Water Well Journal

A s I retire at the end of 2017 after 39 years with the groundwater industry, I say thank you as I reflect on some of the achievements we have accomplished together. Your participation and your com- mitment humble me. I hope you feel as proud as I do. Members have a prerogative to expect their association to improve—to offer new and better programs and efforts. Supporters, perhaps like you, propelled the National Ground Water Association's efforts forward over those years. Your steadfast dedication every step of the way to our combined good works has been critical in the challenge to serve public health and safety, protect groundwater, and to advance our industry's professionalism. Socrates has been credited with telling us the way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. That counsel can be achieved by personal growth, as well as organizational growth. Together, we have been able to achieve considerable prog- ress, despite the sector tempering with changing markets and other factors, including NGWA's own largely successful efforts to not only remediate contaminated groundwater, but to help prevent contamination from occurring. Today, groundwater is better protected for future generations to thrive upon, and thus for future generations of our industry's professions to prosper. NGWA undertakes many programs, products, and services to facilitate the personal growth of its members. Allow me to share with you some of NGWA's proudest achievements during my chief executive officer years of 1995 to 2017. • We issued the Association standard, NGWA-01-14 on water well construction • We have issued nearly two dozen best suggested prac- tices documents, and more are in development • Guidelines for heat pump loop well construction and hydrogeologic guidelines for large-scale heat pump installations • Issued guidance on state-of-the-art practices for dealing with the troublesome PFAS contaminant • Published a glossary of acceptable terms and definitions to aid our work and that of the regulatory community • Made our body of knowledge more accessible than ever and added to it with titles on topics such as the operating life of a well system and hydrofracturing of water well systems • Strengthened our voluntary certification program for water well system professionals • Merged the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association's accredited vertical heat pump installers into our Certified Vertical Closed Loop Driller designation • Created and freely distributed business cost calculators on drilling and pump installation to assist in building contracting business profitability; freely distributed ready-to-use contracts for well drilling, pump installation, and well maintenance; as well as tools for pump sizing and water use calculation • Provided online education and training, including many no-fee programs • Produced instruction for consumers on how to finance well systems • Gained larger recognition in the U.S. capital than ever before, including White House recognition for our efforts related to groundwater sustainability and water well efficiency • Successfully challenged what would have been expen- sive changes to workers' compensation designations, as well as potentially onerous OSHA and DOT rules • Reached more of the water well-using public than ever before through Wellowner.org and RFD-TV programs, as well as National Groundwater Awareness Week and Protect Your Groundwater Day, and interpretations in an internationally touring science museum water exhibit seen by more than 3 million people. Today, NGWA's charitable efforts, through the NGWA Foundation, in a single year typically exceed the dollars gifted prior to 1995. More than 220 grants and more than $1 million across nine fund categories have been awarded since 2006. Consider: The Foundation's scholarship program has helped nearly 115 students attend college and helped pay tui- tion costs approaching $200,000. In 2016 alone, grants worth tens of thousands of dollars led to safer drinking water sup- plies in low-income nations, and in recent times, thousands of dollars have helped construct well systems for those in need in the United States. All of that and much more, such as the McEllhiney Lecture Series in Water Well Technology (425 presentations since 2001 to 32,000 registrants), are made possible by incredibly It's Been an Honor As time at NGWA winds down, CEO Kevin McCray looks back at 39 years in the groundwater industry. By Kevin McCray, CAE Guest EDITORIAL 12 October 2017 WWJ waterwelljournal.com

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