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Groundwater Awareness Week – March 6-10
Informational Exhibits at two locations in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge – The Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation announced March 6-10, 2017, as Groundwater Awareness Week in the state. According to the Commissioner of Conservation, spring is the best time of year for water well owners to perform an annual maintenance check to ensure the proper operation of a water well and to prolong its years of service.
Groundwater Awareness Week is sponsored each year by the National Ground Water Association - NGWA.org - and is recognized by states and local governments as a way of providing information to the public about groundwater sources, its uses, and the importance of sound management practices to help sustain these resources for future generations.
Citizens are encouraged to learn more about conserving and protecting groundwater which is the primary source of drinking water and irrigating crops. In Louisiana, there are 11 aquifer systems, and several government agencies that help protect water resources.
In addition to the role DNR’s Office of Conservation provides, the state Dept. of Health enforces the Safe Drinking Water Act along with the Dept. of Environmental Quality, Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
DNR is providing a Groundwater Awareness Week information display on the first floor of the LaSalle Office Building, 617 North 3rd Street in downtown Baton Rouge. On Wednesday, a community outreach event will be held at the newly reopened Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch Library, located at 11300 Greenwell Springs Road, from 10 am to 4 pm, where patrons, and interested parents and students can find brochures, fact sheets, videos, and other information on groundwater in Louisiana.
For information about groundwater in the Baton Rouge area, a special program called, “Water-wise in BR” is available at http://waterwise.dnr.la.gov - it also includes the program’s new short film, The Adventures of Waterman!, a funny but educational introduction to the topic.
Online access to information about Groundwater can be found at the following links:
La. Department of Natural Resource, Office of Conservation, Groundwater Resources Program (Where to submit notification and to register private water wells)
Frequently Asked Questions about Groundwater
Private Water Well Testing in La.
National Groundwater Association
What is Groundwater Fact Sheet
For more information, contact, Matthew Reonas, matthew.reonas@la.gov Education and Outreach, Office of Conservation.
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