Water Resource Management & Ecological Services

Water Quality Studies

ESS Group, Inc. staff members have extensive experience in comprehensive water quality analysis and management. ESS water quality studies have included lakes, streams and rivers, wetlands, and coastal and ocean waters. Our services include characterization of flows and discharges, and analytical modeling of both simple and complex systems. ESS water quality scientists conduct watershed-scale evaluations, field investigations, and modeling to support various water quality permit applications. We develop conceptual hydrologic and geologic models, and conduct groundwater flow and contaminant transport analyses, time of travel evaluations, and nutrient loading evaluations. ESS modeling packages are often GIS-based to take advantage of existing water quality data.

Water Analysis and Water Resource Protection

ESS water quality services include:

• Protection of Clean Water Resources
• Clean-Up of Contaminated Water Resources
• Stormwater Calculations and Evaluations
• Wastewater Characterization and Modeling
• Groundwater Investigations and Modeling
• Surface Water Investigations and Modeling
• Water Quality Analysis
• Discharge Modeling Including Thermal Plume, Suspended Sediment Fate and Transport

Water Quality Modeling

Models of varying complexity are standard tools for visualizing groundwater and surface water movement and evaluating potential water quality impacts. Typically, ESS water quality analyses include field sampling for one or more constituents of interest, followed by fate and transport computer modeling to predict contaminant behavior under different scenarios and across different time scales. ESS water quality scientists then apply their technical knowledge and management skills to guide environmental planning, decision-making, and the selection of water pollution control technologies and water quality management techniques. Water analysis constituents of concern have included metals, toxics, nutrients, pesticides, and coliform bacteria.

Water Quality Services Overview

• Groundwater Flow Modeling
• Conceptual Model Development
• Predictive Analysis of Proposed Actions
• Pump Test Evaluation/Capture Zone Analysis
• Zone II Delineation for New Public Water Supplies
• Wastewater Mounding Analysis
• Groundwater/Surface Water Interactions
• Dredging and In-Water Construction Support
• Contaminant Transport Modeling
• Conceptual Model Development
• Contaminant Fate and Transport Analysis
• Wastewater Discharge Analysis
• Bacteria, Nutrient, and Pollutant Loading Evaluations
• Watershed/Surface Water Modeling
• Pollutant Loading Estimates
• Impaired Tributaries or Watersheds Identification
• Modeling in Support of TMDL Development