Iowa State University Environmental and Water Resources Engineering invites you to attend a seminar led by David L. Sedlak, Ph.D. on October 8, 2025 from 1:10-2:00 pm on the Iowa State University Campus — Hoover 1227.
The creation of treatment systems capable of removing contaminants from water has been one of the most impactful achievements of environmental engineers. Because most of these technologies benefit substantially from economies of scale, centralized systems that involve expensive, vulnerable infrastructure usually have proven to be the most cost-effective means of improving water quality. Recent developments in manufacturing, sensing, materials science and biotechnology have the potential to alter this dynamic, enabling the deployment of small-scale treatment systems within existing water networks as well as the creation of autonomous “off-the-water-grid” systems. This lecture will introduce audiences to the latest developments in small-scale water systems by examining premise-scale water recycling systems and the potential for further deployment of such systems in other settings. By leveraging recent developments in small-scale treatment systems that do not require on-site operators or replenishment of chemical reagents, it may be possible to lower costs of water treatment and extend the benefits of modern water treatment to rural communities and citizens of low- and middle-income countries.
David Sedlak is the Plato Malozemoff Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Director of the Berkeley Water Center at UC Berkeley. His research focuses on the fate of chemical contaminants, with the long-term goal of developing cost-effective, safe, and sustainable systems to manage water resources. He is particularly interested in the development of local sources of water, including water reuse—the practice of using municipal wastewater effluent to sustain aquatic ecosystems and augment water supplies—as well as the treatment and use of urban runoff and groundwater from contaminated industrial sites. Dr. Sedlak is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering, chair of its Water Science & Technology Board and recipient of numerous awards including the Paul Busch Award for Innovation in Applied Water Quality Research and the Clarke Prize for Excellence in Water Research. He is also the author of “Water 4.0: The Past, Present and Future of the World’s Most Vital Resource” and “Water for All: Global Solutions for a Changing Climate."