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Any resource taken for granted is a resource at risk of being lost, which is why National Groundwater Awareness Week 2021 to dedicated to advocacy of groundwater safety and protection and increasing its access across the country.

#GWAW also serves as an annual reminder for water well owners to test, tend, and treat their private water systems. NGWA encourages annual inspections of private water systems by certified water well contractors to ensure systems are operating correctly and producing safe and healthy water.

Our most valuable and precious resource needs advocates who understand the importance groundwater plays in our lives and community.

How can you help?

Practice Groundwater Awareness Week in your home by using the following tips:

• Schedule your annual checkup on your water well. A properly constructed and maintained household-supply well will provide you with many years of quality service. Routine inspection of a water well system can help ensure it is operating properly, prolong its useful life, and protect your investment. Most importantly, inspections can protect your health by discovering issues that could result in water quality problems presenting a health risk.
• Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil far away from your well, and maintain a “clean” zone of at least 50 feet (15.24 meters) between your well and any kennels or livestock operations. Also, always maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, or chemical storage areas. Your professional water well contractor is familiar with the applicable local codes.
• Get your water tested anytime there is a change in taste, odor or appearance, or anytime the system is serviced.

In addition, share the social media graphic below to educate others about the importance of water well maintenance.

You can find other social media graphics to share before and during National Groundwater Awareness Week here.

The post Save the date: National Groundwater Awareness Week 2021 appeared first on Wellowner.org.

Things to keep in mind when hiring:

• Are they NGWA certified?
  NGWA certification designations include:
  • Certified Well Driller (CWD) – Encompasses general industry knowledge, as well as practice and expertise in at least one drilling method
  • Certified Pump Installer (CPI) – Encompasses general industry knowledge and practice and expertise in water systems.
  • Master Ground Water Contractor (MGWC) – Demonstrates a high level of competency in both drilling operations and water systems.
• What record(s) will the contractor give you upon the construction of a well (i.e., a well log, well construction report)?
• Does the contractor have adequate liability and worker’s compensation insurance to protect you?
• Ask the contractor for references from previous customers.
• Will the contractor furnish a written contract, specifying the terms and conditions of the job?

When you’re ready to start your search for a qualified professional in your area, use our Find a Contractor tool.

How to Select a Contractor checklist

Want to know more about how to find and hire a contractor? Go to our Working with Contractors tab on WellOwner.org.

The post How to Select a Water Well Contractor: Free Printable Checklist appeared first on Wellowner.org.

While many of the water well systems in the northern U.S. are required to be built under the frost line, there is a large section of the South and Midwest where pumping systems are constructed above ground or above the frost line.

For these systems, it’s important to take steps to keep your well safe and operating through the winter.

Here are some suggestions to keep your water well safe this winter:

Protect Your Pump
Many well systems are buried deep underground, which provides protection from the cold. But for well owners with above ground pumps, action should be taken to keep the system insulated and warm. Constructing a small insulated enclosure covering the pump will help keep the system above 32 degrees and reduce the risk of freezing and other damage. This small “well house” can save thousands of dollars in repairs and ensure a well operates throughout a cold winter. Find a qualified contractor.

Protect Your Pipes
As water freezes, it expands and can burst your pipes, leading to significant damage to your home and well. Frozen pipes are a common winter issue for homeowners, but can be avoided with a few easy steps.

• Turn off your exterior water and blow out your pipes.
  Ideally your house will have a shut-off valve for its exterior water supply. If so, turn off any water that flows to outside irrigation systems and faucets. Once you have turned the water off, then drain the remaining water or use an air compressor to blow out the pipes. If you don’t have a shut-off valve, find a local contractor for other options to shutting off exterior water.
• Insulate your pipes.
  For houses with piping that runs through non-heated spaces like basements, we suggest insulating pipes. Wrapping pipes with rubber casings or fiberglass insulation can keep their temperature above freezing and the water flowing.
• Inspect your pipes.
  This is a great time to do a general inspection of your water system and piping. Spotting a problem in your system now could save you from a costly problem this winter. Find a certified contractor to schedule an inspection.

Prepare for a Power Outage
While there is little that can be done by the homeowner to prevent power outages due to winter weather, there are steps to take so you have water to drink while waiting for the lights to come back on.

• Always have a portable gas generator and plenty of gas to connect to your pumping system.
• Stock up on bottled water before the winter; this way if there is a prolonged outage, you can still have clean drinking water in the house.

Contact a local contractor to learn more about backup generators and other options to keep your water flowing during a power outage.

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