Although a safe and reliable supply of groundwater is essential to support ecological and societal functions, it is often unrecognized in government policy and programs. Groundwater professionals have strived to make decision-makers more aware of and prompt them to act to develop top-down programs that will manage and protect groundwater. There is growing recognition by some groundwater professionals that the efforts to influence decision-makers have had limited success, and an alternative course of action is needed. One alternative is to refocus on bottom-up efforts and engage more in promoting awareness-building and educating landowners about the importance of groundwater and their role in its management and protection. This approach is particularly relevant in rural areas, where landowners have a direct connection and dependence on groundwater provided through their private water well, where groundwater is often the only water source for agricultural, rural business and household use. In this paper we share insights drawn from a research project that explored opportunities to better deliver groundwater educational materials using a transdisciplinary community-based research (TCBR) approach. The research project involved collaboration between researchers and representatives of technical-knowledge holder and rural community-based organizations (CBO) representatives to co-develop updated private water well and groundwater educational materials. Engagement and collaboration with CBOs representing farmer, First Nations organizations, and rural residents and businesses identified gaps and barriers associated with current educational efforts, and highlighted opportunities to enhance broader private water well and groundwater management and protection efforts by using a collaborative TCBR approach.