Water issues changing consultant's role

By NADINE ROMERO
Applied Hydrogeologic Research

Despite the news that one out of every four environmental consulting firms has gone out of business in the last two years (according to recent trends tracked by the Environmental Information Digest), I believe that niche companies specializing in hydrogeologic science services can survive because of the steepening demand for water supply acquisition, management and protection.

Such niche companies are the new future for ground water research, particularly as government and federal grants dry up.

I decided one day to throw off my government hat as a ground water scientist and venture into market-based hydrogeology. The decision to leave government after a decade of work, was driven in small part to being a less senior member of the team (looming layoffs) and lack of career movement (a trend my age group (those born after 1960) has experienced in government and in larger organizations in the private sector).

However, the biggest reason for leaving government, was the desire for innovation and a quicker application of new technology. I joined a young company knowing that there was a large planet in need of creativity and "hard skills" in ground water science applications because the relevance of water has moved center to our existence.

In our research firm we felt that the best way to achieve innovation was through a small, nimble company with rapid response capability -- and one that was not flexibility-challenged through heirarchy.

Ground water's significance

Some 130 million Americans drink ground water according to recent statistics published by the National Ground Water Association (Water Well Journal, May 1998). The U.S. population is expected to increase by another 129 million people by the year 2050 with an even greater increase in the number of Americans using ground water resources. Each year in the U.S. an estimated 400,000 new drinking water wells are installed.

On a global level, the world is doubling its water demands due to a population in search of food.

The purity and supply of surface water is important to the supply of ground water.

"Food production is the strategic water in any economy," notes author J. A. Allan (Ground Water Journal, July 1998). And in the Pacific Northwest, demand for quality riparian zones and water-flowing habitat is needed in order to push up struggling salmon numbers, which places the ground water environment at a premium.

Couple all of these findings -- local, national and global -- and you find an irrevocable need for understanding subterranean systems and acquiring experienced practitioners in ground water science.

Consumer's guide to hydrogeology

In our research firm, we have a wide body of clientele who have divergent needs. In Washington, some of our clients are grappling with a changing hydrologic climate and need to understand the implications of recent high rainfall volumes to their lands and water table aquifers.

Other clients are grappling with a changing demographic climate and need to know if their wells (water quality and well yields) will be safe with new development and growth around them. We try to give clients a picture they can understand, yet one with high resolution and quality research so they can make an informed decision.

The trends and shifts we see in our clientele are moving toward an increasingly educated public who demands quality information. Our service has stretched from industrial-sized clients and municipalities to home and estate owners who are willing to pay for hydrogeologic science.

This trend also reflects the public perception that they are no longer protected to the degree they once were with government services. As an example of this, we have homeowners who traditionally relied on local government to protect their water needs. However, because of rapid growth and lack of staff, as well as qualified specialists who are capable of assessing studies, a smaller client is not protected.

Hydrogeology has traditionally been folded under the umbrella of "engineering" in many environmental consulting firms and universities. However, the science itself is a broad array of multi-specialty subjects, ranging from engineering hydraulics to hydrogeochemistry.

One key reason hydrogeology can now enter as a stand-alone business in the market place is because it has grown in its body of knowledge and technical application. Ten years ago ground water monitoring was considered a low-tech application. Today, it is not something that should be performed by technician without substantial training. The reason for this change is that 10 years ago we didn't really understand what was going on in the ground water environment, at least we didn't perceive it be as complex as we now realize it is.

Monitoring today requires minimal disturbance to a highly sensitive system. Personnel need to understand how to use high-tech monitoring devices and computers and should have an in-depth knowledge of ground water geochemistry. Critical decisions are made in the field, which directly affects the quality and reliability of the data. Quality site information profoundly affects the dollar costs of future site engineering plans and applications.

For several of our clients, remediation technologies were improperly installed without adequate characterization of the site hydrogeology. The net result were large, million-dollar expenditures for clients and ineffective remediation, which added additional liabilities. After a pained lull, clients are now re-entering the market place in search of quality research and information and are willing to pay up front for better characterizations.

Hydrogeologic characterization technology has advanced substantially in the last decade. Tools such as direct-push sampling technology enable rapid and quality site characterizations versus traditional drilling investigations, which are slower and obtain less information. This advancement has dramatically changed the way information and business is now conducted.

Clients are changing

Clients are now not so shy to say "go find out what is going on." They no longer have to be limited with permanent well installations, which, in many cases, may derive little scientific usefulness in site assessments and are longer-term liabilities. The plus side of rapid assessments is more comprehensive data and lower remediation costs because a site was properly characterized and fitted for proper engineering attire.

In summary, our clientele have a new architecture to them. They have been on a learning-curve in the last two decades and are now demanding quality science because ground water is at a premium. Furthermore they want protection and confirmation which was something that was traditionally provided by government.

These new trends, we believe, are driving market dynamics for hydrogeological research.

Finally, one additional and very important client is government itself. Government has been slow to re-invent itself. We find that it is in search of leadership and answers, but due to tough legislative restraints and public perception issues, it is having difficulty pulling out of its current eddy and adapting, despite severe environmental losses such as the salmon crisis and water rights permitting.

Research institutions as well, are in need of renewal. They have become slender due to budget cuts resulting in a slower metabolism and research stagnancy. We believe invention and solution engineering is now going to be market-driven. With strong visions, hearts and minds we hope to help resolve some of our current world-wide water dilemmas.

Copyright © 1998 Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce.