Wednesday - Mar 14, 2012
CHAMPAIGN, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) promotes National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11-17, 2012. According to the National Ground Water Association, groundwater is essential to the health and well-being of humanity and the environment. Groundwater is the water that soaks into the soil from rain or other precipitation and moves downward to fill cracks and other openings in beds of rocks and sand. This week's purpose is to educate the public about the importance of groundwater and water well stewardship.
More than 90 percent of all public drinking water systems rely on groundwater to supply the population with drinking water and millions of Americans rely on groundwater from aquifers to supply their private wells, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
CUPHD encourages residents of Champaign County with private wells to test their water annually for contaminants. Private water wells should be tested every year for evidence of coliform bacteria and nitrates, and should be tested more frequently if there are recurrent incidents of gastrointestinal illness or there are changes in taste, odor or appearance.
Read the full press relase. (PDF)