Groundwater professionals from across Pennsylvania and nearby states gathered on April 30 and May 1 for the 2019 Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium.

The symposium was again held in recognition of National Drinking Water Week to highlight the importance of the groundwater resource in Pennsylvania.

The Symposium theme: Emerging Concerns for Groundwater provided a forum for over 250 researchers, students, professionals and educators working in the groundwater field to exchange information and promote protection of groundwater resources throughout the state.

Timothy Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, provided opening remarks for the symposium followed by keynote speakers who addressed important groundwater issues related to pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and PFAS.

Ten concurrent presentations also presented information on bacterial contamination of groundwater, aquifer studies, karst groundwater systems, and groundwater policy.

A half-day pre-conference field trip was offered again this year to a limited number of registrants on April 30 to several sites of groundwater interest in Nittany Valley near State College. The field trip was led by local hydrogeologists Dave Yoxtheimer and Dick Parizek.

The Symposium was co-sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection, the PA Ground Water Association, Penn State Extension, the Master Well Owner Network, and the PA Water Resources Research Center.

Plans are already underway for the 2020 Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium to be held in May 2020 in State College, PA.

Questions should be directed to Bryan Swistock, Senior Penn State Extension Associate, Water Resources Coordinator, 814-863-0194 or send email to: brs@psu.edu.

(Reprinted from the May 23 Penn State Extension Watershed Winds newsletter. Click Here to subscribe to Extension information.)

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5/27/2019