Groundwater: Resources for EH Practitioners

In 2014 National Groundwater Awareness Week is celebrated on March 9-15. Many parts of the United States depend on groundwater as a primary source of water. This page includes resources for environmental health practitioners on groundwater protection.

EHS Resources

Drinking Water – Environmental Health Services topic page with information related to drinking water, including the following products:

• Drinking Water Advisory Communication Toolbox – provides a protocol and practical guide for communicating with stakeholders and the public about water advisories that is based on research and identified practices
• Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities – helps health care facilities regardless of size or patient capacity develop Emergency Water Supply Plans as part of their overall emergency operations plans
• Articles from the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report:
  • Announcement: Ground Water Awareness Week — March 9–15, 2014
  • Community Health Impact of Extended Loss of Water Service --- Alabama, January 2010
  • Lead in Drinking Water and Human Blood Lead Levels in the United States
  • Surveillance for Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water and Other Nonrecreational Water — United States, 2009–2010

Wastewater – Environmental Health Services topic page with information related to wastewater, including the following articles:

• A Public Health Perspective on Onsite Wastewater Systems [PDF - 135 KB] – discusses public health issues such as exposure to wastewater pathogens and how system construction is influenced by rapid growth in many areas. This is one in a series of monthly Environmental Health Services Branch columns in the Journal of Environmental Health.
• Enhancing the Public Health Perspective on Onsite Wastewater Systems [PDF - 325 KB] – discusses the need to develop monitoring methodologies and conduct epidemiologic studies that can enhance knowledge of onsite wastewater systems. This is one in a series of monthly Environmental Health Services Branch columns in the Journal of Environmental Health.
• Onsite Wastewater System Nitrogen Contributions to Groundwater in Coastal North Carolina [PDF - 388 KB] – evaluates nitrogen contributions from onsite wastewater systems to groundwater and surface waters in an effort to better understand the link of onsite systems, fate of nitrogen in the environment, and public health

• U.S. Geological Survey research projects on emerging contaminants in onsite wastewater systems
  • Evaluation of Approaches for Managing Nitrate Loading from On-Site Wastewater Systems near La Pine, Oregon [PDF - 8 MB]
  • Methods to Evaluate Influence of Onsite Septic Wastewater-Treatment Systems on Base Flow in Selected Watersheds in Gwinnett County, Georgia, October 2007 [PDF - 3.45 MB]
  • Water-Quality Effects and Characterization of Indicators of Onsite Wastewater Disposal Systems in the East-Central Black Hills Area, South Dakota, 2006-08 [PDF - 6.25 MB]

CDC Resources

Drinking Water – CDC’s drinking water website includes topics on public and private water systems, bottled water, and water fluoridation

• Private Ground Water Wells

Water-Related Emergencies & Outbreaks – information about water-related emergencies and outbreaks, including outbreak response toolkits, disaster supply kits, and emergency preparedness for both water-related natural disasters and man-made disasters such as intentional contamination

• Disinfecting Wells After a Disaster
• Drinking Water Wells

Other Resources

National Groundwater Awareness Week – National Groundwater Association website provides information on National Groundwater Awareness Week (March 9-15, 2014)

Private Wells and Human Health – Environmental Protection Agency website provides information on natural and human contaminants as sources of pollution to ground water

US Geological Survey (USGS)

• USGS Groundwater Data – links to data about groundwater levels, aquifers, water use, groundwater quality, local groundwater, and other resources for gathering groundwater data
• USGS Groundwater Watch – database with records from about 850,000 wells compiled over the past 100 years

 Top of Page