Head: (Your organization's letterhead)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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PROTECT YOUR WELL AND PROTECT EVERYONE'S DRINKING WATER
*[See below for alternative introduction] Dry wells remind us how precious drinking water is. The Sparta Aquifer is a resource that townspeople and farmers alike depend on for drinking water. Water conservation is one way to protect our shared supply of water. Another way is to keep pollution out of groundwater. By individual actions to protect our water source, you will safeguard the water consumed by you and your neighbors near and far.
Think of your well as a hole in the ground. If properly constructed and maintained, this hole provides access to a clean and safe drinking water buried underground. But this hole may serve as a pathway for pesticides, fertilizers, germs and other pollutants to enter groundwater unless you prevent problems. Abandoned wells are holes that should be filled immediately. Here is what you can do protect your working well.
Your well should not be located less than 100 feet from pollution sources. Pesticides or fertilizer bags stored near a well are a problem and should be moved. You should also avoid spraying pesticides, or changing your car's oil or anti-freeze around a well. If you use a pesticide sprayer that attaches to your hose, install a device to prevent pesticides from flowing back through your hose into the groundwater.
It may not be feasible to move a septic system or underground petroleum storage tank if it is too close to a well. Make sure they are kept in good working order.
While you should test your well water annually, pay special attention to tests if you have pollution sources near your well. Testing is also important if your well is over 50 years old, or less than 20 feet deep. Routine tests cover bacteria and nitrates and may include pH and total dissolved solids.
Ask yourself these questions to see if you are doing your part to protect everyone's drinking water.
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you are ready to learn about actions to avoid problems. Even if you answered "no" to each question, you may still have room for improvement. Do you test for lead in your water if you have lead pipes?
What can you do?
Home*A*Syst can help you take action. Based on the concept of a home energy audit, Home*A*Syst is a tool that non-experts can use to identify a range of environmental and health risks in and around the home. In addition to private well maintenance, Home*A*Syst enables you to reduce a range of risks from activities outside the home— lawn and garden care, septic systems management, handling household hazardous products — and inside the home— unhealthy indoor air, and lead exposure in water pipes and paint.
By using Home*A*Syst, you can develop a plan filled with simple and low-cost action that can go a long way in preventing problems. Armed with information, you can take steps to transform your house into a healthy home, where family health is safeguarded and property value is protected. Farmers may find help for their wells through Farm*A*Syst.
For information about Home*A*Syst or Farm*A*Syst programs in your state, you can locate a local program coordinator by visiting either of these web sites: Home*A*Syst (http://www.uwex.edu/homeasyst) or Farm*A*Syst (http://www.uwex.edu/farmasyst). You may also contact the national Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst office at 303 Hiram Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1289, 608-262-0024, email: homeasyst@uwex.edu, farmasyst@uwex.edu. These groups also may have program information: local county Extension office, Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resource Conservationist or state water quality agency.
* [Alternative introduction] When is the last time you thought about your water? Drinking Water Week, May 7-13 is a good time to take stock and consider what you can do to protect this important resource. Keeping pollution out of groundwater is the best way to protect our shared supply of water. By individual actions to protect our water source, you will safeguard the water consumed by you and your neighbors near and far. Remember, everyone can help protect drinking water.