Many everyday activities around our homes and in our communities have the potential to contaminate groundwater. You have direct control over many potential contaminating activities on your property, such as how you manage your well or dispose of household hazardous waste.
You might think you can do nothing to protect groundwater from contamination from landfills, gas stations, construction, cattle feedlots, manufacturing, and many other activities, but you can. In many cases, these activities require permits. As an interested citizen, you can voice your concerns at permit renewal hearings.
There also are many opportunities to increase public awareness of risks and to recognize commercial activities and individuals that are taking positive steps to protect groundwater. You and your community can make a difference by taking action to promote a safe groundwater resource for the future.
How to get started
- Look over the Protecting Groundwater pages listed below and identify the topics that apply to your home, community, or other area of interest.
- Jot down some ideas for action and if possible do one of them right away. Once you start taking action, you will a difference!
- Learn more about the topic. Check out the recommended Web sites or make some phone calls.
- Get others involved and work together on the community action steps.
Topics
WellsRural homesteads and businesses, farms, some urban areas |
Septic systemsRural homesteads, semi-rural residential areas, businesses |
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Home, garden, and automotive chemicals Urban areas and rural homesteads |
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Agriculture, rural and urban homes, public areas |
Commercial use of pesticidesFarming, nursery operations, orchards, Christmas trees, timberlands, lawn services, insect control, golf courses, parks, roadsides, school yards, sports fields |
Hazardous materials used in business and industryManufacturing, dry cleaners, vehicle repair, junkyards, construction, logging, scientific research, water treatment plants, and many more |
Storage tanks--underground and abovegroundGas stations, homes with heating oil, industrial and agricultural chemical suppliers, farms and ranches, school bus yards, fleet maintenance operations, other businesses |
Transportation and handling of fuels and chemicals in bulkEveryone with storage tanks, delivery services, trucking companies, railroads, pipelines |
Storage lagoonsManure management and industrial waste |
Animal lotsFeedlots, dairies, stables, kennels, and small farms |
Landfills and dumpsRegional lined landfills to roadside dumping areas |
Miscellaneous urban activitiesStorm-water runoff, abandoned industrial sites, pre-1940 cemeteries |
This section, including most illustrations, was adapted with permission from "Groundwater Contamination" by Lyle Raymond, Jr. (© Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, November 1988).