WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA Original Power Point Created


















- Slides: 18

WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA Original Power Point Created by Ron Smoak Modified by the GA Agriculture Education Curriculum July 2002 August 2008

OBJECTIVES • To help young farmers develop an awareness of the importance of protecting groundwater from contamination. • To provide young farmers with basic information on Georgia’s groundwater supply. • To educate Y. F. ’s in best management practices in preventing pollution to ground water. August 2008

IMPORTANCE OF WATER • Water is critical to each of our lives: – It is important for our health – It is important for our economy – It is important for our way of life August 2008

HOW IMPORTANT IS WATER? • People can live only 5 to 10 days without water • Two quarts of water per day are needed to: • • • August 2008 Digest food Lubricate joints Clean eyes Remove body wastes Cool the body

OTHER WATER FACTS • It takes 3 gal. of water to produce 1 gal. of milk • It takes 25 gal. of water to grow an ear of corn • 47% of Georgia’s water comes from surface water • 53% from groundwater • 97% of rural users use groundwater August 2008

SOURCES OF WATER Surface Water § Comes from lakes, rivers, reservoirs § Used by 47% of U. S. population § Mostly used in cities and suburbs Ground Water n Used in rural areas n Rain, sleet, snow, & hail absorbed into ground n Used by 53% of the population August 2008

WATER USE AT HOME • • Toilets = 28% Baths = 9% Showers = 21% Washing machines = 22% • Dishwasher = 3% August 2008 • Faucets = 12% • Toilet Leakage = 5%

WELL WATER • Used by 97% of rural Americans • Generally not treated • Natural filtration system August 2008

IS WATER SAFE? • Federal Safe Drinking Water Act • Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) – Over a 70 year period, a person would have to drink thousands of gallons of tap water every day to exceed the MCL August 2008

AGRICULTURAL USE OF GROUNDWATER • Agriculture is largest consumer of government waste through irrigation • Irrigation consumes 68% of groundwater nationwide • 1990 - 33% of the groundwater in Georgia was used for irrigation • Georgia ranks medium to low in respect to groundwater withdrawal August 2008

PROPERTIES OF GROUNDWATER • Groundwater moves into the ground from rainfall • It is absorbed into Recharge Zones: – Swamps – Sinkholes – Lakes, ponds, and rivers August 2008

GROUNDWATER MOVEMENT • Water moves constantly underground toward a point of discharge: – River or stream – Lake – Well – Ocean August 2008

AQUIFERS • Aquifers are not flowing underground rivers. • Aquifers are porous rock materials through which groundwater flows freely: – Sand – Gravel – Sandstone – Limestone solution channels August 2008

GEORGIA’S AQUIFER SYSTEM • Floridan aquifer system • Claiborne aquifer system • Clayton aquifer system • Cretaccous aquifer system August 2008

FLORIDAN AQUIFER SYSTEM • One of most productive groundwater reservoirs in U. S. • Supplies approximately 50% of groundwater used in the state • Major water source in most of South Georgia • Primarily limestone and sand • 40 -900 ft. deep & 1000 to 5000 gpm • Recharge zones in much of South Georgia August 2008

PROTECTING SURFACE & GROUNDWATER • Cropping & tillage practices to minimize soil erosion • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) • Apply chemicals according to label • Irrigate to prevent run-off & leaching • Well-head protection • Nutrient management for crop land August 2008

COMMON SENSE FOR GROUNDWATER PROTECTION • “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” • It is difficult, if not impossible, to clean up groundwater • Prevention is the best method August 2008

What You Can Do to Keep your Water Safe • Follow instructions with hazardous materials • Proper disposal of cleaning products, house paints, thinners, house and lawn pesticides, motor oil, medical wastes, and other contaminants • Ensure that no lawn and garden products are washed into streams or storm drains • Participate in community hazardous waste disposal days • Educate friends and neighbors on proper disposal of household and lawn & garden hazardous wastes August 2008