Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Ronald W Harvey

Ronald W Harvey is a Scientist Emeritus Research Hydrologist for the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.

Ronald Harvey earned his PhD in Environmental Sciences from Stanford in 1981.  Following an NRC postdoctoral fellowship, he conducted research for USGS National Research Program in Menlo Park, CA (1982-1990) and in Boulder, CO (1991-present).  From 2002 to 2005 he served as the first president of the International Society for Subsurface Microbiology (ISSM).  He is a former chair of the Environmental (Q) Division of the American Society for Microbiology and is an adjunct professor in Environmental Engineering at the Univ. Colorado. His research focuses on subsurface microbial transport and ecology.  He has authored/co-authored over 100 papers in his field.  Field studies involve microbial transport and ecology of granular, fractured-rock, and karst-limestone aquifers throughout the country.

Mentorship/Outreach

  • Adjunct Professor (1991-present), Univ. Colorado;
  • Visiting Professor (2000) Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland;
  • Consulting Asst. Prof. (1983) Stanford University;
  • Lectures: 36 lectures at 25 different academic institutions and USDOE National Labs
  • Thesis committees: 16 graduate students at 7 U.S. and 3 foreign universities
  • Postdoctoral advisor: 3 (currently faculty at Univ. Colo., Univ. Kansas, Colo. Sch. Mines)
  • Written opinions: 10 on hiring/tenure/promotion decisions for U.S. universities
  • Foreign Universities:  “Official opponent”: Univ. Lund (Sweden), “Outside examiner”: Univ. Neuchâtel (Switzerland) “Outside examiner”: Univ. Waterloo (Canada)
  • USGS:  Technical advice/assistance regarding groundwater contamination problems for researchers in 30 different USGS Water Science Centers (WSC).  Asked by WSC Directors/Associates & USGS program managers (e.g., Offices of Groundwater, Water Quality, Toxics) to provide technical input on microbiological issues.  
  • USDOE: Advice provided to Subsurface Science Program (SSP) over eight years facilitated an emphasis on subsurface microbial transport patterned, in part, after my earlier USGS Cape Cod site research.  Chaired DOE’s formal peer review of SSP transport study. 
  • USEPA: Advisory

Professional Experience

  • Professional Studies/Experience

    USGS National Research Program (NRP) Project Chief (1985-present);

    Adjunct Professor (1991-present), Univ. Colorado;

    NRP Asst. Research Advisor for Ecology (2003-2005),

    Research Advisor for Ecology (2006-2009),

    President (2002-2005) Int’l Society for Subsurface Microbiology (ISSM),

     

  • Visiting Professor (2000) Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland;

    Consulting Asst. Prof. (1983) Stanford University;

    National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow (1981-1983),

    Water Quality Specialist, State of California, (1974-1976)

Education and Certifications

  • Education

    PhD (1981), Environ. Sci., Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA;
    MS (1974), Environ. Eng., USC, Los Angeles, CA;
    BS (1973), Biol. Sci., U. Mass/Lowell Inst. Tech., Lowell, MA

Science and Products

link
USGS scientists collecting water-quality samples from shallow groundwater under Ashumet Pond

Importance of Lake Sediments in Removal of Cyanobacteria, Viruses, and Dissolved Organic Carbon

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists determined that the colmation layer (top 25 centimeters of lake sediments) was highly effective in removing cyanobacteria, viruses, and dissolved organic carbon during water passage through the lake bottom to aquifer sediments.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology
link

Importance of Lake Sediments in Removal of Cyanobacteria, Viruses, and Dissolved Organic Carbon

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists determined that the colmation layer (top 25 centimeters of lake sediments) was highly effective in removing cyanobacteria, viruses, and dissolved organic carbon during water passage through the lake bottom to aquifer sediments.
Learn More

Microbial community analyses of groundwater collected during an enhanced bioremediation experiment of trichlorethylene in a fractured rock aquifer, West Trenton, NJ (2008-2015)

These datasets contain microbial community data from groundwater samples collected at an in situ bioremediation site located at the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, NJ. DNA was extracted from groundwater samples collected from monitoring wells at the NAWC study site from July 2008 through July 2015 and analyzed for microbial community structure. Sample collection coincided wit
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Chemical Data From 40 Years of Monitoring a Treated-Wastewater Groundwater Plume in a Sand and Gravel Aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1978-2018

This U.S. Geological Survey data release provides a comprehensive dataset of water-quality data and sampling-site characteristics collected in 1978-2018 during a study of the effects of land disposal of treated wastewater on groundwater quality in an unconsolidated sand and gravel aquifer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Treated sewage-derived wastewater was discharged to rapid-infiltration beds at Joi
By
New England Water Science Center

Microbial Community and N-cycling gene abundance from Ponds and Groundwater on Cape Cod, MA (2015 - 2018)

Surface water, pore water, pond bottom sediments, and groundwater were sampled within and downgradient from five groundwater flow-through ponds that ranged from oligotrophic to eutrophic in Cape Cod, Massachusetts during different seasons from 2015 – 2018. The sampled ponds included Ashumet, Santuit, Snake, Shubael, and Longs. Pore water was collected between 15 to 100 cm below the pond bottoms on
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Water quality of samples collected in the Russian River Watershed (2017-2019)

The Russian River watershed is an important resource for drinking water and recreation. Sonoma Water relies on the Russian River to provide drinking water to over 620,000 Sonoma County and Marin, CA residents. Nearly 1 million visitors enjoy numerous recreational opportunities on the Russian River annually. Wildfires have increased in frequency and intensity in Northern California and research is
By
Water Resources Mission Area
Bacteria contained in filter chambers placed in downgradient observation wells were exposed to sulfamethoxazole
link
Bacteria contained in filter chambers placed in downgradient observation wells were exposed to sulfamethoxazole for 30 days
link
Filter Total Items: 80

Microbial community response to a bioaugmentation test to degrade trichloroethylene in a fractured rock aquifer, Trenton, N.J

Bioaugmentation is a promising strategy for enhancing trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation in fractured rock. However, slow or incomplete biodegradation can lead to stalling at degradation byproducts such as 1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC). Over the course of 7 years, we examined the response of groundwater microbial populations in a bioaugmentation test where an emulsified veg
Authors
Jennifer C. Underwood, Denise M. Akob, Michelle Lorah, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Ronald W. Harvey, Claire R. Tiedeman
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Environmental Health Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Reston Microbiology Laboratory

Future research needs involving pathogens in groundwater

Contamination of groundwater by enteric pathogens has commonly been associated with disease outbreaks. Proper management and treatment of pathogen sources are important prerequisites for preventing groundwater contamination. However, non-point sources of pathogen contamination are frequently difficult to identify, and existing approaches for pathogen detection are costly and only provide semi-quan
Authors
Scott A. Bradford, Ronald W. Harvey
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Microbial-sized, carboxylate-modified microspheres as surrogate tracers in a variety of subsurface environments: An overview

Since 1986, fluorescent carboxylate-modified polystyrene/latex microspheres (FCM) have been co-injected into aquifers along with conservative tracers and viruses, bacteria, and (or) protozoa. Use of FCM has resulted in new information about subsurface transport behaviors of microorganisms in fractured crystalline rock, karst limestone, soils, and granular aquifers. FCM have been used as surrogates
Authors
Ronald W. Harvey, David W. Metge, Denis R. LeBlanc
By
New England Water Science Center

Importance of the colmation layer in the transport and removal of cyanobacteria, viruses, and dissolved organic carbon during natural lake-bank filtration

This study focused on the importance of the colmation layer in the removal of cyanobacteria, viruses, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) during natural bank filtration. Injection-and-recovery studies were performed at two shallow (0.5 m deep), sandy, near-shore sites at the southern end of Ashumet Pond, a waste-impacted, kettle pond on Cape Cod, MA, that is subject to periodic blooms of cyanobacte
Authors
Ronald W. Harvey, David W. Metge, Denis R. LeBlanc, Jennifer C. Underwood, George R. Aiken, Kenna D. Butler, Timothy D. McCobb, Jay Jasperse
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, New England Water Science Center

Mobilization of microspheres from a fractured soil during intermittent infiltration events

Pathogens or biocolloids mobilized in the vadose zone may consequently contaminate groundwater. We found that microspheres were mobilized from a fractured soil during intermittent rainfall and the mobilization was greater when the microsphere size was larger and when the soil had greater water permeability.The vadose zone filters pathogenic microbes from infiltrating water and consequently protect
Authors
Sanjay Mohanty, Mark Bulicek, David W. Metge, Ronald W. Harvey, Joseph N. Ryan, Alexandria B. Boehm
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Adaptations of indigenous bacteria to fuel contamination in karst aquifers in south-central Kentucky

The karst aquifer systems in southern Kentucky can be dynamic and quick to change. Microorganisms that live in these unpredictable aquifers are constantly faced with environmental changes. Their survival depends upon adaptations to changes in water chemistry, taking advantage of positive stimuli and avoiding negative environmental conditions. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study in 2001 to
Authors
Thomas D. Byl, David W. Metge, Daniel T. Agymang, Mike Bradley, Gregg Hileman, Ronald W. Harvey
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

Colloid transport in saturated porous media: Elimination of attachment efficiency in a new colloid transport model

A colloid transport model is introduced that is conceptually simple yet captures the essential features of colloid transport and retention in saturated porous media when colloid retention is dominated by the secondary minimum because an electrostatic barrier inhibits substantial deposition in the primary minimum. This model is based on conventional colloid filtration theory (CFT) but eliminates th
Authors
Lee L. Landkamer, Ronald W. Harvey, Timothy D. Scheibe, Joseph N. Ryan

Transport and fate of microbial pathogens in agricultural settings

An understanding of the transport and survival of microbial pathogens (pathogens hereafter) in agricultural settings is needed to assess the risk of pathogen contamination to water and food resources, and to develop control strategies and treatment options. However, many knowledge gaps still remain in predicting the fate and transport of pathogens in runoff water, and then through the shallow vado
Authors
Scott A. Bradford, Veronica L. Morales, Wei Zhang, Ronald W. Harvey, Aaron I. Packman, Arvind Mohanram, Claire Welty

Transport of ARS-labeled hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in saturated granular media is influenced by surface charge variability even in the presence of humic acid

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticle (nHAP) is increasingly being used to remediate soils and water polluted by metals and radionuclides. The transport and retention of Alizarin red S (ARS)-labeled nHAP were investigated in water-saturated granular media. Experiments were carried out over a range of ionic strength (Ic, 0–50 mM NaCl) conditions in the presence of 10 mg L−1 humic acid. The transport of ARS-n
Authors
Dengjun Wang, Scott A. Bradford, Ronald W. Harvey, Xiuzhen Hao, Dongmei Zhou

Effect of dissolved organic carbon on the transport and attachment behaviors of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and carboxylate-modified microspheres advected through temperate humic and tropical volcanic agricultural soil

Transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and microspheres in two disparate (a clay- and Fe-rich, volcanic and a temperate, humic) agricultural soils were studied in the presence and absence of 100 mg L–1 of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), and Suwannee River Humic Acid (SRHA) at pH 5.0–6.0. Transport of carboxylate-modified, 1.8 μm microspheres in soil columns was highly sensitive to th
Authors
Arvind Mohanram, Chittaranjan Ray, David W. Metge, Larry B. Barber, Joseph N. Ryan, Ronald W. Harvey

Humic acid facilitates the transport of ARS-labeled hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in iron oxyhydroxide-coated sand

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAP) have been widely used to remediate soil and wastewater contaminated with metals and radionuclides. However, our understanding of nHAP transport and fate is limited in natural environments that exhibit significant variability in solid and solution chemistry. The transport and retention kinetics of Alizarin red S (ARS)-labeled nHAP were investigated in water-satur
Authors
Dengjun Wang, Scott A. Bradford, Ronald W. Harvey, Bin Gao, Long Cang, Dongmei Zhou

Fluorescent microspheres as surrogates in evaluating the efficacy of riverbank filtration for removing Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and other pathogens

A major benefit of riverbank filtration (RBF) is that it provides a relatively effective means for pathogen removal. There is a need to conduct more injection-and-recovery transport studies at operating RBF sites in order to properly assess the combined effects of the site heterogeneities and ambient physicochemical conditions, which are difficult to replicate in the lab. For field transport studi
Authors
Ronald W. Harvey, David W. Metge, Rodney A. Sheets, Jay Jasperse
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Science and Products