Oklahoma Water Resources Center

As summer approaches, did you know well owners are responsible for all testing and maintaining of their household drinking water? Annual upkeep is essential to ensure clean and safe water for your family.

Keep your well protected this spring and summer by:
- checking and changing water treatment filters
- scheduling an annual water test
- scheduling well maintenance or inspections
- paying attention to debris around well head, being careful while landscaping & taking other steps to protect your well against contamination

To learn more about well maintenance visit: https://bit.ly/4lMhfTz

Happy National Rivers Month!

Did you know that Oklahoma has approximately 78k miles of rivers, with the U.S. having approximately 3.5M miles?

River systems transport flood waters, filter & attenuate pollutants, support clean water, recreation, agriculture & ecosystems – making them incredibly important! Keep Oklahoma’s river systems healthy by reducing litter & properly disposing of trash, chemicals, etc., practicing water conservation practices & participating in local river cleanup events.

Learn more about rivers here: https://bit.ly/3YBU6cA

Why is it important to eliminate lead in drinking water? There is no safe level of lead exposure.

Lead exposure can cause issues in everyone – from young children (the most susceptible) to adults and pregnant women.

Lead exposure often goes unrecognized due to a lack of immediate symptoms, so it is important to test your water.

Learn more about lead and water testing here: https://bit.ly/4dz2mjN

Cost of overgrazing - disrupting water infiltration & soil function

Grazing pressure directly influences water movement in soil, as higher plant cover & litter allows for higher rainfall infiltration & lowered runoff. As grazing pressure increases, plant cover & litter decreases, soil structure decreases & sediment/nutrient transport during runoff increases.

Well-managed, properly-stocked grazing systems can maintain vegetation that supports infiltration, stabilizes soil moisture & supports watersheds.

Effects of management decisions such as virtual fencing, rotational grazing, prescribed fire, patch-burn grazing & more are less effective when overgrazing is still present.

Read full publication here: https://bit.ly/4eFdgqT

Did you know that a 500 square foot pool can lose between 12,000 and 31,000 gallons of water annually through evaporation?

DIY Bucket Test:
– Fill your pool to standard level, turn off auto-fill devices. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with pool water, 1 inch from the top.
– Place the bucket in the pool so its water level is slightly above the pool’s and mark the water level inside and outside the bucket.
– After 24 hours, compare both levels. If the pool water dropped more than the bucket’s, you may have a leak.
– Check exactly at 24 hours for accuracy. If it rains, restart when there is a clear forecast.

Check out Oklahoma City’s Squeeze Every Drop program for more tips, how-to videos and other water conservation tips: https://bit.ly/43kojOR

Even as we approach the end of May, we are still in severe weather season. Make sure your family is prepared with emergency water supplies today! Clean drinking water is one of the most important resources to have during a disaster.

Here are a few simple tips to help before an emergency:
- Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, 3 gallons per person minimum is recommended
- Disinfect any stored or non-public water particularly home well water
- Use safe containers like food-grade plastic, fiberglass or enamel-lined metal

Remember: Boiling is the safest method to disinfect water.

To learn more about emergency water supplies visit: https://bit.ly/44eJjbu

It is important to understand the connection between healthy soil and water. Water is essential for healthy soils, which then support plant growth, nutrient availability and improved production.

Here are key steps to build and maintain healthy garden soil:
- Know your soil texture (sand, silt, clay) and water accordingly
- Test soil pH and nutrient levels regularly
- Add compost or aged manure to boost organic matter
- Use non-contaminated water to avoid further pollution
- Avoid overwatering to prevent runoff

To learn more about managing soil and water for a better garden visit: http://bit.ly/3UNGGYz

Cover crops can aid in managing soil salt levels & protecting yields by limiting evaporation & improving drainage – keeping salts from raising to the surface to runoff into local waterways & improving drainage to help salt move away from the root zone of crops.

Environmental impacts include improved soil stability & conservation, reduced nutrient leeching & limited pollution to nearby waterways. Potential management practices to limit soil salinity include strategic use of cover crops, mapping salt concentrations, precision irrigation & monitoring.

The Conjunctive Freshwater Saltwater Management project monitors salinity levels in multiple rivers in southwest Oklahoma, the majority of them affected by naturally occurring salinity. Learn more about this project here: https://bit.ly/3QzmOG0

Our RegenAg project explores regenerative practices, such as cover crops, effect on water infiltration, quality and runoff. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4ewkBWL

As summertime fires begin, remember that burning trash in your back yard carries a variety of risks including health concerns, danger of spreading wildfires, and possible pollution of water – among other issues.

Pollutants in the trash, when burned, can be carried by winds; deposited into waterbodies, soil or groundwater; and can mix with rainwater when airborne. These pollutants can then be ingested by animals directly or through feed and passed to humans through consumption.

Learn more about backyard burning here: http://bit.ly/4nzU9jd

Clay minerals and soil carbohydrates interact and create high energy molecular bonds that trap and preserve deep soil moisture. These interactions hold 5 times more water than bare soil and provide "heat-resistant" water that remains in soil as temperatures rise.

Increase soil carbohydrates (organic matter) with cover crops, livestock integration or other regenerative management practices. Added soil moisture can help protect soil structure during drought and improve water availability.

To learn more about mechanisms of water retention at carbohydrate-clay interfaces visit this publication: https://bit.ly/4ePIJGN

Our RegenAg project explores regenerative practices, such as cover crops, effect on water infiltration, quality and runoff. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4ewkBWL