William M. Alley has been appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC). He is the director of science and technology for the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).

Alley will bring a useful perspective to the table on groundwater and freshwater, says NGWA CEO Kevin McCray. “Dr. Alley is an internationally recognized groundwater scientist who will contribute greatly to the work of the NDWAC.”

He will join the council in working on the national drinking water program. The NDWAC is a product of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and supports the preservation of water resources. Alley’s term will run from September 2014 to September 2017.

Alley calls the opportunity a privilege. “I look forward to helping address some of the difficult challenges that confront America’s drinking water supply,” he says.

His experience is focused in surface water and groundwater interaction. He served as head of the office of groundwater for the U.S. Geological Survey from 1993 to 2012. He also worked as national groundwater coordinator for the National Water-Quality Assessment Program with the USGS.

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.