Grantee Research Project Results
2020 Progress Report: Right Sizing Tomorrow's Water Systems for Efficiency, Sustainability,and Public Health
EPA Grant Number: R836890Title: Right Sizing Tomorrow's Water Systems for Efficiency, Sustainability,and Public Health
Investigators: Whelton, Andrew J , Rose, Joan B. , Mitchell, Jade , Beecher, Janice , Nejadhashemi, Amirpouyan , Lee, Juneseok
Institution: Purdue University , Michigan State University , San Jose State University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2019 (Extended to March 29, 2022)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2019 through September 30,2020
Project Amount: $1,989,000
RFA: National Priorities: Impacts of Water Conservation on Water Quality in Premise Plumbing and Water Distribution Systems (2016) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water
Objective:
The project goal is to better understand and predict water quality (WQ) and health risks posed by declining water usage and low flows. Our hypotheses focus on (i) testing the predictability of integrated water distribution system-premise plumbing models the project team develops and calibrates for residential and commercial buildings; (ii) identifying the most significant determinant(s) of tap WQ in these systems; and (iii) identifying water system design and operational conditions that pose increased human health risks. Project objectives are to: (1) Improve the public’s understanding of decreased flow and establish a range of theoretical premise plumbing flow demands from the scientific literature and expert elicitation with our strategic Partners; (2) Elucidate the factors and their interactions that affect WQ through fate and transport simulation models for residential and commercial buildings; and (3) Create a risk-based decision support tool to help guide decision makers through the identification of premise plumbing characteristics, operations and maintenance practices that minimize health risks to building inhabitants.
Progress Summary:
Objective 1: Improve the public understanding of decreased flows
- Presentations were delivered at a variety of meetings
Objective 2: Conduct Full- and Pilot-Scale Testing
- QAQC. QAQC efforts have been included in all field and laboratory testing activities. These were identified early in the project and have been carried through. The QAQC Manager, Rebecca Ives, continues her involvement in this effort.
- Residential Building. The field work associated with a 1-year study of water quality in the home when that home received water from a municipal public water system and a 4 month study of how water quality is affected when rainwater was used as the home’s sole drinking water source has been completed. Data analysis is being conducted and multiple manuscripts have been published. Completed studies and findings are listed in the publications section
- Middle School. Results of the school investigation were published and others are being prepared for publication. Completed studies and findings are listed in the publications section.
- University / School. Results of the university camps investigation were published and others are being prepared for publication. Completed studies and findings are listed in the publications section.
- Office. Results of the office building investigation are being prepared for peer-review.
- Bench- and Pilot Experiments. Several experiments were conducted to compliment field studies. A few manuscripts are under review. Completed studies and findings are listed in the publications section.
Objective 3 - Create a risk-based decision support tool
- The analysis of the kickoff workshop to support the decision support tool was completed and submitted for publication. Manhattan College and Michigan State University are also now working with the data collected from the ReNEWW house on this task.
Future Activities:
In the coming year, our team plans to:
1) Write up and publish results from completed field, pilot, and lab scale experiments.
2) Continue bench- and pilot-scale experiments.
3) Continue analyzing and interpreting the billions of data records collected from the 1-year monitoring study of the single family home.
4) Develop the integrative water quality-hydraulic model to be used for predicting water quality at the single-family home.
5) Hold a stakeholder feedback meeting to gain input on decision support tool.
6) Develop and deliver a decision support tool.
7) Present results at trade industry and scientific meetings and post those presentations online.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 36 publications | 14 publications in selected types | All 14 journal articles |
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Logan-Jackson A, Rose J. Cooccurrence of Five Pathogenic Legionella spp. and Two Free-Living Amoebae Species in a Complete Drinking Water System and Cooling Towers. PATHOGENS 2021;10(11). |
R836890 (2020) |
Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
Residual, Hydraulic residence times, EPANET, Water demand, Plastic Pipes, Pathogens, QMRARelevant Websites:
Center for Plumbing Safety - Purdue Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.