Fiscal Note
No expenditure is required.
Title
Proclaiming September 11, 2012, as Protect Your Groundwater Day in the City of Madison.
Body
WHEREAS, groundwater - the water that fills cracks and other openings in beds of rocks and sand - is the most abundant fresh water resource in the world, making up an estimated 99 percent of all available fresh water worldwide; and
WHEREAS, groundwater is a renewable resource that can be replenished naturally by precipitation; and
WHEREAS, in Wisconsin, 674,519 households rely on privately owned water wells; 11,455 community water systems use groundwater to serve 1,670,000 residents; and 3,192 irrigation wells serve 853 farms and irrigate 357,744 acres; and
WHEREAS, Madison's drinking water is drawn from groundwater, and our aquifer is being used faster than it is being replenished; and
WHEREAS, the actions of human beings can either help or hurt groundwater, in terms of quality and quantity, and protection involves keeping it safe from contamination and using it wisely by not wasting it; and
WHEREAS, much of Madison's groundwater is in danger of contamination due to historical land use and improper waste disposal; and
WHEREAS, human activities can cause contamination by improper use or disposal of hazardous substances such as insecticides, pesticides and chemicals, or by not properly protecting abandoned private wells; and
WHEREAS, individuals can help prevent contamination by taking waste chemicals to a hazardous waste collection center, taking used motor oil to a recycling center, taking medications and personal care items to a local drug take-back program and using fertilizers, animal manures, herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides properly; and
WHEREAS, everyone can use good water conservation measures in their homes and workplaces by installing water-saving fixtures and modifying their behaviors to avoid wasting this precious resource, including:
· Checking for leaky faucets and fixtures and having them fixed,
· Shutting off the water while brushing your teeth,
· Running full loads of dishes and laundry, and
· Installing rain barrels for irrigation purposes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council do hereby proclaim September 11, 2012, as Protect Your Groundwater Day in the City of Madison; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council call on the Water Utility to continue to be good stewards of our groundwater, to make protecting our groundwater a high priority, and to continue to educate water users about the importance of protecting groundwater.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council encourage citizen participation in maintaining groundwater quality and quantity.