Protecting Indiana’s groundwater isn’t just the responsibility of private well owners; many public water systems draw all or part of their supply from groundwater. The Indiana State Department of Health encourages Hoosiers to take steps to protect the state’s groundwater.

In the United States, 88 million Americans rely on groundwater-supplied community water systems while another 42 million rely on individual household water wells. In Indiana, approximately 25 percent of the population use private water wells. 

For household water well owners, how they manage their well systems and property can make a difference in their water quality. People who do not use household wells also can make a difference in groundwater quality, for instance, by how they store, use and dispose of

hazardous household substances, or how well they maintain their septic systems.
“As the state has gone through a drought, protecting groundwater through conservation is more important than ever,” said Mike Mettler, Director of the Environmental Public Health Division at the Indiana State Department of Health. “All over Indiana and the nation, the drought has put a strain on many household water wells—sometimes resulting in a reduction or loss of water flow as the water table drops.”

To learn more about groundwater protection in Indiana, visit http://www.in.gov/isdh/20408.htm.