(ANNAPOLIS, MD) March 13, 2013 - The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will celebrate Maryland Groundwater Awareness Week, with an event at Sandy Point State Park in Anne Arundel County that will focus on septic system and private water well maintenance and the affects of non-maintenance to groundwater.

Who

• Robert M. Summers, Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment

• Frank Dawson, Assistant Secretary, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

• Jason Gillespie, Chief, Environmental Monitoring Division, Maryland Environmental Service

• Canaan Valley Institute (Invited)

• Anne Arundel County Health Department (Invited)

When

Thursday, March 14, 2013, 10:30 a.m.

Where

Sandy Point State Park, 1100 East College Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21409
From Annapolis:  Take Rt. 50 East toward the Bay Bridge.  Take exit 32 Oceanic Drive.  At the top of the ramp make a left onto Oceanic Drive.  Stay on Oceanic Drive for .3 miles.  Bear right onto S. Beach Rd.  Follow S. Beach Road past the guard gate (park fee will be waived) down toward the water.  Park to the right of the roundabout.  The event will take place in the grass to the right of the parking lot.

Why

A clean and abundant supply of groundwater is crucial to virtually every aspect of our lives. Too often groundwater is taken for granted because it cannot be seen, however, about 30 percent of Maryland’s population relies on groundwater for their daily use including drinking water, household purposes, irrigation, business and industry.

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