https://www.ngwa.org/get-involved/groundwater-awareness-week/groundwater-awareness-week-2019

Top 10 Facts About Groundwater Use
Only 1 percent of the water on Earth is useable, 99 percent of which is groundwater.
The United States uses 349 billion gallons of freshwater every day.
Groundwater is 20 to 30 times larger than all U.S. lakes, streams, and rivers combined.
Groundwater accounts for 33 percent of all the water used by U.S. municipalities.
44 percent of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply.
More than 13.2 million households have their own well, representing 34 million people.
53.5 billion gallons of groundwater are used for agricultural irrigation each day. In 1990 that number was 2.2 billion.
The largest U.S. aquifer is Ogallala, underlying 250,000 square miles stretching from Texas to South Dakota. Scientists estimate it could take 6000 years to naturally refill the aquifer if it were ever fully depleted.
California pumps 10.7 billion gallons of groundwater each day, a third more than the second-highest state, Texas.
Groundwater is the world’s most extracted raw material with withdrawal rates in the estimated range of 259 trillion gallons per year.

Question to ponder: If my septic system is putting wastewater into the ground, and my private well is pulling water out of the ground, does that mean I’m drinking toilet water?

Private Wells

Helpful info from EPA: EPA Private Wells, EPA Testing Wells

When was the last time you tested the water from your private well? If your well was drilled after 2008, and it was in conjunction with a new septic system, TriCounty Health required it to be tested for contaminants. If your well is older than that, or if you’ve recently moved in to a new home with a well, you may want to see what is in your water. Regardless of when it was drilled, EPA recommends private well owners test their wells annually for bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH. Other testing should occur at different frequencies depending on your stage of life, current health condition, and when you notice a change in your water. EPA Homeowner’s Guide to Testing Drinking Water

TCHD can currently process samples for bacteria, and will soon have the capability of testing for Nitrates, but samples for other contaminants would need to be processed at a Salt Lake area lab. Examples of other contaminants of concern include: heavy metals (lead, copper), poisons (arsenic, cyanide), nitrates, sulfates, etc. (Nitrates cause Blue Baby Syndrome) You may even want to simply know the sodium levels if you suffer from high blood pressure.
Bacteria and nitrates in your water could indicate an improperly functioning septic system–either a neighbor’s or your own. Or it could be a result of flooding and an improperly protected well.
Depending on what kind of Spring and Summer we have in the Uintah Basin, flooding is a very high possibility. You’ll want to have your well tested after a flood event, and you’ll want to do what you can now to prevent your well from getting hit with floodwaters.

Sample bottles and forms for all types of tests are available at both the Vernal and Roosevelt offices.

Septic Systems

Another big component of the topic of groundwater is the kind of water we put back into the ground. If constructed, used, and maintained properly, a septic system is a low threat to the quality of water found in the ground. However, if not done properly, septic systems can be a great threat. The soil in your yard acts as a great filter that pulls contaminants out of the water so that it is clean by the time it hits the groundwater. If the soil doesn’t have a sufficient opportunity to clean the wastewater, contaminants will reach the water, and get into your drinking water supply. Regular maintenance of your septic system will help ensure the groundwater remains good enough to drink. It is recommended that septic tanks be inspected every 3-5 years, and pumped as needed. Spending a few hundred dollars regularly may save thousands of unanticipated costs down the road. Companies currently permitted to inspect and pump septic systems in the TriCounty area can be found here: Liquid Waste Operators

Dating abuse can happen to anyone. Did you know 1 in 3 teens experiences dating abuse? Dating abuse can be physical or emotional, and anyone can be a victim of dating abuse.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.  Our goal is to empower young people to build healthy relationships from the ground up, and we are starting with education and awareness.

Dating abuse is a pattern of behaviors one person uses to gain and maintain power and control over their partner. Many people assume abuse means that physical violence is happening, but that’s not always the case! Abuse comes in many forms—it’s not just physical. Young people who abuse their partners, do so because they feel they need to exercise power and control over the other person—and that’s never OK.

We know that in a single year, nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner—and that’s one too many. We also know that 3 out of 4 parents do not talk to their children about teen dating violence. Nearly half (43%) of dating college women report experiencing violent and abusive dating behaviors. High School and College students are not equipped to deal with dating abuse – 57% say it is difficult to identify and 58% say they don’t know how to help someone who’s experiencing it. One in three (36%) dating college students has given a dating partner their computer, online access, email or social network passwords and these students are more likely to experience digital dating abuse. Learning more about what dating abuse looks like is taking part in the movement to end it.

Everyone deserves to have a safe and healthy relationship. Every relationship has disagreements sometimes – it’s how you choose to deal with them that matters. Arguments with your girlfriend or boyfriend should never turn scary. If you’re looking to get out of an unhealthy relationship, there are anonymous peer advocates that can help. Just text “love” to 22522 to learn about your options.

One in three teens in our country experiences dating abuse—and I think that’s one too many! I’d love for you to join me in raising awareness about dating abuse and promoting healthy relationship during February, Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. I believe that everyone deserves a healthy, safe and respectful relationship. Do your part and check out more information about dating abuse at www.loveisrespect.org

A new program, Children with Special Healthcare Needs (CSHCN), at TriCounty Health Department has held four clinics.

The clinics invite specialists that are eager to work with young children with special healthcare needs.

The clinics fill up fast, the need in the tri-county area is great for specialist fields like developmental pediatrics, audiology, speech pathology, physical therapy, pediatric psychology and occupational therapy which the CSHCN brings to our community 6 times a year.

There are hundreds of children that are served through this program. The specialists come to Vernal once every two months and work with children one-on-one for the specific needs of each child that has an appointment.

Appointments fill fast due to the great need in the Uintah Basin. In between clinics, Wes Smith, works closely with parents to provide local resources, and out of the area resources to help the children in need as well as acting like a liaison between parents, schools, primary physicians and early intervention services.

More information on this program will be provided at Women’s Day Out event held on Feb. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Uintah Conference Center. Along with Children with Special Healthcare Needs, WIC will be providing a location for new moms to breastfeed in private, change diapers and learn about the benefits of WIC.

1. Drop the yearly resolution in favor or a weekly goal.

   1. 1. Reflecting on small successes can be empowering.  “Setting mini-goals creates a feeling of accomplishment, and when someone feels positive, they tend to make more positive choices. It’s the snowball effect,” Marjorie Cohn, a registered dietitian, and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics said.

   1. 1. When we break it up into weekly goals, it helps to see progress, feel confident, reach benchmarks and feel motivated to continue.

   1. Mondays have been helpful in addressing healthy behavior changes such as

      1. 1. Weight loss

      1. 1. Healthy eating

      1. 1. Physical activity

      1. 1. Quitting Tobacco

      1. Dealing with stress

2. Move more, but do when you can and how you like.

   1. 1. The old message was you needed at least 10-minute bouts of aerobic activity for it to count toward the goal of 150 minutes a week. But, no longer. The new guidelines conclude that all movement that helps you stay physically active is important.

         1. Make sure that at least 2 days are focused on muscle-strengthening activities

   1. 1. Nobody needs a gym to be healthy we just need to find small ways to increase physical activity.

   1. Physical activity can make daily life better. As you get more active — you can start feeling better right away!

      1. 1. Boost your mood

      1. 1. Sharpen your focus

      1. 1. Reduce your stress

      1. Improve your sleep

3. Feedback Feeds Motivation

   1. 1. We all love feedback so track your progress.

   1. Feedback feeds motivation.