State Ground Water Monitoring Programs

Ground water is a critical component of the United States’ water resources. Approximately 75 percent of community water systems in the United States rely on groundwater.¹Ground water feeds streams and rivers, especially during periods of drought or low flow. The percentage of total irrigation withdrawals from groundwater increased from 23 percent in 1950 to 42 percent in 2000.²

Water supply managers in 36 states expected statewide, regional, or local freshwater shortages between 2003 and 2013 even under normal conditions.³

Given the importance of groundwater to the nation and the anticipated water shortages, the Association of American State Geologists, the Ground Water Protection Council, the Interstate Council on Water Policy, and the National Ground Water Association undertook, in 2007, a national survey to identify what is being done to monitor groundwater quality and levels. Specifically, the survey sought information on statewide or regional, defined as multi-county, non-targeted, i.e. not at known contaminated sites, groundwater monitoring efforts.   The following chart provides information on the survey and its results.

We received the following supplemental information to the 2007 surveys after completion of the report summary and compilation results:

Addendum A  — Updated information for both Level and Quality surveys from Texas

Addendum B — Initial Quality survey response submitted from North Carolina

The assistance of groundwater officials in sharing information on their state or regional groundwater monitoring programs is gratefully acknowledged. Without their assistance, the report would not be possible.

Updates or corrections to the information provided at the above links should be directed to creimer@ngwa.org.