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The American Water Works Association (“AWWA”) announced that its Technical and Educational Council has approved for member comment a revised policy statement on:

Management of Groundwater (“Policy Statement”)

AWWA describes itself an international, nonprofit, scientific and educational society dedicated to providing total water solutions assuring the effective management of water and includes over 3,900 utilities that supply roughly 80 percent of the nation’s drinking water and treat almost half of the nation’s wastewater.

The revised policy would read as follows:

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) recognizes that groundwater resources are essential sources of water for drinking, irrigation, and numerous other uses for much of North America's and the world's population. Groundwater also provides base flow for surface water bodies and is important for environmental habitat support. AWWA therefore supports the proper characterization, development, management, and the use of such resources to protect the long-term quantity and quality of groundwater.

The understanding and rational use of groundwater requires the best joint efforts of water utilities, governments, the water profession, the educational community, and other water users and organizations. In many locations, groundwater resources have been or are in danger of becoming depleted by overpumping or degraded because of incompatible land use, water disposal, and poor well construction/abandonment practices. Recharge considerations are also critical for wellfield management and long-term groundwater supplies.

AWWA therefore supports both improving the understanding of groundwater-related technical issues and developing sound legislation and regulations that protect groundwater quality and quantity. AWWA also supports proactive planning, education, and source water and wellhead protection efforts. Public education and outreach around issues such as well siting, design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation practices, as well as groundwater withdrawal operations, are encouraged. AWWA supports water resource management practices that optimize the use of groundwater as drinking water supply while balancing with other competing uses.

A copy of the proposed Policy Statement can be downloaded here.