National Ground Water Awareness Week

FGWA is proud to be a Ground Water Protector

Join us each year in March to help share the importance of groundwater and how the resource impacts our lives. 2021 information coming soon! 

Top 10 Facts About Groundwater Use

  • Only 1 percent of the water on Earth is useable, 99 percent of which is groundwater.
  • The United States uses 349 billion gallons of freshwater every day.
  • Groundwater is 20 to 30 times larger than all U.S. lakes, streams, and rivers combined.
  • Groundwater accounts for 33 percent of all the water used by U.S. municipalities.
  • 44 percent of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply.
  • More than 13.2 million households have their own well, representing 34 million people.
  • 53.5 billion gallons of groundwater are used for agricultural irrigation each day. In 1990 that number was 2.2 billion.
  • The largest U.S. aquifer is Ogallala, underlying 250,000 square miles stretching from Texas to South Dakota. Scientists estimate it could take 6000 years to naturally refill the aquifer if it were ever fully depleted.
  • California pumps 10.7 billion gallons of groundwater each day, a third more than the second-highest state, Texas.
  • Groundwater is the world’s most extracted raw material with withdrawal rates in the estimated range of 259 trillion gallons per year.

Top Groundwater Myths

  • Groundwater migrates thousands of miles.
  • Groundwater removed from the Earth is never returned.
  • Groundwater is not a significant source of water supply.
  • Groundwater is abundantly available, therefore does not need to be conserved.
  • There is no relationship between groundwater and surface water.

How You Can Get Involved

  • GWAW provides an opportunity for people to learn about the importance of groundwater and how the resource impacts lives. Your involvement and passion during the week is what makes GWAW so successful, and we have put together social media graphics to share. Click here to view and download Groundwater Awareness Week social media graphics. Click here to view and download official logos.
  • You can help inspire the next generation of groundwater professionals with an Awesome Aquifer kit. The Awesome Aquifer Kit is a fun and educational groundwater kit with everything you need to build an aquifer model. Instructions and activity supplies are included to walk you through learning all about groundwater. Get yours at: awesomeaquifer.com.
  • Support the Groundwater Foundation in their efforts to continue to protect, connect, and inspire.