According to the National Weather Service, approximately 133 million people are at risk for flooding in their communities this year, withroughly 400,000 at risk for moderate flooding.

If there are residential water well owners in your community who are dealing with a water well flooded by hurricane or heavy rains, NGWA has resources available to share with them.

First steps:

• Do not drink the water or wash with it, but use an alternative supply such as bottled water
• Stay away from the well pump while it’s flooded to avoid electrical shock
• Get a qualified water well contractor or pump installer to —
  • Clean and turn on the pump
  • Flush the well
  • Disinfect the well
  • Perform any other necessary maintenance
• Check with the local emergency management agency about any guidance relating to local conditions or specific contamination threats due to area flooding.

NGWA recommends that water well system professionals be used to assess and service the well. Encourage residential water well owners to search for NGWA-member or NGWA-certified professionals at WellOwner.org under “Find a Contractor.”

Also share that Wellowner.org also has resources on well flooding that can be accessed throughout the year.

NGWA also encourages water well contractors to review its best suggested practice, Residential Water Well Disinfection Following a Flood Event: Procedures for Water Well System Professionals.

It contains helpful information to use on-site including the inspection of the flooded well for the presence of organic matter; well flushing and cleaning; the proper mix, contact time, and distribution of well disinfection agents; and water testing intervals.

Please also read the Water Well Journal article, “Responding to Flooded Wells” by Michael Schnieders, PG, PH-GW.

Photo by Pixabay

Now that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published regulations for six PFAS chemicals, it’s important for water well owners to understand how their water systems can be impacted. Although the new PFAS regulations are for public water systems, this is a great opportunity to learn more about PFAS and water well testing.

PFAS refer to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, a group of chemicals that have been used in a wide range of items since the 1940s. These chemicals are problematic due to their long half-lives, meaning they can accumulate in the environment and our bodies. Given the widespread use of these chemicals, most Americans have had some level of exposure, whether it be through drinking water, use of consumer products, food, inhalation, or working in manufacturing facilities that use PFAS chemicals. 

Why and how do I test my well for PFAS?

As a private well owner, you want to be certain your drinking water is safe for you and your family! Testing for PFAS is one of many reasons to test your water annually. Many recommendations exist for sampling and testing PFAS. The EPA has summarized its recommendations on its website. Your county or town health departments may also have info on PFAS sampling and locating a laboratory certified to test water.

What do my results mean?

PFAS are measured in “ng/L”: These are nanograms per liter, a very small number.  One ng/L is like one drop of water in 13 million gallons of water. How many ng/L are safe? The answer is, we really don’t know! This is why different states have different recommendations. 

How can I remove PFAS from my water?

There are simple, proven technologies for removing PFAS from your home’s water supply. Water treatment technologies have been around for years, and include activated carbon, anion exchange resins, and reverse osmosis membranes. You may already have a treatment system in place for other water conditioning that can address PFAS with a different maintenance schedule.

Water treatment systems come in all shapes and sizes, but the most important part of your decision is looking for third-party product certification. That certification provides a level of confidence that your purchase will provide the protection you need. Third-party product certifiers will test to NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 for PFAS, PFOA, and PFOS reduction. Look for those classes of certification on the products you’re researching.

Also use a certified water treatment professional for application, installation, and maintenance of your treatment system. This is an important level of protection that assures your treatment system will be installed properly. You can find a certified water treatment professional in your area using our Find-A-Contractor tool.

More information on PFAS is available on your state and county websites, as well as from the EPA and NGWA. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that geothermal heat systems are the most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling technology currently available. Geoenergy, or geothermal energy, refers to the heat energy stored beneath the Earth’s surface. It primarily harnesses the solar energy absorbed by the Earth’s crust, making it a sustainable energy source for heating and cooling.

A geothermal heat pump operates similarly to a refrigerator, transferring heat from the ground to a building’s heating system. It requires at least one geothermal well drilled into the ground, usually reaching depths where stable temperatures prevail year-round.

How many types of geothermal systems exist?

There are three geothermal systems. The first one, named an Open Loop system, uses groundwater to absorb or reject heat. These systems are ideal where groundwater is plentiful.

The second is a Closed Loop. A Closed Loop system uses a pipe in the groundwater to provide the heat exchange. This system can be used in most locations and system sizes.

Lastly, a Lake Loop system uses a pipe submerged in a body of water to provide the heat exchange. These systems are common in warm climates.

Is it expensive?

Compared to other common heat systems, such as air source heat pumps or propane, geoenergy systems do require higher initial expenses for the cost of drilling. However, geoenergy systems have minimal maintenance requirements and lower operational costs over their lifespan than more traditional methods.

Where can I get more information?

For more information, visit the National Ground Water Association website or find a local water well system contractor. 

National Groundwater Awareness Week, an initiative created by the National Ground Water Association, is slated for March 10-16, 2024.

#GWAW serves as an annual reminder for water well owners to test, tend, and treat their private water systems. NGWA encourages annual inspections of private water systems by certified water well contractors to ensure systems are operating correctly and producing safe and healthy water.

Our most valuable and precious resource needs advocates who understand the importance groundwater plays in our lives and community.

How can you help?

Practice Groundwater Awareness Week in your home by using the following tips:

• Schedule your annual checkup on your water well. A properly constructed and maintained household supply well will provide you with many years of quality service. Routine inspection of a water well system can help ensure it is operating properly, prolong its useful life, and protect your investment. Most importantly, inspections can protect your health by discovering issues that could result in water quality problems presenting a health risk.
• Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil far away from your well, and maintain a “clean” zone of at least 50 feet (15.24 meters) between your well and any kennels or livestock operations. Also, always maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, or chemical storage areas. Your professional water well contractor is familiar with the applicable local codes.
• Get your water tested anytime there is a change in taste, odor or appearance, or anytime the system is serviced.

In addition, share the social media graphic below to educate others about the importance of water well maintenance.

You can find logos to share before and during National Groundwater Awareness Week here.

Private well owners impacted by drought should have their systems inspected and water levels tested as we enter the summer months.

Drought impacts both the productivity of a water well and its water quality. Because of this, it is important that well owners take proper steps to ensure their systems are operating safely and efficiently as we continue to experience drought conditions across the country.

Well owners should consider taking the following steps.

• Have your water well inspected by a certified water well contractor. Wells that are not operating correctly will waste water and are more likely to completely fail during prolonged periods of drought. An inspection can help locate current and potential problems with a system before they become serious issues.
• Test your well water. There has been growing evidence that lower water tables, deeper wells, and extreme drought have led to higher levels of contaminants in groundwater. These contaminants can typically be easily identified and treated with a simple water quality test.
• Test your water levels. Declining water levels can impact not only the mechanics of your well but also water quality. A simple water level test can help determine what service may or may not be needed.
• Conserve water, fix leaks, and utilize water-efficient technology. By properly conserving water, fixing leaks, and utilizing more efficient water technology, you can help ensure your water levels remain healthy for you and your neighbors.
• Don’t delay! Due to ongoing drought, supply chain issues, and national labor shortages, well owners are seeing longer than usual wait times for service. If it has been more than a year since your last water well inspection, we urge well owners to reach out today to a certified contractor.

For more information on maintaining water wells during drought, you can visit WellOwner.org/Drought.

Photo by Francesco Ungaro

World Water Day was started by the U.N.  in 1993 and has continued an annual observance that celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people currently living without proper access to clean and safe water. In recent years, World Water Day has also become a day to advocated towards the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

This year’s campaign, ‘Groundwater-Making the Invisible visible” will strive to create greater awareness on groundwater’s global role in drinking water, sanitation, agriculture, industry, ecosystems, and climate change adaption.

Forty-seven percent of the United States depend on groundwater for their basic drinking water supply. Understanding the basics of groundwater is important. Learning about and appreciating this valuable resource can guide you to becoming a better steward of groundwater.

Learn more:

• Groundwater Basics
• Groundwater Quality Basics
• Sustainable Groundwater Resources
• The Hydrologic Cycle
• Groundwater Foundation
• Local Conservation Districts

To learn more about World Water Day 2022 click here to access the UN World Water Day webpage and follow the hashtag #WorldWaterDay on social media.

We all rely on groundwater in some way, and groundwater relies on us to protect it.

Protect Your Groundwater Day serves as an annual reminder for water well owners to test, tend, and treat their private water systems. NGWA encourages annual inspections of private water systems by certified water well contractors to ensure systems are operating correctly and producing safe and healthy water.

• Find a contractor in your area using our Find a Contractor tool.

ACT — acknowledge, consider, take action

On PYGWD, NGWA urges you to ACT. Use this day to begin doing your part for protecting one of our most important natural resources — groundwater.

1. Acknowledge the causes of preventable groundwater contamination

• Everyone
  • These are common to households
  • Most household water use occurs in a few areas around the home
• If you own a water well
  • Wellheads should be a safe distance from potential contamination
  • Septic system malfunctions can pollute groundwater
  • Poorly constructed or maintained wells can facilitate contamination
  • Improperly abandoned wells can lead to groundwater contamination

2. Consider which apply to you

• Everyone
  • What specific hazardous substances are in and around your home?
  • Where do you and your family use the most water?
• If you own a water well
  • Is your wellhead a safe distance from possible contamination? Is your well/septic system due for an inspection?
  • Are there any abandoned wells on your property?

3. Take action to prevent groundwater contamination

• Everyone
  • When it comes to hazardous household substances:
    • Store them properly in a secure place
    • Use them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
    • Dispose of them safely
  • When it comes to water conservation:
  • Modify your water use (more water saving tips).
• If you own a water well
  • Move possible contamination sources a safe distance from the wellhead
  • Get current on your septic system inspection and cleaning
  • Get your annual water well system inspection
  • Properly decommission any abandoned wells using a professional