You can learn the health risks that are associated with groundwater-borne pathogens that may be impacting private wells in Door and Kewaunee counties at a presentation at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay on Saturday. The Door County Environmental Council and Kewaunee Cares are welcoming Tucker Burch from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Marshfield. Water-borne infectious diseases are Burch’s focus, especially with agricultural activity in rural areas. He has worked on risk assessment for drinking water in the upper Midwest and on studies related to antibiotic resistance in the environment. Most recently Burch co-authored several field studies on well contamination in Kewaunee County. The presentation on Saturday will be at 3 p.m. and will also be available via Zoom with this link at www.dcec-wi.org. National Groundwater Awareness Week is from March 5th through the 11th. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, groundwater is a vital resource in Wisconsin, with approximately 70% of Wisconsinites relying on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water. You can find ways that you can protect and conserve groundwater below.
Yearly water well testing and well maintenance: Private well owners should test their well water at least once a year, tend to any maintenance needs, and treat their water if necessary.
Reduce chemical use: Use fewer chemicals around the house and outside, and dispose of them properly.
Manage waste: Properly dispose of potentially toxic substances like unused chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paint, motor oil, and other substances.
Recycle properly: Properly recycling paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, aluminum and other materials can help prevent potential groundwater contamination.
Plant native plants: When landscaping, prioritize native plants. They look great and don’t need much water or fertilizer. When choosing grass, varieties adapted to Wisconsin’s climate can reduce the need for extensive watering or chemical applications.
Use water wisely: Don’t let the water run unnecessarily, fix any leaks, take shorter showers, only run full loads of dishes or clothes, water the lawn and plants during the coolest part of the day and only when they need it, and obey any watering restrictions during dry periods.
(photo courtesy of USDA website)
