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• Protecting Water | FAQ
  • Teach for the Watershed
  • Raingardens of West Michigan, Low Impact Development & Stormwater
  • West Michigan Stream Projects
  • Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program
• Restorative Institutions | FAQ
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  • Greater Grand Rapids Children’s Environmental Health Initiative
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• Sustainable Communities | FAQ
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Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program

Educating and advocating for protection of groundwater, one of Michigan's most critical natural resources.

Groundwater is everyone’s resource, and everyone’s responsibility! Groundwater is a critical resource for Michigan residents, farmers, and industries. Half of Michigan’s residents rely on groundwater for their drinking water. Groundwater also recharges our surface waters, which are used for drinking, as well as habitat for fish and other creatures in rivers, streams, and lakes. Preventing groundwater contamination is necessary to sustain our health and quality of life here in Michigan. Your activities can make a difference!

Since 1999, WMEAC has partnered with the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program (MGSP) by hosting an AmeriCorps member in our office. MGSP is a partnership between the Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and AmeriCorps National Service. The Groundwater AmeriCorps staff person delivers the groundwater protection program to residents of the specific counties in which they work. Services include free, one-on-one, in-home consultations or group risk-assessment through the use of MGSP’s HomeASyst program. To schedule a presentation, Contact Rachel Hackett at 616-451-3051 ext. 23.

HomeASyst is an in-depth risk assessment that can be used to evaluate your home and property for pollution and health risks. Each chapter of the HomeASyst workbook contains key points along with worksheets of assessment questions to help you understand which risks apply to your situation. Topics covered include drinking water wells, yard and garden care, stormwater management, septic systems, household trash management, household hazardous products, and liquid fuels. Free one-on-one assessments are available, as well as free workshops and presentations for your organization or school class.

• One-on-One Assessments consist of the MGSP representative visiting a resident’s home to conduct the HomeASyst. The time involved is between one to three hours, depending on your needs. Residents receive a workbook, as well as supplemental fact sheets and brochures. MGSP representatives can assist or advise the resident in the testing of a private well, and soil testing their lawn or garden.

• Group Presentations vary. Presentations can be as brief as twenty minutes, or as intense as a three-hour seminar. The MGSP representative can use demonstration tools such as a Groundwater Flow Model or Soil Porosity Tubes. HomeASyst workbooks and fact sheets are available for participants, as well as various other “give-aways.” Presentations can cover all topics, or they can cover one or two topics selected by the group.

• Kids’ Presentations can be done in a classroom setting, children’s festival, or summer camp. MGSP representatives have numerous educational games and activities for students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Many MGSP representatives use curriculum from the Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) program.

Action Items

Great Lakes Great Michigan is a campaign to bring Michigan’s laws in line with the Great Lakes Compact, a regional agreement among the 8 Great Lakes States to preserve, protect and restore our Great Lakes. Take Action! Participate in the campaign at their website.

Clean Kent County - Every day an estimated 1 million gallons of untreated waste from toilets and household drains is discharged from Kent County’s failing septic systems. Clean Kent County is a campaign to improve Kent County’s efforts to address this growing issue. To learn more or get involved contact Shawn Wessel at swessell@wmeac.org.

Hispanic Environmental Health Webpage The EPA has launched a new site in Spanish, for Hispanic U.S. residents. It provides information on environmental issues and their effects.