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IMPROVING DRINKING WATER QUALITY FOR SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES IN MISSOURI
Impact/Purpose:
Drinking water quality is of primary health concern for small rural communities. Disinfection by products (DBP), suspected carcinogens, in drinking water such as trihalomethanes (THMs) traditionally generated from chlorination of dissolved organic matter (DOM), mainly measurable as dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC/DON), are primary concerns in small drinking water treatment systems. These systems use various sources of surface water from rural terrestrial ecosystems and are not designed to target reduction in organic matter. DOC/DON in surface waters has been recently reported as being elevated above natural levels due to increased agriculture and other human activities. Therefore developing innovative low-cost, easy to operate, and energy efficient treatment technologies that reduce the forming potential of DBP in small water treatment systems is critical for safeguarding rural residents from surface water contamination associated with elevated DOC/DON levels.
Description:
This project will combine expertise of three Missouri universities. led by Lincoln University of Missouri - an 1890 Historically black College & University (HBCU), with an integration of field and laboratory studies and technology transfer and staff training for selected small treatment facilities. This project will integrate research, education. and extension to address drinking water problems in rural communities. The multi-institution collaborations and multi-disciplinary integration will strengthen the capacity of participating universities to advance water research and technology, train undergraduate and graduate students, especially minority or underrepresented students, and enhance outreach activities for public water awareness and education.