8898 Seminar
Dr. Jean Bahr, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Shell Distinguished Women in Science Lecture
“Evolving Understanding of an Old Aquifer: The Cambrian-Ordovician Sandstone of the Upper Midwest”
The Cambrian-Ordovician Sandstone Aquifer in the Upper Midwest has been widely used for municipal water supply for over a century. However, the 20th century conceptual model of this aquifer system as a relatively homogeneous porous medium has been replaced in the last decade by one that recognizes the importance, and in some cases dominance, of preferential flow through high permeability stratigraphic intervals and fractures. These preferential flow paths, coupled with long term alterations of the flow field generated by municipal pumping, have increased the vulnerability of drinking water in areas supplied by this aquifer to anthropogenic and naturally occurring contaminants. This talk will review methods developed to identify and characterize preferential flow paths and to assess sources of contaminants and mitigation strategies.
Host: Dr. Anne Carey
Coffee/cookies will be served @ 3:30pm
Reception and refreshments immediately following the seminar.
