Gear Up for Protect Your Groundwater Day on September 9th!

Protect Your Groundwater Day is only three weeks away! Started by the National Ground Water Association, Protect Your Groundwater Day is the perfect time for every household to act to protect this precious resource.  The Protect Your Groundwater web page provides ways citizens can protect groundwater from overuse or contamination. Here are a few more suggestions for ways you can protect groundwater every day of the year:

Everyone

When it comes to hazardous household substances:

• Store them properly in a secure place
• Use them according to the manufacturer's recommendations
• Dispose of them safely (if in doubt as to how, contact your local waste authority)

When it comes to water conservation:

• Modify your water use
• Install a water-saving device (i.e. a water-efficient appliance or faucet and showerhead flow restrictors)

 

If you own a water well

• Move possible contamination sources a safe distance from the wellhead
• Know what's in your water: Test your water regularly for bacteria, nitrate, and anything of local concern
• Get your annual water well system inspection
• Properly decommission any abandoned wells using a qualified professional

To learn more about groundwater protection, visit www.WellOwner.org or www.groundwater.org.

The Water Tank Project

by Lori Davison, The Groundwater Foundation

Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park – These are landmarks that come to mind when we think of New York City.  Beginning this summer, The Water Tank Project will transform the skyline of New York City.  Artwork by acclaimed artists and NYC public school students will be wrapped around rooftop water tanks throughout the city, celebrating the talents of established and emerging artists, and calling attention to the global water crisis.  The Water Tank Project is the inaugural initiative of Word Above the Street, a non-profit dedicated to fostering environmental awareness and social advocacy through art.  Check out this project at:  www.thewatertankproject.org

The Water Tank Project believes that the seeds of meaningful change take root when nourished by education.  This same concept is the focus of The Groundwater Foundation.  The Groundwater Foundation provides motivational and inspirational education and community-based action programs that creatively involve individuals, communities, public and private entities in groundwater conservation and protection.  Visit www.groundwater.org for more information on how you can get involved!

 

Why Educate About Groundwater?

By Cindy Kreifels, The Groundwater Foundation

Who do you work for?  That’s a question we all get asked from time to time. And, when you say the bank, the local utility, or the local hardware store people get a pretty good idea of what you do.  Now step back and think about what the reaction would be if you were to say you work for The Groundwater Foundation.  Yep, the majority of people look at me with a blank stare not knowing what to say.  So, of course, I feel the need to fill the void letting them know what The Groundwater Foundation is and what it does. In some you begin to see the light bulb come on, in others still a bit of a blank stare followed by why do you do that?

I’ll tell you why – when headline after headline talks of water shortages or the polluting of our waterways and groundwater it is clear to me that we have a lot of education to do – especially for those who don’t quite get what I do.  The protection of water resources is the responsibility of each and every one of us who live on this planet and benefit from its use.  You drink it, it grows the food you eat, industry uses it, we recreate in it.  An important resource –water!

Will you do your part to protect it?  Share with us the actions you have taken or that your community takes to protect water and groundwater.  Help others to get started today!

Back to School

By Heather Voorman,The Groundwater Foundation 

As the school year quickly approaches, I'm sure you have all noticed the back to school supplies coming out in stores. It can be overwhelming going through the aisles seeing piles of notebooks, binders, pencils and pens, especially when on a budget and trying to stay environmentally friendly. Many people are surprised to find buying new items can strain our water resources. It takes much more water to make a new item than it does to reuse or recycle an old one. The following are some tips to keep in mind as you do your school shopping so you can save water and money!

• Before shopping, sort through old school supplies. Many of last year's materials can be reused. 
• Go through old binders and folders. Recycle paper that has been used on both sides and reuse paper with writing on one side. 
• Make a list of the supplies you need before you go to the store. This will help limit impulse purchases. 
• Buy products made from recycled materials and supplies that can be reused, like refillable pens. 
• Find supplies with minimal packaging or buy supplies in bulk. 30% of all the waste generated each year comes from packaging. 
• Buy products that are durable and will last for many years to come. Durable products help reduce the amount of items thrown away every year. 
• Get a reusable container to pack school lunches instead of using disposable paper bags. 
• Finally, share leftover supplies with family and friends who may need them. If you still have leftover supplies, donate them to a local charity group that provides children in need with school supplies.