AGI Supports National Groundwater Awareness Week

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is proud to support National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 10-16, 2013.

Groundwater is a crucial source of fresh water for society, both in terms of potable water, agricultural, and industrial needs. The United States alone uses 79.6 billion gallons of groundwater per day for public and private drinking water, irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, thermoelectric power, and other purposes. While freshwater accounts for less than 3% of all water on Earth, groundwater makes up roughly 99% of that 3%. This globally crucial but scarce resource requires careful stewardship.

National Groundwater Awareness Week—sponsored by AGI member society, the National Ground Water Association (NGWA)—promotes the responsible stewardship of groundwater through education and outreach initiatives that help make society aware of this life-sustaining resource. The week reinforces concepts of preservation and the importance of properly protecting groundwater from human-made contaminants such as hazardous household substances and waste disposal.

“The American Geosciences Institute is proud to partner with NGWA once again on this important initiative,” said Dr. P. Patrick Leahy, Executive Director for AGI. “We applaud NGWA’s continued efforts to promote the importance of groundwater and our planet’s natural resources to society.”

For more information, and to get involved, please visit http://www.ngwa.org/Events-Education/awareness/Pages/default.aspx.