Water is essential to life on earth. It supports everything from plants and animals to humans and the entire ecosystem. We rely on it every day for basic needs like cooking, drinking, bathing, and farming. Despite covering 71% of the earth’s surface, only 3% of water is considered fresh water – the rest being salty ocean water. Every year the United States uses 82.3 billion gallons (per day) of fresh groundwater for public supply, private supply, irrigation, livestock, manufacturing & other purposes.
What Is Groundwater Awareness Week (GWAW)
Established in 1999, Groundwater Awareness Week (GWAW) aims to promote responsible development, management, and use of groundwater, as well as encourage regular well testing and maintenance, and advocate for policies that impact groundwater quality and supply. During the week-long event, groundwater advocates across the country highlight local water issues in their communities.
Given that an estimated 102 million Americans get their drinking water from a groundwater source, developing an interest in the groundwater industry is crucial for both public health and economic growth. Groundwater Awareness Week is the perfect opportunity for well owners to test the safety of both private & public water well applications. Groundwater professionals come from diverse backgrounds and fields, including well contractors, hydrogeologists, groundwater policy advocates, and suppliers and manufacturers of groundwater technology.
Protect Your Well and Health
Preventative maintenance and testing your water source is key to groundwater and well water protection to ensure systems are functioning properly to produce safe and healthy water. If your water is supplied from a public source, ask questions and do your research.
Schedule & Annual Checkup and Keep Hazardous Chemicals Away
To ensure that your household-supply well provides quality water for years to come, it’s important to schedule an annual checkup and routine inspections of the water well system. This can help identify issues that might affect the well’s performance, lifespan, and water quality, and protect your investment.
Most importantly, routine inspections can detect potential health hazards, such as contaminants that could cause water quality problems. To minimize the risk of contamination, it’s crucial to keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil, at least 50 feet (15.24 meters) away from the well, and maintain proper separation from buildings, waste systems, and chemical storage areas. Your professional water well contractor can advise you on the applicable local codes.
It’s essential to get your water tested whenever you notice a change in taste, odor, or appearance, or after any system servicing. By staying vigilant and proactive, you can enjoy safe and clean water from your well for years to come.
Water Well Maintenance
Public water systems are also required to include contaminants (in reports) found within local drinking water systems and record action taken to correct any violations. If your water originates from a privately owned well, having your water tested is simple. A variety of nationally recognized organizations analyze water samples and provide detailed reports regularly.
Regular preventive maintenance is crucial to safeguarding groundwater and well water. It’s essential to conduct inspections and testing of private water systems to ensure they’re operating correctly and producing safe and healthy water. Groundwater Awareness Week is the perfect opportunity for well owners to test the safety of both private & public water well applications. Let’s cherish this precious resource together.
