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Public outreach and education are key part to getting your community involved in protecting your local drinking water source. Sharing the importance of wellhead protection and what can be done to protect waters from contamination helps the people who are drinking the water know what they can do to help and when they should say something. An informed public is a first line of defense.

Citizens, employees businesses, land owners, farmers, local officials all understand their role in protecting your community’s drinking water supply. It is your role as a local planning team to reach out to these groups and start the conversation of wellhead protection. Together you can prevent contamination and address environmental concerns that your community may have.

In addition to public outreach and education efforts it is important to pass a local wellhead protection ordinance.

Groups to Collaborate With

Local Government and Organizations
Potential Contaminate Sources (PCSs)
  • Commercial / industrial businesses (gas stations, dry cleaners, golf courses, factories, landfills, etc.)
  • Municipal land users (parks, maintenance facilities, sumps, nurseries, golf courses, etc.)
  • Agricultural land users
  • Transportation corridors (roads, train tracks, airports, etc.)
Affected Parties
  • Local citizens
  • Critical water users
  • Land owners

Additional resources are available.

Outreach Methods

  • Letters to land owners / growers / residents / PCSs
  • Bill stuffers/customer mailings
  • Community website
  • Educational meetings / workshops / fair
  • Survey owners to assess current practices
  • Local media (TV, radio, newspaper)
  • Local fairs and community events
  • Participate in local Earth Day Celebration, National Groundwater Awareness Week, World Monitoring Day Activities, or other water and conservation related celebrations

Educational Materials

Additional resources are available.

Education Topics

  • Drinking water protection
  • Best Management Practices (BMPs)
  • Household hazardous waste
  • Pollution prevention/waste reduction in the home (use of alternatives)
  • Lawn and garden maintenance
  • Storm water and its impacts on water quality
  • Proper well construction, maintenance, and abandonment
  • Drywells/sumps use, maintenance and abandonment
  • Septic systems use, maintenance, and abandonment
  • Home heating oil tank maintenance and abandonment

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