Ground Water Security

How often do you notice your fellow grocery store goers in the checkout lane purchasing bottled water? We, the community at large, may not notice it, but plastic consumes our lives, whether it's holding the water that is quenching our thirst, or the bag that carries our groceries. Plastic never goes away.

Luckily, Plymouth State University students are able to access the indigenous spring located right down the road. Instead of purchasing cases of water bottles at the grocery store, students and residents should be encouraged to refill at the natural spring on Reservoir Road.

Natural spring water helps reduce the use and reproduction of plastic by providing communities clean water for free. There are ways around bottled water. Ground water is a plentiful source that is readily available to us. Our spring provides us with constant natural resources, stipulating not only the cleanest drinking water but also ensuring the community that this water is clean.

Plymouth Village Water & Sewer District ensures us that the ground water comes from two gravel wells located off Foster Streetand provides clean ground water, and avoids open surface water, such as the Pemigewasset River and Baker River. "The water is found in underground aquifer, which is then pumped up through wells into holding tanks where it is treated and distilled and are located off Reservoir Road. One tank holds 500,000 gallons and the other hold 2.5 million gallons of water."

Using spring water is a proactive gesture that is available to everyone. Not only do residents who have lived in NH use the springs in Plymouth, but also newcomers of the area, such as incoming PSU students. It's important to take advantage of the bountiful resources and to also spread the word to other newcomers.

Students, who are involved with a clean ecosystem, raise awareness about important aspects of healthy living.  An earth-friendly student, Lindsey Bandoian, 20, Junior, Health Promotions major here at Plymouth State University and employer at The EcoHouse, shareswith us her insights of a better future. Bandoian said, "I started working for the EcoHouse on campus Fall of 2013. My goal is to get our community involved in an environmentally sustainable mind set. Living in such a fast paced world, its hard to stop for a minute and think about sustainability, I get it, but, that's not the kind of life I want to be a part of."

"My fellow EcoHouse friends and I are usually on campus with wooden nickels in our pockets that hold the value of a free coffee at any cafe on campus. When we spot students, staff, and faculty acting green, such as filling up a reusable water bottle, recycling, or picking up trash, we grant them a coin because they are thinking about our future. I hope this encourages others in our community to acknowledge our ecosystem," said Bandoian.

Campus community groups encourage students to become proactive about our ecosystem and its future. Become aware of your surroundings, be eco-friendly, use the local spring and help keep our environment clean!