MoreThe NGWA and USGS present arguments for a U.S. groundwater monitoring system in place in front of Congress.
A congressional briefing led by the U.S. Geological Survey has spotlighted the importance of monitoring the nation’s groundwater quantity and quality.
Representing USGS at the July 27, 2012 briefing was Bill Cunningham, acting chief of the USGS Office of Groundwater.
Groundwater is often referred to as an out-of-sight, out-of-mind resource, yet 78 percent of community water systems, nearly all America’s private household wells, and 42 percent of agricultural irrigation water are supplied by groundwater.
There is no systematic nationwide monitoring of the nation’s groundwater levels or quality to assist in planning for and minimizing impacts from shortages or supply disruptions. This lack of systematic groundwater monitoring affects the country’s ability to address food, energy, economic, and drinking water security issues.
“If we think of an aquifer [groundwater] as a bank account holding a precious resource, aquifer assessments combined with water level measurements allow us to understand how much water is in our account [aquifer], and how our account balance is changing over time,” Cunningham said.
“Water level measurements are the most basic element for knowing our account balance. Repeated measurements over a long time period can be used to produce a ‘hydrograph’ of these water levels over time,” he said.
U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota) echoed the need to monitor the nation’s groundwater resources.
“Every day, millions of Americans rely on groundwater sources for their drinking water, including nearly 80 percent of Minnesotans. The National Ground Water Monitoring Network is a critical resource,” she said. “Congress must continue to do everything possible to ensure our nation’s drinking water remains a safe and plentiful resource.”
In addition to Cunningham, briefing participants included:
The National Ground Water Association is a nonprofit organization composed of U.S. and international groundwater professionals - contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists and engineers.
The NGWA is hosting the 2012 Groundwater Expo in Las Vegas Dec. 4-7. Learn more about it here.
The entire flow of Alapaha River, near Jennings, Fla., going into a sinkhole that travels to the Floridan Aquifer. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
A congressional briefing led by the U.S. Geological Survey has spotlighted the importance of monitoring the nation’s groundwater quantity and quality.
Representing USGS at the July 27, 2012 briefing was Bill Cunningham, acting chief of the USGS Office of Groundwater.
Groundwater is often referred to as an out-of-sight, out-of-mind resource, yet 78 percent of community water systems, nearly all America’s private household wells, and 42 percent of agricultural irrigation water are supplied by groundwater.
There is no systematic nationwide monitoring of the nation’s groundwater levels or quality to assist in planning for and minimizing impacts from shortages or supply disruptions. This lack of systematic groundwater monitoring affects the country’s ability to address food, energy, economic, and drinking water security issues.
“If we think of an aquifer [groundwater] as a bank account holding a precious resource, aquifer assessments combined with water level measurements allow us to understand how much water is in our account [aquifer], and how our account balance is changing over time,” Cunningham said.
“Water level measurements are the most basic element for knowing our account balance. Repeated measurements over a long time period can be used to produce a ‘hydrograph’ of these water levels over time,” he said.
U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota) echoed the need to monitor the nation’s groundwater resources.
“Every day, millions of Americans rely on groundwater sources for their drinking water, including nearly 80 percent of Minnesotans. The National Ground Water Monitoring Network is a critical resource,” she said. “Congress must continue to do everything possible to ensure our nation’s drinking water remains a safe and plentiful resource.”
In addition to Cunningham, briefing participants included:
- Kevin Rein, deputy state engineer, Colorado Division of Water Resources
- Robert Schreiber, vice president, CDM Smith, representing the American Society of Civil Engineers
- Chris Reimer, government affairs director, National Ground Water Association.
The National Ground Water Association is a nonprofit organization composed of U.S. and international groundwater professionals - contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists and engineers.
The NGWA is hosting the 2012 Groundwater Expo in Las Vegas Dec. 4-7. Learn more about it here.
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