HGS HIGHLIGHT – Estimating cumulative wastewater treatment plant discharge influences on acesulfame and Escherichia coli in a highly impacted watershed with a fully-integrated modelling approach
In this research highlight, researchers used HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to explore the impact of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge on surface water contamination in a mixed-use watershed in Ontario, Canada. The study focused on tracking acesulfame, a commonly used artificial sweetener, and Escherichia coli (E. coli), a fecal indicator, to understand how these contaminants move between surface and groundwater systems. Understanding the interactions between surface water and groundwater is critical in watersheds where WWTP discharge contributes to regional water quality concerns.
Staff Research Highlight - Climate Change Impacts on Mountain Snowpacks
We’re happy to highlight a new publication co-authored by Aquanty’s senior data scientist, Dr. Andre Erler, focused on the expected impacts that climate change will have on snow depth in mountainous regions. This research relies solely on regional climate projections and employs a very similar model configuration (WRF version 4). The WRF simulations used in this paper are described in detail in Erler & Peltier (2017).
Staff Research Highlight - Great Lakes Basin Heat Waves
We’re pleased to highlight new research co-authored by C1W collaborators at Aquanty (Andre Erler) and the University of Toronto (Dr. Richard Peltier). This new paper explores the effects of climate change and greenhouse gases on extreme heat events in the Great Lakes region.
Staff Research Highlight - Future snow changes over the Columbia Mountains, Canada, using a distributed snow model
This paper, co-authored by Andre Erler and researchers from the University of Northern British Columbia, investigates climate change impacts on snow depth using a distributed snow model called SnowModel. Snowmelt is an essential water source for communities, and seasonal snow accumulation in many regions is decreasing with each passing year. Water managers, communities, and policymakers can benefit from improved snow modeling forecasts to inform their decision making and understand vulnerabilities to their water supply systems.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – A Comparison of Sea-level Rise and Storm-Surge Overwash Effects on Groundwater Salinity of a Barrier Island
In this research highlight, researchers explored the impacts of storm surge overwash and sea-level rise on groundwater salinization at Assateague Island, a low-lying barrier island on the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. The study used HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to simulate the coupled surface and subsurface flow processes that influence the island’s aquifer system. By modelling future sea-level rise and storm-surge events, the researchers aimed to better understand the long-term effects of climate change on groundwater resources, particularly the vulnerability of freshwater lenses to salinization.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Modeling low-flow bedrock springs providing ecological habitats with climate change scenarios
In this research highlight, researchers used HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to investigate the impact of low-flow bedrock springs on ecological habitats under various climate change scenarios, with a focus on the effects on aquatic species such as salamanders. These bedrock springs are critical for sustaining ecosystems, and understanding their future dynamics is essential for effective conservation.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – The effects of land subsidence and its mitigating measures on shallow groundwater salinization in the low-lying coastal plain of East Japan
The research investigates how land subsidence and mitigation measures, specifically pumping stations and ditch systems in Shirako Town, Japan's lower Nabaki River region, interact. Land subsidence, caused by natural and human factors, heightens flood risks in coastal areas, challenging infrastructure stability and environmental sustainability. While pumping stations and ditches aim to manage surface water levels and reduce floods, their impact on groundwater salinity near tidal rivers is unclear. Using a coupled surface-subsurface model, the study reveals potential risks like saline water intrusion into groundwater.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Analyzing variation of the water table level with three-dimensional numerical simulations to assess reclamation techniques for an acidic tailings impoundment
As an extension of the last HGS research highlight titled ‘Improving control of contamination from waste rock piles’, this next research highlight within this series looks at a study conducted by the same researchers and explores the effects of thin cover deposition on managing water table levels in acidic tailings impoundments, while utilizing HydroGeoSphere (HGS) for in-depth simulations.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Improving control of contamination from waste rock piles
This study conducted by researchers investigates how well compacted cover layers on waste rock piles can mitigate infiltration into these waste piles, reducing the overall potential for oxidation of sulfidic waste materials and control environmental contamination. The research provides a detailed examination of how different cover configurations and hydrogeological conditions affect the performance of these covers in mitigating risks associated with waste rock piles.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Assessing the impact of surface water and groundwater interactions for regional-scale simulations of water table elevation
In this research highlight, researchers Hugo Delottier, Oliver S. Schilling, and René Therrien, conducted an in-depth exploration of how the interaction between surface water (SW) and groundwater (GW) affects the accuracy of regional-scale simulations of water table elevations in Southern Quebec. This investigation was conducted over a vast 36,900 km² regional aquifer system, which is marked by a complex hydrogeological setup. The area of study includes a regional bedrock aquifer that is overlain by discontinuous Quaternary sediments, presenting a challenging environment for accurate hydrological modelling.