Join fellow groundwater professionals at this conference that explores potential resolutions to emerging groundwater issues such as stress on resources from growing populations, increased demand on water used for developing and producing energy, and nanotechnology.
Improving technology, scientific advances, and widely available tools for integrating a variety of datasets for geospatial analysis often appear to be outpaced by new stressors to groundwater resources, such as increased demands from shifting populations, the water/energy nexus, and extreme weather events.
Cutting-edge analytical advances have enabled us to detect more and more minute traces of harmful constituents in our environment, which cause alarm within the general public. However, analytical advances also provide new insights for problem solving, fate and transport of contaminants, and solutions for remediation.
Growing populations create greater stress on groundwater resources from both quantity and quality perspectives. The demand for water used for the development and production of energy, both traditional as well as alternative or green forms, are increasing. Extreme weather events challenge our ability to develop sustainable water management plans, or allocate suitable water resources at critical times.
And the solutions to many groundwater problems will ultimately depend on how we value groundwater.
Sessions cover topics such as the following, to name but a few:
View the full conference program.
Dr. James “Jay” S. Famiglietti, 2012 Birdsall-Dreiss Distinguished Lecturer, will present “Water Cycle Change and the Human Fingerprint on the Water Landscape of the 21st Century: Observations from a Decade of GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment).”
Famiglietti, who holds a joint faculty appointment in Earth System Science and Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, is the founding director of the UC Center for Hydrologic Modeling. His research group uses satellite remote sensing to track water availability and groundwater depletion on land, and has been working for many years towards improving hydrological prediction in regional and global weather and climate models.
Dr. Gregory Lowry, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, will make discuss the potential benefits and the challenges facing the application of engineered nanomaterials for in situ groundwater treatment, and also touch on general EHS issues surrounding nanotechnology for groundwater treatment.
Lowry teaches environmental engineering, water quality engineering, environmental fate and transport of organic compounds in aquatic systems, environmental nanotechnology, and environmental sampling and sample characterization. His research interests include mineral-organic macromolecule-water interfacial processes, and transport and reaction in porous media, with a focus on the fundamental physical/geochemical processes affecting the fate of engineered nanomaterials and organic contaminants in the environment. Lowry’s current projects include in situ sediment management using innovative sediment caps, DNAPL source zone remediation through delivery of reactive nanoparticles to the NAPL-water interface, and CO2 capture, sequestration, and monitoring.
This panel will share various perspectives on the scientific, political, and economic aspects of what will impact groundwater professionals and society in the future. What factors are most likely to affect the resource availability and sustainability? Are they manmade or natural contaminants? What will be the restrictions on use, maximum contaminant levels, and new prescribed treatments? How will we fund a safe, sustainable groundwater resource?
Panel participants include Robert Mace, Ph.D., Texas Water Development Board, and Gary Gin, RG, City of Phoenix.
Marvin F. Glotfelty, RG, will present “Life-Cycle Economic Analysis of Water Wells — Considerations for Design and Construction.”
Glotfelty is cofounder and principal hydrogelogist with Clear Creek Associates, a groundwater consulting firm. During his professional career, he has participated in almost every aspect of the hydrogeologic sciences including recharge projects, water supply studies, water rights issues, groundwater quality, well installation programs, and well rehabilitation projects. He has also given more than 60 presentations on hydrogeologic and water well topics.
Read more about the lecture and lecturer. (The McEllhiney Lecture Series is made possible by a grant from Franklin Electric Co.)
View fees and registration information.
The St. Anthony Riverwalk Wyndham Hotel
300 East Travis Street
San Antonio, Texas 78205
800 WYNDHAM (800 996.3426)
210 227.4392