In a recently published episode of the Podcast What About Water? Jay Famiglietti sat down with the leader of The Groundwater Project and the father of contaminant hydrogeology, Dr. John Cherry to discuss groundwater and contaminant monitoring. More than half of the globe’s population depends on groundwater for their drinking water – and as dangerous pollutants and chemicals such as PFAs, oil, and gas continue to contaminate and threaten these water supplies this field of study is becoming increasingly vital.
In this podcast, Dr. Cherry discusses how he credits a student of his, in the 1960s, for getting him onto the subject of groundwater contamination. After this student observed groundwater contamination at a nuclear research centre, she pushed Dr. Cherry to visit the research centre himself where funding had already been established for him to conduct studies. He soon after discovered how interesting and understudied this field was.
During this 30-minute episode, Dr. Cherry answers important questions including what new things we know today on the subject of groundwater contamination? What are PFAs and what are they doing to groundwater? As well as questions regarding the research being conducted at the G360 Institute for Groundwater Research in Guelph, Ontario Canada. Discussing how this research institute is helping Guelph lead the way in terms of modern monitoring of bedrock aquifers.
Dr. Cherry then went on to discuss how his world travels inspired him to start The Groundwater Project, after being asked many times if he would revise his book Groundwater by R. Allan Freeze and John A. Cherry. Upon the realization that this book could not be revised, as the research and field of groundwater had moved too quickly, and that instead this book needed to be replaced by many books, The Groundwater Project was established.
To listen to this podcast and learn more about groundwater contamination and The Groundwater Project visit: https://www.whataboutwater.org
