Contact
Office
(434) 924-7991
Location
Thornton Hall, D215
Lab
​Thornton Hall, D013
PO Box 400747
Charlottesville, VA 22904

James A. Smith

Henry L. Kinnier Professor of Civil Engineering
Contact
Office
(434) 924-7991
Location
Thornton Hall, D215
Lab
​Thornton Hall, D013
PO Box 400747
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Google Scholar Research Summary

About

James A. Smith is an environmental engineer holding the Henry L. Kinnier Chair of Civil Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Virginia. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1983 and 1984, respectively. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Princeton University in 1992.

He worked as a research hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey from 1985 to 1992. In 1992, he accepted his current position as a faculty member in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Virginia.

Mr. Smith has served as the UPS Foundation Visiting Professor of Environmental Engineering at Stanford University (1998-99) and as the William R. Kenan Visiting Professor for Distinguished Teaching at Princeton University (2004-05). At the University of Virginia, he has been the recipient of the Alumni Board of Trustees Teaching Award (1997) and has held the Cavalier’s Distinguished Teaching Chair (2000-02). He was selected to receive the AEESP/McGraw Hill Outstanding Teaching Award in 2002. In 2017, he was selected as a Fulbright Research Fellow and conducted research during Fall 2017 in Limpopo Province, South Africa at the University of Venda.

Mr. Smith is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and is the founder of PureMadi, a not-for-profit organization working to solve global water and health problems by working at the interface of water, societal, and human health disciplines. He is also a member of the Water and Health in Limpopo (WHIL) program in collaboration with the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, South Africa.

Mr. Smith is the inventor of the MadiDrop+, a silver-embedded porous ceramic tablet for purification of household drinking water. He is the founder of Silivhere Technologies, Inc. based in Charlottesville, VA. Silivhere Technologies is currently producing and selling MadiDrops+ around the world to improve water quality, human health, and quality of life.

His research interests include sustainable point-of-use water treatment technologies for the developing world and their impact on human health, the disinfection properties of zero-valent nano-silver and nano-copper particles, organic vapor transport in the vadose zone, low-impact development (LID) teachnologies for stormwater runoff, the fate and transport of emerging environmental pollutants, the engineering properties of organoclays, and bacterial transport and chemotaxis in porous media.

Education

Ph.D. ​Civil Engineering, Princeton University, 1992

M.S. Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1984​

B.S. ​Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1983

My research brings innovative household-level water-treatment technologies to the developing world.

James A. Smith Henry L. Kinnier Professor of Civil Engineering

Research Interests

Nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing
Environmental Engineering
Water Resources

Selected Publications

Field and laboratory assessment of a new electrolytic point-of-use water treatment technology, 2022. HILL, C., HARRIS, J., TURNER, S., WASON, K., GAYLORD, A., HATLEY, M., HARDCASTLE, L., ROBERTS, I., YOU, J., RENNEKER, K., EDOKPAYI, J., AND SMITH, J.
Abstract
Mitigation of Deicing Salt Loading to Water Resources by Transpiration from Green Infrastructure Vegetation, 2022. ZHANG, W., BURGIS, C.R., HAYES, G.M., HENDERSON, D.A., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Tracking denitrification in green stormwater infrastructure with nitrate stable isotopes, 2020. BURGIS, C.R., HAYES, G.M., ZHANG, W., HENDERSON, D.A., MACKO, S.A., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Impact of low-cost point-of-use water treatment technologies on enteric infections and linear growth among children in Limpopo, South Africa, 2020. HILL, C.L., MCCAIN, K.M., NYATHI, E., EDOKPAYI, J.N., KAHLER, D.M., OPERARIO, D.J., TAYLOR, D., WRIGHT, N., SMITH, J.A., GUERRANT, R.L., SAMIE, A., DILLINGHAM, R.A., BESSONG, P.O., AND ROGAWSKI, E.T.
Abstract
Improving Antibacterial Performance of Household Water Filters with a Silver-Embedded Ceramic Tablet, 2023. HARRIS, J., DAVIS, J., REESE, M., MANNZHI, M., TSHIDUMO, N., MHLARHI, R., EDOKPAYI, J., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
A New Method for the Deposition of Metallic Silver on Porous Ceramic Water Filters: Journal of Nanotechnology, 2018. JACKSON, K.G. AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Evaluating the sustainability of ceramic filters for point-of-use drinking water treatment: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 47, no. 19, p. 11206-11213, 2013. REN, D., COLOSI, L., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Retention and transport of silver nanoparticles in a ceramic porous medium used for point-of-use water treatment: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 47, p. 3825-3832; DOI: 10.1021/es4000752, 2013. REN, DIANJUN, AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Quantitative dielectrophoretic tracking for characterization and separation of persistent subpopulations of Cryptosporidium parvum: Analyst, 2013. SU, Y.-H, TSEGAYE, M., VARHUE, W., LIAO, K.-T, ABEBE, L.S., SMITH, J.A., GUERRANT. R.L., AND SWAMI, N.S.
Abstract
Disinfection action of electrostatic versus steric-stabilized silver nanoparticles on E. coli under different water chemistries: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, v. 113, p. 77-84, 2014. FAUSS, E.K., MACCUSPIE, R.I., OYANEDEL-CRAVER, V., SMITH, J.A., AND SWAMI, N.S.
Abstract
Modeling the sustainability of a ceramic water filter intervention: Water Research, v. 49, p. 286-299, 2014. MELLOR, J.E., ABEBE, L.S., EHDAIE, B., DILLINGHAM, R., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Ceramic water filters impregnated with silver nanoparticles as a point-of-use water-treatment intervention for HIV-positive individuals in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A pilot study of technological performance & human health benefits, Journal of Water and Health, v. 12, No. 2, P. 288-300 (DOI:10.2166/WH.2013.185). 2014. ABEBE, L.S., SMITH, J.A., NARKIWEICZ, S., OYANEDEL-CRAVER, V., CONAWAY, M., A., SINGO, A., SAMIE, A., MOJAPELO, P., BRANT, J., AND DILLINGHAM, R.
Abstract
Incorporation of copper nanoparticles into paper for point-of-use water purification: Water Research, v. 63, p. 245-251 (DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.06.022. DANKOVICH, T., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Porous ceramic tablet embedded with silver nanopatches for low-cost point-of-use water purification: Environmental Science & Technology: 10.1021/es503534c, 2014. EHDAIE, B., C. KRAUSE AND J. A. SMITH
Abstract
Inactivation of bacteria from contaminated streams in Limpopo, South Africa by silver- or copper-nanoparticle paper filters: Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, v. 2, p. 85-96, DOI: 10.1039/C5EW00188A, 2015. DANKOVICH, T., LEVINE, J.S., POTGEITER, N., DILLINGHAM, R., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Comparison of three point-of-use water treatment technologies in rural Guatemala: Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2015. MELLOR, J.E., KALLMAN, E., OYANEDEL-CRAVER, V., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Point-of-use removal of Cryptosporidium parvum from water: Independent effects of disinfection by silver nanoparticles and silver ions and by physical filtration in ceramic porous media: Environmental Science and Technology, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02183, 2015. ABEBE, L.S., SU, H-Y., GUERRANT, R.L., SWAMI, N., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Performance and acceptance of novel silver-impregnated ceramic cubes for drinking water treatment in two field sites: Limpopo Province, South Africa and Dodoma region, Tanzania: Water, v. 8, no. 3, doi: 10.3390/w8030095, 2016. KAHLER, D.M., KOERMER, N.T., REICHL, A.R., SAMIE, A., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
Impact of Vegetation Management on Vegetated Roadsides and Their Performance as a Low-Impact-Development Practice for Linear Transportation Infrastructure: Transportation Research Record, DOI: 10.3141/2588-19. HENDERSON, DEREK, SMITH, J.A., AND FITCH, G.M.
Abstract
Challenges to sustainable safe drinking water: a case study of water quality and use across seasons in rural communities in Limpopo province, South Africa: Water, v. 10, no. 159, 2018. EDOKPAYI, J.N., ROGAWSKI, E.T., KAHLER, D., HILL, C., REYNOLDS, C., NYATHI, E., SMITH, J.A., ODIYO, J.O., SAMIE, A., BESSONG, P., AND DILLINGHAM, R.
Abstract
Evaluation of a Silver-Embedded Ceramic Tablet as a Primary and Secondary Point-of-Use Water Purification Technology in Limpopo Province, S. Africa. PLOS ONE 12(1), 2017. EHDAIE B, RENTO CT, SON V, TURNER SS, SAMIE A, DILLINGHAM RA, AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract
E. coli Inactivation by Metals and the Effects of Changes in Water Chemistry: Journal of Environmental Engineering, v. 145, no. 2, 2019. SINGH, R., EDOKPAYI, J., ODIYO, J., AND SMITH, J.A.
Abstract

Courses Taught

CE 3100 Water for the World
CE 5240 Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport

Awards

Member of the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine 2022
Wesley W. Horner Award for best paper of the year in an ASCE Water Journal 2020
Fulbright Research Fellow 2017
Edlich-Henderson Innovator of the Year Award 2015
Diplomate, American Academy of Water Resources
Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers
Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow 2014
Elected by Eminence to the American Academy of Environmental Engineers 2009
Founder and Chairman of the Board of PureMadi 2012—present
Rudolph Hering Medal from the American Society of Civil Engineers 2011
Jack H. Dillard Best Paper Award, Virginia Transportation Research Council 2004, 2006, and 2008
Civil Engineering Teaching Award 2006
William R. Kenan Visiting Associate Professor for Distinguished Teaching, Princeton University 2004—05
Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Award for Outstanding Teaching in Environmental Engineering and Science 2002
University of Virginia Cavaliers’ Distinguished Teaching Professor 2000—02
UPS Foundation Visiting Professor of Environmental Engineering, Stanford University 1998—99
University of Virginia Alumni Board of Trustees Teaching Award 1997
U.S. Geological Survey Outstanding Performance Award 1992, 1988, 1986, 2004-05

In the News

  • Graduating Engineer Took These Steps to a Career in Greener Energy

    Want to land a job at an employer like Equinor? Engineer Reese Hertel first had to assess his interests and core beliefs. He then relied on UVA advisers to help him refine his focus.

    Read Now

  • Transforming Lives: PureMadi's Innovative Approach to Clean Water in South Africa

    Founder and civil engineering professor James Smith reflects on how UVA-born company PureMadi has grown and where it could go.

    Read Now