The National Ground Water Association’s (NGWA) National Groundwater Awareness Week will be observed March 8-14 to increase awareness of how groundwater ensures safe and sufficient water to drink, to support agriculture and for other vital activities.

Some 44 percent of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply, either from a public source or private well. In rural areas, 96 percent rely on groundwater.

The U.S uses 79.6 billion gallons per day of fresh groundwater for public supply, private supply, irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, thermoelectric power and other purposes.