As I write this in January, a lot has been happening in the drilling industry.

Over the last 30 years of my career, I have seen a dramatic shift in the safety requirements in the water well/environmental drilling industry.

For many of you younger readers, this subject will be historical.

In light of the Jan. 9, 2015 Interstate 94 massive vehicle pileup, it is a good time to reflect on our industry and the many miles we drive every day.

With all of the push-back we get in our industries, it’s refreshing to know that drilling wells for a geothermal heating and cooling system is more accessible than ever.

A foundation, according to Merriam-Webster, is “a usually stone or concrete structure that supports a building from underneath.”

A never-ending challenge in tracking groundwater availability and sustainability is the fact that it’s hidden underground, making it difficult to accurately characterize, says Kevin Dennehy, national coordinator of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Ground-Water Resources Program.

Raise your hand if you know that guy. You know the one.

Geotechnical drilling projects in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States have become increasingly complex as “developable” sites become more problematic because of severe geologic problems and topographic constraints.