WHY BELONG
TO FGWA?

MEMBERSHIP FGWA represents all segments of the ground water industry and devotes its entire efforts to the promotion and protection of Florida’s ground water professionals and our ground water resources.

CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW The annual meeting is held in May of every year. FGWA sponsors a trade show with exhibits, demonstrations of new products, CEU-approved educational coursework, and an opportunity to meet your counterparts and to exchange ideas with other ground water professionals.

QUARTERLY MEETINGS In addition to the annual meeting in May, the Board of Directors meets quarterly at various locations throughout Florida and a General Membership meeting is held on Saturday morning, where the business meeting is followed by an informative program with outstanding guest speakers. All members are welcome to attend the General Membership meetings.

SUBSCRIPTION FGWA publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, The Florida Driller, which contains news of interest to the industry, including safety and business tips, and updates on legislative and regulatory matters.

RECOGNITION FGWA is recognized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the five Water Management Districts as a major and knowledgeable stakeholder in the protection and management of Florida’s ground water resources. The diversity of its goals, objectives, and achievements make it unique among professional associations.

REPRESENTATION FGWA members play a vital and ongoing role in the DEP Workgroup Committee in representing the interests of water well contractors when proposed rules and regulations are under consideration.

WHAT FGWA HAS DONE FOR
THE GROUND WATER INDUSTRY
AND YOU

Our successes and activities include the following:

For over 20 years, with the goal of fighting unreasonable regulations dealing with water well construction, we have improved communications with DEP, the five Water Management Districts, and the Florida Department of Health by our vigorous participation in the Work Group Committee.

FGWA members have participated in numerous workshops and regulatory meetings to provide input regarding the updating of the state-wide citation dictionary and penalty guidelines.

Over a two-year period, FGWA representatives participated in a series of public workshops around the state in the drafting of the plumbing segment of Florida’s Uniform Building Code. FGWA was successful in keeping the regulation of water wells within DEP and Water Management Districts, and not transferred to the Department of Professional Regulation, as many building contractors preferred.

FGWA has strongly supported online permitting and opposed further delegation of permitting to local government entities.

FGWA was instrumental in getting language included into state statutes chapter 373 to allow water well contractors to install pumps, water tanks, and water conditioning equipment.

FGWA has a paid lobbyist in Tallahassee representing our position on issues important to our industry, and actively pursuing the adoption of legislation needed by our industry.

FGWA has a Membership Defense Committee, whose purpose is to provide financial assistance for legal aid when a member has been wrongly cited for improper well construction procedure.

FGWA maintains a web site with information pertinent to the industry and an online directory of all FGWA members, so potential customers can locate reliable water well contractors.

FGWA sponsors an annual convention and trade show, where attendees can earn 12 CEUs, network with other contractors, and see the latest in equipment and services from the industry’s leading vendors. FGWA members are entitled to register at a reduced rate.

FGWA has supported and provided input regarding a uniform, state-wide online well permit application and completion report form.

FGWA publishes a bi-monthly newsletter to keep members informed of current topics of interest to the water well industry.

The Continuing Education program is administered by FGWA, and not by a government agency which might not have the ground water industry’s best interests in mind.

Over the past two decades, FGWA has granted 52 college scholarships totaling over $32,000 to students who are the sons and daughters of FGWA members.

FGWA is an affiliate state member of NGWA and supports their programs on national issues. FGWA members have worked with NGWA at the Washington, D.C. "Fly-In" to secure funding for a national well construction loan program.

FGWA is the "umbrella" organization for three local chapters.

FGWA is a member of Associated Industries of Florida, the voice of Florida’s business in the State Capitol.

FGWA has donated thousands of dollars to several disaster relief funds for humanitarian assistance.

FGWA holds quarterly membership meetings, where educational programs are presented, throughout the state of Florida.