Opening the FGWA annual conference -- (From left) Donald Hall, Tim Myers and Allen Hardwicke successfully cut the ribbon to start the show.


More than 80 exhibitors displayed their wears for attendees to view, discuss and purchase at the Florida Ground Water Association's (FGWA) annual conference, held recently in Orlando, Fla. Business was mixed with pleasure at the event, and diversions such as a golf tournament, an Odyssey party and a cookout luncheon were scheduled in addition to education programs like OSHA's Hazardous Operator Refresher Course and NGWA certification exams. Various technical programs were presented on subjects including well design, log interpretation, comparison of methods and procedures, groundwater investigation, and well rehabilitation processes.

One topic that was of particular interest to attendees was the new pump and tank code changes that the Florida Legislature recently incorporated into Florida's Building Code. A program on this subject, presented by Carl Wood and Griffin Crosby, Jr., concerned changes to the code and the impact they will have on FGWA members. The new code is scheduled to be implemented on July 1, 2001. However, due to time constraints on educating inspectors about the new code, an effort is underway to delay its implementation until Oct. 1, 2001. Another business matter attended to at the conference was the election of new officers for 2001. Selected to hold the leadership positions are Wayne Smith, president; Griffin Crosby, Jr., vice-president; and Dottie Mixon Roberts, secretary/treasurer.