Walter Illman

Professor, Physical and Contaminant Hydrogeology

Walter Illman. Walter Illman specializes in groundwater hydrology, both in the saturated and unsaturated zones.

He uses mathematical modeling, laboratory and field experiments to understand contaminant transport and natural degradation of organic contaminants in groundwater.

Contact information
Office: PHY 229B
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 38341
Email: willman@uwaterloo.ca

Expertise

Mathematical modeling (analytical and numerical) of fluid flow and contaminant transport in groundwater
Laboratory and field experiments on contaminant transport in porous and fractured geologic media
Behaviour of contaminants in groundwater, such as Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPL), bioremediation and natural attenuation of organic contaminants

Research

Laboratory and field experimental investigations of fluid flow and solute (contaminant) transport in porous and fractured geologic media
Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) source zone and plume characterization and monitoring
Geostatistical (stochastic) inverse modeling of pumping and tracer test data
Mathematical modeling (analytical and numerical) of fluid flow and contaminant transport
Unsaturated zone hydrology
Performance assessment of bioremediation and natural attenuation of organic contaminants

Teaching

Professor Illman teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. Course offerings have included

Earth 122: Introduction to Environmental Sciences
Earth 439/658: Flow and transport through factured rocks
Earth 650: Flow and transport through porous media

Highlighted Publications

Please see Walter Illman's Google Scholar profile for a current list of his peer-reviewed articles.

Awards and Distinctions

Outstanding Paper of the Conference, International Symposium on Groundwater Problems Related to Geo-Environment, May 28–30, 2003 Okayama, Japan.
The 2002 American Geophysical Union Editors’ Citation for Excellence in Refereeing
1998–1999 John and Margaret Harshbarger Doctoral Fellow in Hydrology and Water Resources; $10,000 (Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, The University of Arizona; one selected annually)
1997–1998 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Horton Doctoral Research Grant; $10,500 (one of two selected nationally)
1997–1998 Graduate College Fellowship; $10,000 (The University of Arizona)
1994–1995 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Trainee; $27,500 (Environmental Hydrology)