Kansas Green Guide Your Bi-Weekly Guide to Sustainable Living

National Ground Water Awareness Week March 2, 2012

National Ground Water Awareness Week is coming up March 11 17. What is ground water? Ground water flows slowly underground through pore spaces between sand, gravel and cracks in rock, in underground formations called aquifers. These aquifers supply water that is used for sources for drinking water, agriculture, feeds our lakes and recharges our streams and rivers. More than 90 percent of all public drinking water systems rely on ground water to supply the population with drinking water. And millions of Americans rely on ground water from aquifers to supply their private wells. National Ground Water Awareness Week was launched 13 years ago by the National Ground Water Association. Its purpose is to educate the public about the importance of groundwater and water well stewardship. Today, Ground Water Awareness Week is a well-recognized national event. Its take-home message is simple: There is something every person can do to preserve and protect groundwater for human and environmental needs. Test your well every year If your family gets drinking water from a private well, do you know if your water is safe to drink? What health risks could you and your family face? Visit here for advice on private water wells. Protect underground sources of drinking water Here are some tips to help you take an active and positive role in protecting their community's ground water supplies: Properly store hazardous household substances such as paints, paint thinners, petroleum products, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and cleaning products in secure containers. Mix hazardous household substances over concrete or asphalt where they can be cleaned up or absorbed. Dispose of hazardous household wastes at an appropriate waste disposal facility or drop-off. Do not put hazardous household wastes down the drain or in the toilet. Do not put any wastes down a dry or abandoned well. If you own a septic system, service it according to local health department recommendations. If you own a water well, get a yearly maintenance check to ensure sanitary seals are intact. Decommission abandoned wells on your property using a qualified water well contractor. Fix or replace any leaking aboveground or underground tanks storing hazardous substances. Build your own aquifer in a cup Teachers and parents, help kids visualize ground water through this fun activity.
Dissemination of [Kansas Green Guide/Other publications] by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, a governmental agency, is solely for the non-commercial purpose of informing and educating the public. References to specific companies do not constitute a KDHE endorsement. If you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Waste Management, at info@kansasgreenteams.org. Source EPA & NGWA

Kansas Green Guide March 2, 2012