Thursday, February 26, 2015

National Groundwater Awareness Week

by Lori Davison, The Groundwater Foundation

National Groundwater Awareness Week is March 8-14!   Groundwater Awareness Week spotlights one of the world’s most important resources—groundwater.  Groundwater is the water that soaks into the soil from rain and other precipitation and moves downward to fill cracks and other openings in beds of rocks and sand.  Approximately half of the American population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply—reason enough to act to conserve and protect groundwater.   Americans are some of the largest users of water, per capita, in the world. In the United States, Americans use 79.6 billion gallons of groundwater every day — the equivalent of 2,923 - 12 oz. cans for every man, woman, and child in the nation.   

During National Groundwater Awareness Week educate yourself and others what we can do each and every day to conserve and protect groundwater.  The following are a just a few steps you can take to get you started!

1.       Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it
2.       Repair dripping faucets and toilets; one drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons a year
3.       Retrofit household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors
4.       Choose appliances that are water- and/or energy-efficient, such as low-flow toilets
5.       Don't run a faucet when not using the water, such as while brushing teeth
6.       Only run the dishwasher when it is fully loaded
7.       Operate clothes washers only when full, or set the water level to match the load size
8.       Plant native and/or drought-resistant grasses, ground cover, shrubs, and trees
9.       Dispose of hazardous household wastes at an appropriate waste disposal facility or drop-off
10.   Reduce the amount of "stuff" you use and reuse what you can. Recycle paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, aluminum and other materials.

Visit www.groundwater.org for more information about how you can make a difference!  And, share what you and your community will be doing to celebrate National Groundwater Awareness Week!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Learn How You and Your Community Can Protect Groundwater

By Cindy Kreifels, The Groundwater Foundation

The Groundwater Foundation began in 1985 with enthusiasm and passion for groundwater.  Now 30 years later, the Foundation celebrates this milestone by looking to the future:  it truly is just the beginning. 

Groundwater is perhaps an even more critical resource now than three decades ago.  Increased demand for groundwater for drinking water, agriculture, and industry, along with ever-changing threats from contamination, puts groundwater at an important juncture – one that necessitates action by each and every one of us.   

The 2015 Groundwater Foundation National Conference will serve as a call to action on behalf of groundwater.  The future is upon us, and action is needed to identify challenges and develop approaches and solutions to address them.  From climate change and growing societal needs to a wide variety of emerging contaminants, each of us will need to be prepared to prevent and mitigate the potential risks to this precious resource. 

Through knowledgeable speakers, educational workshops, and unique tours, conference participants will find tools and experiences to help them take action to protect groundwater in their communities. 

To present a paper at the conference or to join us to learn more about how you and your community can protect groundwater, visit our website at http://www.groundwater.org/conference.html.

 

 

Monday, February 9, 2015

New Program Manager

By: Jessica Wheeler, The Groundwater Foundation

My name is Jessica Wheeler and I am a new program manager at The Groundwater Foundation.  From an early age I have been interested in learning about the dynamics of our environment.  In Science classes, I loved learning about food webs and the recycling of nutrients and resources.  I am fascinated by the mutual dependence of organisms and the environment to remain healthy and productive.  Through my studies at the University of Nebraska it became clear that the basis of this healthy relationship is a clean, reliable source of water.  I am proud to be a part of The Groundwater Foundation and helping fulfill its mission of educating and inspiring action to protect this precious resource.