Dates and descriptions of conferences and courses:

GPS/GIS Basic Training.  This "hands-on" training activity is intended for water well drilling contractors and their administrative staff.  The topics covered will be: Proper operation of GPS (Global Positioning System) units to assure collection of accurate location data, accessing DEQ's various GIS (Geographic Information System) data, and an explanation of DEQ's Wellogic data system.  This training will be conducted at the DEQ computer training room on the 6^th floor of Constitution Hall, Lansing Michigan.  Attendees are asked to bring their own GPS units with them to use during the field exercise component of this training.  Each attendee will be provided with a computer terminal for the GIS and Wellogic training exercises.  Dates/times for the three sessions scheduled for 2008 are May 6, July 9, and September 17.  Sessions begin at 9:00 am and adjourn at 4:00 pm.  Each session can accommodate 12 persons.  To reserve a date for this training, contact Mr. James McEwan at 517-241-1413 or mcewanj@michigan.gov.  

Private and Type III Public Water Supply Program (P-III) Training.  This regional training activity is intended for local health department staff with jurisdiction in the Northwest quadrant of the state.  Direct mailings were provided to the departments being requested to attend.  In addition, Michigan Registered Water Well Drilling Contractors are invited to attend this session based upon space availability.  The topics to be covered are:  Basic Well Construction; Well Permit Processing, Inspection, & Approval; Groundwater Contamination Site Protocols; Water Well Record Review; Flowing Well Construction, Flow Control & Deviation Protocol; Abandoned Well Management; Well Code Enforcement Protocols; and Local P-III Program Issues.  This training session is scheduled for May 14, 2008.  The training site is the Office of District Health Department No. 10, located at 916 Diana Street, Ludington, MI.  The session begins at 9:00 am and adjourns at 4:30 pm.  The training room can accommodate 30 persons.  Well drilling contractors wishing to reserve a space to attend this training must contact Mr. James McEwan at 517-241-1413 or mcewanj@michigan.gov.

MEHA Groundwater & Wastewater Conference.  The groundwater portion of this three day conference is intended for water well drilling contractors, geothermal water system installers, local health department staff, groundwater stewardship program staff, groundwater consultants, and other groundwater professionals who work with groundwater utilization systems.  The conference will include presentations on source water protection, cross connection control at agricultural facilities, applied geology, geothermal systems, contaminant plume movement, bacteriology, water withdrawal legislation, water and wastewater emergencies, water well components, computer lab/web tools, well and water system piping design, point-of-sale programs, abandoned wells, and will include poster sessions hosted by students conducting current groundwater research.  The conference is scheduled for October 1-3, 2008.  The conference location is the Kettunen Center in Tustin, MI.  Registration is scheduled for 8:00 am on October 1.  For information about the conference agenda, expenses, and registration, contact Ms. Holly Gohlke at 517-241-1362 or gohlkeh@michigan.gov.

The following institutions offer 1- year programs and 2-year associate degrees in the well drilling field:

• Trinidad State Junior College located in Alamosa, Colorado.

• Red Deer College located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

• Sir Sanford Fleming College located in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada.

The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) offers a certification program for contractors and pump installers in the ground water industry. Eligible candidates will need to take and pass the Master Ground Water Contractor (MGWC) exam. The program is designed to demonstrate pride in your job and to promote professionalism in the ground water industry. For further information, please contact the Certification Coordinator at 1-800-551-7379.