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OWML YouTube Videos

YouTube Videos of the Occoquan Lab:

Monitoring water quality in the Broad Run Watershed

The Broad Run Watershed Monitoring Program is a multi-year collaboration between Virginia Tech’s Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory and Loudoun Water. The goal of the project is to understand how water quality is changing by collecting samples and analyzing salinity levels and pollutants. “A benefit of long-term studies, of which the Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Lab has been a part of, is that you can really assess how things like development will impact water quality," said Admin Husic, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.

Featured Places: Loudoun Water, March 5, 2026, 2:25

Bubbling Up What did the Occoquan Model Find Beneath the Surface

Join us for a timely community presentation on the newly completed 2040 Occoquan Land Use Report, featuring Dr. Siddharth Saksena, one of the report’s primary authors. This presentation will explore:

  • How future land-use scenarios were projected for the Occoquan watershed through the year 2040
  • The methodology used to simulate land cover and climate impacts on water quantity and quality
  • Key findings related to watershed flows and selected pollutants using the legacy Occoquan model
  • Limitations of the current projections and simulations
  • Next steps to improve confidence in predictions through the new Occoquan Watershed Modeling Framework (OWMF)

Opening remarks provided by Norm Goulet, Director of Environmental and Resiliency Planning for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission; and Dr. Stan Grant, Director of the Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory. The Occoquan Reservoir is a regionally vital drinking water and recreational resource. Its health depends on the land-use decisions made around it. This presentation offers critical insights for our community and continues PWCA’s effort to explore how smart growth can protect our drinking water supplies while we continue to build vibrant communities in places that make sense. The future of our water starts with the decisions we make today. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss! Chapters 0:00 - Introduction by PWCA 7:10 - Norm Goulet, Director of Environmental and Resiliency Planning for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission 13:33 - Dr. Stan Grant, Director of the Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory 21:03 - Dr. Siddharth Saksena discusses the 2040 Occoquan Land Use Report 1:05:39 - Q&A

January 28, 2026, 1:52:52

 

Protecting Our Drinking Water: A Community Approach to the Occoquan Reservoir    

Join us as we explore an innovative research project led by the Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Lab, funded by the National Science Foundation Civic Innovation Challenge (Planning Grant No. 2431213). Written and directed by Ashley Studholme, Executive Director of the Prince William Conservation Alliance, this video showcases a collaborative effort involving community members, decision-makers, and water resource experts to develop a novel model for understanding and managing the Occoquan Reservoir—a vital drinking water source for 1 million residents in Northern Virginia. As development pressures increase, new water quality challenges are arising. Through co-creation and innovation, this project aims to ensure the Occoquan Reservoir remains a dependable and economical drinking water resource for future generations. 🔗 Learn more about this initiative and how you can get involved! https://owml.cee.vt.edu/

March 26, 2025  4:52

Studying freshwater salinization and water quality

The Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Lab is researching the issue of freshwater salinization and water quality. Researchers and students sample water from the Occoquan Reservoir and local streams and discuss the impacts of salinization. Here's some of the work on how they monitor and address the water's salt pollution.

October 3. 2022,  3:07

Water Presentation to the PW BCOS by PW Water Authority and Occoquan Monitoring Lab

On December 10, 2024, Prince William Board of County Supervisors received Prince William Water Updates from Calvin D. Farr, Jr., PE, General Manager / CEO and Dr. Stanley Grant, Virginia Tech Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory. 0:00 Presentation from Calvin D. Farr from PW Water Authority 48:46 Presentation from Dr. Stan Gran from VT OWML 1:12:40 Q&A with the BOCS

December 24, 2024, 1:38:54

Virginia Tech leads innovative initiative to tackle PFAS pollution in Northern Virginia's drinking water supply
https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/06/eng-cee-one-water-initiative.html

June 6, 2025, 4:00  Not a video