World Water Day, on March 22, unearthed the importance of groundwater.

A day earlier, multiple organizations sponsored a one-hour virtual event to highlight the significance of this resource and the many ways it can be impacted and contaminated.

Governor Ned Lamont, in opening the March 21 event, thanked attendees for “celebrating World Water Day. Do not take this for granted.”

Save the Sound, The Nature Conservancy, Rivers Alliance, Clean Water Action, Connecticut River Conservancy, Connecticut Land Conservation Council, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and other partners, hosted the event, billed as “Groundwater, Making the Invisible Visible.”

“Groundwater is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere,” a description for the event read. “Out of sight, under our feet, groundwater is a hidden treasure that enriches our lives. Almost all of the liquid fresh water in the world is groundwater. As climate change gets worse, groundwater will become more and more critical. We need to work together to sustainably manage this precious resource. Groundwater may be out of sight, but it must not be out of mind.”

After sharing that the top three water uses in the US are irrigation, thermal electric power, and public water use, Connecticut Water Planning Council Chair Jack Betkoski said, “It has been said many times that water is the gold of the future; it is my sincere hope that we treat it like gold.”

The Nature Conservancy Director of Outreach and Watershed Projects Holly Drinkuth highlighted that it has been 50 years since the Clean Water Act was passed. According to Drinkuth, when the act was approved, “things were very different.” Since the late 1700s, Connecticut’s rivers powered mills and turbines. As manufacturing expanded, more people moved to cities and the rivers were relied on to carry away waste, while there was inadequate sewage treatment.

With the passing of the Clean Water Act, penalties for violating the law and endangering public health were enacted. Drinkuth said it set a precedent for cleaning waterways and it still has impact. Connecticut more recently established guidelines for storm water management using the Clean Water Act, he added.

After saying there is still work to be done to make sure all communities have access to clean water, Drinkuth said, “Here’s to even more improvement and protection in the next 50 years.”

Retired Director of US Geological Survey Connecticut Water Science Center Virginia de Lima then shared a presentation explaining how the water cycle constantly seeps precipitation into the ground, where water moves as groundwater, flowing, in New England, through bedrock fractures. Wells drilled into the bedrock allow water to collect; otherwise, water flows to streams and other fresh water locations from high to low, according to the presentation.

Explaining that groundwater is a single shared resource, de Lima said, “We have to protect all components of it.”

Throughout the virtual event, how groundwater can become contaminated and the importance of maintaining it for the health of all communities was stressed.

Environmental Justice Coalition Executive Director Sharon Lewis, Southwest Conservation District Natural Resource Specialist Melissa Mostowy, and Save the Sound Soundkeeper Bill Lucey spoke on a panel moderated by Rivers Alliance of Connecticut Executive Director Alicea Charamut.

Lewis said access to clean water is “a civil right and it is a major environmental injustice if one does not have access to safe, healthy, and clean water.”

Lewis emphasized holding polluters accountable, having timely enforcement, and prioritizing clean-up efforts in environmental justice communities, where groundwater is most impacted.

Mostowy stressed the importance of raising awareness about what can be done to keep groundwater clean, specifically what can be done in terms of land use and geological efforts.

Lucey said everything that falls on land ends up either in groundwater or sewers, and eventually in Long Island Sound.

“We gotta stop poisoning our water,” Lucey said, sharing that homeowners fertilizing yards pollute water for the reason of making grass look nice. “It makes no sense.”

“There is so much to absorb and so much to do,” said Charamut.

The presentation shared ourwaterct.org as a place to learn more about local efforts to maintain clean water and to learn how to help.

As shared at the website, ways to keep water clean include:

*Reducing chemical use by replacing grass and plants that require fertilizer and pesticides with native plants, ground covers, or landscaping that do not. Using fewer chemicals around the home and replacing them with all natural/nontoxic household cleaners whenever possible.

*Managing waste by properly disposing of house and lawn chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paint, motor oil, and other potentially toxic substances.

*Upgrading the community water infrastructure by repairing and upgrading leaking sewage pipes and outdated technologies to keep pollutants out of groundwater. Where possible, installing or connecting the home to a system that reduces nitrogen. Too much nitrogen in groundwater can cause health problems for people and harm water quality in lakes, rivers, bays, and Long Island Sound.

*Inspecting and maintaining a home’s septic system: Contract with a service provider to get the system pumped regularly and keep it working well. Failed systems can leak bacteria into drinking water.

Also according to ourwaterct.org, ways to use water wisely include:

*Conserving at home by watering the lawn and plants during the coolest parts of the day and only when they truly need it. Making sure that family and neighbors obey any watering restrictions during dry periods. Installing high-efficiency appliances and fixtures.

*Fixing leaks and drips: Check faucets, fixtures, toilets, and taps for leaks, and repair or replace them right away.

*Reducing use: Shorten a shower by one minute, turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving. Try to run full loads when using the dish or clothes washer.

*Green Infrastructure: Capturing rainwater promotes infiltration and helps to recharge groundwater.

*Forests and River Buffers: Maintain forested and vegetated areas (particularly vegetated river buffers) and decrease impervious surfaces. This will not only reduce stormwater runoff and protect surface water quality but will also promote groundwater recharge.

Education Editor Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.