Only a small percentage of the nation's aquifers are currently contaminated.  Estimates range from 0.2% to 2.0%.  It is important to remember that the majority of contamination is in urban and intensively farmed areas. 

Anyone who depends on ground water for their drinking water has a stake in protecting ground water from contamination.   This includes anyone from the largest utility to individuals in a community. 

Although we often think of major accidents as the cause of ground water contamination, many seemingly insignificant sources may contribute greatly to the decreasing quality of our ground water.  Our personal actions and choices have direct consequences on the quality of our environment.  Well thought-out, long-range decisions can benefit everyone.  The following tips can help you to protect your drinking water:

What can you do?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

• Never dump paints, oils, or other household hazardous wastes in dry wells or other improper areas. Many auto repair shops will accept used oil, and many cities have household waste collection days. Call (513) 887-3653 for Butler County hazardous waste collection dates.

• Follow application directions for fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Over-application not only wastes money, but also may be bad for the environment. Where possible, use Earth-friendly alternatives liked integrated pest management.

• Properly maintain private water wells. Cracked casings or concrete pads can lead to ground water contamination.

• Use safe alternatives to commercial cleaning products, such as bleach for cleaning toilets and ammonia for washing windows. The alternatives are less expensive too!

• Have septic systems checked regularly. Remember, chemical additives can be harmful to the bacteria that become part of the treatment process.

• Conserve water. The more water a supplier has to pump to meet demand, the more rapidly a potential pollutant may be drawn toward a water supply well. You can conserve by:

• Watering you lawn in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation losses

• Installing a toilet dam and low flow showering head to reduce water use in the bathroom

• Running your dishwasher and washing machine with full loads only

• Turning the water off when you brush your teeth or hand wash dishes

• Report illegal or abandoned waste sites. Drums of hazardous wastes dumped illegally or abandoned can be a serious threat.

• Get involved in community ground water education and protection programs!