Carol Ptacek

Dr. Carol Ptacek is a Professor and a University Research Chair in Earth and Environmental Sciences who conducts research in Contaminant Hydrogeology and Environmental Geochemistry. She leads the Groundwater Geochemistry and Remediation Group together with David Blowes.

Her research program focuses on acquiring an improved understanding of geochemical processes controlling the transport and fate of inorganic and organic contaminants in the subsurface environment and development of novel remediation approaches for their control. Ptacek’s program is multidisciplinary and integrates laboratory experimentation, field-based measurements, advanced chemical analysis procedures, and interpretations and predictions using coupled numerical models. Specific research areas include field, laboratory, and numerical modeling studies at legacy mine and industrial sites to provide quantitative predictions of long-term contaminant release and transport in the subsurface environment; studies to evaluate the transport and persistence of pharmaceutical compounds, personal care products, explosives, and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates in groundwater; and studies to develop and evaluate remediation and control technologies to prevent release of these contaminants to ecosystems.

Ptacek’s work examines the mechanisms controlling the release and transport of toxic elements from northern mine sites and evaluates alternative management practices and remediation technologies. Her research also focuses on emerging contaminants, many that are not yet regulated and therefore have unknown short- and long-term effects on the environment and water systems. Ptacek aims to improve groundwater and surface water quality, recognizing that treating groundwater is a significant key to enhancing human and ecosystem health.

• Fate and transport of contaminants in groundwater, including metals, nutrients, and emerging organic compounds

• Reactions and transformations of contaminants in the subsurface (geochemistry)

• Threats to aquatic ecosystems

• Climate change and geosciences

• Increasingly complex water challenges

• Protection of surface and groundwater resources

• Contamination and remediation: water, soil

• 1992, PhD Geochemistry, University of Waterloo, Canada

• 1985, MSc Contaminant Hydrogeology, University of Waterloo, Canada

• 1981, Bachelors, Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States

• 2023, International Association of Applied Geochemistry, Fellow

• 2019 – 2026, University Research Chair, University of Waterloo

• 2017, 2023, Outstanding Performance Award, University of Waterloo

• 2006, The Better World Report, Technology Transfer Stories: Top 25 Innovations That Changed the World (for Groundwater PRB Technology)

• 2002, Canada Council of Ministers of the Environment - Certificate of Appreciation for co-organisation of science-policy workshop

• 2000, Editor’s Citation for Excellence in Manuscript Review - Journal of Environmental Quality

• 1999, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)/Conference Board of Canada, Synergy Award for Groundwater Modelling Studies

• 1992, W.B. Pearson Medal for Creativity in the Ph.D. Studies, University of Waterloo

• 1984, Best Paper Award, Oil and Freshwater Conference, Edmonton, Alberta

• American Chemical Society (Member)

• Geochemical Society (Member)

• Geological Society of America (Member)

• The Water Institute (Member)

• Associate Editor of Applied Geochemistry

• EARTH 421 - Advanced Geochemistry
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
• EARTH 621 - Aqueous Geochemistry
  • Taught in 2022
• EARTH 653 - Contaminant Hydrogeology
  • Taught in 2021, 2023, 2024, 2026

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• For the full list of Carol Ptacek's publications, please see Google Scholar.

• Bao, Z., Yuan, Y., Bain, J., Wilson, D., Ptacek, C.J., Blowes, D.W. (2026). Using blasting-derived perchlorate and chloride for hydrological quantification in an abandoned mine waste-rock pile. ACS ES&T Water, 6(3): 1621-1627. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.5c01152

• Hilger, D.M., Blowes, D.W., Brookfield, A.E., Bain, J.G., Ptacek, C.J. (2025). Influence of mine dewatering-effluent cycling on arsenic loading in a gold mine tailings containment area. Water Resources Research, 61 (10). https://doi.org/10.1029/2024WR039686

• Digaletos, M., Ptacek, C.J., Thomas, J., Liu, Y.Y., (2023). Chemical and biological tracers to identify source and transport pathways of septic system contamination to streams in areas with low permeability soils. Science of the Total Environment, 870: 161866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161866

• Angai, J.U., Ptacek, C.J., Pakostova, E., Bain, J.G., Verbuyst, B., Blowes, D.W., (2022). Removal of arsenic and metals from groundwater impacted by mine waste using zero-valent iron and organic carbon: Laboratory column experiments. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 424, 127295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127295

• Liu, Y.Y., Ptacek, C.J., Baldwin, R.J., Cooper, J.M., Blowes, D.W., (2020). Application of zero-valent iron coupled with biochar for removal of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids from water under ambient environmental conditions. Science of the Total Environment, 719: 137372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137372

• Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., Baker, M., 1996. Treatment of wastewater. G.B. Patent 962338-7, filed November 11, 1996 (issued, 2000); Canada Patent 2,190,038, filed November 11, 1996; U.S. Patent 08,745,734, filed November 12, 1996 (issued, 1999).

• Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., 1996. System for treating contaminated groundwater. Continuation in part. U.S. Patent 5,514,279, filed October 27, 1994, issued May 7, 1996.

• Robertson, W.D., Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J, 1994. Treatment of agricultural run-off. U.S. Patent 5,330,651 filed May 8, 1992, issued July 19, 1994; Canada Patent 2,068,283.

• Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., 1994. System for treating contaminated groundwater. U.S. Patent 5,362,394 filed March 3, 1992, issued Nov. 8, 1994; Canada patent 2,062,204, filed March 3, 1992, issued July 7, 1998; European Patent 92103559.8, filed March 2, 1992, allowed, January 2000 (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden).

• Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., 1990. Treatment of mine tailings. U.K. patent 2,219,617 filed June 9, 1988, issued August 19, 1992; U.S. patent 4,990,031 filed June 7, 1989, issued February 5, 1991; Canada patent 1,327,027, filed June 7, 1989, issued February 15, 1994.