The United States (U.S.) faces a serious challenge in sustaining its groundwater. Due to the significant amount of groundwater withdrawn from aquifers and the slow pace of natural recharge, which has been exacerbated by climate change and precipitation variability, aquifers are unable to replenish at the rate of which they are drawn from. The largest use of groundwater across the U.S. is for irrigation, at 70% (President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 2024). In the western U.S., groundwater resources are being depleted at alarming rates, mostly from agricultural withdrawal. This pattern can be seen in smaller rural areas throughout the country, an example of this is Ottawa County, Michigan.

Ottawa County has faced an increase in the use of groundwater that has continued to cause water shortages and increasing pollution within the groundwater supply (Otwell, 2023). The main issue is that the water is being drawn from aquifers quicker than it can be replenished by rainwater. Because of this, there has been a steep 45-foot drop in the bedrock aquifer’s water levels (Otwell, 2023). With the levels so low, there has been a change in the flow patterns of the aquifer (U.S. Geological Survey, 2018). This has resulted in an increase in salinity and higher chloride levels within the water table. Since this issue directly affects the residents and farms on the land, the purpose of this proposal is to investigate how much residents know about the issue and whether this has an impact on the likeliness that they may participate in water conservation initiatives. This participation could be financial, such as investing in switching out grass lawns for native plant landscapes. Or through conservation actions within the household like taking shorter showers and running a full dishwasher instead of handwashing.

• Groundwater accounts for 30.1% of global freshwater and is critical for ecosystems, biodiversity, human consumption, and economic sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.
  
  

• Ottawa County, Michigan, faces groundwater sustainability challenges due to increasing demand from population growth and agriculture, primarily drawing from the Marshall Sandstone Formation aquifer. The aquifer cannot recharge fast enough to meet demand, leading to declining water levels, altered flow patterns, and rising salinity/chloride concentrations.
  
  

• Research by Ottawa County and MSU’s Institute of Water Research confirmed that increased pumping is causing upward migration of saline groundwater, worsening water quality. 

• Ottawa County has launched educational resources encouraging water conservation practices, such as using native plants and reducing household water waste. Despite these available resources, questions remain about local residents’ awareness and whether knowledge leads to sustainable behaviors.

While significant research has been conducted on the quality of Ottawa County’s aquifer system, less attention has been paid to the social aspect of how residents perceive, understand, and act on this information. Despite the availability of educational resources and conservation guidelines provided by the county, there is a notable gap in assessing whether this information is reaching residents and influencing their behavior. Understanding how residents interact with these materials, whether they are aware of them, trust them, and incorporate them into daily practices, can help environmental managers and policymakers to create more engaging and successful sustainability messaging. This is particularly useful for rural populations who are major groundwater users. By exploring the relationship between resident knowledge and participation in water conservation initiatives, this research aims to fill the knowledge gap and contribute applicable insights for improving groundwater stewardship strategies both locally and in similar rural contexts elsewhere.