Banned Beads

by Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

Back in July 2014, I blogged about the issue of microbeads in waterways. 

A year and a a half later, those tiny beads are on their way to becoming illegal, thanks to a bill passed on December 28.

Microbeads are found in various personal care products.
Image from Alliance for the Great Lakes

Microbeads are any solid plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size and used for the purpose of exfoliating and cleansing. They're currently found in everything from toothpastes, face cleansers, and body washes. Unsuspecting consumers used these products and sent the tiny beads, which do not dissolve and are not typically removed by wastewater treatment, down the drains where they end up in waterways where they were mistaken for food by fish.

A September 2015 study in Environmental Science and Technology noted that more than 8 trillion of these microbeads entered aquatic habitats every day, which is enough to cover the surface of 300 tennis courts each day.

But not for long. The bill bans using microbeads in the manufacturing of products starting July 1, 2017.

While microbeads are primarily a surface water issue and affect aquatic habitat, this is a victory for water supplies as a whole. Fewer foreign objects in any type of water is always a good thing. And it's all one water.

Protection, groundwater needs. On Earth, it is.

By: Anthony Lowndes, The Groundwater Foundation

There has been a lot of talk about the water on celestial bodies over the last year. Saturn’s moon Titan is dotted with mysterious lakes and Enceladus vents water vapor and ice from a subsurface ocean. Oh, don’t forget that salt water running down the slopes of our neighbor, Mars. While it is undoubtedly exciting to find water elsewhere in our galaxy, we are humans, on Earth. I don’t mean to squelch these discoveries and the journeys we will take because of them, I only wish to point out that our “Blue Marble” is about 71% covered in water.

Image credit: Apollo 11 Astronauts

There are 2,551,000 mi3 of fresh water on or below the surface of the Earth.[1] Space is vast and seemingly unlimited unlike our supply of fresh water. People across the country and around the world are beginning to find this out the hard way. Much like balancing the light and dark sides of The Force (can you tell I saw the new Star Wars movie?), it is difficult to balance the supply and demand for water. The good news is there are people and communities working toward a balance in this force, the force of water. Many of those communities are Groundwater Guardians. Working globally and acting locally for the betterment of water supplies is what the Groundwater Guardian program is all about. 

The community-based approach to groundwater protection works, and it is something that you, here on Earth, can get involved with. Check the Groundwater Guardian directory to find a Groundwater Guardian community near you. If there aren’t any near you, be your own force and get one started.

May the force be with you.

[1] United States Geologic Survey. “How much water is there on, in, and above the Earth?” http://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html

GREEN HOLIDAYS

by Lori Davison, The Groundwater Foundation

 

As we prepare for the New Year, remember the many important days we can celebrate to help protect the Earth and its water resources.  Here is a list of a few “green” holidays to celebrate in 2016!  Mark your calendars!  

 

·         World Wetlands Day – February 2 (also Groundhog Day!)

·         National Groundwater Week – March 6-12

·         World Sparrow Day – March 20

·         World Water Day – March 22

·         Earth Day – April 22

·         Arbor Day –April 29

·         National Drinking Water Week – May 1-7

·         Bike to Work Day – May 20

·         World Environment Day – June 5

·         World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought – June 17

·         Water Quality Month (August)

·         Protect Your Groundwater Day – September 8

·         National Wildlife Day – September 4

·         International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer – September 16

·         Zero Emissions Day – September 21

·         World Rivers Day – September 25

·         International Day of Climate Action – October 24

Groundwater Education Can Happen Anywhere

By Cindy Kreifels, The Groundwater Foundation

Last night I went to a holiday party where I knew very few of the guests.  And, like many events where I am introduced to new people, the question of where I work or what I do came up repeatedly. “Groundwater Foundation?” they say with a bewildered look on their face.  As I explain that we educate people about groundwater and invite people to get involved in its protection, I get yet another bewildered look, until I explain that groundwater is the water we drink and the water that grows our food, then the light bulb begins to come on.

It still amazes me that there are many people who still know very little about groundwater.  Obviously, the work of educating people about this resource that is so vital to our survival on this planet is not done.  So for all of you who have dedicated time to educating an individual, a group of school children, or a civic club – thank you!  The more people who understand groundwater and its role in our lives, the more people who will be able to take action on its behalf.

So while sometimes I may feel out of place at certain events when I don't know anyone, I have to remember that it is really just another great opportunity to educate someone, even if only a little bit, about groundwater. I hope that each of you will take moments like these to educate just one more person about our precious groundwater.

Have you had a moment like this?  What approach did you use to get people excited about groundwater?