2016 Annual Forum: Call for Abstracts

State Water Planning: The Groundwater Connection

The GWPC released today its call for abstracts for the 2016 Annual Forum Sept. 11-14 in Orlando.

In addition to subjects traditionally covered, this fall the GWPC will bring the state water planning discussion to the Annual Forum. Competing demands for our nation's shrinking available water supplies have led state water quantity and quality agencies to coordinate updates to, or initiate first time, long-term water planning efforts. While most western states have had state-wide water plans for years, the priority to develop such plans is rising from west to east.

We plan to bring examples of state water planning success stories and conduct sessions for state representatives to hear how state water planners are tackling difficult issues.

Please review the linked Call for Abstracts document for specific details on topics of interest and submittal requirements. Abstracts are due June 10. Selections will be made by June 17.

For questions or to submit an abstract, contact Ben Grunewald at 405.516.4972. Additional event information can be found at www.gwpc.org/events.

GWPC News

FracFocus Statistics and 3.0 Update

FracFocus, the national disclosure registry for hydraulic fracturing chemicals, releases quarterly statistics. As of April, the site statistics are:

1,379 Participating Companies
1,032 Reporting Companies
112,256 Disclosures Submitted

FracFocus 3.0 will be released early this summer and will feature:

Stronger validation processes to improve data integrity, which in turn makes data more valuable for researchers and the public
A new format for reporting company data entry, which should decrease the use of trade secrets in disclosures; thereby providing more public transparency
Newly designed forms to improve the company and regulatory agency user experiences when checking and completing disclosures.

Stay tuned for updates and notice of the 3.0 release.

State News

Nebraska’s Oil Regulators Could Show EPA the Way

(Omaha Daily World - OPINION BY ADAM PELTZ)

Last November, I drove through an early-season snow squall in the Nebraska Panhandle on my way to the offices of the Nebraska Oil and Gas Commission, housed in an old J.C. Penney store on the main street of the railway town of Sidney.

My task was to act as an observer on a peer review of Nebraska’s Underground Injection Control Class II program, which, among other things, oversees the wells used to inject the wastewater that’s generated along with oil and gas production.

Wastewater injection wells have drawn headlines in recent years. If not properly sealed, they can contaminate local groundwater supplies. And in some states — though not Nebraska — poorly planned injections can cause seismic events. So making sure these wells are properly managed is crucial to protecting nearby communities.

These peer reviews, sponsored by the Ground Water Protection Council, bring together oil and gas regulators who are expert in this topic from around the country, as well as observers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to take a close look at states’ programs and make suggestions for improving the rules and procedures related to underground injection in order to prevent pollution.

California Governor Mandates Long-Term Water Conservation

(Environmental Protection)

An executive order issued May 9 by California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. builds on temporary statewide emergency water restrictions to establish longer-term water conservation measures, including permanent monthly water use reporting, new permanent water use standards in California communities, and bans on wasteful practices such as hosing off sidewalks, driveways, and other hardscapes. "Californians stepped up during this drought and saved more water than ever before, but now we know that drought is becoming a regular occurrence and water conservation must be a part of our everyday life," he said.
According to the governor's office, Californians reduced their water use between June 2015 and March 2016 by 23.9 percent compared with the same months in 2013, saving enough water to provide 6.5 million Californians with water for one year.

GAO Publishes Report on Municipal Fresh Water Scarcity

In a report released late April, the GAO assessed municipal fresh water scarcity, specifically, using technology to improve distribution system efficiency and tap nontraditional water sources.

Synopsis:
Water scarcity occurs when the demand for water in a given area approaches or exceeds available water supplies. A water utility facing scarcity may attempt to address it by reducing its demand on existing water supplies, increasing its water supplies, or both. Many mature technologies are available to address both of these areas. For example, a utility could try to improve the efficiency of its distribution system in order to reduce its demand on existing water supplies. Utilities can choose from wide variety of mature technologies to detect leaks, manage pressure, meter water flow, and assess the condition of pipes. Similarly, a utility may be able to increase supplies through choosing from many mature technologies that are available to treat nontraditional water sources such as seawater, brackish water, treated municipal wastewater, or storm water captured from developed surfaces.

Read More

Support the GWREF

The Ground Water Research & Education Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation dedicated to promoting research and education related to the protection of groundwater.

For more information on GWREF projects or on how your organization can provide support, contact Len Erikson at 405.516.4972, lerikson@gwpc.org, or vist www.gwpc.org/research-foundation.

Upcoming Events

GWPC Annual Forum
Co-located with the National Rural Water Associations' WaterPro Conference.

September 11-14, 2016
Orlando, Florida
Rosen Shingle Hotel

Hotel & Conference Registration Opens June 1.