AWWA ACE70599

An important element of the federal Advisory Committee on Water Information's (ACWI's) mission involves groundwater data collection and information dissemination. Many local, state, and regional entities collect groundwater data for specific purposes or for focused studies. However, their methods of collection, frequency of measurement, types of data collected, and analysis methods can vary greatly depending on their needs and study goals. As more regional groundwater issues arise and as data become more and more accessible, the need for comparable data has increased nationwide. The few existing nationwide data networks are sparse and can have significant gaps in areal extent. The Subcommittee on Groundwater (SOGW) is a subgroup of ACWI that has developed and is encouraging implementation of a long-term, nationwide groundwater quantity and quality monitoring framework. The overall goal is to provide an important portion of the information necessary for the planning, management, and development of groundwater supplies to meet current and future water needs, including ecosystem requirements. Includes tables, figures.