Student Projects

From students: Colleen, and Brendan

Groundwater plays a critical role in the water balance of the Great Lakes, contributing between 22-42% of the total water input and impacts many systems ranging from supplying drinking water, to industrial water supply, to transportation. Understanding groundwater is essential in assessing urban hydrology budgets and identifying public health concerns relating to subsurface pollution. The quality of the groundwater is crucial and has potential economic, health, and social implications for the region. This integration of socio-natural systems creates the hydrosocial cycle. Our research group aims to investigate the hydrosocial cycle of urban groundwater in southeastern Michigan by integrating civil and environmental engineering, anthropology, and environmental toxicology. Our research will contribute to understanding subsurface contaminate migration and its impacts on communities. Specifically, we are currently evaluating sites of known subsurface contamination from both an engineering and policy perspective in Wayne County, MI. The findings of this project are aimed at tailoring responses and communication efforts by the scientific community while illuminating the challenges cities and states face when responding to urban water concerns.