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Kentucky Geological Survey urges groundwater awareness on Protect Your Groundwater Day, September 9

Extended droughts and depletion of groundwater in parts of the United States, as well as the detection of chemicals in groundwater, have put the spotlight on this critical resource of importance to everyone. That’s why the Kentucky Geological Survey at the University of Kentucky urges the public to recognize the importance of this resource on Protect Your Groundwater Day, September 9.

Groundwater is out of sight and out of mind for most people, since it moves underground in soils and rocks. Yet it makes up 99 percent of all available fresh water in the world and is connected from beneath to most surface-water bodies.

Groundwater supplies 13 million households through private water wells in America. It also provides much of the water to our country's more than 40,000 community water systems, in addition to 53.5 billion gallons of water each day for agriculture.

In Kentucky, more than 1.5 million people are served by 185 public water-supply systems that rely on groundwater, and 416,000 Kentuckians use private water wells or springs. Total daily groundwater use for all purposes in Kentucky comes to about 156 million gallons.

Sponsored by the National Ground Water Association, Protect Your Groundwater Day is the perfect time for every household to act to protect this resource, and the Internet has plenty of useful groundwater websites to help.

The Kentucky Division of Water has a groundwater web page with suggestions for protecting groundwater. KGS has an online water fact sheet at this link and a web page on groundwater and water wells. Well owners will find help on this well education and groundwater page, hosted by the UK College of Agriculture.
Other links of interest and tips for groundwater protection:

Using household hazardous substances:

• Know what may be hazardous
• Store hazardous substances properly in a secure place
• Use them according to the manufacturer's recommendations
• Dispose of them safely (if in doubt as to how, contact your local waste authority)

Water conservation:

• Modify your water use (click to see water-saving tips)
• Install a water-saving device (such as a water-efficient appliance or faucet and showerhead flow restrictors)

To learn more about groundwater protection, visit www.WellOwner.org and access online lessons on groundwater protection, using water wisely, and decommissioning abandoned wells.

 

Kentucky Geological Survey hydrogeologist Glynn Beck prepares to insert a gamma-ray logging tool
into a water well to help characterize the rock type of the borehole. 
Different types of rock emit different amounts of natural gamma radiation, and this can be useful
for distinguishing between shales, sandstones, coals, or limestones when no driller’s log is available.