The National Ground Water Association announced a new array of tools to assist household well owners. NGWA has teamed up with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to offer a hotline, monthly tips and other technical help.

“All these training and technical assistance tools will be easily accessible through the Internet, free and available 24 hours a day,” said Cliff Treyens, NGWA public awareness director. “Even the webinars will be recorded and uploaded for viewing at any time by well owners.”

The goal, the NGWA says, is to help private well owners reduce risks to their drinking water. The toll-free hotline, 855-H20-WELL, went live in late September. The NGWA, with funding from the EPA, also has available:

Monthly email tips, offered to well owners, as well as state and local officials concerned about water policy.

A series of webinars targeted to private well owners, and state and local policymakers.

An online training series focuses on water testing and water treatment, groundwater protection, well maintenance, well construction and other groundwater subjects.

These and other resources will be available at www.wellowner.org. Treyens said the NGWA would promote the resources among state and local officials, as well as to the public.

“Our shared goal is to help well owners know and take steps that will help reduce risks to their water supplies so that they have adequate, safe drinking water,” Treyens said.

 NGWA is a nonprofit that supports responsible development, management and use of water resources. It’s comprised of groundwater professionals ranging from contractors to equipment manufacturers to scientists and engineers. For more information, visit www.ngwa.org.