Experts in the fields of well drilling, public health, water treatment, and community outreach gathered May 21-23 for the second Private Well Conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The conference aimed to share successes and experiences of working with private well owners to ensure safe access to drinking water.
A feature of the three-day event was a panel of NGWA’s current and former board members sharing their perspectives as well drillers. David Henrich, CWD/PI, CVCLD, Todd Hunter, CWD/PI, Richard Layman, MGWC, and Jeff Williams, MGWC, CVCLD, each presented some of the challenges they face in their professions and some of their keys to building successful relationships with well owners. The panel concluded with a lively question-and-answer session.
The 2019 Groundwater Foundation McEllhiney Lecturer Gary Hix, RG, CWD/PI, also presented at the conference about the challenges of working with the real estate community and developing well certification standards.
“The Private Well Conference is a truly unique opportunity to hear about current issues from a variety of voices in the private well community,” Henrich says. “It was inspiring being around so many people from all over the country committed to working with private well owners.”
In addition to NGWA members who presented, attendees heard presentations about effective strategies for reaching out to well owners, maintaining wells and septic systems, and threats to systems like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or natural disasters.