NDSU researchers recently presented their work addressing various water quality issues at the North Dakota 68th Legislative Interim - Water Topics Overview Committee meeting in Bismarck.
Senator Ronald Sorvaag serves as chairman of the committee, and he recently addressed attendees at the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute PFAS Conference in Fargo. It was at this conference where he met many of the researchers and learned about their research into perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. Even though they don't occur naturally in the environment, PFAS are now found widespread in wildlife and fish all over the world and they do not break down easily naturally. Some PFAS can stay in the human body and research is currently underway to determine the negative health impacts they may cause.
Sorvaag asked WRRI Director and NDSU professor of agricultural and biosystem engineering, Xinhua Jia, to bring a group to present to the committee, which is responsible for legislative overview of water-related topics and related matters and any necessary discussions with adjacent states on water‑related topics.
Jia discussed how the Water Resources Research Institute located at NDSU is one of 54 institutes across the country. With 45 affiliate faculty members (35 from NDSU and 10 from UND), the institute is charged with promoting research that addresses water quality issues and expands the knowledge of water-related phenomena while promoting the training and education of current and future water resources scientist, engineers and technicians.
Jia detailed current NDWRRI research topics that include agricultural processes, hydrology., water quality and basin issues in the Missouri, Souris and James rivers. She also discussed the new Water Resources Certificate program at NDSU and how it will help prepare students to enter careers in hydrology and water resource management. Jia concluded with a discussion about her own research, which involves smart irrigation systems.
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Categories: North Dakota, General