Groundwater Protection
One of our most valuable resources is right beneath our feet and we can't even see it. The old adage "out of sight, out of mind" certainly applies to groundwater. Perhaps groundwater's availability is why the lion's share of small drinking water systems obtain their water from wells. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 80 percent of all community water systems are groundwater systems.
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- Links open pdf files and are in order by year beginning with the most current.
- Source Water Articles about Groundwater Protection - SMART About Water Program produced by NESC, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, and EPA in 2008/2009.
- Protecting Your Groundwater Source -On Tap magazine, Spring 2006 - This article looks at what goes on beneath the Earth's surface and provides ways to protect groundwater now and in the future.
- What is the Ground Water Rule? -by Vipin Bhardwaj, NESC Engineering Scientist, On Tap magazine, Fall 2005 - This Q&A explains the groundwater rule and more.
- In New England Source Water Protection Just Makes Sense -by Chain-Wen Wang,Ed.D, NESC Contributing Writer,
On Tap magazine, Fall 2004 - Source water protection is not a new concept. But, the reality of limited resources and the increasing demand for both quality and quantity of drinking water makes it more important than ever.
- Groundwater 101 -by Kathy Jesperson, NESC Editor, On Tap magazine, Fall 2003 - While it's hard to imagine exactly what it looks like "down there," groundwater is simply water that's underground, saturating the pores or cracks in soil and rocks.
- Groundwater Remediation - Saving the Source -by Kathy Jesperson, NESC Editor, On Tap magazine, Fall 2003 - Groundwater investigators have found contaminants in groundwater supplies, such as industrial and municipal wastes; leaking sewer or septic tank effluent; animal feedlot runoff; and lawn and crop fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
- Onsite Sytems Web Page- This resource was designed to encourage the proper use of alternative, onsite and wastewater treatment technologies to protect public health, ensure water quality, and sustain the environment in small and rural communities.
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