Groundwater Resiliency
What?
Just like you balance your household budget with income, savings and expenditures, our water budget is a balance of precipitation, storage, evaporation, and discharge. In Anne Arundel County, we currently have a water budget imbalance because our community withdraws water at a rate that exceeds natural recharge. Addressing this water budget imbalance is a priority for groundwater resiliency and protection of our future drinking water supplies that are naturally stored in underground aquifers. We are currently evaluating innovative approaches to:
Replenish groundwater supplies
Resist the intrusion of saltwater into local aquifers as sea levels rise
Stem potential land subsidence as the water-bearing clay confining units in our aquifers are dewatered through increased withdrawals
Why?
As our climate continues to change and regional weather patterns become less predictable and more extreme, we expect new strains to affect the sources of water on which we rely. When water seeps into the ground, it creates a reserve that's less vulnerable to warmer temperatures and drought than surface water in rivers and streams. The County relies on groundwater as its sole source of drinking water supply for both the large regional network and private wells.
How?
Anne Arundel County has a multi-pronged strategy to protect our long-term groundwater supply and resiliency.
Our Wastewater Treatment Enhancements have greatly reduced the amounts of nutrients in our discharged water. We've been over 50% below the required limit since 2018, helping protect the Chesapeake Bay and groundwater beneath us.
The County has also implemented an advanced water treatment pilot program that will help treat our wastewater effluent to the national drinking water and potable reuse water quality standards, providing us with the ability to perform managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and inject clean water back into our aquifers, which would essentially result in zero surface water discharge of nutrients.
Learn About Our Pilot ProgramWhat can you do?
There are plenty of ways individuals help protect groundwater through small changes that have a big impact.
Reduce Your Usage
Monitoring and conserving personal water usage helps maintain the natural groundwater supply for everyone!
Dispose of Household Chemicals Properly
Not into the ground or down the drain!
Reduce Chemicals in Your Yard and Garden
Fertilizers and pesticides contaminate!
Make Sure Your Septic System is Maintained
Inspect it at least every three years!
Get Involved!
Reach out to local conservation groups or the County to see how you can help!
Additional resources
Learn more about Our wAAter's Managed Aquifer Recharge and about water conservation:
If you would like updates on Our wAAter's groundwater resiliency strategy as it develops