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0 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 Guthrie kicks off fundraising drive Four premieres and five Bard plays to highlight Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Ashland Fire & Rescue: New column about Ashland emergency services debuts Education Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Teacher's Tips: Who gets to teach history? Northwest Pizza to raise money for Ashland Schools Foundation Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species 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 Business Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Ashland's Standing Stone brew pub joins green beer coalition Cars We Remember: 1967 Rambler Rebel, 1960 Rambler American Super, and some early engine design flaws Silvio Calabi: Nissan has a winner with its new Murano Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others 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 State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Norman Christlieb Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Guthrie kicks off fundraising drive Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizz bats heat up in Bend Kansas City Royals star pitcher Jeremy Guthrie visits Ashland to kickoff fundraising campaign Ducks enjoy the challenge High school Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Fredrickson leads Grizzlies to season-opening romp Grizz alpine skiers finish strong at state Southern Oregon University Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Oregon State women come up short in second-round loss to Gonzaga Raiders roughed up at Corban Voices Latest Stories Our View: How it should work Letters to the Editor, March 25 Rick Holmes: What addicts say about getting high and getting better Landgren cartoon: Arsenic wine Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Editorial Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Our view: Keep it simple in developing marijuana rules Letters Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Columns Council Corner: Getting to yes or no — or maybe Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' Herb Rothschild: Donating with care Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Best bets for entertainment around Ashland, March 19 Theater The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Ticket Availability Camelot Theatre in Talent: This 'Sunset' is not as dark Ticket availability Ticket availability Music Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 More wonderful wrinkles at 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' 8 must-see spring films Movie review: ‘Wrecking Crew’ is a look at the people who really put the bomp Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Dear Monty: The best real estate agent referrals Dave Ramsey: Pay kids for getting good grades? Lost in Suburbia: Above and beyond the call of nature Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Season Stepp: Waffle iron isn’t just for breakfast anymore Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: How it should work ... Four premieres and five Bard plays to highlight Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season ... Southern Oregon University names director of marketing ... Our View: How it should work ... Four premieres and five Bard plays to highlight Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2016 season ... Southern Oregon University names director of marketing ... 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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