Groundwater Awareness Week (#GWAW) serves as an annual reminder for water well owners to test, tend, and treat their private water systems. NGWA encourages annual inspections of private water systems by certified water well contractors to ensure systems are operating correctly and producing safe and healthy water.
Water, our most valuable and precious resource needs advocates who understand the importance groundwater plays in our lives and community.
How can you help?
Here are a few tips provided by wellowner.org on how to help protect our groundwater.
Practice Groundwater Awareness Week in your home by using the following tips:
- Schedule your annual checkup on your water well. A properly constructed and maintained household-supply well will provide you with many years of quality service. Routine inspection of a water well system can help ensure it is operating properly, prolong its useful life, and protect your investment. Most importantly, inspections can protect your health by discovering issues that could result in water quality problems presenting a health risk.
- Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil far away from your well, and maintain a “clean” zone of at least 50 feet (15.24 meters) between your well and any kennels or livestock operations. Also, always maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, or chemical storage areas. Your professional water well contractor is familiar with the applicable local codes.
- Get your water tested anytime there is a change in taste, odor or appearance, or anytime the system is serviced.
