Ken W. F. Howard

MSc, PhD, PHG, PGeo FGC, CGeol FGS

Groundwater Specialist / Hydrogeological Consultant / Expert Witness

Dr. Ken Howard is Professor of Hydrogeology
at the University of Toronto, in Canada,
where he is Director of the Groundwater Research Group
.
He is a hydrogeologist with over 40 years of professional experience in all aspects related to groundwater investigation. He is:

a Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the
Geological Society of London (CGeol FGS),

a Professional Geoscientist and Fellow of Geoscientists Canada (PGeo FGC) certified by the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario,

a Professional Hydrogeologist (P.HG.) certified by the
American Institute of Hydrology.

In 2000, he was elected Regional Vice-President (North America) of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and was re-elected to the same portfolio in 2004.
In 2008 he joined the IAH Executive following his election as IAH Vice-President responsible for Program and Science Coordination. In 2012 he relinquished this post when elected IAH President (and Chair of the IAH Board of Directors). He held this position for 4 years and as now IAH Past-President and board member (until late 2020).

In 1997, he became Chair of the IAH Commission on Groundwater in Urban Areas (CGUA). In 2011 this Commission became the Urban Groundwater Network (http://urbangw.iah.org/.)
He is also a member of the IAH Commission on Karst Hydrogeology.
( http://www.iah.org/karst/ )

Dr. Howard has wide international experience in all aspects of groundwater flow, contaminant transport and resource management and protection. He has worked on six continents publishing over 200 peer reviewed research articles, and six books (as editor). The books focus on hydrogeological problems in urban areas, and industrial centres and include impacts on ecosystems. His most recent research project is funded by Alberta Environment and involves the development of a 3-D transient groundwater flow model of a region close to the border with Saskatchewan.

Since the mid-1980s Dr. Howard has maintained close involvement with the groundwater industry both nationally, and internationally. Between 1985 and 1988 he gave industry workshops on topics such as "the Release of hazards to the hydrosphere - risk analysis for waste management", "Hydrogeological approaches to landfill site selection" and "Landfilling of Hazardous Wastes". In the past 15 years, he has contributed regularly as opening, invited, expert lecturer for the GOWEN industry short course on Contaminated and Hazardous Waste Site Management a popular week-long course developed to service the USA/Canada groundwater industry (http://www.contaminatedsite.com).

In 2000, he was invited by Justice Denis O'Connor, Commissioner of the Walkerton Inquiry to attend the first formal day of the hearings and make presentations, as the first Environmental Expert Witness, on groundwater flow, contaminant transport and well protection. Subsequently he was retained by the Commission of the Walkerton Inquiry as peer reviewer for Part 2 of the Inquiry under the direction of Dr. Swain, Chair of the Research Advisory Panel.

Dr. Howard's first major involvement with groundwater problems in southern Ontario dates back to the early 1980s when he initiated research on the Oak Ridges Moraine as a pre-cursor to the development of a regional 3-D groundwater flow model of the system. Since this time he has been regularly called upon to review documents, conduct assessments, and perform the responsibilities of an expert witness, notably on issues as they relate to aquifer assessment, saltwater intrusion  and groundwater impacts related to land use change.

In recent years much of his work has been related to groundwater issues in China and Siingapore. In 2018 was appointed by the Yanga Kuang Group Ltd. (China) as Honorary Adviser for Research on all global mining projects.

Ken W.F. Howard MSc, PhD, PHG, PGeo,CGeol FGS

Professor of Hydrogeology

 Dept. Physical and Environmental Sciences 
University of Toronto Scarborough
1265 Military Trail, Toronto 
Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4


 
University of Toronto

Office: EV348, Telephone: 416-287-7233,
Fax: 416-287-7279


ken.howard@utoronto.ca

International Association of
Hydrogeologists



IAH Urban Groundwater Network
(IAH-UGN)


International Association of
Hydrogeologists Canadian
National Chapter

Example Consulting Projects

Dates

Client

Nature of Work

1984-1986

MacLaren Plansearch, Toronto, Ontario

Critical evaluation of geochemical databases.

1989-1992

Whitevale Residents' Association, southern Ontario

Review and evaluation of landfill site investigations including modeling of contaminant impacts.

1990-1991

Port Darlington and Community Residents' Association

Retained to review consultant's documents related to impacts associated wit the St. Mary's Cement Quarry, Darlington, Ontario and a proposed dock extension.

1990-1991

Falconbridge Ltd. Timmins, Ont.

Review and analysis of hydrogeological documentation related to a mine tailings pond.

1990-1991

P.O.W.E.R., Acton, Ontario

Retained to review consultant's reports related to the proposed Acton Quarry landfill site, on the Niagara Escarpment.

1990-1992

Riverwatch Environmental Group (Cayuga) Inc.

Critical Review and analysis of hydrogeological reports pertaining to the potential use of limestone quarries for the disposal of fly ash.

1990-1992

Concord Scientific Ltd., Toronto

Retained as sole hydrogeology member of a team charged by HELP, Alberta to perform a risk assessment and priority ranking for 5 seriously contaminated oil refinery sites. Responsible for interpretation and analysis of physical and chemical data related to soil and groundwater.

1991-1993

Toronto and District Heating Corporation

Review and analysis of reports concerning the impacts of leaking brine disposal tanks on shallow soils and groundwater

1992-1993

Canadian Environmental Collaborative (CEC Ltd)

Retained as hydrogeologist for the review of draft EA for Steetley Quarry Products Inc. south quarry landfill development.

1993-1995

UMA Engng., Ltd.

Development of a groundwater model for assessing the impacts of urban development on groundwater underlying the Oak Ridges Moraine, southern Ontario.

1994-1995

Beard, Winter, Barristers and Solicitors

Re: Krek vs. Knoppke. Retained as expert witness to review reports and documentation related to the contamination of soil, groundwater and lake water by leaking fuel tanks, Lake of Bays, Ontario.

1995

Ernst and Young

Expert witness - provided evidence before the Environmental Appeal Board of Ontario re: alleged well interference in fractured rock, Muskoka, Ontario.

1995-1998

Cheadle, Shanks, Johnson and McIvor

Expert witness retained to review hydrogeological and hydrochemical data related to alleged contamination of well water by highway de-icing operations.

1997-1999

King City Residents' Association, Ontario

Conducted hydrogeological assessment of potential water quality impacts resulting from a proposed highway extension.

1997-1998

Caledonia Mining Corporation

Shared responsibility for the development and supervision of a summer drilling and sampling program, NWT.

1998-2000

Beatty Franz and Associates

Urban sub-division development - responsible for hydrogeological assessment of potential impacts on groundwater quality and quantity, Stouffville, Ont.

1997-2006

Government of Ontario

Retained by legal counsel representing the Ontario Ministry of the Environment to advise on its defence against legal proceedings being brought against the Ministry in connection with alleged PAH contamination of well water by waste asphalt. Responsible for field data review, data collection, contaminant modeling, preparation of expert witness statements and presentation of expert testimony.

1998-2002

Cosburn, Patterson Mather Ltd.

Retained to perform water budget estimates and potential impact assessments in connection with urban development, Richmond Hill, Ontario. Also member of the Hydrogeologic Experts Panel convened to review hydrogeological requirements for the approval of urban development along the Oak Ridges Moraine. Attended 18 meetings over a two-year period. Findings presented to the OMB.

1998-2001

Martin Zaitzeff Scrimshaw

Hydrogeological review and evaluation of hydrogeological and hydrochemical data relating to the alleged groundwater contamination from highway road de-icing operations in Thunder Bay, Ontario

1998-1999

International Water Consultants Ltd, Barrie , Ontario

Attended meetings to provide critical review of regional groundwater models developed for resource management, Barrie Ontario.

1999-2000

Town of Pickering (Public Review Team - PRT)

Member of a Peer Review team assembled to assess OPG's Draft Scope of Assessment for an Environmental Assessment pursuant to the CEAA of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station "Return to Service". Responsible for all hydrogeological aspects of the review, report writing and presentations to Town Council.

2000

Kramer and Henderson

Retained as expert witness to provide hydrogeological evidence in connection with house foundations damaged by infiltrating groundwater, Oakville Ontario.

2000-2001

Beatty Franz and Associates /Walker , Nott & Dragicevic Assoc. Ltd.

Retained to perform water budget estimates and develop a groundwater flow system model in connection with urban development Uxbridge, Ontario.

2001-2002

Consultant / Adviser to the Commissioner of the Walkerton Enquiry

Invited by Justice Denis O'Connor, Commissioner of the Walkerton Inquiry to attend the first formal day of the hearings and make presentations, as the first environmental expert witness, on groundwater flow, contaminant transport and well protection. Subsequently retained by the Commission of the Walkerton Inquiry as peer reviewer for Part 2 of the Inquiry under the direction of Dr. Swain, Chair of the Research Advisory Panel.

2002-2004

British Geological Survey

Retained to review documents and to standby as a potential expert witness in connection with a multi-billion $ class action law suit related to arsenic contamination of wells in Bangladesh.

2002-2007

North Oakville Management Inc.

Retained as hydrogeological expert to review reports, conduct water balance studies and develop groundwater models related to the potential impacts of proposed urban development, Oakville, Ontario.

2002-
2009

City of Pickering

Provide hydrogeological advice re: a long-term program to remediate Frenchman's Bay, a shallow system seriously impacted by urban contaminants.

2003-2004

Ontario School Board's Insurance Exchange

Hydrogeological review and evaluation of consultants' documents related to groundwater contamination from an alleged spill of heating fuel , Uxbridge Ontario.

2003-2006

Temiskaming Federation of Agriculture - Adams Mine

Performed review and critical assessment of hydrogeological and modelling studies undertaken by industry consultants at the proposed Adams Mine Landfill site. Invited to Queen�s Park by the Honourable Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of the Environment and the Honourable David Ramsay, Minster of Natural Resources to present and discuss key findings. Within three months, the government introduced the Adams Mine Lake Act, 2004 to prohibit the use of lakes as landfill sites and prevent the use of the Adams Mine site as a landfill.

2004-2006

Peter D'Agostino - Pound Ridge Road Salt Impacts, Upper New York State, USA

Review of consultants reports re: alleged contamination of soil and groundwater due to road de-icing operations.

2005-2006

David Steele

Retained to conduct a review and critical analysis of hydrogeological aspects of the proposed Central Pickering Development Plan, southern Ontario

2005-2009

York Region

Retained as expert member of an independent, 6-person Peer Review Team charged with a comprehensive review and analysis of a wide range of projects connected with the expansion of the York-Durham Sewer (southern Ontario). Responsible for all hydrogeological aspects of the review including potential impacts of dewatering on groundwater, wells and streams.

2007-
2010

Coalition of Concerned Citizens, Caledon, Ontario

Retained to conduct a review and critical analysis of hydrogeological studies conducted in support of the proposed Rockfort Quarry. Findings presented to the OMB.

2008

South Georgetown Landowners Group (SGLG)

Georgetown Area Groundwater Assessment

2009-

Activa Holdings Inc.

Hydrogeologial investigations in connection with the Kitchener Lands west of Reidel
2009- CORE (Conserve Our Rural Environment)  Retained to conduct a review of hydrogeological studies conducted in support of the proposed Melanchton Quarry
2010-2011 Niagara Escarpment Commission Retained to conduct a review of hydrogeological studies conducted in support of the proposed Keppel Quarry extension
2012- Singapore PUC Retained as member of an Expert Review Panel re: groundwater supply for Singapore
2013-2014 Wellington Water Watchers and the Council of Canadians

Retained as expert hydrogeologist re: Environmental Review Tribunal Appeal against Nestle PTTW, Erin, Ontario

2013-2015 Citizens Against the Melville Pit (CAMP) Retained to review all hydrogeological studies conducted in support of the Olympia Quarry (Melville Pit) Application and attend as expert witness in front of the OMB.

2013-

TerrAtlantic Engineering Ltd (later BGC) Retained by TerrAtlantic Engineering Ltd (later BGC) to review investigation work and report   related to a potential groundwater supply for the City of Saint John, New Brunswick
2014 Belfountain Citizens' Group Retained to review consultant documents relating to proposed urban development in Belfountain, Caledon
2014-
2019
Township of Woolwich Retained to review consultant documents relating to the proposed Jigs Hollow gravel pit
2014- Vaughan Citizen's group

Retained to review consultant documents relating to a proposed urban development “Dufferin Vistas” in Vaughan Ontario.

2014-2016 Carlsbad Community Citizens Group

Retained to review all hydrogeological studies including modeling conducted in support of the proposed Boundary Rd Landfill (Carlsbad Springs), Ottawa.

2014-2017 Concerned Citizens of Brant Retained to review all hydrogeological activities and give evidence before an ERT re: proposed aggregate extraction in the Paris Moraine, Ontario.
2015-2016 Friends of the Fraser Wetlands Retained to review documents and give evidence at OMB related to a proposed urban sub-division on Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas, Ontario.
2017 Gaetano di Blasi Retained re: assessment of ORM flooding issues.
2015-2016 Future Nets and Supplies Ltd., New Brunswick

Retained to provide expert opinion on a matter related to copper contamination of groundwater.

2018-

Karrow and Chisholm

Retained to review consultant documents relating to a roposed gravel pit, Township of Southgate  County of Grey, Ontario.


For information on Services, Availability and Fees

please contact
Ken Howard via e-mail:

ken.howard@utoronto.ca


Tel: 416-287-7233

or

Fax: 416-287-7279

 



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ExampleReport