How Baylor researchers are helping improve water quality in Texas and beyond

Clean water is something many of us take for granted; when we turn on a faucet, clean water just pours out. Not everyone is so lucky.

At Baylor, many researchers are individually and collectively focused on maintaining and improving water quality — building an internationally recognized name for excellence in water quality research that is relied on by communities, state governments, reservoir management agencies, and more.

“Clean water is Biblical,” says Dr. Bryan Brooks, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Biomedical Studies since 2002. “I would suggest that maybe no other science, engineering or health topic aligns better with Baylor’s unique and distinctive mission.”

Here are just a few of the places you’ll find Baylor water researchers conducting their innovative work:

* Bodies of Water — It stands to reason that you’d find water researchers actually out in the water. From lakes and reservoirs to rivers and streams, Baylor researchers examine how water systems interact with the environment, and how humans impact that balance. Researchers like Dr. Thad Scott (PhD ’06) at Baylor’s Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR) monitor water quality, forecast future demands, and help communities manage resources. These insights impact policy; in Texas and other states, Baylor’s work has aided state and federal agencies in regulating public water systems.

* Cities — Cities like Toledo, Ohio, and Wichita Falls, Texas (not to mention Baylor’s hometown of Waco) are among the communities that are partnering with Baylor researchers like Dr. Katelyn McKindles to better understand and plan for issues affecting their water quality. Her work helps communities better understand the microscopic organisms that affect water quality, and move beyond basic testing to develop smarter, more effective treatment strategies that deliver cleaner, better tasting water to residents.

* Wastewater Treatment Plants — Dr. Mandy Hering (BS ’99) applies her statistical science expertise to the front lines of water safety. Her research helps develops computer-based models that aid wastewater treatment plants in quickly identifying and fixing problems — from sensor failures to membrane breakdowns — before they become major issues. Other researchers study the water found in treatment plants to paint a picture of community health. Brooks and other researchers work with communities on disease surveillance; by studying wastewater, cities can recognize the presence of disease as many as three weeks before it impacts community health, and plan to protect their residents.

* The Future — What will water systems look like 50 or 100 years from now? Baylor researchers like Dr. Ryan McManamay are helping to prepare for that future. Using AI and environmental modeling, he forecasts urban growth and its impact on water infrastructure. That information helps cities like Waco plan to preserve water resources amidst dynamic future growth. Meanwhile, Brooks is tackling long-term threats like “forever chemicals” (PFAS), guiding national leaders toward cost-effective, science-based solutions.

Baylor’s home in Waco and the growing “Texas Triangle” between DFW, Houston, and San Antonio/Austin offer unique vantage points for water research. Baylor partners with numerous Texas cities, and BU researchers have worked on every lake in the state. But it doesn’t stop there; Baylor faculty are also working across the U.S. and on nearly every continent — serving the water needs of communities wherever those communities may be.

Sic ’em, Baylor water researchers!