Water: Where It Is, Where It Comes From, Where It Goes
Class | Registration opens 11/11/2026 12:00 PM EST
This engaging lecture series, designed especially for nonscientists, offers a clear, accessible introduction to the vital role water plays in our world. Participants will explore where water is found, how it moves through the environment and how its quality is measured, managed and protected amid growing environmental challenges. We will take a closer look at how drinking water is sourced, treated and delivered, as well as how wastewater is processed and safely returned to the environment. Through real-world examples and practical insights, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of both everyday water systems and the broader issues shaping water’s future.
- Session 1: Overview of Water
- Session 2: Drinking Water Management
- Session 3: Wastewater Treatment
Neil Shifrin
Neil Shifrin, mostly retired now, has been an environmental consultant for 47 years, and has worked on essentially every kind of environmental issue, including some of the more infamous environmental sites, like Love Canal, the Hudson River and the Charles River/Boston Harbor. He founded and, for 25 years, ran a consulting firm, Gradient Corporation, specializing in evaluating human health risks of chemicals in the environment. Dr. Shifrin has a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in environmental engineering from MIT.