The first project is concerned with Lake Chapala, Mexico, the principal water resource for the City of Guadalajara. The Lake is contaminated with metals through extensive industrial development of the watershed. As a result they are extracted to the municipal water supply. The second project involves New Bedford Harbor, MA, an EPA designated Superfund site, that is highly contaminated with PCB's and metals. Distribution and mobilization of pollutants appears to be closely related to biological activity.
Current research addresses the effect of pollutants on microbial ecosystem structure and function.
In addition to the above, Dr. Ford is developing an international program in water pollution and drinking water quality, with particular emphasis on the relationship between environmental perturbation and increases in waterborne disease. In addition to Mexico, collaborations are currently being developed in Europe, India, Kuwait and China. The microbial ecology of water distribution and outfall systems. Aquatic Microbiology - an Ecological Approach . Ecological factors of an environmentally 'new disease'.