National Ground Water Association

National Ground Water Association
Name	National Ground Water Association
Founded	1948
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Westerville, Ohio
Area served	United States, International
Focus	Groundwater, Well Drilling, Water Well Technology

National Ground Water Association The National Ground Water Association is a professional association serving hydrology, geology, and water well professionals with programs in well drilling, groundwater science, and water resources management. It provides certification programs, technical publications, industry training, and advocacy for standards used by practitioners in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The association connects stakeholders from municipal agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency to academic institutions such as United States Geological Survey-affiliated researchers, and private firms including Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, and regional well contractors.

History

The organization was formed in 1948 amid post-World War II expansion in infrastructure alongside entities such as the American Water Works Association and the Soil Conservation Service. Its development intersected with major projects including the Mississippi River Basin Project and policy debates involving the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Over decades, the association engaged with researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and the University of Arizona on aquifer characterization and cooperated with agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on drought and groundwater-surface water interactions. Key milestones parallel the rise of standards-setting bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization and collaborations with the American Society of Civil Engineers on well construction guidelines.

Organization and Governance

The association is governed by a board of directors and volunteer committees drawing professionals from firms like Tetra Tech, AECOM, and Black & Veatch, alongside representatives from state regulators such as the Texas Water Development Board and the California Department of Water Resources. Its governance model resembles nonprofit structures used by the American Geophysical Union and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory advisory boards. Headquarters operations coordinate membership services, certification testing, and publication production comparable to operations at the Environmental Protection Agency regional offices and industry associations such as the National Association of Home Builders.

Membership and Certification Programs

Membership includes contractors, hydrogeologists, pump installers, and consultants working with clients including United States Department of Agriculture programs and municipal providers like the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Certification programs cover well drilling, well pump installation, water treatment, and hydrogeologic testing, paralleling credentials from organizations like the American Board of Professional Geologists and the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals. Training and certification align with occupational standards recognized by state licensing boards such as the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and workforce programs like the Apprenticeship.gov initiative.

Publications and Research

The association publishes peer-reviewed journals, technical manuals, and industry magazines supporting practitioners and researchers affiliated with institutions such as the University of Texas, Colorado School of Mines, and Iowa State University. Its publications provide guidance on aquifer tests, well rehabilitation, and contamination responses, intersecting with literature from the Journal of Hydrology, Groundwater Journal, and reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Research priorities often address contaminants regulated under laws like the Safe Drinking Water Act and methods used by laboratories accredited by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Events and Training

Annual conferences and expos attract attendees from multinational firms such as BASF and DuPont, government agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United Nations Environment Programme, and academics from Princeton University and Yale University. Workshops and short courses are offered on topics ranging from borehole geophysics to managed aquifer recharge, mirroring training events run by the American Water Works Association and the International Association of Hydrogeologists. The association’s trade shows feature equipment manufacturers like Grundfos and Xylem Inc. and vendors exhibiting drilling rigs, pumps, and diagnostic instruments.

Advocacy and Standards Development

The association develops recommended practices and technical standards through consensus processes akin to those of the American National Standards Institute and collaborates with regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and state water quality agencies. It advocates on federal and state policy issues that affect groundwater use, interacting with members of the United States Congress, the National Governors Association, and stakeholder groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and agricultural organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation. Its standards inform municipal codes, permit frameworks, and industry best practices used by utilities like the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and regional suppliers such as the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

Category:Water organizations Category:Professional associations in the United States Category:Hydrology