Week of activities will be aimed at inspiring the next generation of groundwater professionals

(WESTERVILLE, OH — January 17, 2020) The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) announced the 21st National Groundwater Awareness Week (GWAW) will take place March 9-13.

An annual observance established in 1999 to highlight the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater, the event is also a platform to encourage yearly water well testing and well maintenance to prevent waterborne illnesses.

This year, NGWA and its partners will be focusing their advocacy during GWAW to inspire the next generation of groundwater professionals. Fostering an interest in groundwater science and an understanding of its importance is making a critical investment in our planet’s future.

“The current PFAS contamination, water sustainability, and workforce development issues all show us that investing in the next generation of groundwater professionals will be an important part of our future,” said NGWAS’s CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC.

Groundwater professionals encompass many different occupations within the industry, including water well drillers, hydrogeologists, engineers, groundwater scientists, and educators.

Over the course of GWAW, NGWA will be running an aggressive social media campaign linking the public to educational opportunities to help get kids and students engaged in the science of groundwater.

NGWA will also be promoting the Groundwater Foundation’s Awesome Aquifer Kit throughout GWAW. The Awesome Aquifer Kit is a one-of-a-kind educational tool that provides fun and hands-on experiments to help students understand and get excited about groundwater.

“We can’t have groundwater managers who don’t understand the resource, who aren’t excited about it,” said Groundwater Foundation’s Program Communications Manager Jennifer Wemhoff. “The Awesome Aquifer Kit is a way to let students see groundwater and understand in a bigger picture how it’s part of their everyday lives.”

To learn more about how you can support GWAW and help inspire the next generation of groundwater professionals, please visit www.ngwa.org/gwaw2020 or https://www.groundwater.org/kids.

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The National Ground Water Association is a not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the global groundwater industry. Our members around the world include leading public and private sector groundwater scientists, engineers, water well system professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers of groundwater-related products and services. The Association’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association advocating for responsible development, management, and use of water.