Thomas Boving

Thomas Boving, Professor, Department of Geosciences
  • Chair, Professor
  • Department of Geosciences
  • Phone: 401.874. 7053
  • Email: tboving@uri.edu
  • Office Location: Office: 314 Woodward Hall

Research

  • Fate and Transport of Organic and Inorganic Contaminants
  • Innovative Remediation Technologies
  • Stormwater Treatment and Bank Filtration Technology
  • International Water Resources Development
  • Expert Witnessing – Water Pollution Litigation

Research Activity

Overall funding received: >$7 Mio. Sources of funding include the Department of Defense (SERDP, ESTCP & AFCEE), U.S.EPA, NIH, WERF, NATO, CICEET, WERF, World Bank, and various national and international agencies. My research takes place in the US, India, Indonesia, and Nepal.

Selected Projects

  1. The Rhode Island Statewide Water Withdrawal Data Enhancement and Database Development Project (2020 – 2022). Funding Agency: U.S. Geological Survey. Role: Co-PI
  2. Water use and availability on Block Island (2021–2022). Funding agency: Rhode Island Water Resources Center. Role: PI.
  3. Practical approach for attenuating PFAS contaminated landfill leachate using peroxone activated persulfate (PAP). (2018-2021). Funding agency. NIEHS – National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Role: PI with EnChem Engineering.
  4. Harmful Algae Bloom Treatment Optimization Protocol (TOP) Development (2020). Funding agency: Rhode Island Dept. of Health. Role: PI with Pradhanang.    
  5. Innovative Treatment of Investigation-Derived Waste Polluted with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Contaminants and Other Co-Contaminants (2018-2019). $200,000 funded by SERDP. PI with EnChem Engineering.
  6. Assessment and Modeling of Saltwater Intrusion into Coastal Aquifers of Rhode Island. (2018-2020). $583,000 funded by USGS/RI Dept. Administration-CDBG-DR. Co-PI with Dr. Pradhanang, URI.
  7. Evaluating the effectiveness of improved roadside BMP in maintaining stormwater quality (2016-2019). $217,000. Co-PI with Drs. Pradhanang and Brown, URI.
  8. Scituate Reservoir Mitigation Model: Feasibility of a Retrofit and Concurrent Safe Yield Analysis (2016-2018). $275,000 from USGS/RI Dept. Administration-CDBG-DR. Co-PI with Dr. Pradhanang, URI.
  9. Phase I – Oxidation of Recalcitrant Perfluorinated Contaminants for In-Situ Remediation at Superfund Site (2017-2018). $60,000 from NIH / NIEHS. Co-PI with EnChem Engineering, Newton, MA.
  10. Cyclodextrin based complexation of small molecules for improved toxicant degradation and water purification efforts (2017-2018). $80,000 from Lanxess/International Dioxcide. Co-PI with Dr. Levine, URI.
  11. Harnessing the power of light to clean water (2017-2018). $50,000 funded by RI Development Coorp. PI with Dr. Craver, URI.
  12. From Polluted river water to clean irrigation water (2015-2017). Ramboll/ENVIRON Foundation. With TERI-India.
  13. Rhode Island Water Use Data Workplan (2016). Funding Source: RI Water Resources Board. With Dr. S. Pradhanang, URI.
  14. From Polluted river water to clean irrigation water (2015-2017). Funding Source: ENVIRON Foundation. Joint project with TERI, India. Location: India.
  15. Improving access to safe water using Riverbank Filtration Technology (2015-2018). Funding Source: Nat. Health and Med. Research Council, Australia. Joint project with Monash University, Melbourne, Australia and TERI, India. Location: India
  16. Facilitated transport enabled in situ chemical oxidation of 1,4-dioxane-contaminated groundwater (2013-2017). Funding Source: SERDP. Joint project with University of New Mexico (Dr. KC Caroll), University of Arizona (Dr. Brusseau) and EnChem Eng., MA. Location: USA
  17. Advanced Mixed Oxidation and Inclusion Technology (2010). US EPA – SABIR Phase I. Co-PI with EnChem Engineering ($70,000).
  18. Development of Quantitative Tools to Determine the Expected Performance of Unit Processes in Wastewater Soil Treatment Units (2008-2009). The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), Co-PI ($210,000)
  19. Clean Water by Riverbank Filtration – A Demonstration of a Novel Site Selection and Implementation Strategy in Southern India (2007-2009) The World Bank – Developing Marketplace Program, PI ($190,000) [Google Earth Coverage] Request Final Report here
  20. Evaluation of Riverbank Filtration for Protection of Jordanian Surface and Ground Water Resources. (2005-2010) NATO Program for Security through Science, PI (EURO 281,000).
  21. Porous Pavement and Water Quality: Investigation of a Newly Constructed Parking Lot and its Potential Impact on Subsurface Water, (2003-2005) RI Transportation Ctr. ($122,000)
  22. Cyclodextrin Enhanced In-situ Removal of Organic Contaminants from Ground-water at Department of Defense Sites. (2001-2004), DoD – ESTCP program ($864,000)
  23. Facilitated transport enabled in situ chemical oxidation of 1,4-dioxane contaminated groundwater SERDP (2013-2017; $1.2 Million) Co-PI with PNNL, UofA, EnChem
  24. Chemical Oxidation and inclusion technology for expedited soil and groundwater remediation. AFCEE (2011-13; $670,000), Co-PI with EnChem.

Education

  • Ph.D., Hydrology, 1999 University of Arizona – Tucson
  • M.S. (Diploma), Geology, 1993 University of Tübingen, (Germany)

Selected Publications

Panthi+ J., Boving T.B., Pradhanang S.M., Russoniello C.J., Kang S., 20xx. The Contraction of Freshwater Lenses in Barrier Islands: A Combined Geophysical and Numerical Analysis. Submitted to J. Hydrology (Sept. 21, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4555666 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4555666 

Blue, J.; Boving, T.; Tuccillo, M.E.; Koplos, J.; Rose, J.; Brooks, M.; Burden, D., 2023. Contaminant Back Diffusion from Low-Conductivity Matrices: Case Studies of Remedial Strategies. Water, 15, 570. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030570  

Lapworth, D., Boving, T., Brauns, B. et al. 2023. Groundwater quality: global challenges, emerging threats and novel approaches. Hydrogeol J 31, 15–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-022-02542-0 

Panthi+ J., Johnson C.D., Pradhanang S.M., Savage B., Ismail M.Y., Boving T.B, 2023. Delineating bedrock topography with geophysical techniques: An implication for groundwater mapping, CATENA, 230, 107258, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2023.107258 .

Larson, A.; Hendawi, A.; Boving, T.; Pradhanang, S.M.; Akanda, A.S., 2023. Discerning Watershed Response to Hydroclimatic Extremes with a Deep Convolutional Residual Regressive Neural Network. Hydrology 10, 116. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10060116  

Siswoyo E., Zahra R.N., Nurul Hardina A.M., Nurmiyanto A., Umemura K., Boving T., 2023. Chitosan of blood cockle shell (Anadara granosa) as a natural coagulant for removal of total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity of well-water. The Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejar.2023.04.004 .

Schelling+, M.; Patil, K.; Boving, T.B., 2023. Sustainable Water Treatment with Induced Bank Filtration. Water, 15, 361. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020361  

Boving T.B., Ruiz-Vargas C., Lapworth D., 2023. PFAS – Groundwater’s Dark Matter. IAH Technical Insight Series, Issue 1, March 2023. Link

Panthi+ J., Pradhanang S.M., Nolte A., Boving T.B., 2022. Saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers in the contiguous United States — A systematic review of investigation approaches and monitoring networks. Science of The Total Environment, 836,155641, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155641 .

Brontowiyono, W.; Boving, T.; Asmara, A.A.; Rahmawati, S.; Yulianto, A.; Wantoputri, N.I.; Lathifah, A.N.; Andriansyah, Y., 2022. Communal Wastewater Treatment Plants’ Effectiveness, Management, and Quality of Groundwater: A Case Study in Indonesia. Water, 14, 3047. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14193047

Cashman+ M., Ball R., Lewis T., Boving T.B., 2022. Peroxone activated persulfate oxidation of 1,4-Dioxane under column scale conditions. J Contam Hydrol, 245:103937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2021.103937

Boving T.B., Craver V., Labhasetwar P., Sabatini D., 2022. Sustainable groundwater treatment technologies for underserved rural communities in emerging economies. STOTEN 813:15633.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152633

Lapworth D.J., Boving T.B., Kreamer D.K., Kebede S., Smedley P.L., 2022. Groundwater quality: Global threats, opportunities and realising the potential of groundwater. Editorial. STOTEN 811:152471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152471

Panthi+ J., Talchabhadel R., Ghimire G.R., Sharma S., Dahal P., Baniya R., Boving T.B., Pradhanang S.M., Parajuli B., 2021. Hydrologic regionalization under data scarcity: An implication for streamflow prediction. J. Hydrogeol. Eng. 26(9). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0002121

Boving T.B., Blanford W.J., 2021. Contaminant Transport and Fate. Editorial. Water. 13:1195. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/9/1195

Chaudhuri S., DiScenza D.J., Boving T.B, Burke A., Levine M. 2020.  Use of α-cyclodextrin to promote clean and environmentally friendly disinfection of phenolic substrates via chlorine dioxide treatment.  Frontiers of Chemistry. 31 July 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2020.00641

Cashman+ M.; Ho K.T., Boving T.B., Russo S, Robinson S., Burgess R.M., 2020. Comparison of Microplastic Isolation and Extraction Procedures from Marine Sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin Volume 159, October 2020, 111507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111507

Boving, T.B., Lewis T., Siswoyo E., 2019. An innovative approach to tracking sediment transport along roads. MATEC Vol.280: 04001. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201928004001

McGuinness S.L., O’Toole J., Barker S.F., Forbes A.B., Boving T.B., Giriyan A., Patil K., D’Souza F., Cheng A.C., Leder K. 2020. Household water storage management, hygiene practices and associated drinking water quality in rural India. Environ Sci Technol. 21;54(8):4963-4973. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04818.

Cashman M., Kirschenbaum L., Holowachuk J., Boving T.B. 2019: Identification of hydroxyl and sulfate free radicals involved the reaction of 1,4-dioxane with peroxone activated persulfate oxidant.  J. Haz. Mat. 380 120875 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.120875

Boving T.B., Patil K., D’Souza F., Barker S.F., McGuinness S.L., O’Toole, J., Sinclair M., Forbes A.B., Leder K., 2019. Performance of Riverbank Filtration under Hydrogeologic Conditions along the Upper Krishna River in South India. Water 2019, 11, 12; doi:10.3390/w1101001.

McGuiness, S.L., O’Toole J., Forbes A.B., Boving T.B., Patil K., D’Souza F., Gaonkar C.A., Giriyan A., Barker S.F., Cheng A.C., Sinclair M., Leder K., 2019. A stepped wedge cluster-randomized trial assessing the impact of a riverbank filtration intervention to improve access to safe water on health in rural India. Am.J.Trop.Med.Hyd. DOI:10.4269/atmh.19-0260

Siswoyo, E.,Qoniah, I., Lestari, P., Fajri,J.A., Sani, R.A., Sari, D.G., Boving, T.B., 2019. Development of a floating adsorbent for cadmium derived from modified drinking water treatment plant sludge. Environ. Tech. & Innovat., 14. 100312. doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2019.01.006

Meadows M.C., Pradhanang S.M., Fujioka T., Kodamatani H., Boving T.B., Leddy M.B., 2019. N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation from treatment of seasonally and spatially varying source water.  Submitted to Water. Revised: Sept. 2019.

Fallatah O.; Ahmed M.; Cardace D.; Boving T., Akanda A., 2019. Assessment of Modern Recharge to Arid Region Aquifers Using an Integrated Geophysical, Geochemical, and Remote Sensing Approach. J.Hydrology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.09.061

Faghihzadeh F., Anaya N.M., Hadjeres H., Boving T.B., Oyanedel-Craver V., 2018. Pulse UV light effect on microbial biomolecules and organic pollutants degradation in aqueous solutions. Chemosphere 216 (2019) 677-683.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.176

Boving T.B., Patil K., D’Souza F., Barker S.F., McGuinness S.L., O’Toole, J., Sinclair M., Forbes A.B., Leder K., 2018. Performance of Riverbank Filtration under Hydrogeologic Conditions along the Upper Krishna River in South India.  Water 11,12. doi:10.3390/w11010012

Blanford, W.J., Pecoraro, M.P., Heinrichs, R.M, Boving, T.B. (2018) Enhanced reductive de-chlorination of a solvent contaminated aquifer through addition and apparent fermentation of cyclodextrin. J. Contaminant Hydrology. 208:68-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2017.10.006

Eberle, D., Ball, R., Boving, T.B., 2017. Impact of ISCO Treatment of VOCs on PFAAs Co-contaminants at a Former Fire Training Area. Environmental Science and Technology; 51(9):5127-5136. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b06591. Epub 2017 Apr 21.

McGuinness, S., O’Toole, J.E., Boving, T.B, Forbes, A.B., Sinclairm M., Gautam, S.K., Leder, K., 2017: Protocol for a cluster randomised stepped wedge trial assessing the impact of a community-level hygiene intervention and a water intervention using riverbank filtration technology on diarrhoeal prevalence in India. BMJ Open 7(3) http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015036

Books and book chapter

World Water Quality Alliance (WWQA) 2021. Assessing Groundwater Quality: A Global Perspective: Importance, Methods and Potential Data Sources.  Information Document Annex for display at the 5th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, Nairobi 2021.

Fetter, C.W., Boving, T.B., Kraemer, D., 2017. Contaminant Hydrogeology – 3rd  Edition. Waveland Press, IL. 721 pgs. Publication date: October 2017.

Boving, T.B., Patil, K., 2017. Riverbank Filtration at the Nexus of Water-Energy-Food. In: Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Principles and Practices (Geophysical Monograph Series) 1st Edition Publisher: AGU/Wiley. ISBN-13: 978-1119243137.

Boving, T.B., and Rowell, R., 2010: Water Filtration using Biomaterials. In: Sustainable Development in the Forest Products Industry. (Editor: R. Rowell). Chapter 9, 213-252. UFP Editions, Lisbon, Portugal. ISBN:978-989-643-052-8.

McCray, J., M. Geza, K. Lowe, T. Boving, D. Radcliffe, M. Tucholke, A. Wunsch, S. Roberts, J. Amador, J. Atoyan, J. Drewes, D. Kalen, G. Loomis. 2010. Quantitative Tools to Determine the Expected Performance of Wastewater Soil Treatment Units: Guidance Manual. International Water Association Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-84339-395-5/1-84339-395-6.

McCray, J., M. Geza, K. Lowe, T. Boving, D. Radcliffe, M. Tucholke, A. Wunsch, S. Roberts, J. Amador, J. Atoyan, J. Drewes, D. Kalen, G. Loomis. 2010. Quantitative Tools to Determine the Expected Performance of Wastewater Soil Treatment Units: Visual – Graphic Tools. International Water Association Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-84339-536-2/1-84339-536-3.

McCray, J., M. Geza, K. Lowe, T. Boving, D. Radcliffe, M. Tucholke, A. Wunsch, S. Roberts, J. Amador, J. Atoyan, J. Drewes, D. Kalen, G. Loomis. 2010. Quantitative Tools to Determine the Expected Performance of Wastewater Soil Treatment Units: Toolkit User’s Guide. International Water Association Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-84339-537-9/1-84339-537-1

 

Courses

  • Environmental Geology (GEO 100; Gen Ed approved)
  • Special Topics in Environmental Hydrogeology (GEO 491)
  • Indonesia - Biodiversity, Geology, and Water Resources (GEO 405G)
  • Environmental Hydrogeology – Fate and Transport of Contaminants (GEO 584)
  • Innovative Remediation Technologies (GEO 582)
  • Groundwater Modeling (GEO 583)