The National Ground Water Association announced this year’s National Groundwater Awareness Week (#GWAW2018) will take place March 11-17. An annual observance established to highlight the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater, the event is also a platform to encourage yearly water well testing and maintenance to prevent waterborne illnesses.

Established in 1999, National Groundwater Awareness Week provides an opportunity for people to learn about the importance of the resource and how it impacts lives.

The 2018 theme of “Tend. Test. Treat.” was established to encourage a more holistic approach to sustain an adequate supply of quality groundwater. Testing water might prompt well inspection and maintenance, and water treatment can mitigate naturally occurring contamination revealed by the test.

“Approximately 132 million Americans rely on groundwater for drinking water, so, simply put, it makes life possible,” said Aaron Martin, public relations and awareness manager of NGWA. “Additionally, groundwater is used for irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, thermoelectric power, and several additional purposes, making it one of the most widely used and valuable natural resources we have.”

Groundwater was an important topic in 2017 and the NGWA expects much of this narrative to continue throughout 2018, emphasizing the need for increased awareness regarding this critical natural resource.

Consider the following:

• Americans use 79.6 billion gallons of groundwater each day.
• Groundwater is 20 to 30 times larger than all U.S. lakes, streams and rivers combined.
• 44 percent of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply.
• More than 13.2 million households have their own well, representing 34 million people.

NGWA encourages every person to be a “groundwater advocate” both during National Groundwater Awareness Week and beyond by protecting and conserving groundwater. For downloadable information on the event, visit GroundwaterAwarenessWeek.com or WellOwner.org.

NGWA is a nonprofit that supports responsible development, management and use of water resources. It is comprised of groundwater professionals ranging from contractors to equipment manufacturers to scientists and engineers. For more information, visit www.ngwa.org.