Protect Your Groundwater Day, an awareness event sponsored by the National Ground Water Association, is marked on Sept. 13, making this a meaningful month for Mainers to think about how they use and protect groundwater.
Over 60 percent of our state’s residents rely on groundwater for their drinking water – from either a private or a public water supply well– so we all have a stake in stewarding safe groundwater. Protecting groundwater is easier than cleaning up after it has been contaminated and starts at home with simple steps that all of us can take to prevent pollution and use water wisely.
Federal regulations like the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act have prevented industrial pollution from reaching our groundwater. You can do your part by using hazardous household substances according to manufacturer recommendations, storing them in sealed containers in a secure place and disposing of them safely rather than dumping down the drain. And now more than ever before, there are safer alternatives like non-toxic cleaning and lawn care products so consider purchasing those instead of their more harmful counterparts.
An emerging concern in recent years is the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in our groundwater, so make sure to dispose of leftover pills not by flushing them but by turning them in during a statewide drug collection day or contacting your local police department to discover discarding alternatives.
An abundant and safe water supply isn’t just central to your health but is also vital to the value of your property. If you have a well, take precautions to protect it. Make sure its cover fits tightly and that the casing surrounding the well is in good shape. If you use fertilizers, pesticides, gasoline for power equipment or other outdoor chemicals make sure they are used and stored far from your well. If possible, divert possible contamination sources –like rainwater runoff from your roof or driveway– away from your well. It is also a good idea to have an annual well system inspection and your well water tested every five years or more often if you notice a change in the water’s taste or smell or if there are land use changes around your property.
You rely on your septic system to safely treat household waste water and a healthy, functioning system can often be out of sight, out of mind. Nevertheless, make sure you are current on your septic system inspection and cleaning before it becomes a stinky and pricey problem and a threat to groundwater. Septic tanks should be pumped every three to five years with regular pumping of the solids in the tank helping to extend the system’s life. However even with the greatest care, septic systems have a limited lifespan. If your tank is older than 15 to 20 years and pumping the septic tank doesn’t make a difference in drainage from sinks and tubs in the house or if you notice bright green grass patches or puddles of water in your yard in the area of the tank and leach field, it may be time for a new system.
As important as preventing groundwater pollution is saving water smartly so we can continue to rely on this resource. In the United States, we use 79.6 billion gallons of groundwater every day –the equivalent of nearly 3,000 12-ounce cans per person. Almost three-quarters of water used inside the home occurs in the bathroom, with the remainder of indoor water use is divided between clothes washing and kitchen use. Reduce your usage by repairing dripping faucets and toilets or replacing with low-flow fixtures; running the dish or clothes washer when you have a full load; only watering the lawn when necessary; and avoiding wasting of water by waiting for it to get cold by keeping a pitcher in the fridge to chill.
To learn more about groundwater and how you can protect it, visit the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s website on the topic at http://maine.gov/dep/blwq/gw.htm.
This “In Our Backyard” column was submitted by Marianne DuBois, a hydrogeologist with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Land and Water Quality, and Samantha DePoy-Warren, the department’s spokesperson and director of education and outreach. E-mail your environmental questions to infodep@maine.gov or send them to In Our Backyard, Maine DEP, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.
