West Virginia University (WVU)
West Virginia University (WVU) is a university that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
Researchers identify multiple ‘forever chemical’ contamination hot spots in US
Harmful chemicals that don't break down are present in public water systems nationwide, and West Virginia University economists have found that densely populated, higher-income areas and those that use groundwater tend to have the highest contamination levels. Levan Elbakidze, professor of resource economics and management at the WVU Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources […]
Researcher studies worst western US megadrought in 1,200 years
Drylands in the western United States are currently in the grips of a 23-year "megadrought," and one West Virginia University researcher is working to gain a better understanding of this extreme climate event. Steve Kannenberg, assistant professor of biology at the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, is using observations from existing networks of […]
To make drinking water safer, researcher investigates microbial communities living in pipes
A West Virginia University engineer is working to solve the unknowns about microorganisms growing inside pipes that bring drinking water to homes and businesses. Supported by $505,784 from a National Science Foundation CAREER award, researcher Emily Garner has launched a five-year study to learn more about biofilms. Known as “cities of microbes,” biofilms are conglomerations of fungi, algae, bacteria […]
Water quality expert develops public tool for diagnosing health of America’s streams
A model for predicting the levels of oxygen in water, developed by West Virginia University researcher Omar Abdul-Aziz, gives citizen scientists nationwide a tool for taking action on stream pollution. "I have been looking at water quality data for 20 years," said Abdul-Aziz, an associate professor at the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and […]
Finding current toilet technology flushes profits
The waste flushed down toilets could be a valuable source of resources and profits — and easier on the environment, according to a West Virginia University engineer’s research. Kevin Orner, a Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources assistant professor, is developing a technology that can treat urine on site rather than at a remote, centralized wastewater treatment […]
Long term air and water pollution to remain steady despite quarantines, says climate change expert
One of the COVID-19’s more pleasant impacts has been stories of a cleaner environment as people hunker down inside. Satellite video shows pollution dissipating across the United States and China; the usually murky Venice, Italy canals are now flowing crystal clear. So, this could be a silver lining in the coronavirus cloud? Maybe some places, […]
Chemical found in drinking water linked to tooth decay in children
Children with higher concentrations of a certain chemical in their blood are more likely to get cavities, according to a new study by West Virginia University School of Dentistry researchers. Manufactured chemical groups called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are universal as a result of extensive manufacturing and use. Although manufacturers no longer use PFAS to make nonstick cookware, […]
Researchers thirsty for reducing fresh water use by power plants
Water is the essence of life. And electricity. Power plants across the country utilize more than four times as much water as all U.S. homes and account for 41 percent of total water withdrawals, according to federal data. Now, with the aid of a $400,000-Department of Energy grant, West Virginia University researchers are seeking ways to quench […]