Drinking Water Research Area

Unit processes and operations for drinking water production are a dynamic research area in the program. The Program is especially well known for its strengths in the area of physical, chemical and biological treatment technologies for the purification of drinking water. Faculty in the Environmental Engineering Program study the control of carcinogenic organic byproducts of drinking water disinfection; factors which affect the formation of these byproducts; the media filtration and dissolved air flotation; removal of pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia; chemistry of coagulation; coagulation of natural organic matter in water; biologically-active filtration for drinking water purification; control of algae in water supplies; optimal design of dissolved air flotation; removal of manganese; and biological denitrification. An emerging research area is treatment processes for application in the developing world.

Associated Faculty

Example Research Projects

• Development of a Chemical Treatment Model for Desalting Membrane Residuals (Kenneth Mercer and John Tobiason), National Water Research Institute - Cargill Fellowship, Switzer Foundation Fellowship, 09/05 - 08/08.
• Innovative Applications of Treatment Processes for Spent Filter Backwash (David Cornwell (EE&T), John Tobiason, Michael MacPhee (Malcolm Pirnie)), Awwa Research Foundation, 10/05 - 03/08.
• Use of Ferrate in Small Drinking Water Treatment Systems, (David A. Reckhow & John E. Tobiason) US Environmental Protection Agency, 12/1/2011-11/30/2014.
• EDC/PPCP Benchmarking and Monitoring Strategies for Drinking Water Utilities (David A. Reckhow & Mi-Hyun Park) Water Research Foundation, 10/1/2010-12/1/2013
• Establishing Guidelines for the Use of Ozone-GAC for Control of Endocrine Disruptors and Related Compounds in Water , (David A. Reckhow & Kathleen F. Arcaro) American Water Works Association Research Foundation
• Optimizing the Generation and Capacity of Adsorptive Sites on Oxide Surfaces for Manganese Control (John Tobiason and William Knocke (VA Tech)), American Water Works Association Research Foundation, 01/04 – 10/07.
• Control of Manganese, Natural Organic Matter and Disinfection By-Products for Mystic, CT (John Tobiason and David Reckhow), Aquarion Water Company, 4/06-05/08.
• The Role of DON in Fouling of Low Pressure Membranes (John Tobiason), American Water Works Association Research Foundation, 10/07 – 10/09.
• Risk Based Prioritization of Disinfection Byproducts (Richard Bull, David A. Reckhow), Am. Wat. Wrks. Assn. Research Foundation
• Characterization of TOX Produced During Disinfection Processes (David A. Reckhow and Patrick Hatcher, PIs) American Water Works Association Research Foundation
• Watershed Sources and Long-term Variability of BDOC and NOM as Precursors (David A. Reckhow, Paula L. Rees, Klaus Nuesslein) Am. Wat. Wrks. Assn. Research Foundation
• Evaluation of NOM and DBP Precursors in SWSC West Parish Raw Water Sources, (David A. Reckhow & John E. Tobiason) Springfield Water and Sewer Commission
• Chloramination Feasibility Planning Study, (David A. Reckhow & John E. Tobiason) Hazen & Sawyer Engineering, City of New York
• Water Quality in Massachusetts Reservoirs , (David A. Reckhow, David P. Ahlfeld, Paula L. Rees & John E. Tobiason) Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
• Fate of Non-Regulated DBPs in Distribution Systems (David A. Reckhow, Chul Park, William Mitch) Water Research Foundation