Department of Geosciences

Hydrology and Water Resources

Faculty: T.B. Boving and A.I. Veeger

URI Hydrology Collaborative Faculty: Leon Thiem and R.Wright (Civil Engineering), A. Gold, F. Golet, J. Amador, J. Gorres (Natural Resources Sciences), S. Barnett (Chemical Engineering)

Faculty research covers a range of topics in the general areas of Environmental Hydrogeology, Aquatic Geochemistry, and Modeling. Our interests include the fate and transport of contaminants in the unsaturated and saturated zone, stable isotope hydrology, surface-water/ground-water interactions, and innovative remediation technologies. URI hydrogeology students receive a broad background in earth sciences and engineering. Our students pursue research which combines fieldwork with laboratory work. Our field Hydrogeology projects have taken students to field sites within the USA as well as abroad, i.e. Jordan, and India.

Selected Funded Research Projects:

(2007-2009): Clean Water by Riverbank Filtration - A Demonstration of a Novel Site Selection and Implementation Strategy in Southern India. Funded by The World Bank - Developing Marketplace Programme. PI: Boving

(2006-2007): Implementation of GeoInfoDB: a web-based relational database portal for subsurface geotechnical data. Funded by RI DoT PI: Veeger

(2006): Quantification of atmospheric PAH bulk deposition rates. Funded by URI Foundation. PI: Boving

(2005-2006): Development of a State-wide Public Water-Supply GIS coverage for Rhode Island. Funded by Water Resources Ctr./USGS PI: Veeger

(2005-2008): Demonstration of River Bank Filtration (RBF) in Jordan. Collaborative research project with the Louisiana State University, Jordan University of Science and Technology, the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, and the Jordan Water Authority. Funded by NATO. PI: Boving

(2005-2008): Woodfilter demonstration for removing contaminants from stormwater runoff. CICEET. PI: Boving

(2005-2006): MTBE Drinking Water Contamination in Pascoag, RI: A Tracer Test for Investigating the Fate and Transport of Contaminants in a Fractured Rock Aquifer. USGS/RI Water Resources Center, PI: Boving

(2004-2006): Emergency Flares as a Perchlorate Source in Roadway Runoff. US DOT/ RI Transportation Center. PI: Veeger and Boving

(2003-2005): Monitoring a Stormwater BMP at Mettatxuet Beach, Narragansett, RI. Funded by Coastal Resources. Management Center. PI: Boving

(2003-2004) A Preliminary Web Portal for RI Water Resources. USGS/RI Water Resources Center. PI: Boving

(2003-2004) Porous Pavement and Water Quality: Investigation of a Newly Constructed Parking Lot and its Potential Impact on Subsurface Water. US DOT/URI Transportation Center. PI: Boving

(2002-2004): Enhancing the Chemical Retention Capacity of a Roadway Runoff Retention Pond System using Wood Filters. US DOT/ RI Transportation Center. PI: Boving

(2001-2003: Fingerprinting Sources of Bacterial Input into Small Residential Watersheds - Narrow River, RI: an Example. PI: Boving

(2001 -2004) Cyclodextrin Enhanced In-Situ Removal of Organic Contaminants from Groundwater at Department of Defense Sites, Funded by ESTCP/U.S. Department of Defense, With M.L. Brusseau and W. Blanford, University of Arizona, and J.E. McCray, Colorado School of Mines.

(2001 – 2002) Stormwater Runoff Treatment with Vortex Structures, Rhode Island Aqua Fund. PI: Boving

(2000 - 2001) Chemical Retention Capacity of a Newly Constructed Roadway Runoff Detention Pond System, URI Transportation Center. PI: Veeger

(2000-2001) Water Use and Availability on Block Island, Rhode Island, Rhode Island Water Resources Board. PI: Veeger

(1999-2000) Isotope Hydrology of the Pawcatuck Watershed, Rhode Island, USGS/RI Water Resources Center. PI: Veeger

(1999-2000) Tiverton Landfill Hydrogeologic Assessment: Bedrock Fracture and Water Quality Analysis, Town of Tiverton. PI: Veeger

(1997-2000) Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on the Quality of Ground and Surface Water Discharging to Narragansett Bay from Conanicut Island. PI: Veeger