General
UCOWR National Water Webinar: Scaling solutions: Beneficially utilizing treated produced water for agriculture with Dr. Joseph Burke and Dr. Katie Lewis
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY and UNIVERSITIES COUNCIL ON WATER RESOURCES PRESENT
Scaling solutions: Beneficially utilizing treated produced water for agriculture with Dr. Jospeh Burke and Dr. Katie Lewis
Date: Tuesday, October 28th, 2025
Time: 12pm – 1pm central time
Location: Microsoft Teams Webinar
This virtual event is free and open to the public. Click here to reserve your spot today.
Dr. Joseph Burke is an Assistant Professor of Cropping Systems Agronomy and Extension Soil and Water Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Service, Lubbock, TX. Dr. Katie Lewis is a Professor of Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Lubbock, TX.
Texas leads the U.S. in oil and gas exploration through extensive hydraulic fracturing, commonly called “fracking.” The fracking process in the Permian Basin typically uses three to five barrels of water to extract one barrel of oil. This water eventually returns to the surface during extraction and can contain salts, organic and inorganic compounds, chemical additives, naturally occurring radioactive material, and other byproducts that create challenges with utilizing these water resources, dubbed “produced water.” Traditionally, produced water can be reused for additional fracking or deep-injected into non-reactive geological formations. However, increased seismic activity has reduced this deep injection in Texas and the surrounding states. Utilizing treated produced water for agriculture provides an alternative to deep injection that can help ensure Texas meets its future water demands. Texas A&M AgriLife leads two projects to better understand how treated produced water can be used beneficially for agriculture. These projects integrate research and extension to characterize the treated produced water, examine its impact on forage, bioenergy, and row crop production, evaluate changes in soil chemical, physical, and biological properties, quantify economic impacts, and model changes in regional hydrology due to produced water applications.
Come join the conversation!
Water Data Forum Free Webinar Series: Data-Driven Approaches to Understanding Emerging Contaminants
Water Data Forum is an interactive web series convened by Cleveland Water Alliance, CUAHSI, and the Water Environment Federation to demystify topics of water data for a broad professional audience. Topics in this free, virtual forum range from specific technologies to broader application spaces, exploring the full breadth of the world of water data.
The Cleveland Water Alliance’s next Water Data Forum: Data-Driven Approaches to Understanding Emerging Contaminants will be taking place at 12 PM ET on September 10th. The September forum will convene subject matter experts to explore efforts to measure, assess impact, and address emerging contaminants such as microplastics and PFAS. In a facilitated discussion, the panelists will examine specific challenges, innovative methods, and new areas of study as researchers and practitioners work to address this complex water quality issue.
Click here to learn more.
UCOWR Board of Directors Student Representative
Graduate Student Representative to the UCOWR Board
The UCOWR Board seeks graduate student input. Nominate a talented student today!
This student representative to the UCOWR Board provides graduate students a voice in UCOWR planning and governance. Particularly, the student member will add a valuable perspective toward promoting greater student involvement in our annual conference.
- Nominations are being accepted through June 20, 2025.
- The new graduate student representative to the board will take office on July 1, 2025.
What is expected of the Graduate Student Board Member?
- Complete a one-year term on the UCOWR Board of Directors
- Serve as a voting member of the Board
- Attend annual conference and quarterly Board meetings (3 teleconference, 1 in-person at conference)
- Help to plan annual UCOWR/NIWR conference, particularly special sessions, student activities/events and field trips
- Serve on an award committee
- Actively participate in ongoing Board activities as appropriate (See Roles and Responsibilities of Board of Directors.)
What is the nomination process for a Graduate Student Board Member?
1) Graduate student candidates must be from a UCOWR member institution.
2) Use the QR code below to submit a nomination by June 20, 2025. Biographical sketch and vision statement are required. Questions can be directed to ucowr@siu.edu.
UCOWR National Water Webinar: Public Health Applications for Water Resources By Dr. Anna Gitter
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY and UNIVERSITIES COUNCIL ON WATER RESOURCES PRESENT
Public Health Applications for Water Resources
By Dr. Anna Gitter
Date: Tuesday, April 29th, 2025
Time: 12pm – 1pm central time
Location: Microsoft Teams Webinar
This virtual event is free and open to the public. Click here to reserve your spot today.
Dr. Anna Gitter is an Assistant Professor in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and affiliated faculty with the Center for Health Equity and the Southwest Center for Environmental and Occupational Health at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.
Water management is an interdisciplinary field that requires expertise across diverse sectors, including policy, engineering, life sciences, and public health. Often, when we think of water and public health, drinking water quality or wastewater management comes to mind. This presentation will highlight the critical need for why water resources management should be developed with critical attention to the relationship between public health and water. A few specific examples, including recreational water quality, wastewater-based epidemiology, and tap water avoidance, will be discussed to showcase the value of evaluating “water” topics through a public health lens.
Come join the conversation!
Connect with UCOWR’s Network of Water Extension and Engagement Professionals
Extension and outreach programs play a critical role in addressing on-the-ground water resource issues at a range of scales, local to national. It is estimated that about a quarter of UCOWR’s membership holds responsibilities related to outreach education, and that number is growing. Click on the UCOWR Extension Flyer to learn more about connecting with UCOWR’s network of water extension and engagement professionals.
