The California Water Institute at Fresno State is scheduled to host an online webinar at 9 a.m. Friday, March 15, to highlight local issues regarding the use of groundwater. The webinar is part of Groundwater Awareness Week, an annual observance established by the National Groundwater Association and will be taking place through March 16. 

Registration and additional information can be found at www.californiawater.org/events.

“Our goal is to educate the community about water issues,” said Laura Ramos, interim director of the California Water Institute’s Research and Education Division. “[The webinar] will fulfill that goal as well as educate about the research and studies we are working on.”

During the webinar, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in a Q&A session with water professionals as well as learn how to take part in water sustainability efforts at home.

With more than 44 percent of the population depending on groundwater as their main source of water for their communities, Groundwater Awareness Week exists to bring light to problems such as drying of wells, contamination of the water, waterlogging and salinity, saltwater encroachment and more.

“[Groundwater] is kind of like our savings account, while surface water is like our checking account. In years when we get very, very little rain, we depend on our groundwater,” Ramos said. “Not being able to know how much [rain] water you’re going to get in a future year, you need to depend on that savings account.”

Places like California, which commonly faces droughts, are forced to rely on a water source that eventually runs low.

As the population continues to increase, the United States Geological Survey said groundwater withdrawals will rise as available sites for surface reservoirs become more limited.

“In 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act passed. It requires groundwater be sustainable by the year 2040 by specific geographical area,” Ramos said. “Ten years ago, I would’ve told you something completely different, but right now, I can tell you there’s going to be a lot of projects and focus on making sure that we are sustainable by the year 2040.”

[Story by Ashley Cortez]