Management of resources is a big deal in a world that is running out of them. Whether from climate change, development, toxic pollutants or other problems, loss of water resources is particularly worrisome.
Maybe you’ve already thought about that as you turn on the water in your Athens Ohio housing to wash your hair, brush your teeth, take a shower, wash dishes and flush the toilet. Maybe you’ve also wondered: How clean is our local water? Is there enough of it? Am I likely to experience flooding problems where I live? These are just some of the questions that should be of increasing interest to all citizens worldwide.
Those who choose water management as a career path will deal with these challenges as more people vie for less potable water worldwide, plus other issues such as sewage and storm water overflow, reservoir sedimentation, exotic aquatic species, emerging pathogens, acid mine drainage, sedimentation and ground water pollution.
That’s why events such as the Ohio River Basin Consortium set for Oct. 2-4 at OU are so important. This year’s event, themed, “Managing Our Water in a Changing World: from Social, Environmental and Policy Perspectives,” will host a variety of experts discussing the management of 204,000 square miles of water ways in 14 states, and serving a population of 25 million.
Interested? Talk to professors involved in environmental projects and water management and see how you can attend.