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Managing Groundwater Resources in Louisiana Adapted from Information Provided by louisiana.gov Louisiana has a generous supply of fresh ground- water, which provides drinking water for over half of the state’s population. It is also the source for most public supply drinking water systems, as well as industry, agricultural, and the majority of rural water users. The protection and preservation of this valu- able resource is one of the most critical functions of Louisiana regulatory agencies. In an attempt to ful- fill this important obligation, activities which could pose a threat to the state’s groundwater quality and supply are monitored on an ongoing basis. The groundwater monitoring well and/or geo- technical borehole is a tool which allows access to an unseen environment. The chemical analyses of groundwater samples and physical data obtained from subsurface investigations are used to evaluate the environmental impact of a facility; allowing the early detection of chemical releases into groundwa- ter; and to determine the extent, nature, and fate of groundwater contamination and the effectiveness of groundwater recovery systems. In late 2014, the Depar tment of Natural Resources and the Coastal Protect ion and Restoration Authority in conjunction with the Water Resources Commission, reached an agreement to jointly fund a statewide water resources assessment project for sustainability and energy management to further improve Louisiana’s emerging water planning process. The nonprofit Water Institute of the Gulf is leading the research and developing a framework for evaluating regional supply and demand in the state. The purpose of this effort has been to provide an appraisal of current and expected future water supply and use, and to develop a planning instrument to inform short- and long-term management decisions, minimizing the potential impacts of future growth on overall water supply costs. The end goal is to ensure a clean and sustainable supply of freshwater for Louisiana’s people, farms, and businesses, while also conserving energy. The Water Institute conducted an extensive evaluation of existing state-level water management and water budget frameworks, then created its own unique framework for evaluating water supply and demand in Louisiana. The study links surface water and ground- water resources as a complete system, rather than treating them as separate elements. The availability and delivery cost of these water resources is weighed against both current use and projected demand based on population and economic forecasts. The past year was definitely a pro- ductive one for water resources manage- ment in Louisiana, but challenges to the state’s ability to effectively manage ground- water are on the horizon. For this reason, the Water Resources Commission, by unanimous resolution, called for the Governor and Legislature to make a commitment to keep the expanded water resources monitoring network intact so the state can more efficiently plan for future growth and tailor applicable policies based on accurate, up-to-date scientific data. In the past, Louisiana has shown the fortitude to make large investments in necessary infrastructure to conserve its water re- sources for the future while also keeping them available for a growing population and diverse economy in the present. Sample water budget framewook courtesy of The Water Institute of the Gulf. The chart simplifies the large quantities of data put into an assessment of water supply and demand, both current and projected. February 8 - 9, 2018 Aquarius Casino Resort - Laughlin, NV For more information visit us online: mountainstatesgroundwater.com E-mail: info@mountainstatesgroundwater.com (480) 609-3999 WHY ATTEND??? • It’s a great opportunity to visit with manufacturers & suppliers, drilling contractors & pump installers, technical & consulting firms, state groundwater officials, etc. • Attend the seminars • Visit the exhibits • Earn CEU’s • Participate in the Buck Lively Scholarship auction & raffle No membership is required to attend – Everyone is welcome! It’s casual & inexpensive: Bring your employees! 16 DECEMBER 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®