hwwalker
Email
hwwalker@wpi.edu
Office
212 Kaven Hall
Phone
+1 (508) 8316223
Personal Website
Education
PhD Environmental Engineering University of California, Irvine 1996
MS Civil Engineering University of California, Irvine 1994
BS Environmental Engineering California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 1991

Harold Walker is the Schwaber Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at WPI. Prior to his appointment at WPI, Professor Walker was the Founding Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering at Stony Brook University. Professor Walker also served as the co-Director of the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology at Stony Brook and was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to the New York State Drinking Water Quality Council. Prior to Stony Brook, Dr. Walker was a Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering at The Ohio State University and served as the Director of the Ohio Water Resources Center. Dr. Walker is registered Professor Engineer in the state of Ohio.

Dr. Walker’s research focuses on understanding surface chemical processes in natural and engineered systems, with an emphasis on clean water. Current areas of research include: predicting the fate and transport of manufactured nanomaterials, cyanotoxins, and other “emerging” contaminants in groundwater, lakes, oceans, and water treatment plants; developing novel membrane treatment systems and membrane cleaning approaches; and the research and development of innovative, on-site wastewater treatment systems for removal of nitrogen. Dr. Walker has been funded by the National Science Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, United States Geological Survey, Department of Energy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (through Sea Grant), and a variety of state agencies, industries, and other sources.

hwwalker
Email
hwwalker@wpi.edu
Education
PhD Environmental Engineering University of California, Irvine 1996
MS Civil Engineering University of California, Irvine 1994
BS Environmental Engineering California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 1991

Harold Walker is the Schwaber Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at WPI. Prior to his appointment at WPI, Professor Walker was the Founding Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering at Stony Brook University. Professor Walker also served as the co-Director of the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology at Stony Brook and was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to the New York State Drinking Water Quality Council. Prior to Stony Brook, Dr. Walker was a Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering at The Ohio State University and served as the Director of the Ohio Water Resources Center. Dr. Walker is registered Professor Engineer in the state of Ohio.

Dr. Walker’s research focuses on understanding surface chemical processes in natural and engineered systems, with an emphasis on clean water. Current areas of research include: predicting the fate and transport of manufactured nanomaterials, cyanotoxins, and other “emerging” contaminants in groundwater, lakes, oceans, and water treatment plants; developing novel membrane treatment systems and membrane cleaning approaches; and the research and development of innovative, on-site wastewater treatment systems for removal of nitrogen. Dr. Walker has been funded by the National Science Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, United States Geological Survey, Department of Energy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (through Sea Grant), and a variety of state agencies, industries, and other sources.

Office
212 Kaven Hall
Phone
+1 (508) 8316223
Personal Website
Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

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Preview Clean Water and Sanitation Goal

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

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Preview Sustainable Cities and Communities Goal

Scholarly Work

Hadi Myavagh, P., Yang, M., Ma, H., Walker, H., and B. Hsiao (2019) “Biofouling-Resistant Nanocellulose Layer in Hierarchical Polymeric Membranes: Synthesis, Characterization and Performance,” J. Membrane Sci., 579, 162-171. 2019

Li, N. Zheng, J., Hadi, P., Yang, M., Huang, X., Ma, H., Walker, H.W., and B.S Hsiao (2019) “High Flux Nanocellulose-Cellulose Acetate Nanocomposite Membrane,” Membranes, 6(9), 1-15. 2019

Liu, Y.-L., Walker, H. W., and J. J. Lenhart (2019) “Adsorption of Microcystin-LR onto Kaolinite, Illite and Montmorillonite,” Chemosphere, 220, 696-705. 2019

He, X. Liu, Y.-L. Conklin, A., Westrick, J., Weavers, L. Dionysiou, D., Lenhart, J. Mouser, P., and H. W. Walker (2016) “Toxic cyanobacteria and drinking water supply: Impacts, detection, and treatment,” Harmful Algae, 54, 174-193. 2016

Walker, Harold W., Harmful Algae Blooms in Drinking Water: Removal of Cyanobacterial Cells and Toxins, CRC Press, 2015. 2015

News

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Media Coverage

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WCAI
Why Are Potentially Dangerous Algae Blooms Spreading Through Cape Ponds?

Harold Walker, Schwaber Professor of Environmental Engineering, was interviewed for NPR affiliate WCAI about toxic algae blooms in Cape Cod ponds. In her on-air report, reporter Eve Zuckoff noted her conversation with Walker. “(Walker) basically said we’ve reached a point of high enough risk for ponds that the standard shouldn’t be ‘Is this unsafe?’ but rather, ‘Is there proof that this IS safe?’