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UC Seminar Talk – Professor Eric Hoek, March 9th at Noon

March 8, 2018

UC Berkeley Environmental Engineering Spring 2018 Seminar Series presents Professor Eric M.V. Hoek, Ph.D., (UCLA Engineering) presenting, “Impacts of water quality, membrane material and operating conditions on the performance and economics of MF/UF Membranes in water and wastewater treatment,” Friday, March 9th, 2018, 12 – 1pm, 534 Davis Hall, UC Berkeley.

March 12 WERRI Talk on Sustainable Food Energy and Water Systems

March 7, 2018

At the next WERRI seminar on March 12, Meagan Mauter of Carnegie Mellon University will discuss the use of high-resolution information at spatial and temporal scales relevant to underlying physicochemical and biological processes. The talk begins at 11:30 a.m. in Perseverance Hall and will be webcast via Zoom. More>

Project to study climate effects on California water systems from headwaters to groundwater

December 28, 2017

A new project by national laboratories and University of California campuses will study California’s water systems, from the headwaters in the Sierra Nevada, through rivers, reservoirs and groundwater in the Central Valley.

California relies on the Sierra Nevada snowpack for a significant portion of its water needs, yet scientists understand very little about how future changes in snowpack volume and timing will influence surface water and groundwater. Researchers Erica Woodburn and Carl Steefel of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Area are developing an advanced hydrologic model to study how climate change might affect California watersheds in the future.

Berkeley Lab Hosts California Water Data Workshop

Dec 4, 2017

Experts from California’s water resource community gathered at the Berkeley International House to exchange ideas on how best to meet the need for open and transparent water data in California. Nearly 100 attendees from more than 60 organizations representing government, industry, water districts, universities, national laboratories, and the state legislature were in attendance.

Emerging Scientific and Engineering Opportunities within the Water-Energy Nexus

Dec 20, 2017

Water and energy are resources that are linked, because generating energy requires water, often in large quantities, and energy is needed for pumping, treatment, and distribution of water and for collection, treatment, and discharge of wastewater. This interrelationship is often referred to as the water-energy nexus. The Molecular Foundry’s Jeff Urban details the challenges and opportunities in the WEN in a recent issue of Joule.

New Berkeley Lab study finds that in reducing air temperatures, cool roofs can also reduce outdoor water use

20 Oct 2017

Based on regional climate simulations of 18 California counties, Berkeley Lab researchers Pouya Vahmani and Andrew Jones found that widespread cool roof adoption could reduce outdoor water consumption by as much as 9 percent. Their study, “Water conservation benefits of urban heat mitigation,” was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Call for Submissions: Water, a Special Issue dedicated to the memory of Bo Bodvarsson

20 Oct 2016

It has been nearly 10 years since our friend, colleague, leader, former Director of the Earth Sciences Division, passed away leaving the Earth Sciences family so abruptly at LBNL. The Special Issue will appear as part of the journal called, Water and will be dedicated to the memory of Bo, and will primarily focus on recent advances and future perspectives of vadose/unsaturated zone studies in various areas of the soil and hydrological sciences. Read the attached message from guest editor Dr. Boris Faybishenko here.

Water-Energy Nexus Seminar on Water Resiliency in a Low-Carbon Future: Opportunities and Challenges at the Energy-Water Nexus

20 Oct 2016

This presentation explores the energy-water-land (food) interactions that give rise to natural/engineered system dynamics. Robin Newmark is an Associate Laboratory Director at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Dr. Newmark has led or contributed to programs involving energy, climate and water issues, and the interdependence of water and energy systems.

Peter Nico Announced as Program Domain Lead for Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure

23 Sep 2016

On September 19, Berkeley Lab’s Energy Geosciences Division Director, Dr. Jens Birkholzer announced Peter Nico as the new Program Domain Lead for Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure.

EESA Develops New Approach to Restock California’s Groundwater via Almond Orchards, Vineyards

3 Aug 2017

Groundwater—the water stored underneath the Earth’s surface between the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and bedrock—is essential for the California residents and farmers who rely on it for up to 46 percent of their annual water use.