Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/573697
technology for technology's sake. It's going to have to be technology that delivers value and makes the job of the water systems contractor easier. The biggest change for the industry will be the amount of training and technical support that's required. As a contractor, you need to think about aligning yourself with a distributor that offers technical support and training because while the technology isn't overly complicated, you'll want to make an investment in training. WWJ: Which trend concerns you the most? Mark: I think the trend that worries me the most is the gener- ational shift we're undergoing. A lot of businesses are being passed on to a younger generation. I hear this all the time from contractors that their sons and daughters don't look at the business the same way they do. As an industry, we're going to have to evolve with new generations and embrace the way they do business. WWJ: In your presentation you'll talk about how every trend offers opportunities for contractors. What trend offers the biggest opportunity and why? Mark: The biggest opportunity is the various energy man- dates that are requiring system efficiency. It really offers the contractor an opportunity to differentiate himself and his business especially to homeowners, municipalities, and even commercial accounts. I also think there are tremendous opportunities in solar groundwater pumping. The obvious application for it is off- grid where you don't have the power grid, but there are some businesses that also see it from a marketing perspective. Solar is not only practical because of the payback involved, but there are businesses out there that want to embrace green technologies. It's not necessarily a trend, but I think contractors all have the opportunity to expand their portfolio of products more so than they did in the past. The industry has come a long way in terms of products in the last few years. You go to any one of these trade shows and there's all kinds of new products, and that really represents an opportunity for the contractor in the groundwater pumping industry. WWJ: How has the economy affected the groundwater industry and the trends you've seen? Mark: I think it's a mixed bag, and it's somewhat regional. Overall, I see two things. For one, there have been some new entrants into the water systems industry from the manu- facturing standpoint in the last few years. I see that as a posi- tive thing because they've looked at this industry, they've analyzed it, and they decided it was an attractive industry. I think that's a barometer of the opportunities in the industry. On the other hand, business has become very competitive, and the economy has driven some of that. WWJ: You're a huge proponent of training. What role will continuing education play in the future of the industry? Mark: I think it plays a huge role as technology increases. Continuing education, training, and technical support are even more important than they've ever been. As a water systems contractor, the industry is going to demand more and more expertise in the next few years—and that's one of the trends I talk about in my presentation. If that's the case, you're going to have to invest in continuing education and make sure you get aligned with a distributor that can provide it. An investment in training will help differentiate yourself from others. WWJ Weather events, technology, green initiatives, and energy mandates are but a few trends making waves in the groundwater industry. WWJ October 2015 47 Twitter @WaterWellJournl Expo Session Highlights Trends Affecting the Groundwater Industry Reeder will present his session "Seven Trends and Opportunities Affecting Our Industry" from 1:45–2:45 p.m. on December 15 at the 2015 NGWA Groundwater Expo. Check out page 44 and visit www.GroundwaterExpo.com for more information. Jennifer Strawn was the associate editor of Water Well Journal from 2004 to 2007. She is currently in the internal communications department at Nationwide in Columbus, Ohio. She can be reached at strawnj2 @gmail.com.