Westerville, OH – The United States has launched a new era of increased co-ordination and collection of ground water data to better inform decision-making by water resource managers, the National Ground Water Association said today in a news release.
Beginning Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey invited applications for up to $2 million in cost-share grants, or co-operative agreements, to support participation in the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN) in 2016. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 19, 2016.
The money allows USGS to provide funds to upgrade nonfederal monitoring networks to national standards and to incorporate wells into the network, the USGS said. The funding also will support additional work by USGS to manage the network and provide data access to the public through an Internet web portal.
The network will rely on states to collect and report monitoring data. This data will be used to generate a more comprehensive picture of ground water on a national scale. With increased pressure on water resources, particularly in the West, the implementation of the NGWMN will help inform good management of ground water supplies across the country. This is important to the continued use of water wells as a source of safe drinking water for millions of Americans who rely on both public water systems and privately owned household wells.
The USGS is working with the Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information’s Subcommittee on Ground Water to develop and administer the NGWMN.
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