Making Groundwater Education Go Viral

#GivingTuesday is one week away! Help us make groundwater education go viral by sharing the graphic below on your favorite social media.

And don't forget to share an educational fact with your post.

Here are some ideas:

• Reduce the need for excessive watering and chemical use by planting native plants in your yard
• Properly dispose of potentially toxic substances like unused chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paint, motor oil, and other substances
• Shut off the water when you brush your teeth or shave
• Check all the faucets, fixtures, toilets, and taps in your home for leaks and fix them right away
• Limit yourself to just a five minute shower and challenge your family members to do the same
• Make sure to only run full loads in the dish and clothes washer
• Water the lawn and plants during the coolest parts of the day and only when they truly need it
• Reduce the amount of "stuff" you use and reuse what you can
• Use all natural/nontoxic household cleaners whenever possible

Remember, all funds raised on December 2nd will go toward our youth education programs! Together we can keep it clean!

Give Thanks...

by Lori Davison, The Groundwater Foundation

As we are fast approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, what comes to mind are the usual things we associate the holiday with -- family, giving thanks, comfort food, parades, and of course football!

At our house, Thanksgiving Day mainly revolves around preparing the meal—sometimes it’s fun to try new recipes, but most of us continue to fix the simple, traditional Thanksgiving dishes. This also is true in the world of groundwater protection. The recipe for groundwater protection consists of very simple, but very important ingredients. Here are some of the main ingredients for conserving and protecting groundwater:

• Conserve water throughout your home. Limit showers to five minutes or less, shut off thewater while brushing your teeth, run only full loads of dishes or laundry, fix leaky faucets.
• Properly dispose of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other hazardous substances. Take chemicals and other hazardous substances to a household hazardous waste event or collection center, find a local pharmacy or drug take back event to dispose of pharmaceuticals, or check with your local health or water department for guidelines.
• Get your workplace, school, neighborhood association, or other organization involved in educating people and protecting groundwater.

The staff at the Groundwater Foundation would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and share some of the things that they are thankful for:

• the health and wellbeing of my family and friends
• wonderful family, our home, and health
• amazing people I get to work with
• new office space and being able to help make a difference and protect water
• ability to turn the tap on and not worry about the safety of the water
• our supporters and partners over the past 30 years!



A Drop or Two Can Add Up to be a Problem

By Cindy Kreifels, The Groundwater Foundation

For years we at The Groundwater Foundation have been saying it’s all about the collective effort when we talk about the changes each of us can make to help protect groundwater.  Well now a recent article based on research (http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-gasoline-drips-20141031-story.html) from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of  Public Health is noting that it may be the small pollutants from each of us, that when added together, create an issue of great concern. 

Yes, that drop or two of gasoline that dribbles to the pavement when you fill your car with gas can add up to be a lot of gasoline when added to the drops from each person who fills their car.  According to the study, over the course of a decade roughly 1,500 liters of gas are spilled at the typical gas station.  While it takes time for the dribbles to add up what we need to remember is that these dribbles are either being washed away quite possibly to the nearest waterway or they are soaking into the ground and potentially reaching groundwater. 

This is just one example of where each of our little pieces of the pie – whether it be the drops of gasoline we inadvertently let fall to the ground or the extra five minutes we spend in the shower – they add up and can be a problem.  We all have a responsibility to protect our water resources.  And just as our indulgences add up to cause the problem, our little acts of protection will also add up to help protect the water we all rely on for life. 

What will you do today to make a difference?

Join Us for the Wild and Scenic Film Festival November 12th!

It's back! On Wednesday, November 12, Threads-Footloose & Fancy will be hosting a night of inspirational environmental films at the Marcus Lincoln Grand Cinema in Lincoln, NE to benefit The Groundwater Foundation.

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival will start at 7pm followed by a raffle. Tickets are $15 and are available at Threads-Footloose & Fancy located at 1219 P St. and 4131 Pioneers Woods Dr. in Lincoln. Your ticket gets you into the film festival, gets you a soft drink and popcorn, and puts your name in for a chance to win some great prizes from our sponsors Clif, Patagonia, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Mother Jones, Klean Kanteen, and Orion Magazine. Feel free to share this invitation with family and friends - we'd love to see you there. All ages are welcome to this event!

If you are unable to attend, don't worry! You can still contribute by clicking here and making a donation.

We hope you can all join us for what promises to be an incredible evening!

Make a Difference This Holiday Season

It's that time of year again - the weather is changing, snow has already begun to fall in certain areas of the country, and holiday music can be heard while shopping at any major convenience store.

At The Groundwater Foundation, we are busy gearing up for what will likely be one of our biggest years to date. In 2015, we will celebrate 30 years of groundwater education and protection by not only taking a look at all we have accomplished in the past 30 years, but also by looking to the future and next 30 years. Even with all we have accomplished thus far, this is only the beginning - there is so much more work to be done.

This is where we need you.

#GivingTuesday is a day set aside to give back. It follows the craziness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and it reminds us all what the holiday season is really about. Last year, we campaigned to raise funds for a new youth program - Groundwater Restoration through Education. With your help, we were able to make a difference. Check out some statistics from last year's campaign:

• $1,075 Raised on December 3, 2013
• 212 Students Reached
• 10 Teachers Trained
• 5 Title I Schools Changed Forever

Help us continue to make a difference in the year to come by once again supporting youth groundwater education on #GivingTuesday. Here is how you can get involved:

1. Donate on December 2nd



2. Spread the Word on Social Media

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and tell your friends, family, and coworkers about #GivingTuesday. We'll be posting stories and photos about our projects and programs leading up to December 2nd, so check back regularly for new updates!

3. Get Informed and Take Action

Groundwater is a vital resource, and everyone benefits from a sustainable supply of clean groundwater. Learn the facts about how you can conserve water in your own life and share them with others!