Hamilton County Soil and Water to hold well water workshop

With March 5 – 11 designated as Groundwater Awareness Week, the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) announces a Well Water Workshop to take place Wednesday, March 22 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Annex Building at the County 4-H Fairgrounds.

According to the National Groundwater Association, The United States uses 79.6 billion gallons per day of fresh groundwater for public supply, private supply, irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, thermoelectric power, and other purposes. The Association states that of all the freshwater in the world (excluding polar ice caps), 95 percent is groundwater. Surface water (lakes and rivers) only makes up three percent of freshwater. More than 15.9 million water wells for all purposes serve the United States and a large fraction of Hamilton County is served by wells.

With all those different uses of groundwater it is important to be informed about influences to it.  Come find out where your fresh drinking water comes from and what resources you have to help you protect your health.  The HCSWCD along with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership will offer its workshop to help homeowners learn about wells and how you can protect your drinking water.

The March 22 well water workshop schedule and speakers are as follows:

  • Overview of the HCSWCD Well Testing Program – Ginger Davis, HCSWCD
  • The Basics of Understanding Your Well and How to Ensure Your Drinking Water is Safe – Cindy Brookes, WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc./Great Lakes RCAP
  • The Role of Hamilton County Health Department with Wells – Morgan Bennett, Hamilton County Health Department
  • Private Wells and Public Health – Andrew Pappas, Indiana State Department of Health
  • Evaluation of Statewide Ground Water Quality Through the Ground Water Monitoring Network – Kevin Spindler, Indiana Department of Environmental Management

The Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds is located at 2003 Pleasant Street, Noblesville, 46060. For more information about groundwater or the workshop, contact the HCSWCD at 317-773-2181 or email soil.water@hamiltoncounty.in.gov.