Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/740475
arrangements to groundwater users, communities, managers, and decision makers. WWJ: What advice should groundwater profession- als tell well owners to help them conserve the resource? Peter: Continuing to emphasize the need to manage the resource from the local to regional scales, and stressing the importance of protecting the groundwater source especially where it is recharged. A well uses both water and energy. It's getting easier to understand how efficiently your pump is operating as well as how much water you're using. Knowing both will help conserve the resource and improve your bottom line. WWJ: Lastly, what do you hope attendees at your Keynote Session at Groundwater Week take back home and implement at their job? Peter: Groundwater is critically important to enhancing agri- cultural productivity and food security. Because it's unseen, it's not readily apparent when it's becoming depleted, and like turning on a faucet, it seems like it will always be there. Until it isn't. Groundwater doesn't recognize borders and actions in one area impact another, not only in terms of water quantity but also quality. There are many varied challenges to ensuring water and food security, but there are also many solutions. The key is finding the most effective and efficient solutions tailored for local needs. Sometimes what works in one area transfers to another, but sometimes it doesn't. Using water efficiently and effectively is everyone's re- sponsibility. Institutes and organizations, such as the Daugh- erty Water for Food Institute, are working together with a wide variety of partners to develop multifaceted approaches to ensuring water and food security. There are technological in- novations, best practices, information, and institutional solu- tions available to help those involved in groundwater use and management to make informed decisions to improve water productivity and sustainability. WWJ Mike Price is the senior editor of Water Well Journal. In addition to his WWJ responsibilities, Price produces NGWA's newsletter and contributes to the Association's quarterly scientific publication. He can be reached at mprice@ngwa.org. McCornick's Keynote Session will take place from 9:30–10:45 a.m. on December 7. To learn more, visit www.GroundwaterWeek.com. Las Vegas∙Dec. 6-8, 2016 SM WWJ November 2016 45 Twitter @WaterWellJournl