Groundwater Week 2024 Draws Fourth Largest Attendance

The crowded Exhibit Hall featured 40 first-time exhibitors.

(WESTERVILLE, OH – December 16, 2024) Groundwater Week 2024 drew the fourth largest attendance in the history of the National Ground Water Association.

The event, which was held December 10-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada, saw 6,101 groundwater professionals take part — making it the fourth largest show in Association history. Attendees came from 37 countries and all 50 states.

“We’re grateful for another great turnout by the industry,” said NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC. “From the show floor to the classroom to networking, I hope attendees got the most out of this special event to further their businesses and careers.”

NGWA’s theme was “Empowering Innovation,” which was evident in the 301 exhibitors (eighth most) displaying the latest advancements in the groundwater industry on 80,200 square feet of exhibit space (second largest). The crowded Exhibit Hall featured 40 first-time exhibitors.

There were also more drilling rigs on display that are geared toward geothermal than in past years. Attendees attended multiple geothermal workshops too, including “Optimizing Geothermal Drilling: Operations, Equipment, and Scalability Insights.”

A comprehensive lineup of more than 40 workshops addressed industry challenges and explored solutions for them. Workforce development — the industry’s top concern — was explored in a roundtable as was advancing women in the groundwater industry.

The NGWA Delegates Meeting saw five new professionals get elected to the NGWA Board of Directors:

• David Baker of Apex Drilling LLC in Burley, Idaho
• Dermot Dillon of Summit Drilling LLC in Bridgewater, New Jersey
• Mike Ward of Clyde’s Well Service Inc. in Milton, Florida.

David Lipson, Ph.D., PG, of HRS Water Consultants Inc. in Lakewood, Colorado, was elected vice chair on the Scientists and Engineers Section Board and will also serve as a director on the NGWA Board of Directors.

J. Peyton LaBorde of Wholesale Pump & Supply Inc. in Shreveport, Louisiana, was elected as secretary of the Suppliers Section Board and will also serve as a director on the NGWA Board of Directors.

Eric Macias of LORENTZ U.S. Corp. in Slaton, Texas, became NGWA’s 74th president. Macias made history as he is the first person from the Manufacturers Section to serve as NGWA’s president.

For the first time, NGWA also elected a woman as president-elect — Seth Kellogg, PG, of Geosyntec Consultants Inc. in Pennington, New Jersey.

Macias, who was profiled by Water Well Journal in its November 2024 issue, spoke of his 2025 goals:

• To complete NGWA Business PRO, an innovative app designed to provide water well contractors with an all-in-one business management tool
• To improve and build out NGWA University
• To explore and implement a strategy which allows the groundwater industry to be recognized as a meaningful place to work and attract new talent.

Keynote speaker and author Jim Davidson, a former hydrogeologist and NGWA member, discussed his 39 years of adventure and survival that he related to running a business. Davidson survived earthquakes during an attempt to ascend Mount Everest and later returned to summit it successfully. Davidson signed copies of his most recent book, The Next Everest: Surviving the Mountain’s Deadliest Day and Finding the Resilience to Climb Again. 

NGWA will host Groundwater Week 2025 December 9-11 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and co-locate with the Irrigation Association.

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