The National Ground Water Association and the Green Builder Coalition have inked a two-year agreement to promote sustainable groundwater practices using the Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS) program.

“NGWA seeks partners to help us explain the importance of the resource and the things we each can do to use the resource wisely, including among our homes, our farms and in industry,” says NGWA CEO Kevin McCray, CAE. “We are excited to partner with the Green Builder Coalition to provide promotional assistance on the benefits of sustainable groundwater practices as a way to further water efficiency.”

WERS was developed to help improve residential water practices. It fits with the NGWA’s long-term plan to promote groundwater sustainability and water conservation practices.

“One of the big themes of the WERS program is to utilize the water that falls on the site,” says Mike Collignon, the coalition’s executive director. “For rural homeowners, this is vitally important. It makes a lot of sense for us to partner with NGWA, since both organizations have a message that is relevant to a variety of audiences, from individual well owners to municipal planners.”

The deal involves support of “Protect Your Groundwater Day,” and cross promotion of events between the two groups. The NGWA’s Groundwater Week, Dec. 6-8, 2016 in Las Vegas, will also include a session on WERS.

The coalition has helped develop the WERS program for new and existing residential properties since early 2014. The first WERS verifier-training course was held in spring 2016, with more coming throughout the year.

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.