Voices from the industry Busy 2018 for NGWA
Association works to raise awareness & advocate for responsible use of water By Terry Morse
I
t was a busy year for the National Ground Water Association and the groundwater industry in 2017, and so
far, 2018 shows no signs of slowing down. Emerging contaminants, the arid West and Southwest, global water shortages, aging infrastructure and the impact of climate change on groundwater are all hot-button issues prevalent in the news and widely discussed by our members.
Since our inception, NGWA’s mission has been to advocate the responsible development, management and use of water. While this covers a broad range, our global membership is dedicated to protecting this resource.
In 2017, one of the bigger stories regarding groundwater was the continued, and potentially increased, presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These man-made, emerging contaminants dominated headlines from the Wolverine/ 3M Superfund site in Rockford, Michigan, to individual states such as New Jersey taking a hard look at what constitutes safe levels of the contaminant in water.
NGWA developed and released Ground- water and PFAS: State of Knowledge and Practice in late 2017. A 12-month effort by 36 volunteers spending 1,100 hours, this comprehensive eight-part guidance document explores these potentially hazardous compounds in groundwater and soil. The document summarizes the fate, transport, remediation and treatment of PFAS, as well as current technologies, methods and field procedures.
A few months into 2018, PFAS remains a fixture in the news, and the conversation around these compounds will continue into the foreseeable future.
Water scarcity around the world, and at home in the western United States, remains a challenging and eye-opening issue. The Ogallala (or High Plains) Aquifer, which underlies parts of eight states, serves a large part of the world’s food production with more than 90 percent of the groundwater pumped from it used for irrigation. Farmers in these states have a right to this water that is critical to their livelihood, but as the demand for water continues, so do drought conditions in the arid West, a combination that is taxing this groundwater resource.
In late February, NGWA held a conference focused on groundwater availability, use, policy and management in the southwestern states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah, as well as surrounding environs. During the event, attendees discussed the latest research and initiatives regarding sustaining local water resources and stressed the need to work together to collectively protect groundwater.
NGWA appeared on RFD-TV earlier this year to discuss the delicate balance between irrigation and water levels in the West and will continue to raise awareness through traditional and social media outreach throughout the year.
Speaking of outreach and raising groundwater awareness, we were honored to partner with the Irrigation Association and the Water Quality Association for
the NGWA Fly-in and Water Resources Congressional Summit in Washington, D.C., March 6 and 7. The event helped ensure members of Congress are aware of the important role groundwater plays in providing drinking water, supporting agriculture and fueling various sectors of our economy. While the event may be over this year, our government affairs team will continue advocating for our collective rights on the Hill, and I certainly encourage each of you to do the same.
As a parting thought, I want to thank those of you who participated during this year’s National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11-17, a grassroots effort that continues to grow and make a difference. Folks from across the country shared their stories on social media and through our event website, www.
groundwaterawarenessweek.com. The site will remain active throughout the year, so feel free to continue using the resources and sharing your groundwater stories. And, don’t forget — Protect Your Groundwater Day is right around the corner on Sept. 4, which is another opportunity to spread the word about the resource.
2018 is already a busy year for groundwater; collectively we can make a difference. After all, we truly are better together.
Terry Morse is the chief executive officer of NGWA. He is an association management veteran and is committed to enriching the membership experience and furthering the association’s mission.
To read an overview of the NGWA’s Groundwater and PFAS: State of Knowledge and Practice document, go to
www.ngwa.org/pubs/Documents/bookstore/pfas-doc -section1-overview.pdf. The comprehensive document is available at no cost to NGWA members, and nonmembers may purchase it through the NGWA online bookstore.
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