PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

PRINCIPAL STAFF

Vincent W. Uhl – Professional Hydrogeologist

Mr. Uhl has over 40 years experience in the exploration, development, management, protection and remediation of groundwater and surface water for public, industrial and agricultural uses. He consults to industry, municipalities, local governments, international governments, NGOs, USAID contractors, consulting firms and legal clients on projects with water resource components.  He has worked extensively in the United States, southern and eastern Africa, Afghanistan, the Philippines, and India, and in 15 other countries on short-term assignments.

For his many municipal utility, township, and private clients in the United States, he has managed test and production well drilling programs, aquifer pumping tests, well rehabilitation programs, wellhead protection program development, land use impact evaluations and provided technical support for water allocation permitting.  He has investigated and characterized hundreds of industrial sites, large municipal landfills, interstate petroleum and gas pipelines, and formulated remedial strategies with regulatory authorities.         

Internationally, Mr. Uhl initiated and directed for 5 years a water supply development for an NGO in Central India which evolved into an organization with over 50 employees that installed over 3,000 wells, and provided a full-service approach to water supply development.  He was the Team Leader of a two-year groundwater exploration project performed for the government in northwest Botswana by a multi-disciplinary team including academics, consultants and practitioners in many specialized technical fields, that resulted in identifying and quantifying regional water resources in the Kalahari Desert at the distal end of the Okavango Delta and the installation of well fields.  Short-term expert assignments have ranged from a country-wide evaluation of groundwater resources and conditions in Afghanistan to the costing of potable water systems in Ecuador.             

Mr. Uhl has taught graduate level courses in hydrogeology at the University of Maryland, and the University of Akola in India.  He was an adjunct professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey where he taught a course in Applied Hydrogeology from 1986 to 1990.  He has mentored students at the University of Pennsylvania in connection with an Engineers Without Borders project in Cameroon and Guatamala.  

Certified Professional Geologist - AIPG No. 6519

Certified Professional Hydrogeologist - AIH No. 389

M.S. Hydrogeology, University of Arizona, 1976

M.S. Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 1970

B.S.  Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 1966

Complete profile

Jaclyn A. Baron – Chemical and Water Resources Engineer

Ms. Baron has 30 years experience in industry and consulting on water resource and environmental projects. Her clients include private corporations, commercial entities, legal firms, municipal entities, and insurers. She has been the administrative manager and technical report writer for a variety of extended projects involving groundwater components. She has been the principal peer reviewer of her firm’s environmental and hydrogeologic reports, and has lent her judgment and expertise to many technical documents prepared for litigation and cost negotiation purposes.

In her expansive site assessment, investigation and cleanup practice, she has addressed many different sites with typical and unique contaminant transport characteristics including natural gas pipeline compressor stations, electronics plants, an aluminum refinery, dry cleaners, hazardous waste landfills and treatment facilities, solid waste landfills, residential and commercial fuel oil tanks, bus company facilities, gasoline stations, and historical farmsteads.  In addition to contributing her knowledge regarding the water quality aspects of these projects, she has directed their technical and administrative implementation under federal and state superfund programs, specific state rules for site assessments, property transfer circumstances, and voluntary cleanups.  She has also participated in a range of watershed studies and water supply projects.       

Internationally, Ms. Baron was the principal technical editor of the Final Report for a two-year groundwater exploration project performed for the government in northwest Botswana with sections prepared by the various members of a multi-disciplinary team including academics, consultants and practitioners in specialized technical fields including remote sensing, test well drilling, structural geology, surface water hydrology and well field modeling.  She subsequently prepared the water quality monitoring parts of a Management Plan for several of the well fields planned as a result of this project. 

M.S. Water Resources Engineering, Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 1982
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York, 1975
Bronx High School of Science
Complete profile

Ashish Daw – Hydrogeologist / GIS Epert

Ashish Daw is a hydrogeologist with a Bachelors Degree in Geology, and a Masters Degree in Applied Geology from India.  He has completed graduate studies in hydrogeology from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Mr. Daw began his career as a hydrogeologist with the Netherlands Assisted Project Office in Hyderabad, India where he participated in a project to identify areas of wells in the State of Andhra Pradesh with acceptable fluoride concentrations and setting a framework for sharing and distributing high quality water.  He provided basic interpretation of satellite imagery and created maps of well locations using image processing software.

With UHL, Mr. Daw has gained extensive field experience with many aspects of water supply development and management as well as utilizing his excellent quantitative and computer skills.  He has managed well drilling, installation and development programs in both bedrock and unconsolidated geologic settings.  These programs have included installing test wells to assess the feasibility of extracting and filtering river water during periods of high-flow by horizontal collector, and drilling bedrock wells up to 1000 feet (300m) to reach into an abandoned iron-ore mine being considered for a possible water storage reservoir.  He managed a highly successful well redevelopment program to restore a 1.4 million gallon per day (MGD) production well critically needed by a large water utility and has experience in conducting long and short-term pumping tests and analyzing data to evaluate aquifer characteristics. Mr. Daw created an analytical element model (AEM) for simulating groundwater flow and contaminant transport that supported a water allocation permit issued for a production well by the State of New Jersey.  He is experienced  with analytical and numerical groundwater models and their applications.  Mr. Daw has identified lineaments and faults from aerial photographs and confirmed these features in the field by working closely with field geophysicists.

On international projects, Mr. Daw has processed satellite imagery, interpreted geologic lineaments and fractures from satellite images and aerial photographs, and created  GIS base maps and a related databases for groundwater supply projects in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Sri Lanka  He  has processed and interpreted satellite images to identify potential well drilling sites for projects in Afghanistan, Cameroon and Sri Lanka. Mr. Daw is proficient in English, Hindi, Marathi, and can communicate in various Indian dialects.

Complete profile

ASSOCIATE EXPERTS

Dr. Joseph Owolabi Ajayi – West Africa – Expert Hydrogeologist

Dr. Ajayi received his doctorate in water resources from the University of Arizona and is a Professor in the Department of Geology at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.  He maintains a career in academic, consulting and professional services in the technical areas of hydrogeology, water resources evaluation, and environmental engineering.  He consults as an expert to several professional firms and multi-national corporations and has provided expert services to state and federal agencies in West Africa.  A principal area of his expertise lies in groundwater exploration and management in hard rock aquifer systems.

Mr. Getachew Alem – East Africa – Water Resources Consultant

Mr. Getachew Alem started his career as a Researcher in Watershed Development and Irrigation Water Management in Ethiopia in 1977 and has over 30 years experience in the research and development of water resources, community water supply, and natural resource conservation and management. 

In 1990, he joined ActionAid Ethiopia as a Research and Evaluation Program Officer with a special focus on Natural Resource Development and Water Programs.  In 1993 he joined Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as a Water Engineer responsible for all water supply programs in the country.  During this assignment, he planned and organized the drilling of over 50 deep wells, rehabilitation of 20 deep and shallow wells, 200 hand dug wells and spring protections, and supported the provision of clean and safe water supply for over 200,000 people in a seven-year period. 

In 1999, he worked as Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the 25th WEDC conference on Integrated Water Supply and Sanitation held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In the same year he started private consulting work in water supply, irrigation and environment.  Since then he has been working as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program in Ethiopia - Assisting Regional Water Bureaus (Government Offices) and the Ministry of Water Resources in capacity building programs, and in planning the Fifteen-Year Water Sector Development Program.  He also provides consultancy services for NGOs in the water sector.

Tej B. Bakaya – Southern Africa – Expert Geophysicist

Mr. Bakaya specializes in the design, implementation and interpretation of geophysical exploration programs for the siting of test and production wells for public, industrial and agricultural water supply.  He has worked in varied geologic and hydrogeologic settings and has a wide range of experience with different geophysical applications and their interpretation.  He has coordinated and directed many geophysical exploration programs for major water supply development projects in the United States, Africa and India.

Mr. Bakaya has been the managing director of Water Resources Consultants (Pty) Ltd. since 1985 and has been responsible for the execution of many water-supply development projects throughout Southern Africa for governmental, private sector, and international institutional clients such as the World Bank, SADC, MCC, USAID, and the African Development Bank.

Dr. Martin G. Beyer – Canada - International Water Development

Dr. Beyer is a consultant for international development in the field of water supply and sanitation.  He retired in 1990 after twenty years at the United Nations (UNICEF and UNDP).  At the UN, Dr. Beyer was a senior advisor to UNICEF and responsible for coordinating that organization’s work for water supply and sanitation worldwide.  He was also Chairman for the United Nations Intersecretariat Group on Water Resources, and Chairman of the Advisory Panel to the UNDP/World Bank Global project for the testing and development of hand pumps.  He was Executive Secretary for the UNDP at the “Global Consultation in Safe Water and Sanitation for the 1990s” in New Delhi, India.

Lawrence A. Cerrillo, CPG – USA - Expert Hydrogeologist

Mr. Cerrillo is a hydrogeologist with a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master’s degree in hydrogeology from Colorado State University.  Mr. Cerrillo has over 30 years experience as principal investigator and manager of groundwater and environmental projects.  His international experience includes project manager of USAID’S Comprehensive Groundwater Development Project in Somalia, project hydrogeologist for USAID’s groundwater development project in the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka, and principal investigator for data acquisition for water projects in Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Israel.  Mr. Cerrillo has worked with and for major engineering and groundwater consulting firms in the USA including Louis Berger and Geraghty & Miller, Inc.

Emery Coppola – USA - Expert Modeler

Dr. Coppola has worked as a hydrogeologist for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Aquifer Protection and for the New Jersey Geological Survey as project manager for the State’s Wellhead Protection Program.  He developed the State’s delineation methodology for baseline wellhead protection areas for public community supply wells.  At the University of Arizona, Dr. Coppola developed a patented methodology that uses computational neural networks and optimization methodology for modeling and managing subsurface fluid flow.  Dr. Coppola taught an undergraduate hydrology laboratory at the University of Arizona where he was selected as the College of Engineering and Mining Teaching Assistant of the Year.  In addition, he taught a short course in groundwater science and modeling methodology at the University of Zamorano in Honduras, Latin America.

James Horvath – USA - Water Utility Professional

Mr. Horvath is responsible for the daily operation and management of one of the largest groundwater-based utilities in New Jersey.  This water supply system is comprised of a 2,300 acre (931 hectares) water reserve including 19 production wells with a daily production of 11.4 MGD (43.2 million liters per day); water treatment and purification plants; and four finished water storage reservoirs with a total combined capacity of 14MG (53 million liters).  He is also directly responsible for maintaining and overseeing repair of the water pumping stations, flow meters, wells and lift stations that are necessary to extract and totalize raw water production from the watershed wells.  This system includes 10 miles (16 kilometers) of raw water intake piping to collect and convey the water for treatment.  Ultimately, the finished water is lifted through 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) of high pressure transmission piping for distribution to the storage reservoirs.  The distribution network has over 14,000 metered services servicing a population of 100,000 for human consumption, commercial and domestic purposes. 

Mr. Horvath assisted UHL in the development and implementation for USAID of a workshop in Amman, Jordan that focused on water meter installation, repair, and operations and maintenance.  This workshop was held as part of a country-wide program designed to install water meters on high capacity irrigation wells. In connection with this workshop, Mr. Horvath developed training and O&M manuals for the Water Ministry of Jordan.

Vishwas Joshi – India and East Africa – Water Development Expert; Community Development

Mr. Vishwas Joshi is a water and environmental sanitation professional with more than 30 years experience in the areas of groundwater sources investigation and development.  He has planned, supervised, and coordinated a number of water supply projects to tap groundwater sources for the development of water supply systems for small and medium size communities, and has planned and guided groundwater quality mapping and monitoring studies for drinking water projects.  Mr. Joshi has extensive experience in drought prone areas and has prepared plans and coordinated water supply and environmental sanitation interventions for emergency relief.  He has worked in Asia (India) and in Africa (Sudan) as a senior water supply and environmental sanitation expert for UNICEF-WES.

K. Nagabushanam – India – Expert Geophysicist

Mr. K. Nagabushanam has over 30 years experience in groundwater exploration and development.  He has significant experience in prospecting for groundwater/drilling sites in hard rock areas and has conducted surveys in the Middle East and on the Indian subcontinent.  For many years he managed and owned a drilling company, and is experienced in well design, production well installation and aquifer testing.  Mr. Nagabushanam coordinated a geophysical survey program for a water supply project in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka, which identified potable groundwater supplies within a 30 square kilometer project area for 4500 households (14,000 people).     

Engineer M. Qasem Tahiri – Afghanistan – Hydrogeologist and Geotechnical Engineer

Engineer Tahiri is a hydrogeologist with a bachelor’s degree in hydrogeology from Kabul University and a master’s degree from Kabul Polytechnic.  He also graduated from a post graduate program at the Wein Limnological Institute.  He has over 30 years experience as a manager, principal investigator and implementer of surface water and groundwater development and construction projects.  From 1980 to 1987, he was Director General of the Groundwater and Surface Water Department with the Afghanistan Ministry of Water and Power.  The main activities of his department were to investigate and provide water for irrigation, water supply, sanitation, and industrial uses.  Since 1987, Mr. Tahiri has held senior positions in NGO organizations in Afghanistan and Pakistan that have been involved with water supply development for drinking and irrigation uses.  He started his own organization in 1996, and has successfully completed over 100 projects in Afghanistan.  Mr. Tahiri has implemented projects for many international organizations including the United Nations, the World Bank, USAID, JAICA, GTZ, and for international firms in the areas of construction, water supply development and training.

Cristobal Villao – Ecuador – Professional Civil Engineer and Hydrogeologist

Mr. Villao began his professional career in 1970, when he was appointed as the Construction Supervisor for a $20MM water supply.

In 1982, he was appointed as the Ecuadorian World Bank Coordinator for the National Road Master Plan, responsible for World Bank loans supervision. At the end of 1983 and in 1984, he assisted the private and public sector as a private consultant; planning, designing, and supervising engineering projects, mainly in the water sector.

In 1985, the President of Ecuador requested that Mr. Villao be his National Water Sector Adviser; subsequently, he was appointed as the National Emergency Office Director, in charge of planning, monitoring, and supervising emergency projects to provide help to the poor and those affected by natural or other catastrophes. In 1987 and 1988, he directed several other Ecuadorian Agencies related to the water, sanitation and water resources sectors. From the end of 1988 to 1996, he consulted to the private and public sectors, developing engineering projects in Ecuador, in association with American consulting firms. Since 1997, he has worked in private consulting.

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