• President Biden signed 50 bills on Christmas Eve.
• Water monitoring support extends through 2028.
• Federal Priority Streamgages also gain funding.

January 2, 2025 — Groundwater networks nationwide will receive a significant boost under the newly enacted Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act. President Joe Biden signed 50 bills on Christmas Eve, including this law that secures funding for the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN) through 2028. It also supports the Federal Priority Streamgage network, which records water levels in rivers and streams.

About the NGWMN.

The National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN) started as a product of the Subcommittee on Ground Water of the Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI). The NGWMN is a compilation of selected groundwater monitoring wells nationwide from Federal, State, and local groundwater monitoring networks. This project has been a high priority for the National Ground Water Association (NGWA), which advocates for reliable groundwater information nationwide.

Data Portal and Ongoing Efforts.

The NGWMN Data Portal provides access to groundwater data from multiple dispersed databases in a web-based mapping application. The portal houses current and historical data, including water levels and water quality, to help scientists, agencies, and the public stay informed. The WATER Data Improvement Act supports “any grants for water estimation, measurement, and monitoring technologies/methodologies,” further enhancing water-related data collection efforts.

Funding to support data providers to the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network is provided through USGS Cooperative Agreements.

Upcoming Events.

NGWA’s Government Affairs team will explore the importance of the NGWMN during a webinar called “Speaking Up for Groundwater – Policy and Politics in 2025,” scheduled from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET on January 16, 2025. Another key gathering, the 2025 Water Resources Congressional Summit, takes place on March 25-26 in Washington, D.C., bringing leaders and stakeholders together to discuss pressing water concerns.

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