Groundwater Awareness Week underway

The National Ground Water Association, Westerville, Ohio, and the Groundwater Foundation have started Groundwater Awareness Week, taking place from March 6-12.

Since its establishment in 1999, the week aims to emphasize the responsible development, management and use of groundwater. It also serves as an opportunity for the encouragement of annual well water testing and well maintenance, and the promotion of policies impacting groundwater quality and supply. On a local level, groundwater advocates across the nation use Groundwater Awareness Week to highlight water issues in their communities.

It’s estimated that there are over 14 million private water wells in the United States, and over 40% of public water is provided from groundwater sources.

This year, NGWA and its partners will be focusing advocacy on promoting professional opportunities in the groundwater industry. The current number of open positions in the industry are outpacing consumer demand. NGWA has partnered with Oklahoma State University to develop new tools to attract more people into the industry.

“Groundwater protection needs to be a national issue and also one that is practiced locally and in your own backyard,” says NGWA President Brian Snelten, PG. “The more educated people become on the role groundwater plays in our environment and our day-to-day lives, the more they understand the need to speak up for its future.”

For more information and resources on getting involved with the event, visit the NGWA website.