Conferences

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14394/539

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Microbial Source Tracking - An Overview
(2003-12-05) Long, Sharon
With ever increasingly specific and sensitive diagnostic methods for infectious diseases, it has become recognized that different sources of microbial inputs/contamination to drinking waters are related to different potentials for the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. Coupled with the renewed emphasis on source water protection and watershed management under the Surface Water Treatment Rule and the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, many drinking water utilities may be looking towards tools that allow them to discriminate among potential microbial contamination sources in their watersheds. The use of microbial source tracking (MST) tools can also provide a utility with information so that corrective actions can be applied in a more effective and costefficient manner. Even though research into MST methods has spanned several decades, there is no consensus on the best or most reliable method to date. Application of MST tools within a source water protection plan depends on the goals and questions asked by the plan. Two general microbial indicator approaches to MST methods have been studied: the species-specific approach and the organism-specific approach. The species-specific approach looks to quantify microbial indicators associated with a specific "species" of contamination such as human or non-human. The organism-specific approach looks at a single organism such as E. coli and relates subtypes to the various hosts (human and different animal species). The organism-specific approach typically involves development of a geographically relevant library or database of isolates against which unknowns are compared. A third MST approach is to look for chemical markers indicative of sewage or humanrelated wastewater. This presentation will provide an overview of the methods currently being researched and applied. The information provided will include the state of development of each method, some of the strengths and limitations of each method, and the investment in training and equipment needed should a utility decide they want to implement such a method.
Potential Movement of Pesticides Related to Dissolved Organic Matter from Fertilizer Application on Turf
(2003-12-05) Li, Kun; Xing, Baoshan
Turf grass systems - including golf courses, turf farms, parks and lawns - are the most intensively managed lands in the United States. Establishment and maintenance of high quality turf grass usually imply substantial inputs of water, nutrients, and pesticides. The impacts of these inputs to groundwater and surface water are a major concern of public and government agencies with over 17,816 golf courses in the U.S. and more than one new golf course opening every day (National Golf Foundation, 2002). Recent results from various facets of agricultural research have indicated very significant effects of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the increased mobility of pesticides through soils to groundwater. These findings may have important ramifications to the golf turf industry in that the frequent use of certain organic fertilizers and amendments may actually enhance rather than inhibit movement of certain pesticides through highly managed greens and tee areas having a high level of sand incorporated into profiles. This is not only a regional, but also a national problem. The Northeast is more susceptible due to the coarse texture of soils in general. There is a significant amount of research devoted to the efficacy of organic fertilizers currently on the market such as NatureSafe, Milorganite, Sustain and Ringers, some containing as much as 3.5 % DOM (water extraction). Organic fertilizers are considered slow release materials with low burn potential and are often applied at higher rates compared with soluble inorganic fertilizers. Higher application rates could easily result in higher loading of DOM into soil profiles. In addition, high density and much more root turnover in turf grass ecosystems could directly contribute to the pool of natural DOM, which could affect the behavior of pesticides in soil and water.
Groundwater Natural Resources Damages Assessment: A New Restoration Tool for Massachusetts
(2007-04-07) Young, Dale C.; Pelto, Karen I.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ ground and surface waters are interconnected and renewable hydrological resources whose protection and restoration are critical to insure the availability of safe and potable drinking water for current and future needs; promote sustainable and equitable development; and sustain water-dependent ecosystems. Groundwater restoration encompasses a wide range of strategies to develop, protect, maintain and conserve current and potential drinking water supplies as well as offset ecological impacts related to diminished water quantity or quality. Natural resource damages assessment (NRD) is a legal tool available to compensate the public for injury to groundwater resulting from the release of contaminants by restoring groundwater resources and the services they provide. In 2008, a $1 million NRD settlement with Textron Systems Corporation, a defense contractor that conducted weapons testing in a section of the Massachusetts Military Reservation, compensated the public for natural resources and services lost due to Textron’s release of contaminants in a major groundwater recharge area for the Cape Cod Sole Source Aquifer. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will describe the groundwater NRD assessment and restoration planning process. Over the coming year, groundwater restoration projects will be implemented to achieve one or more of the following objectives: Protect the quality of current and potential drinking water supplies by protecting aquifers, recharge areas, and watersheds, including environmentally sensitive lands and critical habitats; protect the quantity of current and potential drinking water supplies by implementing measures to conserve water, reduce losses of clean water to aquifers, and provide quality recharge to aquifers, including offsets that also mitigate impacts to water-dependent ecosystems; or integrate planning and management of current and potential drinking water supplies and wastewater treatment, with an emphasis on the efficient use of land, energy, and water and regional or multi-community benefits.
Hydrologic Alteration in the Connecticut River Basin
(2007-04-07) Lutz, Kim; Zimmerman, Julie; Letcher, Ben; Nislow, Keith
We examined the spatial distribution of hydrologic alteration among the Connecticut River and its 44 major tributaries as a tool for watershed-scale conservation planning and to assist in development of strategies for mitigating threats to aquatic ecosystems in the basin. Specifically, we (1) examined the spatial extent and distribution of hydrologic alteration by developing indices of potential flow alteration for individual watersheds, (2) analyzed data from US Geological Survey stream gages with sufficient periods of record (i.e., at least 20-years pre- and post- dam construction) to determine the types and degree of hydrologic alteration, and created unimpaired flow data sets for rivers of conservation interest that did not have sufficient flow data, (3) analyzed hourly flow data over a 9-year period to examine diurnal flow fluctuations below hydropower dams compared with reference sites and identify individual sites that had short-term flow variability that was higher than expected for reference locations and (4) Examined the authorized water withdrawals and discharges in the Connecticut and Massachusetts portions of the Connecticut River watershed. Our results form the basis for flow restoration plans, both to protect areas with low risk for hydrologic alteration and to develop strategies to mitigate threats in higher-risk watersheds. These analyses will be used to prioritize restoration efforts based on hydrologic analyses and presence of conservation targets (species and natural communities of conservation interest), and select locations eligible for more detailed site-specific hydrologic and ecological studies.
Developing Massachusetts Water Policy
(2003-12-05) Honkonen, Karl
The presentation will discuss how the following topics will be integrated: (1) Statewide Water Policy - how will EOEA and its agencies devise new policy in the current Administration; (2) Water Assets - this project focuses on water resources found within 131 Massachusetts towns around I-495; (3) Instream Flow - what is being done to determine flows needed to sustain stream flow, water quantity, and quality, Watershed Planning - using the watershed approach to determine environmental priorities.
Characterization of Proteins in Domestic Wastewater Effluent Discharged to the Connecticut River
(2007-04-07) Westgate, Pamela; Park, Chul
Proteins constitute one of the largest fractions of organic material in secondary effluent from domestic wastewater treatment plants, and are a significant source of organic N released into receiving waters. Wastewater effluents from two wastewater treatment plants in Western Massachusetts were analyzed for protein content and activity. Effluents were concentrated using ammonium sulfate precipitation, and the component proteins subsequently separated using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and zymogramic electrophoresis. The results showed that some protein bands in primary effluent are also present in the secondary effluent, indicating the recalcitrance of some sewage proteins. These proteins are released into the Connecticut River. The presence of these same bands in secondary effluent that was filtered through a 0.45µm filter is an indication that a filtration step would not prevent the release of these particular proteins. Other bands that are visible in the secondary effluent are not found in the primary effluent, thus those proteins are produced in the activated sludge process. Zymogram electrophoresis of concentrated and raw effluents showed that some of the proteins in both primary and secondary effluent are proteolytic enzymes. The parameters of total protein, inorganic nitrogen, organic nitrogen, COD, and TSS were also measured from primary and pre-chlorinated secondary effluents from each plant. It is thought that any proteins in secondary effluent are not biologically available given that they have survived the treatment processes in the plants; however, this has not been shown. This initial characterization of proteins is the first step in determining the impact of proteins in wastewater effluent on receiving waters. Future work will focus on identifying individual proteins and building a protein dataset that will enable tracking of effluent proteins in the environment.
Water Energy and Drought: Water Use for Energy Production in the U.S.
(2007-04-07) Sheldon, Seth D.
Here we analyze the water use rates for thermoelectric power generation with respect to cooling system, plant type, plant age, geographic location and its relation to regional drought conditions between 2001-2005. Open loop plants withdraw roughly two orders of magnitude more water than closed loop plants, while consuming (i.e., lose water to evaporation) about the same amount. A high degree of variability for water withdrawal and consumption rates exists for low capacity facilities. The highest withdrawal rates are in the southeastern part of the United States. Power to Water supply curves show that power generation limits exist for the various cooling types (i.e. at some point, a large increase in water withdrawal corresponds to only a small increase in power generation). Water supply curves also show the degree to which total power generation might decline if water withdrawal rates had to be reduced due to prolonged and severe drought. Facilities having the highest withdrawal rates are the most susceptible to prolonged and severe drought. The point at which power generation begins to be significantly affected by drought depends upon cooling type (e.g. open freshwater, closed tower with forced draft). For example, if each plant that uses a closed loop, forced draft cooling system were limited to a water withdrawal rate of 100 cubic feet per second, total power generation for that category would only be reduced about 8 gigawatts. This means that if the maximum allowable withdrawal rate were reduced by 50 percent from 200 cubic feet per second, the total power generation would only be reduced 10 percent. The plants that are most susceptible to prolonged and severe drought are Southeastern, 20- to 70-year-old coal and coke plants, which use freshwater, open loop cooling systems. These same facilities are responsible for generating the greatest amount of electricity in the US.
Comparison of Automated and Manual Methods for Solid Phase Extraction from Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
(2009-04-07) Studer, Kirsten E.; Reckhow, David A.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are part of an emerging group of contaminants that have been noted for their presence at low concentrations in surface and ground waters. Due to the analytical challenges posed by low levels of EDCs in drinking water, new techniques for the detection and quantification of estrogenic compounds have been the subject of intense investigation. From the wide variety of EDCs, this research focuses on a selected group due to their endocrine-disrupting potential and their presence in natural water supplies. The set of compounds includes diethylstilbestrol, estriol, estradiol, 17β-ethynylestradiol, and estrone. There are many protocols for measuring organic contaminants at trace levels in water, and most call for some pre-concentration, separation and cleanup. Solid phase extraction (SPE) is one of the most widely used methods for pretreatment of these samples. Because of the slow and laborious nature of most SPE protocols, there is great interest in ways of reducing time and cost in EDC analysis. Several instruments which integrate automated SPE with LC/MS have been proposed for addressing these needs. This research compared one of the accepted manual methods (EPA 1694 Method for Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products) with an innovative approach using an automated SPE/LC/MS for trace analysis of EDCs. For this work we have selected the Waters AquaAnalysis System. The comparison shows a decrease in error when using the automated version because of the elimination of sample transfers and possible contaminants entering the samples throughout the extraction steps. A significant decrease in cost was also noted when using the automated extraction due to the decrease in labor hours and in the cost of consumables. Since the automated method requires less raw sample, there is a large reduction in cost for sample collection and shipment even prior to extraction.
A GIS-Based Water Budget Tool for Subwatersheds of the Taunton River, Massachusetts
(2007-04-07) Price, Neal
The Taunton River is the longest un-dammed coastal river in New England. With a watershed area encompassing approximately 562 square miles, it is the second largest watershed in Massachusetts. It is also one of the flattest, with only a twenty-foot elevation drop along its forty-mile main stem length. The basin contains 108 sub-watersheds and encompasses all or part of 43 municipalities. The water balance in a watershed describes the natural equilibrium of inputs and exports of water. Alterations to the natural water cycle occur primarily as a result of the human necessities of water supply withdrawals, wastewater discharges, and stormwater management that change the volumes and rates of water exchange between precipitation, surface water, groundwater and the atmosphere. A water budget tool was developed for this study to evaluate the hydrologic impacts associated with water supply withdrawals, wastewater discharges and stormwater runoff associated with land uses. The method uses a mass balance approach that accounts for net changes in groundwater recharge as it relates to base flow to streams and wetlands on an annual basis. It estimates stream base flow changes resulting from water withdrawal, water transfer, wastewater discharges and stormwater runoff associated with different land uses. The tool was originally developed as a spreadsheet pilot study, and then converted to a GIS-based script capable of automating the procedure for all 108 subwatersheds. The water balance tool revealed that many sub-watersheds in the upper Taunton Watershed are highly out of balance compared to natural conditions as a result of water transfers. The tool can also be used to evaluate alternative management scenarios such as changes in wastewater collection systems, water conservation measures to reduce water withdrawal volumes and improved stormwater management.
Uncertainty in the Difference Between Maps of Future Land Change Scenarios
(2007-04-07) Pontius jr., Robert Gilmore; Neeti, Neeti; Polsky, Colin
It is essential to measure whether maps of various scenarios of future land change are meaningfully different, because the differences among such maps serve to inform land management. This presentation compares the output maps of different scenarios of future land change in a manner that contrasts two different approaches to account for the uncertainty of the simulated projections. The simpler approach interprets the scenario storyline concerning the quantity of each land change transition as assumption, and then considers the range of possibilities concerning the value added by a simulation model that specifies the spatial allocation of land change. The more complex approach estimates the uncertainty of future land maps based on a validation measurement of with historic data. The technique is illustrated by a case study that compares two scenarios of future land change in the Plum Island Ecosystems of northeastern Massachusetts, USA. Results show that if the model simulates only the spatial allocation of the land changes given the assumed quantity of each transition, then there is a clearly bounded range for the difference between the raw scenario maps, but if the uncertainties are estimated by validation, then the uncertainties can be so great that the output maps do not show meaningful differences. We discuss the implications of these results for a future research agenda of land change modeling. We conclude that a productive approach is to use the simpler method to distinguish clearly between variations in the scenario maps that are due to scenario assumptions versus variations due to the simulation model.
Monitoring Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Aquatic Environment
(2007-04-07) O'Keefe, Patrick
A four season study was carried out between August 2003 and May 2004 to determine if selected pharmaceuticals were present in the New York City Watershed. Water samples were collected from eight reservoir keypoints and from the effluents of four wastewater water treatment plants in the watershed area. Analyses were conducted for the following twelve compounds: amoxicillin, atenolol, caffeine, carbamazepine, cephalexin, estrone, 17α-ethinylestradiol, 17β-estradiol, ibuprofen, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and valproic acid. The majority of the detections were found in the wastewater effluents. Carbamazepine was the most frequently detected compound (100%; concentration range: 22-551 ng/L), followed by atenolol (94%; ND-14,200 ng/L), trimethoprim (83%; ND-37,000 ng/L), ibuprofen (61%; ND-14,600 ng/L), and caffeine (49%; ND-37,200 ng/L), and estrone was detected in one sample (56 ng/L). Only ibuprofen (2.5%; ND-932 ng/L) and caffeine (2.9%; ND-177 ng/L) were detected in the reservoir keypoint samples.
Impacts of Climate Change on Reservoir Management and Downstream Watershed
(2007-04-07) Lee, Yoon; Yoon, Taeyeon; Shah, Farhed
Although it is well known that sedimentation may reduce the storage capacity of a dam, there is relatively modest amount of economic research on the subject. Furthermore, there is no economic literature as yet on the important relationship between climate change and reservoir management. This paper attempts to address both issues in the context of a dynamic optimization model that maximizes social welfare by allowing for periodic sediment removal from a dam in a way that is responsive to changing climatic conditions and the needs of downstream users. The model is applied to the Aswan High Dam in Egypt. The reservoir of this dam impounds 90 km3 of water from two main Nile Rivers. The dam provides substantial economic benefits to Egypt in terms of hydropower, irrigation, and flood control. However, the dam’s storage capacity is being reduced over time due to sedimentation, and climate change is also likely to significant impact it’s future net benefits by altering evaporation and precipitation rates. Our model computes effective storage capacity of a reservoir by considering sedimentation, evaporation, and precipitation rates simultaneously. Reservoir-level sediment removal is our control variable and this allows us to influence downstream agriculture productivity, which is also determined in part by climate change. Hydrologic data of the Aswan High Dam is obtained from the International River and Lake Network and regional agricultural data is obtained from the FAO. Climate change forecasting data for the Nile River Basin is based on IPPC reports. Our simulation results indicate that, without climate change, optimal sediment control increases reservoir life indefinitely and social welfare by 36%, compared to the situation with no sediment control. With climate change that involves relatively high evaporation rates, however, optimum reservoir life is curtailed to 319 years and social welfare is reduced by 21%.
A Probabilistic Fate and Effects Model for Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products
(2007-04-07) Henning, Miranda; Lyndall, Jennifer; Bock, Michael J.; Barber, Timothy
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) may be introduced to the environment via household disposal through plumbing drains, followed by conveyance to municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). PPCP residuals contained in WWTP effluent may be discharged to aquatic systems (e.g., rivers, lakes, estuaries), while PPCP residuals in sludge may enter the terrestrial system through land application of sludge-derived biosolids. Rarely are the potential effects of those PPCP residuals on aquatic and terrestrial species considered. An ecological risk assessment framework was therefore developed to allow the quantitative evaluation of potential ecological risks posed by PPCPs in WWTP effluent and land-applied biosolids. In this framework, a fugacity and bioaccumulation model is employed to estimate distributions of potential ecological exposure under various environmental conditions. The predicted exposure estimates are then compared to measured or estimated effects concentrations for each ecological species of interest, in order to calculate potential risk from aquatic or terrestrial exposures. Additionally, the estimated dietary doses to mammalian and avian species can be compared to toxicity reference values derived from the primary or proprietary literature in order to determine risk from food chain exposures.
Hydrology, Climate, and Land Use Change in the Winooski River Basin, Vermont
(2007-04-07) Hackett, William R.; Bierman, Paul R.; Rizzo, Donna M.; Besaw, Lance E.
Analysis of 72 years (1936 to 2008) of discharge and weather data in the 2,704 km2 Winooski River Basin of Vermont shows statistically significant increases in precipitation and river discharge, as well as regular periodicity. We analyzed data from six discharge stations, both on the mainstem Winooski River and its major tributaries, as well as data from five weather stations within the basin. At all five weather stations, average annual precipitation is increasing. At a 95% confidence level, this trend was significant at three of the five locations. Similarly, each of the six discharge stations showed an increasing trend in total annual discharge; with half being significant trends. Lowest annual daily flows increased significantly at all stations while highest daily discharges for each year increased at some stations while decreasing at others. In addition to the overall trends in the data, spectral analysis reveals a ~7-8 year periodicity in total annual precipitation and discharge, well correlated with the behavior of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Inconsistent peak flow trends between stations could be evidence of the factors associated with changing land use, which affects the way the sub-basins respond to precipitation. To quantify land-use change over time in the Winooski River Basin, we analyzed aerial photographs from four different times (1937, 1962, 1974, 2003) using a random sampling of 30 sites in the Winooski River Basin. Each site contains 300 sample points that are manually classified into four landuse categories. We show how the abandonment of farmland, the coming of the interstate highway, and the subsequent suburbanization have changed landuse patterns over the past 70 years. On average agricultural land decreased by 23% while forested and developed area increased by 22% and 2%, respectively.
Restoring Flows to the Ipswich River
(2007-04-07) Cohen, Sarah
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation received a $1 million grant from the EPA under the Targeted Watersheds Grant Program to fund a 5-year multi-part demonstration and research project in the Ipswich River Watershed. Four low-impact development (LID) and five water conservation demonstration projects were implemented and studied in the watershed. Projects include: 1) a green roof; 2) LID subdivision; 3) redevelopment of a town beach parking lot using permeable pavement and bioretention; 4) retrofit of a neighborhood with pocket raingardens and permeable pavers; 5) enhancement of a town athletic field with moisture-retaining soil amendments; 6) rainwater harvesting; 7) weather-sensitive (“smart”) irrigation controllers at residences and athletic fields; 8) indoor fixture retrofits and low-flow appliance rebates; and 9) conversion from semi-annual to monthly water billing for residential customers. Additionally, a watershed-wide modeling effort conducted in partnership with USGS evaluated the potential benefit of these approaches if implemented widely across the watershed. Demonstration projects are described, including results from studies evaluating the effectiveness of each strategy in improving recharge and/or water quality or in reducing water demand. Most demonstrations provide interesting quantitative and qualitative results and suggest critical considerations for future studies. Watershed modeling results are also discussed, highlighting the importance of scale when evaluating hydrologic responses expected from the theoretical widespread implementation of LID and water conservation strategies.
LID Evalutation and Analysis
(2007-04-07) Bonn, Janelle; Greenwood, Janice
Urban waterfront property in Rhode Island, like many New England states, is being redeveloped from former industrial uses into vibrant coastal developments. In 2006, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) developed the Urban Coastal Greenways Policy for the Metro Bay Region (UCG Policy). Development projects located within the Metro Bay Region can now receive administrative approval from the CRMC if they meet the UCG Policy requirements of 15% minimum vegetation coverage, implementation of low impact development techniques (LID) for stormwater management, public access to the shoreline, and a designated urban coastal greenway with native and sustainable vegetation. The Harborside Campus at Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is an approximately 110-acre campus situated on a former industrial shipyard located adjacent to Narragansett Bay, New England’s largest estuary. As part of its campus Master Plan, JWU has been constructing academic facilities, student housing, outdoor recreational fields, passive green space, walking trails, and associated infrastructure and parking areas. Approximately 13 acres of surface parking are proposed as part of the Harborside Campus development. Woodard & Curran was contracted by JWU to evaluate LID techniques under the UCG Policy for 13-acres of proposed surface parking at their Harborside Campus. Porous pavement, bio-retention ponds, and underground infiltration stormwater management LID techniques were evaluated for the project with respect to suitability, performance, cost and maintenance. This presentation will discuss and compare the applications, benefits and disadvantages of each stormwater management LID technique with respect to client needs and regulatory considerations.
Testing a Toolkit for Restoring the Ipswich River
(2003-12-05) Cohen, Sara; Gartland, Vicki
In April 2003, the Ipswich River was designated as the nation’s third most threatened river by a national organization, American Rivers, due to critically low flows and extended periods of no flow. Under the direction of the Ipswich River Council, a public/private working group, a surface run-off model was adapted and used by the U.S. Geological Survey to simulate the impacts of ground water and surface water withdrawals as well as land use on the river (Zarriello and Ries, 2000). A habitat study (Armstrong et. al., 2001) in combination with the model results provided the scientific basis and quantification for restoration. However, further modeling scenarios (Zarriello, 2001) indicate that due to the high degree of connectivity between the groundwater and surface water systems and the limited extent of the aquifers, restoration can only be achieved through a combination of methods including reduced water use, wastewater discharge and stormwater recharge.
Concern Over Contaminants in Water and Breastmilk: Is it Justified?
(2007-04-07) Acaro, Kathleen; Lieberman, Tanya; Anderton, Douglas
Concern over contaminants in human milk is persuading some women to stop nursing and switch to formula. Ironically, in an effort to protect their baby from pollutants detected in breast milk, many women may forgo the benefits of breastfeeding and expose their offspring to potential contaminants in formula and cow’s milk. Similarly, consumers wary of municipal drinking water supplies are purchasing bottled water despite the lack of standards for bottled water. Breast milk and municipal drinking water supplies are more closely scrutinized than their more expensive alternatives, formula and bottled water. Most studies documenting the presence of pollutants in breast milk or water supplies were not conceived with the general public in mind and therefore do not address the type and level of pollutants in the alternatives: formula, cow’s milk and bottled water. Popular reporting of these scientific studies, including our own, are leaving mothers and other consumers fearful of the health effects of known and unknown pollutants in breast milk and drinking water. Are their fears justified? We will discuss research on pollutants in breast milk and drinking water supplies with an emphasis on endocrine disruptive contaminants. Our goal is to provide insight into whether the levels of contaminants currently detected in drinking water and breast milk pose a genuine health risk for infants and young children.
Regional Planning for the Great Bay Estuary Watershed: Evaluation of Wastewater Management Alternatives for the New Hampshire Seacost Region
(2008-04-08) Weieneth, Aaron; Shreve-Gibb, Betsy
The Great Bay Estuary, known as the “jewel of the New Hampshire seacoast,” is located in one of the fastest-growing regions in New England. Increasing population growth resulting in substantial land development is contributing to increased wastewater generation and some increased nutrient loadings to the Great Bay Estuary. Seventeen wastewater treatment facilities (WWTF) discharge to the Great Bay watershed. Some of the WWTF discharges do not meet current limits and others are not able to meet future limits, which are expected to include nitrogen and phosphorus. Important concerns that guided development of the wastewater management alternatives for this study included water quality protection, habitat protection, and sustainable growth management within the 44-community study area. The study resulted in the selection of four alternatives for the New Hampshire Seacoast Region: a regional centralized collection system with local treatment and subsequent offshore discharge to the Gulf of Maine; upgrading existing WWTFs and discharging treated effluent to existing surface water discharge locations; requiring decentralized wastewater treatment and local discharge for a significant portion of all new growth; and treating wastewater locally and discharging to local land application sites. The study does not recommend a particular alternative to implement. Rather, the intent of the study is to present a number of issues and impacts associated with the implementation of the four alternatives and allow stakeholders to subsequently decide on the next steps for wastewater management for this region.
The Undergraduate Component of the Arsenic Project
(2008-04-08) Tyson, Julian
In response to calls from agencies, such as the NSF and NAS, for the introduction of authentic research experiences early in the undergraduate science curriculum [1], and for the provision of opportunities for students “acquire literacy in [STEM] subjects by direct experience with the methods and processes of inquiry” [2], I have created an undergraduate component of The Arsenic Project. The Arsenic Project has grown out of my interests in the environmental chemistry of arsenic, and the first offshoot was a program for middle school students in STEM Connections, funded by the NSF’s Graduate Student in K-12 Education program. The undergraduate component of The Arsenic Project consists of a one-credit, independent study Honors Colloquium involving several small groups, each of which consists of one graduate student mentor, one student taking a junior-level analytical chemistry course, and several students taking freshman chemistry. The program, which started in fall of 2004 and so far has involved about 220 freshmen and 55 juniors, is designed to have many of the characteristics of an authentic research project. It takes place over a significant time period, allowing students the opportunity (a) to become familiar with the relevant big picture, detailed background, and previous work, (b) to conduct a series of experiments, in which the designs of the later ones can be based on the outcomes of earlier ones, (c) to draw conclusions, summarize the findings, make suggestions for further work, and (d) write a report containing the findings of interest to the broader community. Each group (a) researches background topics, which I select, and writes about their findings, (b) works on a project that I select in conjunction with the graduate student mentor, (c) writes a proposal and final report, and (d) makes 2 or 3 oral presentations to the other groups. Most of the projects involve taking environmental samples and measuring the arsenic content, which can be done either with a simple test kit or in my research laboratory. Feedback indicates that participants acquired relevant content knowledge and skills, and that they were motivated to look for further research experiences.

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