To All,
Here is important information for protecting our water sources into the future.
–Larry
Tips for protecting our drinking water
Sacramento Bee-3/22/10
By Andy Mead
Whether your drinking water comes from a spring, a well, a river or a
lake, protecting ground water is essential to protecting all water
resources.
Wells draw upon water in an aquifer where water has filled the pore
spaces in rocks, sand and soil. When rain and snow melt seep from the
Earth’s surface into the ground, it recharges the aquifer. This
recharge eventually provides the baseflow to streams as well.
A significant source of ground water and surface water contamination
is stormwater runoff. Runoff is water that does not soak into the
ground. As runoff flows over impervious surfaces such as parking lots
and streets, it picks up pollutants like pet waste, fertilizers,
pesticides and automotive fluids. This stormwater eventually reaches
storm drains, which empty into lakes and streams and wells if they
are not properly sealed.
You can take action to protect the health of ground water:
– During spring cleaning, do not dump chemicals down the house drain
or storm drain. Contact your local waste removal authority for proper
disposal instructions for herbicides, pesticides, antifreeze, paint
and oil.
– Keep hazardous chemicals away from wells and out of the potential
path of runoff and floodwaters. Store them in their original
containers, if possible.
– Have your well serviced by a certified water well contractor.
– Residents not connected to municipal drinking water systems should
have their water tested annually to avoid serious health risks
associated with contaminated drinking water.
– Have your septic tank serviced at least every five years.
– Learn more about ground water protection at
http://www.water.ky.gov/gw/gwprotection/