Ground Water Protection Council
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Welcome to the GWPC Ground Water Report Website
For generations, America has tapped its vast underground supply of fresh water.
It irrigates 41% of the nation’s irrigated land. It supplies drinking water to half
the population. But, even as we rely on ground water to propel the economy, we are
not truly monitoring its vital signs. Like the big spender who never checks his
banking statements, we are draining aquifers and green-lighting development without
checking the balance in our water budget. Today we have an opportunity: We can preserve
the resource while preservation is still within reach. The GWPC’s Ground Water Report to
the Nation shows the way.
I would like to thank the myriad of state, federal, and local agencies, affiliated associations, universities, and
individuals, who have so willingly helped in producing our Ground Water Report to the Nation: A Call to Action. They are too many to list here, but
without their help, this document would not have happened. In particular, the Ground Water Protection Council Board of
Directors and Editorial Board for their support, review and input, without which the document would have lacked real-world examples and experiences.
There are numerous ground water issues and human impacts to ground water that could have been
selected for this first Ground Water Protection Council Report to the Nation. As the Key Messages and
Recommended Actions were developed for each selected topic, it was tempting to broaden the discussion. However, to stay focused, it was necessary to limit our scope to ten specific
topics, and limit the discussion within each topic as well. The Sections listed below can be identified
according to their respective names and colors.
Publication of this report marks the end of one effort and, we hope, initiates a new effort to promote
increased awareness that will foster a nationwide commitment to take action to protect ground water.
Mike Paque, CAE
Executive Director
Ground Water Protection Council
Contents
Cover and Forewords
GROUND WATER...A CALL TO ACTION
Why this urgent call to action? We are at a ground water crossroads that necessitates ingenuity
and proaction in order to minimize potentially detrimental and costly consequences. Each of us
shares responsibility for securing the availability, integrity, and ecological balance of our nation’s
water resources—for the long haul. It is way past time for us to recognize the significance of ground
water to our national welfare—our public health, quality of life, and economic well-being.
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
GROUND WATER USE AND AVAILABILITY
Why does ground water use and availability matter? Potable fresh water is fast becoming
a highly sought-after commodity—it is being called “blue gold.” Yet the fact that all the water we
have right now is all the water we will ever have is not reflected in our demand for and use of water.
As a nation, we can no longer put off the job of answering the essential and definitive questions of
supply and demand:Will we have enough water, and what will it cost?
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
GROUND WATER RESOURCE CHARACTERIZATION AND MONITORING
Why does ground water characterization and monitoring matter? While we have made
strides in understanding how ground water/surface water systems work, our ability to characterize
how our human activities affect the many natural processes and interactions inherent to specific systems
has been constrained. This is primarily due to the lack of long-term sustained support and
funding for ground water quality and quantity data collection, analysis, research and development
trends, and information dissemination.
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
GROUND WATER & SOURCE WATER PROTECTION
Why does source water protection matter to ground water? Without diligent attention
to managing potential sources of contamination, our drinking water will come at a higher cost over
time. This cost includes the increasing need for water treatment, monitoring, remediation, finding
alternate water supplies, providing bottled water, consultants, staff time, and litigation. Source water
protection is simpler, less expensive, and more reliable over the long term.
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
GROUND WATER & LAND USE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Why does land use matter to ground water? Each time the use of a land area changes, it
can affect the hydrologic makeup of the landscape. Highways, shopping centers, housing developments,
industrial sites, businesses, agricultural operations, golf courses, feedlots, waste disposal sites,
airports, ski slopes, and sewer systems (to name a few) have the potential to directly or indirectly
impact the quantity or quality of both ground water and surface water.
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
GROUND WATER & STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Why does stormwater matter to ground water? In natural, undeveloped areas, a large percentage
of relatively uncontaminated precipitation infiltrates the ground, thus recharging the
ground water; the remaining runoff flows to nearby water bodies or evaporates. Natural physical,
chemical, and biologic processes cleanse the water as it moves through vegetation and soil and into
ground water. Development alters natural systems as vegetation and open spaces are replaced with
impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, highways, and roofs, that greatly reduce infiltration and
thus ground water recharge. Uncontrolled stormwater runoff collects pollutants such as sediments,
pathogens, fertilizers/nutrients, and hydrocarbons, which ultimately contaminate and degrade surface
and ground water.
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
GROUND WATER & UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
Why do underground storage tanks (USTs) matter to ground water? Each UST system
has the potential to leak, threatening human health and the environment. Leaked product contaminates
ground water used for drinking and other uses and, on occasion, enters surface water. Today’s
improved UST systems are the product of federal and state requirements and programs, improved
technologies, and a heightened awareness on the part of tank owners and operators. However, leaks
still occur, albeit far less frequently, and we must stay vigilant in order to prevent tank systems from
leaking in the first place and to ensure that leaking systems are reported immediately and cleaned up
expeditiously.
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
GROUND WATER & ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS
Why does onsite wastewater treatment matter to ground water? Nationwide, decentralized
wastewater treatment systems (e.g., septic systems) collect, treat, and release about 4 billion gallons
of effluent per day from an estimated 26 million homes and businesses.More than half of these
systems were installed over 30 years ago, when rules were nonexistent, substandard, or poorly
enforced. The percentage of homes and businesses served by these systems varies from state to state,
from a high of about 55% in Vermont to a low of about 10% in California.
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
GROUND WATER & UNDERGROUND INJECTION CONTROL
Why does the underground injection control (UIC) program matter to ground water?
The federal UIC Program, designed to prevent contamination of underground sources of drinking
water, covers wells used to inject a wide range of fluids, including oilfield brines; industrial, manufacturing,
pharmaceutical, and municipal wastes; and water used for solution mining. A “mature”
regulatory” program suggests that the major processes are working smoothly, the principal issues are
well understood, and significant problems encountered have been solved.While this is the case for
Class I, II, III, and IV UIC well types, the Class V category of the UIC program has not kept pace
with the rest of the program. Nor is the UIC program well positioned to address new challenges and
responsibilities, such as CO2 geosequestration and management of water-treatment residues.
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
GROUND WATER & ABANDONED MINES
Why do abandoned mines matter to ground water? Many abandoned coal mines and
hardrock mines emit acid mine drainage, because the rock associated with both types of mines often
contains metal sulfides, such as pyrite.When the rock or coal deposits are excavated, the sulfides are
exposed to water and oxygen, and react to form sulfuric acid.Many surface and underground abandoned
mines, and their associated spoil and refuse piles, provide ongoing sources of acid mine
drainage and toxic heavy metals that can have long-term devastating impacts on ground water, community
water supplies, rivers, streams, and aquatic life.
Summary Sheet
Entire Section
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