A5074881820- Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
- Groundwater flow and contamination studies
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- CO2 Sequestration and Geologic Interactions
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Water Quality and Pollution Assessment
- Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Hydraulic Fracturing and Reservoir Analysis
- Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Climate change and permafrost
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
University of Calgary
2016-2025
University of Waterloo
1989-2022
University of Alberta
2022
Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority
2006-2016
University of Virginia
1998
Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
1996-1997
The University of Melbourne
1996-1997
Abstract Unconventional natural gas extraction from tight sandstones, shales, and some coal‐beds is typically accomplished by horizontal drilling hydraulic fracturing that necessary for economic development of these new hydrocarbon resources. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential contamination shallow groundwater stray gases, formation waters, chemicals associated with unconventional exploration. A lack sound scientific hydrogeological field observations a scarcity published...
Abstract An enormous diversity of previously unknown bacteria and archaea has been discovered recently, yet their functional capacities distributions in the terrestrial subsurface remain uncertain. Here, we continually sampled a CO 2 -driven geyser (Colorado Plateau, Utah, USA) over its 5-day eruption cycle to test hypothesis that stratified, sandstone-hosted aquifers three phases have microbial communities differ both membership function. Genome-resolved metagenomics, single-cell genomics...
SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in wastewater and its abundance correlated with community COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations deaths. We sought to use wastewater-based detection of assess the epidemiology hospitals. Between August December 2020, twice-weekly samples from three tertiary-care hospitals (totaling > 2100 dedicated inpatient beds) were collected. Hospital-1 Hospital-2 could be captured a single sampling point whereas Hospital-3 required separate monitoring sites. Wastewater...
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an emerging surveillance tool that has been used to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by tracking SARS-CoV-2 RNA shed into wastewater. WBE was performed occurrence and spread of from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) six neighborhoods in city Calgary, Canada (population 1.44 million). A total 222 WWTP 192 neighborhood samples were collected June 2020 May 2021, encompassing end first-wave (June 2020), second-wave (November December 2020)...
Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria perform an important step in the global nitrogen cycle: anaerobic oxidation of ammonium and reduction nitrite to form dinitrogen gas (N(2)). Anammox organisms appear be widely distributed natural artificial environments. However, their roles groundwater attenuation remain unclear only limited biomarker-based data confirmed presence prior this study. We used complementary molecular isotope-based methods assess anammox diversity activity...
Abstract Sediment-hosted CO2-rich aquifers deep below the Colorado Plateau (USA) contain a remarkable diversity of uncultivated microorganisms, including Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria that are putative symbionts unable to synthesize membrane lipids. The origin organic carbon in these ecosystems is unknown and source CPR lipids remains elusive. We collected cells from groundwater brought surface by eruptions Crystal Geyser, sequenced community, analyzed whole community lipidome...
This study follows the geochemistry of nitrogen in a Cretaceous and unconfined sedimentary aquifer city Urânia (Brazil) over 20 years. Although sewer network was built 1970s, nitrate contamination problem (>45 mg/L-NO3−) persists to this day. The oldest urbanization areas located north initially used cesspits for wastewater currently present highest concentrations (>120 mg/L-NO3−), with plume reaching deeper portions (up 100 m). is not as dramatic south part city, where including...
Wastewater‐based surveillance has become an important tool for research groups and public health agencies investigating monitoring the COVID‐19 pandemic other emergencies including pathogens drug abuse. While there is emerging body of evidence exploring possibility predicting infections from wastewater signals, remain significant challenges statistical modeling. Longitudinal observations viral copies in municipal can be influenced by noisy datasets missing values with irregular sparse...
Municipal wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) programs for SARS-CoV-2 were valuable tools epidemiological modelling and informing COVID-19 health policy during the pandemic. We conducted a near to source study assess capacity performance of WBS in schools relative municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Only 4/17 screened had plumbing systems that amenable WBS. From December 2020 - March 2021 composite collected 2X/week from four three WWTP assessed fecal biomarkers. Schools lower...
Wastewater monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 enables early detection and the COVID-19 disease burden in communities can track specific variants concern. We determined proportions Omicron Delta across 30 municipalities covering >75% province Alberta (population 4.5 million), Canada, during November 2021-January 2022. Larger cities Calgary Edmonton exhibited more rapid emergence than did smaller remote municipalities. Notable exceptions were Banff, a small international resort town, Fort McMurray,...
Abstract The Abbotsford‐Sumas Aquifer is arguably the most studied case in Canada of groundwater nitrate contamination associated with agricultural production. Underlying some productive land Canada, this highly vulnerable trans‐boundary aquifer provides a unique study on opportunities and challenges addressing water quality issues. A monitoring program initiated early 1990s has been important tracking spatial temporal variation concentration. However, small parcels spatially temporally...
Groundwater flooding can occur when the water table rises due to (a) recharge (or decreased abstraction from) aquifers with low storativity or (b) propagation of rising river stages into permeable, river‐connected alluvial aquifers. The latter type was significant in 2013 Alberta. A survey 189 homes along Elbow River Calgary examined basement characteristics and initial route floodwater entry. In where entry known, 88% were initially flooded by groundwater, 12% reported exclusively...
Few studies have documented spatial and temporal variations in ground water quality areas with high densities of animal farming operations (AFOs), or the long-term effects on surface-water quality. Changes were characterized an irrigated area a density AFOs southern Alberta, Canada to evaluate effect manure application fields. Fifty-five piezometers oxidized zone sampled once twice annually from 1995 2001, changes analyzed using mixed model analysis. Average NO3- -N increased significantly...
Abstract Potato production is critical to economy of Prince Edward Island ( PEI ), but has been linked increasing groundwater nitrate contamination and anoxic events in estuaries. Given that entirely groundwater‐dependent for potable water, this resulted considerable pressure find solutions protect water quality. However, our understanding the controls on loading groundwater, consequent potential mitigate through beneficial management practices BMPs limited. In , flow transport vadose zone...
Abstract Methane emission quantification from gas migration (GM) and surface casing vent flow (SCVF) is needed to support strategic methane reduction targets mitigate explosion groundwater quality risks. This paper assessed which of 451 990 Alberta oil wells should have been (or will be) tested for SCVF and/or GM according regulations, compared the results with provincial testing database. As 2017, was required on 3.5%, reported 0.75%, Alberta’s energy wells. Similarly, 58.2%, 6.2%, all An...
The association between hydraulic fracturing and human development is not well understood. Several studies have identified significant associations unconventional natural gas adverse birth outcomes; however, geology legislation vary regions.To examine the overall residential proximity to sites outcomes, investigate whether density influenced this association.This population-based retrospective cohort study of pregnant individuals in rural Alberta, Canada, took place from 2013 2018....
Nitrate pollution is a major threat to groundwater quality in agricultural areas. Natural attenuation of nitrate contaminated aquifers mediated by denitrifying microbial populations anoxic environments. Vertical distribution communities greatly influenced redox conditions, local hydrogeological parameters, and seasonal variability flow recharge. In this study, we investigated geochemistry the composition bacterial archaeal with increasing depth shallow nitrate-contaminated aquifer British...
The Elbow River Watershed originates in the foothills of Rocky Mountains and is a primary source water for City Calgary. Consequently, long-term protection investment this resource interest to While droughts shortages are serious concern Albertans, spring freshet flooding may lead enormous costs virtually overnight. impacts climate change on were determined using both statistical analysis historical hydro-climatological data modelling Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM) forcing SSARR...