Approximately one-third of the Earth's human population relies on groundwater for its water supply. Groundwater resources are coming under increasing stress in terms of quantity and quality because of global population growth and economic development.

Using geochemical and hydrogeological data, SwRI geoscientists analyze complex groundwater flow systems to improve groundwater resource management.

Groundwater Resource Management

Competition for access to and use of groundwater because of local, regional, and international growth is increasing the demand for effective groundwater management practices. In addition, increased recognition of the interrelationship between groundwater and surface water is placing new demands on total water resource management strategies.

	SwRI geoscientists develop and apply numerical models to improve characteristics of aquifers and better manage groundwater resources.

The Geosciences and Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) provides stakeholders with a resource of expertise in:

• Groundwater exploration

• Groundwater resource evaluation

• Aquifer characterization and development

• Groundwater quality evaluation and remediation

Groundwater Resource Technology

	Advanced data processing and analysis techniques are used to extract hydrologic and land use information from remote sensing data.

SwRI staff includes scientists and engineers with expertise and applied experience in:

• Groundwater exploration using geologic analysis and geophysical testing

• Groundwater resource evaluation through hydrologic analysis of local and regional recharge processes, and groundwater utilization

• Application of remote sensing and geographical information systems to quantify sources of groundwater recharge and depletion, and pollution sources

• Application of geologic framework models for analysis of geologic controls on aquifer properties

• Aquifer testing and numerical simulation of groundwater flow and contaminant transport

• Development of advanced mathematical models, such as for groundwater flow through discrete karstic conduits or colloidal transport

• Aquifer vulnerability and risk assessment using flow, transport, and geochemical models

Groundwater resource analysis services are supported in the following areas:

• Analytical chemistry

• Environmental site assessment

• Failure analysis

For more information about our groundwater resource analysis services and capabilities, or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Dr. Gary Walter at gwalter@swri.org or (210) 522-3805.