David Blowes

David Blowes develops improved techniques for the prediction, remediation and prevention of groundwater contamination, including metals, metalloids, pathogens, nutrients and emerging contaminants. He employs a wide range of tools including field investigations, laboratory experiments and mathematical modeling to understand the complex behaviour of these systems.

He leads the leads the Groundwater Geochemistry Remediation Group together with Carol Ptacek.

Professor Blowes leads the NSERC funded TERRE-CREATE training program in sustainable mining. Please visit the TERRE-CREATE website for upcoming courses and exchange opportunities.

• Behaviour and transport of groundwater contamination, including metals, metalloids, pathogens, nutrients and emerging contaminants in groundwater
• Remediation technologies including permeable reactive barriers
• Monitoring techniques such as non-traditional stable isotopes
• Geochemical processes at mining wastes, including acid rock drainage
• Contamination & Remediation: Water, Soil, Air
• Conservation
• Geohazards: Risks and Prevention
• Climate Change and Geosciences
• Increasingly Complex Water Challenges
• Protection of Surface and Groundwater Resources
• Sustainable Water Use and Management
• Reactive transport modelling

The long-term goal of my research program is to develop improved techniques for the prediction, remediation and prevention of groundwater contamination derived from mine wastes and other sources of dissolved metals. My research program includes three principal components, studies of the mechanisms of contaminant release, transport and attenuation; development and application of numerical models to describe these processes; and development of new techniques for the prevention and remediation of contaminated groundwater.

• 1990, Doctorate Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Canada
• 1983, Master of Science Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Canada
• 1980, Bachelor of Science (BSc) Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Canada

• 2016 Outstanding Performance Award, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo.
• 2015 NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation (Diavik Waste Rock Research Project)
• 2014 NSERC TERRE CREATE (Training toward Environmentally Responsible Resource Extraction)
• 2012 Outstanding Performance Award, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo
• 2006 Fellow, Geological Society of America
• 2006 Birdsall-Dreiss Distinguished Lectureship, Geological Society of America
• 2004 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Visiting Scientist Award
• 2004 Canadian Institute for Mining and Metallurgy Distinguished Lecturer
• 2001 Ontario Distinguished Researcher Award
• 2001 Canada Research Chair in Groundwater Remediation
• 1999 Premiers Research Excellence Award
• 1999 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)/Conference Board of Canada, Synergy Award
• 1990 W.B. Pearson Medal for Creativity in Ph.D. Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo
• 1990 University of Waterloo Senate Award for Achievement in Graduate Studies

• American Geophysical Union
• Geological Society of America

• The Water Institute
• Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research (member)

• EARTH 459 - Chemical Hydrogeology
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

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

• Shrimpton, HK; Blowes, DW; Ptacek, CJ, 2015. Fractionation of Selenium during Selenate Reduction by Granular Zerovalent Iron. Environ. Sci. Tech. vol. 49: 11688-11696. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01074.
• Jamieson-Hanes, JH; Amos, RT; Blowes, DW; Ptacek, CJ, 2015. Dual Mechanism Conceptual Model for Cr Isotope Fractionation during Reduction by Zerovalent Iron under Saturated Flow Conditions. Environ. Sci. Tech. 49: 5467-5475. DOI: 0.1021/es506223a,
• Hussain, SI; Blowes, DW; Ptacek, CJ; Jamieson-Hanes, JH; Wootton, B; Balch, G; Higgins, J, 2015. Mechanisms of Phosphorus Removal in a Pilot-Scale Constructed Wetland/BOF Slag Wastewater Treatment System. Environ. Eng. Sci. 32: 340-352. DOI: 10.1089/ees.2014.0376.
• Jamieson-Hanes, JH; Lentz, AM; Amos, RT; Ptacek, CJ; Blowes, DW, 2014. Examination of Cr(VI) treatment by zero-valent iron using in situ, real-time X-ray absorption spectroscopy and Cr isotope measurements. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 142: 299-313. DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2014.07.031.

• 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.

• February 17, 2015 Waterloo researchers among top in Canada
• July 4, 2014 Waterloo Science leads $1.65 million sustainable mineral extraction training program