Speaker: Dr. Larry Barber
Abstract:
Sustainability of freshwater resources on island ecosystems relies on a detailed understanding of the sources and loading of contaminants and their impact on water quality. Considerable attention has been given to constituents such as nutrients and bacteria, but less is known about the occurrence and sources of unregulated contaminants such as trace elements and consumer product chemicals (pharmaceuticals and personal care products). Between 2014 and 2016 the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a survey of Hawaiian freshwaters on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii to assess the inorganic and organic chemistry of surface water and groundwater systems. This survey provides an important benchmark of the occurrence and sources for a variety of contaminants that are not typically investigated.