When
Where
GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION o f C a l i f o r n i a
Presents the Eighth Symposium in the Series on Water Resources
Managing Wells in California
Protecting Groundwater Resources
August 28-29, 2012
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento CA
In Cooperation with:
California Groundwater Association
Department of Toxic Substances Control
This Symposium is the culmination of the GRA webcast series on Abandoned and Improperly Constructed Wells. Through the webcasts, GRA is examining how wells and well management practices affect the quality and quantity of groundwater. Abandoned wells, wells that have not been properly plugged and destroyed, are a growing problem in the state. Many wells may be improperly sealed or may provide a cross-connection between water bearing zones, presenting a potential for contaminants to migrate into our drinking water aquifers. This problem is not unique to California. Other states have similar issues but some states fund the destruction of abandoned wells or require destruction of such wells when a property is sold. In California, Sacramento County has a program for identifying and destroying abandoned wells. Some states are also re-evaluating existing standards to address these problems. With this Symposium and the 2012 webcast series, GRA seeks to provide a platform for exchanging and synthesizing information on well management in California. GRA's goal is to improve well management practices to better protect California's groundwater resources. To accomplish this goal, a range of issues will be discussed including: wells abandoned in the future should be destroyed at the time they are abandoned; programs for destruction of wells abandoned in the past should be adopted and funded; and well design, construction, and management in the future should take into account the destruction of the well when it is no longer useful.
This Symposium will review current challenges and address a comprehensive approach to managing water wells in California, with the following key technical sessions:
• Well Planning & Design
• Drilling and Well Construction Methods
• Well Operation, Maintenance, Performance Monitoring & Rehabilitation
• Well Toolbox -- Assessing Inactive and Active Wells
• Well Data Collection, Availability, and Transparency
• Abandoned Wells -- To Destroy or Not to Destroy -- and Destruction Methods
Additional program sessions address challenges to managing wells, authority and accountability, and a process for updating the California State Well Standards:
• Summary of the key information from the GRA webcast series on abandoned and improperly constructed or destroyed wells
• The use of wells and well-related issues in California
• Panel Discussion: Authority and Accountability for Wells in California -- Who is Responsible?
• Panel Discussion: Updating California's Well Standards -- Where We Are and Where We're Headed
Who should attend: engineers and hydrogeologists, water resource managers, regulatory and resource agency staff involved with water supply and monitoring involving groundwater resources.
Program Agenda -- http://www.grac.org/wellsagenda.pdf