The National Ground Water Association is offering a two-day course on the design and construction of water production and monitoring wells Feb. 18-19 in Omaha, Neb.

Each well needs to be designed and constructed to meet the unique aspects of the hydrogeologic environment and its intended purpose, which may range from obtaining thousands of gallons per minute from a heterogeneous sand aquifer to monitoring for contaminants in a fractured rock environment. This course addresses these and other issues.

In addition to learning about the design and construction of water production and monitoring wells, participants will learn to understand general aspects of well design to meet state and federal standards, and to select a drilling technology to meet site conditions and well objectives.

This introductory course, which assumes that participants have some knowledge of ground water hydrology, is best suited for hydrogeologists, geologists and engineers, as well as state regulators, mining engineers, project managers, equipment manufacturers, well inspectors and water resource planners.

Course instructors are Dale Ralston, Ph.D., president of Ralston Hydrologic Services, which specializes in ground water consulting and education, and Allan Wylie, Ph.D., a hydrogeologist for the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

To learn more about this course, visit www.ngwa.org, or call 800-551-7379.