Memphis Water Clearly Among the Best
For release: August 12, 2003
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

In recognition of National Water Quality Month, the research faculty of the University of Memphis Ground Water Institute (GWI) has created a display highlighting the supply of Memphis' excellent water. Set up on the second floor, north side of the Ned R. McWherter Library, the display is open to the public throughout August.

Introducing the main display is a smaller kiosk display, installed on the first floor near the elevator by the library's Government Publications department.

The GWI display features a presentation describing the components of the area's underlying aquifer system and contains samples of several of the system's ground layers. A display case contains a timeline of the history of the Memphis aquifer and the development of Memphis' public water system. Copies of several recent publications examine water crises across the nation, emphasizing the importance of protecting and conserving Memphis' abundant, high-quality water source.

The Memphis area obtains its drinking water from plentiful underground water systems, composed mainly of sand, called the Memphis aquifer and the Fort Pillow aquifer. The Memphis aquifer produces some of the highest-quality drinking water in the nation. The aquifer is located about 350 feet below land surface in downtown Memphis with an estimated thickness of 800 feet. Water is delivered to the surface through the use of wells. Memphis is one of the largest cities in the world that relies exclusively on ground water for its supply.

The U of M's Ground Water Institute faculty will present a public lecture on the topic at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, in the McWherter Library. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the University Libraries.

For more information, contact Dr. Brian Waldron (678-3913 or bwaldron@memphis.edu) or Dr. Stephanie Ivey (678-4055 or ssalyers@memphis.edu) of the Ground Water Institute, or Saundra Williams, head of government publications for the University Libraries (678-2206 or swilliam@memphis.edu).

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