(WESTERVILLE, OH — August 1, 2023) Today, The Groundwater Foundation is launching its new nationwide grant program, Water Well Wish. Water Well Wish will provide grants to low-income individuals to repair or replace private water wells at no cost to the recipient.

The program will work directly with families across the United States and provide 100 percent of the funding to repair an existing system or drill a new water well. This will provide families with access to clean water for drinking, cooking, personal hygiene, washing dishes and clothes, and more.

Water Well Wish was created to help families in need who rely on private water wells but cannot afford the upfront cost of drilling a new water well or having their current system repaired. It is estimated that more than two million Americans face water insecurity and lack a reliable source of safe, clean water.

Private water wells provide water for an estimated 40 million Americans, largely in rural and underserved areas of the country, and can cost, on average, between $10,000 to $30,000 to drill and install.

Because private water wells are not funded by public dollars, their owners are often left with little or no support from local, state, and federal governments. Many water well owners are also unaware of how to properly manage and maintain their systems.

“It’s hard to imagine people in the United States struggling to access water, but it happens every day and in every part of the country,” said National Ground Water Association and Groundwater Foundation CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC. “Water Well Wish is our attempt to help bridge this divide and provide people with something we all deserve — access to safe, clean water.”

The Groundwater Foundation is operated by NGWA, a professional society and trade association of groundwater professionals, many of whom drill and install water well systems.

Water Well Wish will be completely funded by corporate and private donations, and through its former entity, the Foundation for Affordable Drinking Water, has already assisted 110 families across the United States in drilling new water wells.

For a family to be eligible, they must own and reside in their home, their income must be below their local poverty level, and they have to have been denied a-low interest loan through a federal, state, or local government rural water program.

“We want to provide people with this very basic need of life,” Morse said. “Life expectancy is reduced by 20 years without access to clean water. If you spend your day worrying about where you’re going to get water, how are you expected to succeed or focus on anything else?”

To learn more about the Water Well Wish program please visit WaterWellWish.org for a feature video and additional information.

___________________________

The National Ground Water Association is a not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the global groundwater industry. Our members around the world include leading public and private sector groundwater scientists, engineers, water well system professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers of groundwater-related products and services. The Association’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association advocating for responsible development, management, and use of water.

The post The Groundwater Foundation Launches Water Well Wish appeared first on The Groundwater Foundation.

(WESTERVILLE, OH — June 13, 2023) Dr. Matthew “Matt” W. Becker has been selected as the 2024 Darcy Distinguished Lecturer by the National Ground Water Association and Groundwater Foundation. Becker is currently the Conrey Chair in hydrogeology and professor of Earth sciences at California State University, Long Beach, and has previously worked with NASA, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the University at Buffalo.

Becker earned his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from the University of Texas and a B.S. degree in geology from Michigan State University.

Established in 1986, the Henry Darcy Distinguished Lecture Series in Groundwater Science fosters interest and excellence in groundwater science and technology throughout the groundwater industry.

In his role as Darcy Distinguished Lecturer, Becker will be traveling throughout 2024 presenting his lecture at universities and groundwater industry events across the country and abroad.

Becker, who specializes in the research of fluid flow in complex subsurface environments, will be presenting two lectures throughout the year — “Fiber Optic Distributed Sensing as a Window on Subsurface Flow” and “How Groundwater Impacts the People and Ecosystems of the South Pacific Islands.”

“I’ve wondered my whole career what it would be like to be the Darcy Lecturer so I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity,” said Becker. “The Darcy lecture is about connecting people and ideas. My goal for this coming year is to help develop new networks for groundwater scientists around the globe.”

The Darcy Distinguished Lecture is named for Henry Darcy of France for his 1856 investigations that established the physical principle upon which modern groundwater hydrogeology is based. Additional financing for the award is provided by the environmental consulting firms S.S. Papadopulos & Associates Inc. and Woodard & Curran.

For more information about the Darcy Lecture series, please visit https://www.ngwa.org/events-and-education/groundwater-lecture-series.

___________________________

The National Ground Water Association is a not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the global groundwater industry. Our members around the world include leading public and private sector groundwater scientists, engineers, water well system professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers of groundwater-related products and services. The Association’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association advocating for responsible development, management, and use of water.

The post Becker Named 2024 Darcy Distinguished Lecturer by National Ground Water Association and Groundwater Foundation appeared first on The Groundwater Foundation.

Long-time NGWA member David Henrich CWD/PI, CVCLD is the recipient of NGWA’s most prestigious award, the Ross L. Oliver Award for outstanding contributions to the groundwater industry. Henrich is President of Bergerson-Caswell Inc in Maple Plain, Minnesota.

Additional 2022 NGWA award recipients follow.

Awards of Excellence:

• Dr. Peter Dillon of Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec in Adelaide, South Australia – M. King Hubbert Award
• Scott King, PG, P.Geo., LHG of Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions in Buffalo, New York – Robert Storm Intersectional Cooperation Award
• Dora Taggart, of Microbial Insights in Knoxville, Tennessee – Technology Award
• A. Scott Andres of the Delaware Geological Survey (semi-retired) in Newark, Delaware – Life Member Award
• Mark Kelly, United States Senator, Arizona – Groundwater Protector Award
• David Lipson Ph.D., PG of HRS Water Consultants, Inc. in Lakewood, Colorado – Standard Bearer Award

Sectional Awards:

• Stewart Krause of Wyo-Ben, Inc. in Billings, Montana- Manufacturers Special Recognition Award
• Oscar and Christine LaBorde (posthumously) of Wholesale Pump & Supply in Shreveport, Louisiana – Supplier of the Year

Outstanding Groundwater Project Awards:

• 4B Engineering and Consulting, LLC / City of Keizer Risk and Resilience Assessment – Groundwater Protection Project Award
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality / Expedited Site Characterization and Remediation of PFAS in Groundwater Protects City of Tucson Drinking Water Wellfield – Groundwater Remediation Project Award
• Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois / The Private Well Class – Groundwater Awareness Project Award
• Daniel B Stephens & Associates, Inc / Hopi CARES Water Supply Project – Groundwater Supply Project Award
• LRE Water / Terry Ranch Project – Groundwater Supply Project Award

Read more about NGWA awards, which honor the best of the best in the groundwater industry, at NGWA.org/Awards.

For more information or additional comments, please contact Ben Frech at bfrech@ngwa.org or call (614) 898-7791, ext. 1570.

About The National Ground Water Association

The National Ground Water Association is a not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the global groundwater industry. Our members around the world include leading public and private sector groundwater scientists, engineers, water well system professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers of groundwater-related products and services. The Association’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association advocating for responsible development, management, and use of water.

The post National Ground Water Association Announces 2022 Industry Award Winners appeared first on The Groundwater Foundation.

(WESTERVILLE, OH — June 30, 2022) Dr. Alicia Wilson, professor of hydrogeology in the School of The Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of South Carolina, has been selected as the 2023 Darcy Distinguished Lecturer by the National Ground Water Association and Groundwater Foundation.

Established in 1986, the Henry Darcy Distinguished Lecture Series in Groundwater Science fosters interest and excellence in groundwater science and technology throughout the groundwater industry.

In her role as Darcy Distinguished Lecturer, Wilson will be traveling throughout 2023 presenting her lecture at universities and groundwater industry events across the country.

Wilson, who specializes in coastal hydrogeology, with a particular focus on coastal ecohydrology and submarine groundwater exchange, will be presenting two lectures throughout the year: “Subseafloor Hydrogeology: Moving beyond watersheds” and “Please check your assumptions at the coastline: 15 years of wading through salt marshes.”

“It is a real honor to have this opportunity to share my research and enthusiasm for hydrogeology, and I am very excited to get out and meet so many students and faculty this coming year,” said Wilson. “I am certain that I will learn more than I impart, and I am very much looking forward to getting started.”

Wilson holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Science from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College. She held a National Research Council Postdoctoral Research fellowship at the USGS in Reston, Virginia, and held a postdoc at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The Darcy Distinguished Lecture is named for Henry Darcy of France for his 1856 investigations that established the physical basis upon which groundwater hydrogeology has been studied ever since.

For more information about the Darcy Lecture series, please visit: http://groundwater.org/lecture-series/darcy/

About The National Ground Water Association

The National Ground Water Association is a not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the global groundwater industry. Our members around the world include leading public and private sector groundwater scientists, engineers, water well system professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers of groundwater-related products and services. The Association’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association advocating for responsible development, management, and use of water.​

The post Wilson Named 2023 Darcy Distinguished Lecturer By National Ground Water Association and Groundwater Foundation appeared first on The Groundwater Foundation.

Rothauge’s 2023 McEllhiney Lecture is titled “Are We Creating Long-Term Groundwater Assets or Just Installing Wells?” and will examine ways groundwater professionals can better communicate with their customers that water wells are long-term groundwater assets and therefore should be treated as such.

This includes discussions with the customer on initial planning; looking at material and construction costs; emphasizing proper development, operation, and maintenance; and how all these affect well rehabilitation. Rothauge believes that by engaging customers early in these discussions, groundwater professionals can reframe how customers view their water wells.

“I’m not only honored, but extremely honored, to have been selected by my peers at the National Ground Water Association to deliver the 2023 McEllhiney Lecture Series,” Rothauge said. “I’m hopeful through my message I can inspire young professionals entering this industry, along with seasoned members, to take a closer look at the assets of a well and the importance of proper construction, development, and operation to meet future demand.”

Rothauge has more than 35 years of experience in oil and gas, mining, water well drilling, and well rehabilitation. He has co-authored papers on drilling fluid products and is a co-author for Johnson Screens’ third edition of Groundwater & Wells. He serves on the board of directors for both the Colorado Water Well Contractors Association and the Utah Ground Water Association. Rothauge holds water well driller licenses in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Rothauge is also a longtime NGWA volunteer and is currently serving on its Board of Directors.

Click here to learn more and to submit a lecture request online.

The post The Groundwater Foundation Announces Fred Rothauge, CWD, as 2023 McEllhiney Distinguished Lecturer appeared first on The Groundwater Foundation.

The Farvolden Scholarships were created the in memory of Dr. Robert Farvolden, former professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Waterloo and former Director of Science and Technology at the National Ground Water Association.

The $1000 scholarships are awarded annually to four full-time undergraduate and graduate students who submit a presentation at the National Ground Water Association’s Science & Engineering Forum at Groundwater Week. The students’ presentations will be evaluated by two or more judges and the four students with the highest scores receive Farvolden Scholarships.

Students who submit abstracts must be enrolled in programs which are groundwater industry-related, such as hydrogeology, water resource management, environmental engineering, or water well construction.

SSP&A is one the world’s leading groundwater and hydrogeology consulting firms with offices in both the United States and Canada. SSP&A is also a long-time supporter of The Groundwater Foundation and the previous sponsor of the Farvolden Scholarships.

“We are thrilled to have the support of S.S. Papadopulos in helping lift-up the next generation of groundwater professionals,” said National Ground Water Association CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC. “By supporting students, we not only secure a better future for our industry but a better future for groundwater use and management around the world.”

The National Ground Water Association has been operating The Groundwater Foundation since 2020.

For more information or additional comments, please contact Ben Frech at bfrech@ngwa.org, or call (614) 898-7791, ext. 1570.

About The Groundwater Foundation

The Groundwater Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to connect people, businesses, and communities through local groundwater education and action, making us all part of the solution for clean, sustainable groundwater. Since its inception in 1985, the Foundation has offered various education and action opportunities for youth and adults.

The post Groundwater Foundation Announces S.S. Papadopulos & Associates as Sponsors of Farvolden Scholarship appeared first on The Groundwater Foundation.

Groundwater professionals from Franklin Electric and Amstutz Well Drilling, as well as NGWA staff members, joined in the celebration.

Science Central bills itself as a “catalyst for learning,” and there were activities inside and outside the facility. Booths, hands-on activities, and the presentation “Make Water Happen” allowed visitors to learn more about the importance of groundwater and the challenges communities face in keeping it clean and bringing it to the surface.

Amstutz Well Drilling, located in Leo, Indiana, drew attention to the event — and the scale of equipment required to move groundwater — by showcasing its drilling rig at the center’s entrance.

Inside the center, Franklin Electric staff and NGWA team members Haleigh Contino and Maggie Herrmann hosted a variety of learning stations geared toward kids of all ages.

In addition, Franklin Electric donated 200 Awesome Aquifer kits as part of the educational efforts. The NGWA’s Groundwater Foundation developed the kits, which contain the materials needed to build a model of an aquifer. Science Central plans to utilize additional kits for school, camp, and scout programs.

“It’s always great when we are able to work with partners who share a dedication to expanding groundwater education and finding new ways to connect with students,” said NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC. “This was a great example of organizations coming together to lift up our industry and help secure the role of groundwater in our future. We would like to thank Franklin Electric and Science Central for all they did to make this event a success.”

Groundwater Awareness Week is a nationwide effort to bring public attention to the importance of groundwater and the critical work groundwater professionals do.

Click here to learn more about Awesome Aquifer kits from The Groundwater Foundation.

The post The Groundwater Foundation Participates in Groundwater Awareness Week Festivities at Science Central appeared first on The Groundwater Foundation.

An annual observance established in 1999 to highlight the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater, the event is also a platform to encourage yearly water well testing and well maintenance, and the promotion of policies impacting groundwater quality and supply. Groundwater advocates across the country also use GWAW to highlight local water issues in their communities.

This year, NGWA and its partners will be focusing their advocacy on promoting professional opportunities in the groundwater industry. According to the American Geosciences Institute, nationally there are more than 135,000 open positions in the industry now, which is far too high to keep up with consumer demand.

Because more than 44 percent of the population depends on groundwater as a primary water source, developing an interest in the groundwater industry is of vital importance to both the health and economy of the country. Groundwater professionals span a wide variety of careers and skills including well contractors, hydrogeologists, groundwater policy advocates, and suppliers and manufacturers of groundwater technology.

Recently, in an effort to respond to this shortfall of groundwater professionals, NGWA has partnered with Oklahoma State University to develop new tools to attract more people into the industry.

Launching last year, Drilling Basics Online is a first of its kind online platform for individuals to pursue a comprehensive education in groundwater drilling and geoscience with a focus on the competencies tested for on groundwater drilling exams.

The courses offered through Drilling Basics Online are Drilling Safety, Geology and Groundwater, Hydrogeology and Fluid Mechanics, Rig Types and Well Design, Drill Rig Safety, and General Workplace Safety. The program will continue to be developed with new online offerings while adding classroom and field courses.

“It’s almost impossible to understate how important groundwater is to our lives, health, and economy,” said NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC. “And one of the best ways to ensure its protection is to bring more and better trained people into the industry and instill in them a passion for smart groundwater management and advocacy.”

GWAW also serves as an annual reminder for water well owners to test, tend, and treat their private water systems. NGWA encourages annual inspections of private water systems by certified water well contractors to ensure systems are operating correctly and producing safe and healthy water.

WellOwner.org, which is operated by NGWA with assistance from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, offers private well owners tip sheets on water well maintenance and a “Find A Contractor” page which allows the public to find certified local water well contractors in their area.

About The National Ground Water Association

The National Ground Water Association is a not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the global groundwater industry. Our members around the world include leading public and private sector groundwater scientists, engineers, water well system professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers of groundwater-related products and services. The Association’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association advocating for responsible development, management, and use of water.

The post National Ground Water Association Announces 22nd National Groundwater Awareness Week Will Be March 6-12 appeared first on The Groundwater Foundation.