Happy New Groundwater Year!

By Brian Reetz, Program Coordinator

Welcome to 2013!

Those that know me well know that I’m an eternal optimist at heart. When it was announced that our home state Nebraska Cornhuskers were pitted to play the Georgia Bulldogs in the Capital One Bowl most people had negative thoughts about a big loss by the Husker football team. Not me. I thought we matched up well with them and figured that it would be a good game. And it was!

So for a person like me, a New Year is always filled with happy thoughts for an optimistic year. When I read this article (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/drought-likely-to-continu_n_2388085.html) this morning that put a bit of a damper on it though with the headline – Drought Likely to Worsen in 2013.

This article talked about the possible problems as well when it said, “(University of Nebraska-Lincoln) Drought (Mitigation) center director Michael Hayes said there is anecdotal evidence that groundwater levels have already been declining in parts of the state (of Nebraska). If conditions remain dry in 2013, it could create widespread problems for well owners in the state, so well owners are being encouraged to have someone check water levels, especially for those dug before 1993.”

In a recent trip to western Kansas, I heard about the tough time that well owners were having as the water supply worsened. So take action yourself in an optimistic and pro-active way! Go out and purchase a low-flow shower head to help conserve water every time you shower. Check for water leaks around your house to make sure you aren’t wasting an ounce of water. Become a member of The Groundwater Foundation (http://www.groundwater.org/shop/products.asp?cat=18) , can’t think of a more pro-active way than that!

And oh yes, Happy New Year’s!