Water

Two Mines professors contributed to a new study, led by a Mines alum and published May 6 in the journal Science, that proves value of electromagnetic techniques in a new polar environment.

The $360 million Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology aims to develop and deliver national hydrological analyses, forecast information, data and guidance to inform emergency management and water supply decisions.

Concrete sewers and gutters are very efficient when it comes to moving water quickly. But Colorado School of Mines researchers are looking at integrating natural alternatives to the built environment to help purify and clean groundwater supplies.

A Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) system developed at Colorado School of Mines can help communities reuse water resources, as well as quickly restore local drinking water contaminated by fire and other disasters.

Launching this fall, both programs will provide hands-on experience in cutting-edge geochemical methodology – in a format tailored to the needs of Colorado working professionals.

Christopher Higgins, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Colorado School of Mines, has been recognized for the top environmental restoration project of the year by the U.S. Department

“While there has been an emphasis on identifying and cleaning up drinking water impacted by PFASs, much less attention has been given to assessing risks from consuming produce irrigated with PFAS-contaminated water,” Mines PhD candidate Juliane Brown said.

Through these projects and others, Mines faculty and students are giving Mines an upper hand in responding to the pandemic and its challenges.

The team of environmental engineering students took first place in the 2020 WEF Student Design Competition for a design to help Colorado Springs Utilities achieve compliance with new state regulations on effluent.

PhD student Kyle Blount and HASS assistant professor Adrianne Kroepsch focused on collaborative problem-solving to protect water resources in the aftermath of wildfires upstream of Fort Collins, Colorado.