Protecting clean waters and fostering healthy communities by removing toxins, reusing water, enhancing watershed management and conserving vital ecosystems.
Sustainable Waters
Ohio State advances integrated approaches to water quality and quantity, infrastructure and watershed resilience. The university brings together multiple disciplines including hydrology, engineering, ecology, public health, economics, data science and community engagement to address complex water challenges across urban, agricultural and natural systems.
Researchers throughout these disciplines develop monitoring tools, predictive models, treatment technologies and decision-support frameworks that improve watershed management, drinking water safety, nutrient reduction, stormwater management and climate adaptation. This work is conducted across sectors and scales, from field sites and watersheds to utilities, communities and regional systems, to strengthen water infrastructure and safeguard ecosystem and human health under changing environmental conditions.
Nutrient Management
Researchers study nutrient dynamics, harmful algal blooms, agricultural runoff and land-use change to improve watershed stewardship and protect downstream ecosystems, including the Great Lakes and inland water systems.
Emerging Contaminants and Treatment Innovation
Ohio State researchers develop advanced treatment technologies, infrastructure modeling and asset management strategies to enhance drinking water safety, wastewater treatment and stormwater systems.
Water and Climate Risk Modeling
Using remote sensing, hydrologic modeling and integrated climate-water analytics, Ohio State researchers assess flood risk, drought vulnerability and infrastructure resilience under shifting precipitation and temperature patterns.
John Lenhart, Faculty Research Lead for Sustainable Waters