Think about everything you pour on your land, in the lake, or down your septic system - eventually it all flows into the groundwater.
Even though our area is blessed with a lot of water in its over 500 lakes, most of the residents rely on groundwater for drinking water. Groundwater is also important to lake levels, livestock, agriculture and industry. With the area population rapidly rising, it is important to make sure there will continue to be safe quality and sustainable quantity of drinking water supplies.
Threats to the quality and quantity of drinking supplies include: runoff from construction, impervious surfaces, and feedlots; malfunctioning septic systems; combined use of fertilizers and irrigation for golf course landscaping and crop production; overuse; leaking underground storage tanks; and abandoned wells.
There will be no new water supplies, and once water is contaminated it is not suitable for
drinking water. Practice water conservation in your home to insure adequate quantities
of groundwater for future use. Limit lawn watering—native vegetation and smaller lawns
will reduce the need for watering. Apply mulch to landscaping to reduce evaporation. Do
not hose down outside areas. Collect rainwater in rain barrels for outside watering
needs. Seal off all abandoned wells. See page nine for water conservation recommendations
and follow other recommendations throughout this Guide to minimize runoff and
potential contamination of groundwater supplies.
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