WRL groundwater researchers participated in the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) 37th Congress, held in Hyderabad, India, from 6-12th September 2009. Professor Ian Acworth, who is IAH Vice President International (Asia-Pacific), led a team of six from the Water Research Laboratory to the congress. The WRL team was among over 500 hydrologists and hydrogeologists from around the world who heard how groundwater science is helping aquifers under stress. The congress program included sessions on transboundary water issues, surface-water groundwater interactions and groundwater in hard rock areas.

(L-r) Gabriel Rau, Anna Greve, Dr Wendy Timms, Dr Martin Andersen, Andrew McCallum and Professor Ian Acworth

During the week long congress, Dr Martin Andersen presented a paper linking hyporheic zone water chemistry and stream bed ecology to groundwater discharge and recharge in Maules Creek, Australia.  Another paper on hydraulic investigations of surface and groundwater interactions in a sub-catchment of the Namoi River was given by Andrew McCallum. The latest research on using natural heat as a tracer to quantify surface and groundwater connectivity in the Namoi catchment was presented by Gabriel Rau. Anna Greve gave a presentation on the use of electrical resistivity tomography to detect crack depth and preferential flow in irrigated clay soils. Finally, Dr Wendy Timms spoke on groundwater and salt fluxes in a weathered and fractured granite terrain in the Macquarie catchment of NSW, Australia.  Several similarities and differences in groundwater fluxes in the weathered granite around Hyderabad and the Baldry catchment were noted.

After the conference, the WRL team enjoyed several days exploring incredible India and very much enjoyed the fascinating history and excellent flavour of the local food.


Dr Martin Andersen (right), with his poster ‘Linking Hyporheic Zone Water Chemistry and Streambed Ecology to Groundwater Discharge and Recharge, Maules Creek, NSW, Australia’


Gabriel Rau, Anna Greve and Dr Martin Andersen