NWC honored for groundwater protection

Northwestern College has been recognized by The Groundwater Foundation as a 2014 Groundwater Guardian Green Site for its groundwater and environmental stewardship. Northwestern earned Green Site designation for the seventh consecutive year based on responsible use of chemicals, pollution prevention and water quality.

“Green Sites, like Northwestern College, can truly have a positive impact on the environment,” says Groundwater Foundation Program Manager Jennifer Wemhoff. “The groundwater and environmentally friendly practices they implement help benefit water resources, improve wildlife habitat, reduce stormwater runoff and responsibly manage potentially hazardous materials.”

“We are extremely pleased and excited to be honored with the Green Site award again,” says Peter Boerema, director of campus safety and environmental health at Northwestern. “The exemplary work of Ward Van Peursem and the entire groundskeeping staff in respectfully managing groundwater quality and resources while keeping our green spaces beautiful is deserving of this recognition.” 

According to www.groundwater.org, only seven other colleges are Groundwater Guardian Green Sites.

The Green Site program began in 2007 to recognize good stewards of groundwater by encouraging green space managers to implement, measure and document their groundwater-friendly practices. 

To earn Groundwater Guardian Green Site designation, site managers complete an application that uniformly evaluates and documents their site’s practices, such as tracking irrigation water use, maintaining a no-application zone around surface water and active wells, selecting plants adapted to the region’s climate, and applying fertilizer based on nutrient needs.

“This award recognizes the commitment of Northwestern College to groundwater management and environmental stewardship in our recent building remodels and new construction projects,” says Boerema. “We look forward to continuing to find new ways to advance Northwestern College’s efforts to conserve and protect groundwater and the environment as a whole.”