As a hydrogeologist and environmental consultant, I’ve studied the perilous relationship between groundwater and various forms of contamination. This series includes an image of a town dump and of a gasoline station in small New England towns. While the scene above ground may seem familiar, the earth below shows the mark we make on the earth in the name of progress. In researching and documenting these sites, I’ve come to understand how vulnerable groundwater is to different kinds of land use.
Altered Ground
Aquifer Test
On a wooded hillside in Vermont, I photographed an aquifer test to evaluate a newly drilled well. This image reflects the quiet work of measuring groundwater and what remains beyond direct view
Former Town Dump
Having worked at many former dump sites, I examined how past disposal practices altered the groundwater below this rural landscape. This image interprets the movement and concentration of contaminants within the subsurface
Gasoline Station
At the edge of a small New England town, I photographed a gasoline station where monitoring wells trace contamination below the surface. This image interprets the movement of benzene in groundwater beneath an ordinary roadside landscape
Groundwater – Septic Systems
At a municipal well in New England, I examined the relationship between residential development and the aquifer below. This image reflects how drinking water and daily life are linked beneath the surface
