Assistant Research Scientist, Hydrogeologist
Daniel Saftner is an Assistant Research Hydrogeologist in the Division of Hydrologic Sciences at DRI specializing in water resources sustainability in arid regions. Dan’s current research focus is on rural drinking water supplies, specifically, arsenic in private well waters and groundwater security of small community water systems. He develops hydrologic tools and models used in human health studies and water management decision making pertaining to drinking water, environmental health, and sustainable recreation. As a member of the Microplastics and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Dan has a keen interest in the study of emerging environmental contaminants, including the distribution, sources, and fate of microplastics and PFAS in surface waters from the Mekong River of southeast Asia to hot springs in the Great Basin. Dan received his B.S. in Geology at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his M.S. from the University of Nevada, Reno. He was a Fulbright Scholar studying the geochemical controls of rural drinking water supplies in Niger, West Africa. Dans experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon continue to motivate him to use his background in environmental sciences to serve disadvantaged populations.
Keywords
hydrogeology of arid environments, water resources sustainability, rural drinking water supply, water quality, environmental exposures
Program(s)
Publications
2024
Lombard, M.,
Brown, E.,
Saftner, D. M.,
Arienzo, M. M.,
Fuller-Thomson, E.,
Brown, C.,
Ayotte, J. (2024).
Estimating Lithium Concentrations in Groundwater Used as Drinking Water for the Conterminous United States,
Environmental Science & Technology, 58 (2), 1255-1264. ACS Publications,
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c03315
Heintz, K. M., Saftner, D. M. (2024). Discrete-interval Well Sampling at the Project Shoal Site, Churchill County, Nevada, DOE/LM/0000432-03
Jowitt, S. M., Henry, C. D., Mena, J. C., Lindsey, C. R., Darin, M. H., Saftner, D. M., Heintz, K. M., Hershey, R. L. (2024). Lithium in Nevada–Origins, Extent, Role in the Energy Transition, and Implications for Economic Development and National Security, Special Publication 40, 48. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
2023
Saftner, D. M.,
Bacon, S. N.,
Arienzo, M. M.,
Robtoy, E.,
Schlauch, K. A.,
Neveux, I.,
Grzymski, J. J.,
Carbone, M. (2023).
Predictions of Arsenic in Domestic Well Water Sourced from Alluvial Aquifers of the Western Great Basin, USA,
Environmental Science & Technology, 57 (8), 3124-3133. American Chemical Society,
10.1021/acs.est.2c07948
2022
Arienzo, M. M.,
Saftner, D. M.,
Bacon, S. N.,
Robtoy, E.,
Neveux, I.,
Schlauch, K. A.,
Carbone, M.,
Grzymski, J. J. (2022).
Naturally occurring metals in unregulated domestic wells in Nevada, USA,
Science of The Total Environment, 851, 158277,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158277
2016
Pearson, C., Huntington, J. L., Morton, C. G., Saftner, D. M., Acharya, K. (2016). Developing a rapid-response tool for detecting algae using Landsat imagery. National Park Service GBCESU, September 1, 2014-December 31, 2016, P11AC8R001/P14AC01522
Conference Proceedings
2024
Kozloski, R., Arienzo, M. M., Saftner, D. M., Minatre, K. L., Chandra, S., Hogan, Z., Chea, S. (2024). Tracking the Invisible: Glass fibers in the Mekong River. Bridging the Gab Between Science and Policy – End of Life Boats: Brighton, England, UK, July 4, 2024-July 5, 2024
2023
Saftner, D. M., Mora, L., DePauw, A., Lukasik, H., Kozloski, R., Son, Y., Arienzo, M. M. (2023). Using Emerging Contaminants to Inform the Management of Hot Springs in the Black Rock Desert, Northern Nevada. CUAHSI Biennial Colloquium, June 11, 2023-June 14, 2023
Saftner, D. M., Arienzo, M. M., Chea, S., Minatre, K. L., Kozloski, R., Chandra, S., Hogan, Z. (2023). Source Attribution of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Surface Waters of the Lower Mekong River Basin of Cambodia. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting 2023: San Francisco, CA, December 11, 2023-December 15, 2023, 1433270
Lombard, M., Brown, E., Saftner, D. M., Arienzo, M. M., Fuller-Thomson, E., Brown, C., Ayotte, J. (2023). Estimating Lithium Concentrations in Groundwater Used as Drinking Water for the Conterminous United States. AGU Fall Meeting: San Francisco, CA
2022
Robtoy, E., Arienzo, M. M., Saftner, D. M. (2022). Drinking Water Quality Analysis in Northern Nevada Residents and Behavior Change Among Domestic Well Users. NWRA Annual Conference: Las Vegas, NV
Kozloski, R., Chea, S., Arienzo, M. M., Saftner, D. M., Minatre, K. L., Chandra, S., Hogan, Z. (2022). Microplastics in the Mekong River, Cambodia: Preliminary results. Frontiers in Hydrology: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Saftner, D. M., Robtoy, E., Arienzo, M. M., Bacon, S. N., Neveux, I., Lipp, B. G., Schlauch, K. A., Grzymski, J. J., Carbone, M. (2022). Empowering Private Well Users in Rural Nevada to Monitor and Improve Drinking Water Quality through Free At-Home Testing and Community Participation. Frontiers in Hydrology: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Arienzo, M. M., Kozloski, R., Chea, S., Saftner, D. M., Minatre, K. L., Chandra, S., Hogan, Z. (2022). Plastic pollution in the Mekong River and Tonle Sap, Cambodia. North American congress for Conservation Biology: Reno, NV
Saftner, D. M., Bacon, S. N., Arienzo, M. M., Schlauch, K. A., Grzymski, J. J., Carbone, M. (2022). A Landscape-Process Approach to Assess Potential Human Exposure to Erionite-Rich Dust in Northern Nevada, USA. American Geophysical Union: Chicago, IL, December 12, 2022-December 16, 2022, 1186977
2021
Saftner, D. M., Arienzo, M. M., Bacon, S. N., Robtoy, E., Neveux, I., Lipp, B. G., Schlauch, K. A., Grzymski, J. J., Carbone, M. (2021). Living in a Geothermal Environment: The Impact of Geothermal and Tectonic Activity on Arsenic Concentrations in Domestic Wells in Northern Nevada and Northeastern California, USA. AGU Fall Meeting 2021: New Orleans, LA
Arienzo, M. M., Saftner, D. M., Robtoy, E., Bacon, S. N., Neveux, I., Schlauch, K. A., Grzymski, J. J., Carbone, M. (2021). Naturally-occurring Heavy Metals in Unregulated Domestic Wells in Northern Nevada, USA: Assessing Geohealth Risks for Homes With or Without Water Treatment Systems. AGU Fall Meeting 2021: New Orleans, LA
Saftner, D. M., Hosseinpour, F. E., Fenstermaker, L.F., Moosmüller, H., Wilcox, E.M. (2021). NASA Proposal Writing Workshop. NV Space Grant and NASA EPSCoR Statewide Virtual Meeting: Reno and Las Vegas, NV, April 30, 2021
Saftner, D. M., Sion, B., Hosseinpour, F. E., Fenstermaker, L.F., Moosmüller, H., Wilcox, E.M. (2021). NASA Proposal Writing Workshop. Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Webinar: Reno and Las Vegas, NV, February 18, 2021
