Welcome

Geogenic contaminants affect the health of millions of people worldwide, particularly in areas where alternative sources of water are either scarce or contaminated. It is important to identify all potential problem areas and to develop appropriate technologies for water treatment.

Geogenic contaminants occur in groundwater because either the rocks of the aquifer contain high concentrations of a particular substance or more usually because they are very soluble under certain chemical conditions in the aquifer. They occur naturally. They may also be associated locally with hydrothermal waters or with mining activities or with emissions to the atmosphere from industrial processes.

WRQ is an integrated project focusing on the identification of geogenic contamination in groundwater and the development and  of water treatment techniques that mitigate the effects of the contamination. The project team comprises geochemical specialists, modelers and social scientists and valuable partners global partners.

The goals

• The development of GIS maps for the prediction of areas where geogenic contaminant may pose a problem
• The development of expertise and technologies appropriate for low-income countries for the treatment of waters contaminated with arsenic and fluoride
• The development of dissemination and behavioural change strategies for the adoption of water treatment technologies