Gill, who was former president of the South Carolina Groundwater Association says his goal is to “strengthen our multi-state partnerships and create new opportunities for growth.”

That multi-state approach was on full display inside the South Carolina Convention Center as everyone from wholesalers to rig manufacturers were on hand to answer questions and make connections with water well professionals, some who traveled in from as far as New Mexico for the annual conference. Over 140 different businesses and organizations packed the family-friendly showroom floor. 

Everything from rig manufacturers to wholesalers were on hand during the trade show at the South Atlantic Jubilee in Myrtle Beach, S.C. / Image: Kerith Gabriel

From traditional methods of working water drilling and installation, there were also a handful of advanced technological models, like Lorentz Manufacturing Corp., which specialized in the creation of solar-powered water pumping solutions. Logan Mason, a representative for Lorentz’s U.S. manufacturing plant said that his offering gives water pros another “tool in your toolbelt,” to offer direct to consumers.

“Our products give [water well professionals] another tool in their bag to go out and do their work and service their customers,” Mason said. “It provides solutions for your off-grid client, and even clients you may have had to turn down in the past now, it gives you another product to offer them.”

Also there were advocacy groups for the water professionals, like the Water Systems Council, a national nonprofit that promotes the installation of more water wells across the United States. As it stands today, only just 11 percent of homes in the U.S. utilize water well access, which according to the Water Systems Council is about 23 million households. 

Organizations like the Water Well Council seek to protect and promote private water well usage and small shared wells alike. 

“Plain and simple, we fight for your right to drill a water well in this country and for our water well contractors,” said Margaret Martens, president of the organization. “We work with groundwater associations as well to get laws passed and begin setting legal precedent when it comes to your right to drill a well or for the homeowner to have a well on your property.”

A few attendees of the South Atlantic Jubilee embraced the spirit of the show's pirate theme, like former president Jim McClain (third from left). / Image: Kerith Gabriel

As we mentioned earlier the show being a family-friendly event, this year’s pirate theme of the show got some people in the spirit, dressed as pirates complete with talking parrots. One of those people was McClain, who after passing the torch as president picked up one as one of three fully-dressed pirates greeting attendees and their families. 

There was also a petting zoo and giant bounce house for kids as well. 

The first day of the event had a palpable buzz as you walked the showroom floor, with another day of trade show visits scheduled on Monday before the show wraps up another year in Myrtle Beach, S.C.