AGI Welcomes Karst Waters Institute as 47th Member Society

Alexandria, VA — The Karst Waters Institute (KWI) has joined the American Geological Institute (AGI) as the Federation’s 47th Member Society.

AGI Executive Director, P. Patrick Leahy says of the addition, “The Karst Waters Institute is a wonderful addition to AGI’s federation of earth science societies. With KWI’s inclusion we are welcoming another valuable section of the earth science community to ensure that the needs of all earth scientists are met.”

KWI is a non-profit institution whose mission is to improve the fundamental understanding of karst water systems through sound scientific research and education of professionals and the public. KWI uses a multi-disciplinary approach to research karst aquifers and terrains.

More than 25 percent of the world’s population either lives on or obtains its water from karst aquifers. In the United States, 20 percent of the land surface is karst, predominately in Florida, Texas, Missouri, and the Appalachian Mountains region. Nearly 40 percent of all groundwater used for drinking comes from karst aquifers. Common geological characteristics of karst regions include caves and caverns, unpredictable but sometimes prolific water supply, ground subsidence, sinkhole collapse, and groundwater contamination problems. A wide variety of organisms live in karst aquifers, such as bats, salamanders, beetles, and fish. As such, many of these animals are indicators of the quality of the groundwater. By joining AGI, Karst Waters Institute will increase awareness within the geoscience community and with the general public of the geological and ecological importance of karst terrains and aquifers.