March 8-14 is the week we take pause to recognize and appreciate the essential resource right beneath our feet: our groundwater. Here in the Coachella Valley, we are fortunate to have some of the cleanest natural drinking water in the Western United States.

Our groundwater requires minimal treatment between its aquifer source and the tap in our homes. Unlike our neighbors San Diego County and Orange County who rely on imported water, our local groundwater is constantly recharged and managed responsibly, with notable positive trends in recent years.

What is special about groundwater?

Groundwater is special due to its intrinsic advantages over surface water including sustainability and natural filtering process. Surface water includes sources such as reservoirs, rivers, and canals. This water is subject to much greater seasonal variability and drought cycles, while groundwater stored in the valley’s deep basin 500-1300 feet below ground offers a buffer during dry periods and continuously recharges through runoff, snowmelt and rainfall.

Additionally, surface water often requires a more intensive treatment process prior to distribution including sedimentation, flocculation, physical filtration through media like charcoal and sand and finally chemical treatment. Our aquifer does most of the earlier steps for us naturally and the pumped water requires only simple chemical treatment prior to distribution.

Local agencies and regulatory bodies responsible for monitoring aquifer health and water quality have reported significant improvement in stable groundwater levels since 2010. Under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) our local water providers have kept in compliance with water cleanliness through consistent sampling, testing and monitoring across the board. As climate, economic and regulatory variables continue to impact the use of surface water, it is essential to protect and wisely manage the Coachella Valley’s aquifer for both today’s needs and ensure resilience for future generations. During this National Ground Water Awareness Week, please keep these few tips in mind to protect our resource:

  1. Use native plants in your landscape.
  2. Manage waste, dispose of toxic chemicals properly
  3. Don’t let faucets run
  4. Fix leaks at faucets, toilets and taps
  5. Wash smarter (full loads in dishwasher and washing machines)
  6. Water wisely using off-peak times
  7. Reduce, reuse, and recycle wherever possible 

National Groundwater Awareness Week https://www.ngwa.org/get-involved/gwaw