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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories LOCAL TAKE: Do we need daylight saving time? Ashland Rowing Club to hold get-togethers this weekend at Emigrant Lake Police department helps community fight fraud Police reports Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Education Rogue Valley musicians shine in OLLI’s spring class schedule Work your body to save your braaaaains Ashland robotics team fares well at Oregon City ASHLAND: High school principal receives national award Willow Wind students raise money for water Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Legislature might be divided on clean fuels bill, but these Ashlanders weren't Ashland Rowing Club members put their backs into Emigrant Lake clean-up The birdman of Bellview Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Civic sedan Silvio Calabi: Mercedes-Benz ML250 raises the diesel 4×4 stakes Ride & Drive: 2015 Chrysler 300 Silvio Calabi: Volvo XC60 is sexy safety in an SUV Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices William F. Christofferson Death Notices Death Notices Death Notices Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society Sports Latest Stories Ashland Rowing Club to hold get-togethers this weekend at Emigrant Lake No. 21 SOU stuns No. 11 Midland in final seconds Dynamic offenses square off in SOU-Midland first-round matchup SOU women end first-round slump, crush Robert Morris by 25 Grizz snowboard team heads to state with repeat potential High school Grizz snowboard team heads to state with repeat potential Grizzlies let second-half lead slip away in season-ending loss to CV Williams named first-team all-star Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Norvell goes from newbie to state favorite Southern Oregon University No. 21 SOU stuns No. 11 Midland in final seconds Dynamic offenses square off in SOU-Midland first-round matchup SOU women end first-round slump, crush Robert Morris by 25 No. 10 SOU women brace for national tourney breakfast bracket Raiders tied for third, Gutches two wins from four-peat at NAIA nationals Voices Latest Stories Editor's Notes: Rooting for Eliza Schaaf in The Arc dance competition Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Our View: Ashland backs residents over visitors in lodging decision Letters to the Editor, March 12 Kent Bush: The Internet is governed by people who have never sent an email Editorial Our View: Ashland backs residents over visitors in lodging decision Our View: No need for blame in Hannah Thomas-Garner case Our view: Ashland tackles school attendance areas the right way Our View: Spelling out safety Our View: Letters Letters to the Editor, March 12 Letters to the Editor, March 11 Letters to the Editor, March 9 Letters to the Editor, March 7 Letters to the Editor, March 5 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Columns Editor's Notes: Rooting for Eliza Schaaf in The Arc dance competition Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Kent Bush: Things will never change unless we change them Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Movie listings: March 13-18 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' Community blog: Take a peek at poet Scott Wozniak Community blog: Memorize poems with your whole body Theater Ticket availability Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Another career highlight for Kelly Clarkson Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Shailene Woodley returns as Tris in ‘Insurgent’ Movie listings: March 13-18 'Chappie' fails to make you care Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup AGING HAPPENS: Ashland synagogue hosts screening of Chopra film Food and Drink Sammich does it Chicago-style Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Police department helps community fight fraud Religion News: Austria defends new law on mosque funding Dr. Murray Feingold: What’s your excuse for being late? Using universal design Suzette Martinez Standring: Reiki - healing energy Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW LOCAL TAKE: Do we need daylight saving time? ... Ashland Rowing Club to hold get-togethers this weekend at Emigrant Lake ... Police department helps community fight fraud ... LOCAL TAKE: Do we need daylight saving time? ... Ashland Rowing Club to hold get-togethers this weekend at Emigrant Lake ... Police department helps community fight fraud ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Comment By Amy Sager Patton DailyTidings.com By Amy Sager Patton Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Amy Sager Patton Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter... » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this topic? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter or email [email protected] . » Social News Of all the water available on Earth, only 1 percent is available for our use. And of the useable 1 percent, 99 percent comes from groundwater. Only 0.86 percent of freshwater is present in lakes, and 0.02 percent is in rivers. These facts, published by the National Groundwater Association, are surprising to those unfamiliar with the vastness of groundwater reservoirs beneath the surface of the earth, reservoirs that are sometimes left out of basin water quality protection efforts. However, with 25 to 50 percent of Oregon’s population depending on groundwater for their drinking water supply, and 3,800 new wells being drilled in Oregon each year, this resource has earned some recognition. Rural residents are familiar with how water from one well might have a sulfur odor, another might contain boron, which kills their plants, and another might contain minerals that create hardness leading to the use of water softening units. But there are other, tasteless and odorless, constituents in groundwater that should also be on our radar here in the Rogue Valley. arsenic and fluoride occur naturally in the groundwater in certain areas. A Department of Environmental Quality study conducted in 2011 detected arsenic in 44 percent of 36 wells tested in Jackson County. Elevated fluoride was detected in 3 percent of wells tested. The Environmental Protection Agency‘s cancer-related health advisory is two micrograms per liter of arsenic, a concentration associated with a 1 in 10,000 cancer probability. Fluoride, commonly viewed as a positive constituent in our diets, is a concern for children when present at concentrations above 2 milligrams per liter (mg/l) — and can cause mottling of teeth. Concentrations above 4 mg/l can cause skeletal fluorosis in adults or increase the likelihood of bone fractures. A total coliform test costs about $40 and should be conducted annually. Often the source of bacterial contamination of a well is localized and can be treated at the source. Nitrate in groundwater is more often present in large areas — related to densely located septic systems, malfunctioning systems, or agricultural practices, past or present. There are many areas of the Rogue Valley with elevated nitrate. Concentrations of 10 mg/l and above can cause “blue baby syndrome” in infants, and affect pregnant or nursing mothers and the elderly. Elevated nitrate is also an indicator that other contaminants may have entered your well. Well safety information is available on the Oregon Health Authority’s Domestic Well Safety Program (DWSP) website at http://healthoregon.org/wells . In addition, DWSP and JSWCD will  host several free nitrate testing events in the coming months. Bring a cold sample of your well water to the April 25 Rogue Valley Earth Day and/or the OSU Master Gardener Spring Fair on May 2-3 and find out about your nitrate concentrations on the spot. Visit www.jswcd.org for additional events yet to be scheduled. To reduce inputs of nitrate to groundwater, technical support for agricultural best management practices is available through Oregon State University and the Jackson Soil & Water Conservation Service. Septic systems ideally should be pumped every two or three years, depending on household size and use. Licensed pumpers can give advice about the need for maintenance. Don’t drive over your septic drainfield and do limit what goes down your drain. Chemicals and excessive chlorine can kill the bacteria that make your system work and can percolate down into the groundwater and perhaps to your well. Great resources are available at http://wellwater.oregonstate.edu . Take action this Groundwater Awareness Week: Test your well water, pump your septic tank and take steps to ensure your fertilizer and irrigation use matches your crop needs. If you don’t have a well or septic system, be grateful that groundwater provides a reservoir that, if kept clean and protected, will be there when we need it. Amy Sager Patton, R.G., is a hydrogeologist with Patton Environmental LLC. She managed the DEQ Groundwater Protection Program for eight years and has worked as an environmental consultant in seven states conducting contaminant assessments, site cleanups and public education events.     By Amy Sager Patton DailyTidings.com By Amy Sager Patton Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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