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Groundwater Management & Wellhead Protection
With only 1% of the water on Earth being useable, the majority is groundwater, making it one of our most valuable but under-appreciated natural resources. Groundwater is used for drinking water by more than 50% of the people in the U.S., including almost everyone who lives in rural areas. We recognize the importance of groundwater quality and lead a variety of efforts to address the management and protection of groundwater in our region.
Tri-County hosts the Groundwater Management Board (GMB) to discuss policy matters and land use and/or water development projects that may have a potential impact on groundwater resources and management in the region. The GMB's mission is to provide a multi-jurisdictional forum for coordination and cooperation to help assure adequate quantities and qualities of groundwater are available to meet regional needs.
The GMB was created to protect and preserve our drinking water at its source. It is a group of communities, including the campus of Michigan State University, working together to maintain high standards of local groundwater quality through research, policy recommendations, and education. The GMB has received numerous state and national recognitions for its innovative and cooperative programming. Find out more about the GMB and its technical advisory committee, members, and meetings here.
Tri-County has been recognized as a Groundwater Guardian for 25 years by the Groundwater Foundation for our efforts in groundwater protection; view the announcement here.
Tri-County also maintains a Wellhead Protection Viewer. This web mapping application provides planners with information regarding potential contaminant sources, brownfield sites, and wells in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. Contact us for additional training materials and technical support.
Learn more about protecting one of our most extracted natural resources at the links below:
