LETTER: It's National Groundwater Awareness Week, Let's Do More To Protect This Precious Natural Resource

Dear Editor:

Any resource taken for granted is a resource at risk of being lost. That is why the Michigan Ground Water Association, The Groundwater Foundation, and the National Ground Water Association will be joining hundreds of organizations across the country in celebrating National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 7-13. National Groundwater Awareness Week, now in its 22nd year, is an annual week of awareness, education, and advocacy focusing on one of Michigan’s and the nation’s most precious resources.

Michigan depends on groundwater for nearly 20% of its public water. It also provides over 2.5 million private water wells in the state with fresh and clean water every day. The United States uses 80.3 billion gallons per day of fresh groundwater for public supply, private supply, irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, thermoelectric power, and other purposes.

Groundwater is undeniably crucial to our society and is a resource that must be advocated for and protected by our citizens. This is why during National Groundwater Awareness Week we are providing tools for the public to become better educated on groundwater issues and opportunities to protect groundwater in their own backyard!

To learn more about groundwater and its usage, you can visit: https://www.ngwa.org/gwaw.

Here you will find free groundwater educational resources and ways to increase awareness of groundwater issues in your community. Remember, if you don’t speak up for groundwater, who will?

For the over 2.5 million Michigan residents who rely on private water wells, we encourage you to use Groundwater Awareness Week to test, tend, and treat your private water system. An annual inspection of your well and its water can not only save you thousands of dollars in potential damages but can also protect the health of your family.

To find a certified water well contractor in your area, you can visit: https://wellowner.org/find-a-contractor.

Whether it’s writing a letter to your representative, posting groundwater facts on social media, or having your own water supply tested and treated, please remember to take time this week and help protect groundwater in Michigan!

Sincerely,

Dave Schulenberg – Executive Director
Michigan Ground Water Association

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