ACT Now to Protect Your Groundwater!

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Water Replenishment District of Southern California

Sep 13, 2011, 08:26 ET

125 Local Students & WRD kick-off national groundwater effort

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Water Replenishment District (WRD) and more than 125 students from Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary School launched "Protect Your Groundwater Day" in an effort to increase groundwater awareness and protection in the region.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110913/DC68081)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110121/DC34153LOGO)

One hundred and twenty-five kindergarten, 4th grade students and local officials signed the Acknowledge, Consider and Take Action (A.C.T.) Pledge, promising to do something positive to protect local groundwater supplies from contamination.

The WRD joins the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) in promoting this annual event as it focuses on positive actions that individuals can take to promote and preserve groundwater for human use and the environment.

"There is something every person can do to protect groundwater-the largest source of fresh drinking water in the United States and the world- beginning on 'Protect Your Groundwater Day' this September 13," said WRD Board President Sergio Calderon. "WRD is already educating the next generation of groundwater champions through its educational animated groundwater hero Squirt."

"Groundwater provides nearly 40 percent of the total water supply for southern Los Angeles County. For over 50 years, WRD has been diligent in securing the groundwater supply for 10 percent of California's population in the southern part of Los Angeles County," said WRD General Manager Robb Whitaker. "Community members in our service area are dedicated to water conservation which in turn helps to maintain healthy groundwater basins."

"Every person can do something to protect local groundwater –from not polluting to using it wisely," said NGWA Public Awareness Director Cliff Treyens. "We each have a personal responsibility to protect groundwater. The good news is that for most people all it takes is a small adjustment in their daily lives."

Hazardous household substances should be:

Stored properly in sealed containers in a secure place
Use them according to manufacturer's instructions
Dispose of them safely

Water conservation:

Modify water use
Install water-saving devices

The Water Replenishment District of Southern California is the regional groundwater management agency that protects and preserves the quantity and quality of groundwater for two of the most utilized basins in the State of California, with a service area that is home to over ten percent of California's population residing in 43 cities in southern Los Angeles County governed by a publicly elected Board of Directors including Willard H. Murray, Jr., Robert Katherman, Lillian Kawasaki, Sergio Calderon, and Albert Robles.

For more information about the Water Replenishment District please visit www.wrd.org or to see WRD's groundwater hero Squirt in action visit www.wrd.org/safe.

SOURCE Water Replenishment District of Southern California