(WESTERVILLE, OH — October 1, 2008) Carl Keller of Santa Fe, New Mexico, owner and principal scientist at Flexible Liner Underground Technologies (FLUTe), has received the 2008 Technology Award from the National Ground Water Association.
The award will be presented in December at the 2008 NGWA Ground Water Expo and Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Keller received the award, in part, for his invention of the flexible tubular liner used in groundwater monitoring wells to temporarily seal a wellbore to prevent water migration up or down the well. This invention and subsequent variations of his technology have been credited with preventing groundwater, contamination, and facilitating groundwater monitoring and remediation throughout the world.
"Where I practice in New England, groundwater is derived from fractured crystalline bedrock. When contamination occurs in the fractured bedrock, a well can act as a conduit for spreading contamination between fracture zones," said nominator Gary A. Robbins, professor of geology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut. "The FLUTe™ [liner system] has become a standard practice in sealing bedrock monitoring wells or contaminated supply wells to prevent cross-contamination."
As further evidence of his innovations, Keller has 13 patents on underground measurements with 12 of those related to flexible liners. He has patent approval on his methods in 14 foreign counties. His company, founded in 1996, manufactures and installs his systems in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, South Africa, Japan, and Australia.
"Carl Keller is a man of vision who saw a need to protect groundwater and created an innovative solution to do it. He exemplifies the quality of problem solving inherent to the groundwater industry," said NGWA President Scott Fowler, CWD/PI.
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NGWA, a nonprofit organization comprised of 14,000 U.S. and international groundwater professionals—contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists, and engineers—is dedicated to advancing the expertise of all groundwater professionals and to furthering groundwater awareness and protection through education and outreach. NGWA's vision is to be the leading community of groundwater professionals that promotes the responsible development, use, and management of groundwater resources.
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