World Water Day is March 22. Here’s how CSU is leading the way in water research
Contact for reporters:
Allison Sylte
(720)-849-1907
Allison.Sylte@colostate.edu
or
Jennifer Dimas
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Lake Mead’s water levels are at historic lows. East Coast cities are sinking due to the overpumping of groundwater. Mexico City, one of the world’s largest cities, is running out of water.
The headlines are alarming. However, Colorado State University is working to better understand and find solutions to these wicked problems.
CSU has been one of the top universities doing water research for more than a century since Elwood Mead, the namesake of America’s largest reservoir, became the first head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1883.
Since then, CSU has been leading the way in the fields of water technology, hydrology research and hydraulics. Ahead of World Water Day on March 22, this special report from SOURCE explores the research happening at CSU and provides insights into the ongoing water crisis across the country and around the globe.
Need a water expert? Meet some of CSU’s water researchers
From the Colorado River to post-wildfire hydrology to beer, CSU experts are available to talk all things water.
Water 101: Q&A with Colorado Water Center Director John Tracy
One thing Tracy isn’t worried about: water supply. There’s plenty to go around, as long as it’s used wisely. However, water infrastructure, workforce and education are all real issues, he said.
The story of water: How CSU’s water archivist curates Colorado’s complicated, controversial history
Created in 2001 as a joint effort of the University Libraries and the Colorado Water Center, the Water Resources Archive features historic documents related to Colorado’s water resources. Patty Rettig has been the head archivist for the program since it began, building the collections that, at last count, totaled an estimated 3 million items — from maps and photos to meeting minutes and contracts.
Did you know CSU has a copy of the Colorado River Compact? This and other documents shed light on water in the West
High-resolution video of the Colorado River Compact and other items in the CSU Water Resources Archive is available here: https://col.st/Ij1ZY
Can growing peas in the winter help the Colorado River?
CSU researchers showed promising results during their first year of studying the viability of pairing winter peas with water conservation payments.
Rapid decline: Scientist describes impacts of climate change on the Colorado River and its 40 million users
Most people know exactly where they get their water, says Brad Udall, an eminent water and climate scientist at Colorado State University. It comes from the tap. But, of course, the real source of our water is far more complicated.
CSU beer experts: ‘Water is everything to a brewer’
Perhaps no one is more reliant on high-quality water than brewers. Water makes up more than 90% of most beers. The water flowing from the Rockies is pure and clean, which helps explain why hundreds of macro- and micro-breweries call Colorado home.
How do you sustainably filter stormwater to irrigate crops?
What’s known as the Minus Water Treatment System is one of the newest technologies inside the Water TAP Lab at CSU Spur. This shipping container houses a membrane-based ultrafiltration unit that can remove contaminants from stormwater without using more common treatment methods like chemicals or the energy required with ultraviolet light.
What is subsidence? CSU researchers use remote sensing to understand how groundwater pumping causes land to sink
Approximately 77 billion gallons of groundwater are used each day around the globe for agriculture and human consumption. It is one of the largest sources of freshwater on Earth, but accessing the resource brings a unique set of considerations that do not exist for surface waters like rivers.