National Ground Water Association

(WESTERVILLE, OH — September 27, 2011) Former National Ground Water Association President Loyd Watson, MGWC, has received the Association’s top honor as NGWA announced its annual industry awards.

Watson was named the 2011 recipient of the Ross L. Oliver Award for outstanding contributions to the groundwater industry. President of NGWA in 2007, Watson is president of his own drilling contracting firm, Watson Co. Inc., in Lascassas, Tennessee.

Other 2011 NGWA award recipients follow.

Awards of Excellence

• Craig M. Bethke, Ph.D., the R.E. Grim Professor at the University of Illinois — M. King Hubbert Award for major science contributions to the knowledge of groundwater
• Beverly L. Herzog, CGWP, retired assistant to the director for environmental initiatives, Illinois Geological Survey — Robert Storm Interdivisional Cooperation Award
• William Dauksza, Barmore Pump and Electric Co., Congers, New York; James W. Goeke, emeritus professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, School of Natural Resources, Conservation and Survey Division; Lee Orton, executive director, Nebraska Well Drillers Association; Bill C. Stoner, Stoner Drilling Inc., Corsicana, Texas; and Charlie Waller, CPI, Uvalde Pump Service, Uvalde, Texas — Life Member Awards
• Lloyd Duplantis, Haiti Mission Inc., Thibodaux, Louisiana — Honorary Member Award
• Mark L. Kram Ph.D., Groundswell Technologies, Santa Barbara, California — Technology Award
• David M. Kelly, CWD/PI, Jones Well Drilling Inc., Jarrettsville, Maryland — Standard Bearer Award
• U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin) — Ground Water Protector Award.

Divisional Awards

• Robert J. Stone, senior vice president of Franklin Electric, Bluffton, Indiana, and president of Franklin’s Americas Water Systems Group — Manufacturers Division Special Recognition Award
• Paul C. Johnson, Ph.D., of the University of Arizona and editor of NGWA’s Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation® — Keith E. Anderson Award for outstanding contributions to NGWA’s Scientists and Engineers Division
• Jiu Jimmy Jiao, Ph.D., University of Hong Kong — John Hem Excellence in Science & Engineering Award for significant scientific or engineering contributions to the understanding of groundwater.

Outstanding Ground Water Project Awards

• Daniel B. Stephens & Associates Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico — Ground Water Supply Award
• Water Replenishment District of Southern California — Ground Water Protection Award
• AMEC, Amherst, New York — Ground Water Remediation Award.

___________________________

NGWA, a nonprofit organization composed of U.S. and international groundwater professionals — contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists, and engineers — is dedicated to advancing groundwater knowledge. NGWA’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association that advocates the responsible development, management, and use of water.

###