Research Summary
Approximately 2.1 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. As surface water resources fall short of meeting the world’s growing needs, increasing pressure is being placed on groundwater reserves. However, these reserves face a growing threat of contamination from both human activities and naturally occurring, mineral-borne pollutants. As Canada Research Chair in Environmental Biogeochemistry for Contaminant and Resource Management, Dr. Debra Hausladen is working to safeguard groundwater as a vital resource for current and future water security.
She and her research team are studying naturally occurring contaminants to inform both public health and groundwater management strategies. (These contaminants are already present within groundwater aquifers around the world and are a chronic source of contamination.) Hausladen’s team is also developing innovative and sustainable treatment strategies to address current exposure pathways. By integrating cutting-edge geochemical studies with community-based research, their findings will support more sustainable groundwater management and resource extraction.