Groundwater Awareness Week

Overview

Logo for National Groundwater Awareness Week Ground Water Awareness Week is an annual observance sponsored by the National Ground Water Association. This week brings attention to the importance of ground water as a valuable resource. The observance also stresses the need for yearly water testing and well maintenance to prevent waterborne illness.

Ground water is water that is located below the surface of the earth in spaces between rock and soil. Seventy-seven percent of community water systems in the United States use ground water as their primary source, supplying drinking water to 30% of community water system users, or almost 90 million Americans ¹. An additional 13 million U.S. households get their water from private ground water wells ².

Most of the time, ground water sources in the United States are safe to use and not a cause for worry. However, ground water sources can become contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemicals that can lead to sickness and disease ³.

From 1971 to 2006, 54% of reported drinking water outbreaks were due to the use of untreated ground water (31%) or ground water treatment deficiencies (23%) ⁴. The presence of pathogens and chemicals in our drinking water can lead to health problems, including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders ⁵.

Visit the links below to learn more about ground water and Ground Water Awareness Week.