Pumpers Can Help In The Effort On Protect Your Groundwater Day Sept. 10

Pumpers can team with the National Groundwater Association to raise awareness for Protect Your Groundwater Day.

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Protect Your Groundwater Day (PYGD) on Sept. 9 very well might pass unnoticed by many pumpers. But it deserves some attention. In fact, it could even provide pumpers with a marketing opportunity, while at the same time increase customers’ awareness of one of the country’s greatest – and, in some areas, most endangered – natural resources.

PYGD typically falls on the second Tuesday in September. It’s sponsored by the National Groundwater Association (www.ngwa.org), a trade and professional organization for those employed in the groundwater industry. That includes everything from water-well drillers to groundwater engineers who design well systems to manufacturers and suppliers.

“The overarching purpose is to advance groundwater knowledge in general and raise the bar for professionals in the industry,” says Cliff Treyens, public awareness director for the organization. “We also educate the public about the importance of groundwater stewardship.”

Technically speaking, septic pumpers are not part of the association’s focus. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be comrades in arms with the group; after all, proper septic system maintenance helps to protect groundwater, which is defined as water that lies below ground level in water-bearing geological formations, Treyens explains.

How important is groundwater? Consider this eye-opening fact: An estimated 99 percent of the world’s freshwater is groundwater. “Even if you don’t get water from a well, I think that statistic can help you appreciate that groundwater is worth protecting,” Treyens says. The association uses PYGD to aim a spotlight on this invaluable resource – raise public awareness of what groundwater is, why it’s important and what people can do to protect it. Pumpers can help spread that message, as Treyens explains in the following interview.

Pumper: Is there a logical connection between the septic pumping industry and your organization?

Treyens: Yes. People who use water wells typically are concentrated in the same rural areas where septic systems also are more prevalent. And a well-made, well-constructed and properly located septic system can treat sewage properly and protect groundwater, while a poorly made, installed or located system can contaminate groundwater. Our industries have symbiosis there.

It’s in the interest of both industries to establish high standards of construction and maintenance because neither one of us wants to foul the resource that’s our customers’ lifeblood. We already partner with the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association. They understand that protecting groundwater is important to them and their customers.

Pumper: What role can pumpers play in protecting groundwater?

Treyens: They can educate customers about how they can protect groundwater through their own daily habits. If you change your own oil, don’t dump it on the ground … don’t pump toxic chemicals down your toilet.

They also can emphasize the importance of proper septic system maintenance – help them understand exactly what maintenance their system requires, because if it fails it can contaminate groundwater. You can explain the adverse consequences of inadequate maintenance … point out to them that it’s really a matter of their health.

One analogy we use is cars … it’s always better to stay on top of maintenance than wait until something goes wrong, like a catastrophic engine failure. The consequences of poor maintenance are almost always more costly than a gradual investment over time to keep a system in good operating order.

Pumper: Are septic pumpers uniquely qualified to play an important role in groundwater education?

Treyens: Yes. The thing about professionals in the septic industry is they’re in proximity to and in contact with people who use groundwater for drinking … mostly rural areas. By virtue of that, these professionals are in a perfect position to educate their customers.

Pumper: What else can pumpers do to spread the word about groundwater protection?

Treyens: They can ask local newspapers to run a story or speak at community meetings that allow time for public comment. All kinds of opportunities exist to explain how protecting groundwater is important. We have a lot of information on our website. If they can talk, they can do it … and they don’t have to be a journalist to ask a local newspaper to write a story.

You’d be surprised at how many venues people have to communicate these days, with Facebook, blogs and so forth. If you’re of a mind that you have information to give to the public, then pull it off our website and start sharing it with people. We’ve got thousands and thousands of people who are potential educators and you could argue it’s just as or more important for people in the septic industry to do it.

Pumper: Would it appear self-serving for pumpers to advocate regular maintenance?

Treyens: I think customers will think that someone who expends the effort and time to communicate a message like that is somebody who gives a darn, not necessarily doing it for selfish purposes.

If I read a newspaper and saw a guy quoted about how important it is to protect groundwater, and he was a septic system professional, I’d think he stands above other pumpers. I’d figure if he was quoted in a newspaper, he must know what he’s talking about … he’s a doer. And I think the public would perceive it that way too. You’re projecting a positive image – someone who’s bringing up an important issue. And that would increase my confidence in you.

Pumper: Could pumpers use PYGD to raise awareness?

Treyens: There’s no limit to what you can do with it if you’re willing to execute it. For example, some water-well drillers offer customers discounts on Protect Your Groundwater Day. And some county health departments around the country have used Groundwater Awareness Week (in early March) and Protect Your Groundwater Day to offer discounted water-well tests. So they’re taking this recognition event and using it to draw attention to something they’re trying to accomplish. I could definitely see a pumper offering a discount during Protect Your Groundwater Day.

Pumper: Where can pumpers get good information to give to customers?

Treyens:  I would suggest going to one of our websites: www.wellowner.org. Click on the Protect Your Groundwater Day logo to get information. People are free to use anything that’s there: cut and paste it into an article, link to it – we don’t care. We just want to get the information out there. 



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