How "well" do you know Syracuse's water system?
What year was Syracuse’s original water distribution system installed?
1895
What is the chemical formula for water?
H2O
How much (in percent) of the Earth’s surface is water?
70%
What is the main source of Nebraska’s public drinking water supply?
Groundwater, underground aquifers (High Plains Aquifer)
What is the name of the Act that the U.S. Congress passed in 1974 to ensure that our public drinking water is safe?
The Safe Drinking Water Act
How many gallons of water can be stored in Syracuse’s current water tower?
500,000 gallons
Water is second to oxygen for essential life. How long can you live without water?
4-7 days
Water is the only substance found on Earth that is naturally in three forms. Name the three forms.
Solid, liquid, and gas
What river in Nebraska provides the majority of drinking water from a surface water source?
Missouri River (less than 10% of water systems get their water from surface water sources)
What federal agency is responsible for administering the requirements (establishing and enforcing standards) for safe public drinking water?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
How far does Syracuse need to pump its drinking water to get to the city?
9 miles
How much (in percent) of the human body is made of water?
60%
What percentage of the Earth’s water is suitable for drinking water?
1%
What is the number 1 contaminant in Nebraska drinking water sources?
Nitrates
EPA sets legal limits for how many contaminants in drinking water?
90
How many wells currently supply Syracuse with its water?
4
What is the main reason it’s better to drink tap water rather than bottled water?
Bottled water is more expensive than tap water.
If the water comes out of your shower at 2.5 gallons per minute, how many gallons do you use for your 15-minute shower?
37.5 gallons (that’s over 1,000 gallons in a month if you shower every day! A 5-minute shower would use 12.5 gallons. Shorter showers are a more efficient use of water than taking a bath)
Total water use in Nebraska comes from three main categories: groundwater irrigation, surface water irrigation, and domestic water uses. What percentage is used for groundwater irrigation?
81% (13% for surface water irrigation and 4% for domestic use)
What state agency is responsible for administering the requirements (primary enforcement responsibility) for safe public drinking water in Nebraska?
Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE)
In January of this year, how many gallons of water did the City pump from the wells?
5,696,000
(this compares to August of 2022 pumping 13,098,040)
What is the drinking water disinfection and treatment method that is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century?
Chlorination
How much does one gallon of water weigh?
8.34 pounds
Nebraska has an abundance of water. We have more miles of streams and rivers than any other state and more groundwater than any other state. How much of the state has the High Plains Aquifer under it?
84%
How many public water systems are regulated by NDEE in Nebraska?
1,300 (private wells are not regulated by NDEE)