come to truly appreciate groundwater I recognize the need to provide this critical information to the general public. I, like so many others, have always expected clean, safe drinking water to come out of the tap. I would just turn it on and not think any further about it.

Growing Groundwater Awareness in Nebraska is going to address that very issue. It will generate understanding of the role groundwater plays in our lives and the role we play (both as individuals and as communities) in protecting it for future generations.

Check back on our website for more information about the program and see what's happening in your community!

Let us know what you are already doing to protect groundwater! Or if you live in Nebraska and want us to bring educational activities to your community please contact us at info@groundwater.org.

Drinking Water in the News

2009-09-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

Drinking water was in the news again. This time it was an AP story about the quality of drinking water at schools across the U.S. The article found that "contaminants have surfaced at public and private schools in all 50 states — in small towns and inner cities alike." (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33008932/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/)

It's frustrating to continue to see water's appearance in the news only in a negative way. We see investigations into all sorts of contamination events and occurrences, but there's rarely a mention of the proactive approaches communities across the country are taking to protect their drinking water supplies. It would be refreshing to focus on the positive, which would encourage other communities to adopt practices to preserve drinking water.

What do you think? How can we help publicize the proactive protection efforts communities are undertaking? Is this newsworthy?

Adult Education Webinar

2009-09-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

By Jane Griffin, Groundwater Foundation President
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to participate in the webinar entitled “Groundwater Guardian Showcase: Adult Education Programs.” It was both eye-opening and thrilling to know what efforts are going on across the country to educate people about groundwater. Three Groundwater Guardian team representatives presented their efforts to educate adults in their respective communities about groundwater: Janine Reed, Sequim-Dungeness, WA; Gabrielle Belfit, Barnstable County (Cape Cod), MA; and John Paquin, Kalamazoo, MI.

If you didn’t get to participate in the live webinar, you can access the archived version by following this link: http://www.groundwater.org/pe/webinars_20090922.html

Know that the webinar series is a new service that we are offering in our continued effort to disseminate the information. Your support allows us to continue the work!

We look forward to hearing your comments about the webinars.

Attorney General-Zoo Designation Event

2009-09-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

During a ceremony on Friday morning, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo was designated as a Groundwater Guardian Green Site. But the event also served a dual purpose as Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning was on hand to present The Groundwater Foundation with $25,000 towards environmental education programs.

During the course of the event, Attorney General Bruning said, “At the Attorney General’s office, we are big supporters of The Groundwater Foundation. We’re huge fans frankly. We consider part of our mission to protect the environment. Seven years ago when I became Attorney General we created an environment and natural resources unit within the Attorney General’s office. That hadn’t happened before. We are going after polluters….When you go after those folks, and unfortunately they do exist in Nebraska, we have to make it hurt so they won’t do it any again and it’s money. We end up with the money and what is the best thing to do with the money? We think it is to return it to the community through groups like The Groundwater Foundation.”

Lincoln Children’s Zoo President/CEO John Chapo also spoke during the event. He said, “We are a wonderful green space and teaching stewardship to children of all ages is our mission as well. It was important for us to strive for this designation because we do have this beautiful green space in the heart of our community. We appreciate this recognition.”

To hear more of what Attorney General Bruning had to say, some additional remarks from the Zoo’s Chapo as well as some words from Groundwater Foundation President Jane Griffin and Groundwater Foundation Green Site Program Manager Jennifer Wemhoff click on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHl19-CbcBs

Upcoming Groundwater Foundation Event at Lincoln Children's Zoo

2009-09-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

Attorney General Jon Bruning will present The Groundwater Foundation with $25,000 towards environmental education programs on September 11, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. and we hope you can attend. The ceremony will take place at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in conjunction with the designation of the Zoo as the newest site in The Groundwater Foundation’s Groundwater Guardian Green Site program.

The money awarded to The Groundwater Foundation was made available through the Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Fund. The fund is comprised of voluntary payments collected in court-approved settlements from entities that have violated state and federal environmental statues and regulations.

The funding will assist programs for adults and youth, such as the Groundwater Guardian Green Site program, which recognizes locations that implement groundwater-friendly practices on their land. The Lincoln Children’s Zoo, which recently earned official designation as a Green Site, will host the check presentation in conjunction with its designation into the program.

Funding from the Attorney General’s Office will also be used for two youth education programs, Water Ways and Awesome Aquifers for Science Olympiad. Water Ways offers hands-on environmental education to young students and establishes a connection to nature. Awesome Aquifers for Science Olympiad is geared towards middle and high school students and offers them the opportunity to participate in an academic competition through an aquifer building activity.

Celebrate 25 years -- Become a Groundwater Foundation Member

2009-09-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

2010 will mark The Groundwater Foundation’s 25th Anniversary! Over these past 25 years through our programs we have reached out across the United States and around the world to inspire and educate people about the importance of groundwater. One of the ways we have accomplished this was the creation of the Children’s Groundwater Festival which educated over 36,000 students about groundwater. Also, the Groundwater Guardian program was implemented to support and recognize over 420 communities for voluntary groundwater protection efforts which in turn reached millions of people with a groundwater protection message. This past year 60 sites participated in The Groundwater Green Site program which recognizes good stewards of groundwater by encouraging managers of highly-managed green spaces (golf courses, ball fields, education campuses, parks, etc.) to implement, measure and document their groundwater-friendly practices related to chemical use, water use, pollution prevention, water quality, and environmental stewardship.

It is our goal to continue to educate people and inspire action to ensure clean, plentiful groundwater for future generations. Your help is needed to reach this goal—become a member of The Groundwater Foundation! Watch your mail this month for a membership letter or go online to www.groundwater.org and become a member today!

Webinar Opportunities

2009-09-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Groundwater Foundation has begun a series of webinars this fall to help people understand groundwater and the many issues that impact it. As I have been working on topics for these webinars, I realize it would be nice to know what you would like to learn more about.

Topics for this fall include:

September 22, 2009 – Groundwater Guardian Showcase: Adult Groundwater Education

October 27, 2009 – Challenges of Integrated Management of Surface Water and Groundwater

November 24, 2009 – Geology As We Know It…. Or Do We? Discoveries In “Known” Geologic Terrains Using Airborne Geophysics

December 16, 2009 – Communicating the Value of Water

For more information on these webinars, visit The Groundwater Foundation website at www.groundwater.org.

Now, what are the topics that you want to learn more about? Share your ideas with me at webinar@groundwater.org. We want to hear from you!

Webinar in review

2009-08-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

A special thanks to everyone who took part in our webinar on Tuesday with Karen Griffin O'Connor from Olsson Associates in Lincoln, Nebraska. There were more than 22 states represented as well as different locations in Canada.

Karen spoke about Sustainable Groundwater Development Using GIS and Groundwater Modeling. It was a very educational event. There were many great questions received during the webinar that Karen was able to spend some time on during the Q&A session.

If you didn't get a chance to watch the live webinar, it is now available as an archived event. Just follow this link to our website: http://www.groundwater.org/pe/webinars_20090825.html. There is a cost involved to watch the archived version. If you are a Groundwater Foundation member, be sure to email us at webinar@groundwater.org to receive a $5 off coupon code.

The next webinar has been set for Tuesday, September 22. The title is Groundwater Guardian Showcase: Adult Groundwater Education. You will be able to begin registering for the event in early September. More details to come.

Water on the world's mind

2009-08-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

A recently released study on global water issues relayed much of the information that we have grown accustomed to hearing -- people care about water issues and they want to help!

Ninety-three percent of the responses from countries around the world said that water pollution is a serious or somewhat serious problem. Ninety-one percent feel that a shortage of fresh water is a serious or somewhat serious problem. But they also added -- at a 76 percent clip -- that they need more information to do more to protect the water. At The Groundwater Foundation (www.groundwater.org) we are all about educating the public. We hope you come to us as a resource on how to protect groundwater in the state, country and the world.

Here is the online article: http://www.watertechonline.com/news.asp?N_ID=72432
The article also provides a link to the full study.

Brian

End of Summer "to do" List

2009-08-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

As we near the end of yet another summer, we need take a look at what's left on our summer “to do” list. For the many people who rely on a private well for drinking water, summer is often the time to have their well tested.

In order to maintain a clean, safe supply of water, testing and other regular maintenance are critical. To help you remember these important tasks you can join the Water Systems Council’s wellcare® Well Owner’s Network. As a member of the Network, which, by the way, is FREE, you will receive important notifications, reminders, updated information and handy tips for maintaining your private well.

To join the Network today, call 1-888-395-1033 or visit www.watersystemscouncil.org/network.php.

Tap or Bottled Water?

2009-07-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

Recently I read an article about the difference and similarities between tap and bottled water. I began thinking more about some of the benefits and disadvantages of both. Bottled water can be convenient, it is sold cold at convenience and grocery stores everywhere; however tap water is a more economical choice. Some bottled water has distinct tastes that some people enjoy; however if you refill a reusable bottle or glass with tap water it reduces waste as well as the environmental impact of the bottling, packaging, and shipping process to get the water to your local stores.

Here are some other facts about tap and bottled water to think about the next time you are deciding between the two options.

- Americans drink more than 1 billion glasses of tap water per day. Water provided to consumers by a public water supply system is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA sets standards for over 90 contaminants that can be found in water. If the water from a public supply becomes contaminated and is a potential health risk, the water supply system is required to notify the public and provide an alternative safe source of water. In addition community water systems send out an annual report sharing with its customers the quality of their water source.

If the water you drink comes from a private well, which includes about 15% of the US population, you as the owner of the well are responsible for having the water tested. This should be done on a regular basis to make sure the water quality is sufficient for drinking. Water from private wells is not regulated by law; however the EPA sets guidelines for private well owners to follow.

- Americans spend over $10 billion dollars on bottled water every year. If you drink bottled water it may come from a public water system or a private source. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water and set standards for contaminants based on the EPA standards. When EPA creates a drinking water standard the FDA must either establish a new standard for bottled water or show proof that the EPA standard is not applicable to bottled water. When an FDA regulated contaminant is found at high levels in bottled water, the FDA will enforce action such as removing the product from stores. To learn more about the quality of bottled water consumers must contact the bottler directly.

When it comes to tap or bottled water, what do you choose? Are there specific reasons that make you decide to drink one or the other? I would like to hear what you think.

Series of webinars

2009-07-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

Educating people about groundwater is our primary mission. We educate in a multitude of ways, from talking to students at a school or camp, meeting with people at a convention or even using social media such as Facebook or Twitter.

Another way we are beginning to reach out to people is through a series of webinars that will start later this month. The first one is on July 30 at 2 p.m. CDT, called “Sharing the Groundwater Protection Message: Innovative Ideas.” It will focus on some of the projects that we have been working on and give new ideas for communities heading into 2010.

We hope that you can join us. How do you do that? Click on the Webinar button on our home page. That will lead you to the main Webinar page of The Groundwater Foundation website. From there, click on the July 30 link halfway down the page. Here is a direct link as well: http://www.groundwater.org/pe/webinars_20090730.html The registration process begins by clicking on the online link next to registration. It will take you to the WebEx Groundwater Foundation site. You will find a registration button on the right side of the page. Click on it, enter your contact information, click register and you are ready to attend. You will receive a confirmation email to tell you how to attend the actual session on July 30. It’s just that simple.

We have many ideas for topics and presenters for future webinars, but want to hear from you. What would you like to learn more about? What information would help you in your local efforts to educate people and protect groundwater? Please contact us with any questions or suggestions at 1-800-858-4844 or webinar@groundwater.org.

Do I Have a Right to Safe Drinking Water?

2009-07-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

After celebrating Independence Day this past weekend, a question occurred to me – should access to safe, plentiful drinking water be considered a right or a social responsibility?

Many would say that since water is a basic fundamental human need that it should be an unalienable right. Others believe that it is the responsibility of each of us to do our part to ensure that all humans have ample access to clean water. While yet others believe water is a commodity to be sold and traded as with other commodities to those who can afford it.

Where do you stand on this issue? I’d like to think that we all would choose to provide clean drinking water to all people. However, no matter what country you are in, access to clean water is not available to everyone. What can be done?

Heading to Camp!

2009-06-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited - next week is The Groundwater Foundation's "Outdoor Adventures in H2O" Summer Day Camp! It's been a busy preparation time for Foundation staff, but the adventures the students will have will be well worth the time and effort. The camp will get kids out of the classroom and into nature where they will get wet and have fun while learning about water. And I would be remiss if I didn't thank our camp partners and sponsors - Bright Lights, Sam's Club/WalMart State Giving Program, and U.S. EPA Region 7.

The week includes some exciting field trips, including visits to Schramm State Park and Aksarben Aquarium, Holmes Lake, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Branched Oak Organic Farm, and Pfizer Inc. Students will take part in hands-on, brains-on activities to make their camp experience lasting, like designing and installing a rain garden, painting rain barrels, using GPS units in a scavenger hunt, hiking through a tallgrass prairie to a groundwater-fed spring, performing water tests, building water filters, building aquifer models out of sand and gravel as well as ice cream, and fishing.

Granted, I may be a bit biased, but to me, the week sounds like a fun adventure! I think I'm looking foward to it as much as the kids!

Keep up with what's happening during camp (Monday through Friday, June 15-19) by following The Groundwater Foundation on Twitter (http://twitter.com/groundwaterfdn) and/or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Groundwater-Foundation/45882768475).

Stay tuned for camp photos and videos!

Rain Garden Event

2009-06-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

The Groundwater Foundation hosted the first of three Rain Garden Workshops Saturday, May 30 in Hastings. Many members of community attended the event and pitched in to help at the Hastings Museum, where an information session took place and then a demonstration installation of the rain garden was completed.

The Groundwater Foundation will be hosting another workshop Saturday, June 6 at the City Square in Stromsburg beginning at 8:45 a.m. The final workshop will take place June 27 in North Platte at the Cody Park Shelter beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Each workshop has a registration fee of $10. The workshops will be led by members of The Groundwater Foundation staff and by a professional landscape designer. For more information, please contact Cindy Kreifels at 1-800-858-4844 or ckreifels@groundwater.org.

The workshops are supported through the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act Section 319 as facilitated by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

Well Owners Network

2009-06-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

42 Million Americans rely on private water wells for their drinking water supply, and of course everyone who relies on this resource wants to protect it! Who wouldn’t?

In order to help you do just that the Water Systems Council has created the wellcare® Well Owners Network. It is free, and as a member of the network, you will have easy access to information and resources that are critical to maintaining a safe supply of drinking water for you and your family. Network members will receive at NO COST:

Access to information and tools to help you better understand your drinking water source.
A quarterly e-newsletter with information on wells, well water, and practical tips for protecting the nation's groundwater resources.
Annual reminders to test your well water.
Opportunities for discount well water test kits.

Join the network now! Call 1-888-395-1033 or visit www.watersystemscouncil.org/network.php.

PLANT NOW TO PROTECT WATER YEAR ROUND!

2009-05-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

Now is the perfect time to install a rain garden. A rain garden is a garden planted in a depression that is designed to catch rainwater runoff in your yard, growing plants that don’t mind getting partially flooded on occasion. Rain gardens provide wildlife habitat and an opportunity to create beautiful landscaping. And, by soaking up rain where it falls, rain gardens slow storm water runoff, help prevent erosion, and remove pollutants in the process.

To learn more about rain gardens, visit The Groundwater Foundation website at www.groundwater.org. Workshops are currently planned for Hastings, North Platte, and Stromsburg, Nebraska.

Have you put in a rain garden? Share your success stories and challenges with others who would like to protect water by planting a rain garden.

Reactions to "Poisoned Waters"

2009-04-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night (04/21/09) PBS’s Frontline presented “Poisoned Waters” - a news investigation on major polluting factors effecting all “life” surrounding and within the Chesapeake Bay on the east coast and Puget Sound on the northwest coast (WA). The viewpoint presented indicated the major watershed polluters to be industrial runoff, large agricultural farm runoff, and storm water runoff. The future vitality of these waters is questionable, the prediction somber …. as could be for the quality of our water resources across the continent. When will our screw ups not be able to be corrected and the environment restored?

One major point expressed on “Poisoned Waters” is worth specific mention: Public engagement is a must if we’re to be successful in our environmental stewardship.

The program can be viewed on-line at www.pbs.org selecting Frontline and “Poisoned Waters”. Its well worth the time to view this program whether you agree with the source polluting factors, or not. What’s your reaction?

How will you celebrate Earth Day?

2009-04-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is next week (April 22). Plan to celebrate by taking these simple steps to help care for our planet:

This little light of mine…
Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use 70-75% less energy than standard bulbs, and last for several years. You can also help save energy by turning off lights, computers, televisions, etc. when they are not in use. Visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls for more information on the advantages of using CFLs.

Green it up!
Add some green to the planet by planting a tree. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that one acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen, which is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people. Learn more about the benefits of trees here: http://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm. Or plant a rain garden and help filter out contaminants from roofs and driveways. See how a rain garden can add beauty to your home and help prevent pollution by visiting http://www.groundwater.org/ta/raingardens.html.

Park the car
Leave the car at home! Carpool, take public transportation, walk, or ride your bike to work. Go to http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/commuting/index.html for information ways to go green in your daily commute.

Attend an Earth Day celebration
Check local newspapers, television and radio stations for event announcements, or visit www.earthday.net to search for an event in your area.

Reduce, reuse, recycle
Try to go the entire day without throwing a single thing away (and don’t just postpone it until the next day). Use a reusable shopping bag for your grocery trip, use a tumbler instead of a disposable cup for your morning coffee, start a compost pile, and recycle plastic, aluminum, tin, steel, glass, paper, etc. Get more information about recycling here: http://earth911.com/recycling/.

Get outside and play
Enjoy all that nature has to offer! Take a walk, have a picnic, play a game, go fishing, take a hike – just get outside and interact with nature! Make sure to leave only your footprints behind.

Save a drop
Conserve water around your home. Install water-saving devices such as faucet aerators or low flow showerheads, upgrade to a low-flow toilet and water efficient appliances, and use drought-tolerant plants in your landscaping. Check out these easy water conservation tips: http://www.groundwater.org/kc/easywaystoconserve.html, or find out more about EPA’s WaterSense program at http://www.epa.gov/watersense/.

Clean green
Switch to natural cleaning products. Skip the harsh chemical cleaners and opt for plant-based, natural cleansers. Visit http://www.thegreenguide.com/buying-guide/all-purpose-cleaners for a cleanser buying guide. Or make your own. Check out http://housekeeping.about.com/cs/environment/a/alternateclean.htm for an article about how to make your own cleaning products with simple ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.

Tell a friend
Tell someone how they can help protect the planet! Share the tips above and get involved in local environmental protection efforts.

Support The Groundwater Foundation
Help support The Groundwater Foundation’s mission of educating the public to care about and for groundwater by:

Becoming a Groundwater Foundation member (http://www.groundwater.org/au/membership.html)

Making a donation or supporting a specific program (http://www.groundwater.org/shop/products.asp?cat=23)

Purchasing one of the Foundation’s educational products (http://www.groundwater.org/shop/default.asp),

Using GoodSearch (see http://groundwaterfoundation.blogspot.com/search/label/GoodSearch for more information)

How do you plan to celebrate Earth Day? What steps have you taken in your daily life to help protect the planet?

Groundwater Foundation has Job Opening!

2009-04-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

National nonprofit environmental organization seeks part-time program assistant. Will provide assistance to community and youth outreach programs. Must possess strong communication and organizational skills, knowledge of Microsoft Office, ability to perform multiple tasks, and reliable transportation. Prefer a degree in environmental studies or natural resources. Work schedule must remain flexible, occasional evenings or weekends. Send resume to: Program Assistant, P O Box 22558, Lincoln, NE 68542 or to ckreifels@groundwater.org.

Spring Is Here!

2009-04-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

Robins are once again out hopping across lawns, the green tips of tulip leaves have pushed through the thawed earth, and gardens and fields are being prepped for planting. In Nebraska these are signs of spring.

At The Groundwater Foundation (TGF) a full calendar of events and outreach opportunities is our sign spring has arrived. Every spring far more invitations to share our message and teach others about groundwater are presented to us then we can accept. It is great so many opportunities are available for youth and adults to learn more about nature, natural resources, and build an appreciation for our Earth.

This year TGF will be participating in the following events:

Earth Wellness Festival, Lincoln, NE, March 30th and 31st
High School Career Fair, Lincoln, NE – Be a Hydrogeologist for a Day, April 7th
National Environmental Education Week – Be Water Wise in School: Science that Impacts Your Campus, April 12th – 18th. For more information visit, http://www.eeweek.org/water_wise and http://www.groundwater.org/shop/proddetail.asp?prod=1114d
Science Olympiad Nebraska State Tournament, Lincoln, NE, April 18th
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Expo, Platte River State Park, April 22nd and 23rd
Gifford Farm’s Nature Day, Bellevue, NE, April 25th. Learn more about this public event at http://www2.esu3.org/esu3/index.cfm?dept=GF
Family Nature Night, Lincoln, NE, April 30th
Nebraska Children’s Groundwater Festival, Grand Island, NE, May 12th
Adventure’s in H2O! Bright Lights Camp, Lincoln, NE, June 15th – 19th. Learn more about this camp and how to register at http://www.groundwater.org/kc/adventuresinh2o.html.

What are you planning to do to this spring to celebrate nature, water, and our Earth? Are there special events planned for your community? Remember Earth Day is April 22nd and National Arbor Day in on April 24th.

Happy spring to all!

GROUNDWATER "Sweet 16 Bracket"

2009-03-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of March Madness, let’s fill the top “sweet 16” brackets of ways to protect and conserve our precious natural resource—GROUNDWATER! Here are four to get you started…

1) Take shorter showers
2) Check for leaky faucets/toilets and have them fixed
3) Shut water off while brushing your teeth
4) Dispose of chemicals properly