Clean Water Solutions

Purpose

Water is the one thing that connects all of us on earth. Although bodies of water separate us, water also acts as a bridge between each human being. We all need water to survive. However, the brutal truth is that not everyone has access to clean water. The threat against water is two-fold: what we’re putting into our water, water pollution, and how we’re revitalizing our water, water treatment. Water pollution is a major threat to not only our well being, but also the environment.

The reason why this topic is important to myself is because the humanity behind it. It is an upsetting image when people do not have clean water to drink or have to travel miles just to have some access so easily. Real life events that are close to home, inspire me as well. The Flint Water Crisis was an egregious act against residents of Michigan. What we can do is use science to prevent errors like this. Government policy is another outlet I find highly interesting, as it not only will implement scientific measures in law, but it will reassure the health of Americans. 

Background

Nitrogen Cycle

Since we are focusing on the crucial role of water in our ecosystem and society, you would expect oxygen or hydrogen to be at the forefront of our research, instead, we are interested in nitrogen. Although oxygen seems to be more important, they are equally important. In fact, nitrogen makes up 78% of our atmosphere. However, unlike oxygen, we cannot take in nitrogen naturally and must pass through a cycle.

1. Nitrogen falls to the ground through precipitation. It enters the soil and comes into contact with bacteria on the roots of plants. As the nitrogen enters beneath the ground level, we begin the first "sub-step" (subterranean step). 

2.  In the first “sub-step” called nitrogen fixation, bacteria breaks up nitrogen and attaches hydrogen to make ammonia, a toxic compound. 

3. The second sub-step, nitrification, sees another type of bacteria attach oxygen to the nitrogen, an accessible form plants can absorb. Then, animals will eat those plants, and the nitrogen will find its way back to the soil through either waste or decomposition. 

4. From here, the nitrogen molecules are broken down into ammonia again in the third sub-step, ammonification. The nitrogen can then goes back to the nitrification stage. 

5. In the final sub-step, denitrification, another type of bacteria steals the oxygen, making nitrogen gas. 

Finally, we have come full circle in the cycle as nitrogen returns to the atmosphere. However, as a society it is important to remain cognizant of disruptors. This includes fertilizers, pollution, sewage, farm animal waste. All of which could lead to loss of oxygen in rivers, unfertile soil, or even acid rain! We are specifically going to look at algal blooms, a disruptor that correlates to sewage and farming. 

Problem

Algal blooms are a consequence of when an excess amount of chemicals reach hungry bacteria found in bodies of water. Blooms can be toxic and kill organisms in the aquatic ecosystem or even cause disease in humans. Even nontoxic blooms have a significant impact on the ecosystem, as they remove oxygen in the water which prevents respiration for vegetation and fish. One physical feature of blooms is discoloration, commonly green or red (Figure 2a). It creates a gooey substance that creates an unsafe environment for all organisms in that ecosystem. Microorganisms called cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are found in bodies of water. They feed off of the runoff which causes it to multiply exponentially. The blue-green algae produces a toxin, microcystin, causing the bloom to be harmful. Algal blooms are a major threat to marine and human communities. This pertains to wastewater treatment because blooms can contaminate drinking water. I dub this phenomena as “natural water pollution”.

Again, algal blooms are a major disruption to the nitrogen cycle. Before nitrogen leaves the soil, it can find its way into a body of water, like a river or lake. Bacteria feed off of nutrients found in runoff, like phosphorus or nitrogen. Thus, “overfeeding” begins and the algal bloom grows. One major spot that experiences algal blooms annually on a large scale is Lake Erie, Michigan. You can read more about the hazards and methods that are being used by scientists in the Lake Erie area here.

There are ways of detecting algal blooms, like satellite imagery or special technology, like Imaging Flow Cytobots that can monitor early early warning signs. In one instance, Lake Erie was infected with an Algal Bloom so dangerous that 500,000 people from Ohio did not have access to clean water. One of the worst algal blooms in Lake Erie history reached an index of 10 (See Figure 2b), where 5 or higher is determined as a “severe bloom” Government programs like the Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration monitor and study algal blooms to find ways to prevent the growth of blooms.  

Current Solutions

In terms of wastewater denitrification, there are two approaches: chemistry and microbiology. The former is done by adding chemicals or solutions to treat wastewater. The latter involves using microbes like bacteria to improve the cascade of events. What I focused on is the microbiology aspect of wastewater treatment. To check out more about water treatment facilities and the five steps of purification, click here.

I took a large portion of my research from a study conducted by a professor from Columbia University, Kartik Chandran. He worked with Professor Huijie Lu of the University of Illinois and Professor David Steel of the University of Washington. Together they published their findings in a scientific research paper titled Microbial ecology of denitrification in biological wastewater treatment in 2014. In this paper, they discuss in detail how microorganisms can be a key part of enhancing wastewater treatment. They first had to understand denitrification before they could test how microbes would work. In order to experiment with new ideas, the research team had to look at past ideas, for example, if a carbon source or ethanol increases denitrification. It was also important to identify each microbe by its community structure and activity. One finding from this research is that a carbon source increases denitrification. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is still much more research to be done, especially in microbiology in terms of wastewater denitrification.  

Areas of Research: Looking Forward 

As a graduating high school senior, I am coming close to choosing a college. I have applied and been accepted to multiple engineering schools, for which I am grateful for. At the time of writing, I am still awaiting the decision from my dream school, Columbia University. Although the chances of me being accepted are very small, I admire the school’s structure, an attribute I looked for in all my schools. Columbia offers an opportunity for its students to have intense academic learning as well as hands-on experience. Of course the basis of my research came from Professor Kartik Chandran at Columbia, who takes an active part in his own research which is open to student fellows. The school that I am most likely going to attend is Rutgers University--New Brunswick. I found that this school offered me a great balance between my interests. Across the schools, there are well developed programs from the arts to the sciences, as I hope to study both. Specifically for environmental engineering, Rutgers is dedicated with its School of Biological and Environmental Sciences which includes Environmental and Bioenvironmental Engineering. The school has immense resources, especially as its location serves both the metropolitan and more rural environments. I also hope to fulfill my environmental policy interests by studying Urban Development or Public Policy. Actually there is research on using bacteria to clean a local river being taken place by a group of graduate students and a professor that resembles Chandran’s work. Their mission is to lower toxicity of the chemical dioxin through a process called dechlorination using bacteria. The chemical dioxin, a byproduct of combustion and chemical production, can cause cancer and reproductive issues. The area of interest is the Diamond Alkali Superfund site, a local manufacturing site in Newark, NJ, which encompasses the Passaic River, Newark Bay, and Hackensack River. Their next step is identifying the enzymes involved in dechlorination to develop technology.  

I would like to continue my research throughout my years of college, having a focus in water sustainability. It is especially important to have hands-on experience or to intern at an establishment to apply my knowledge. As I have previously mentioned, making social change is just as important as scientific research. So during my college years, and after, I hope to dip my toe in the political atmosphere. Our federal government of course has the Environmental Protection Agency which is in control of a large amount of America’s environmental achievements. However, I find that there needs to be a major emphasis on the EPA, and brought to the forefront of America’s agenda. There is a lot of work still needed to be done, and the only way it can occur is by pushing for it. 

Reflection

References

1. “Algal Blooms in Lake Erie (North America) - Environment Hazards - Earth Watching.” ESA, earth.esa.int/web/earth-watching/environmental-hazards/content/-/article/algal-blooms-in-lake-erie-north-america-. 

2. AmoebaSisters. “Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles.” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Sept. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHqEthRCqQ4. 

3. “Harmful Algal Blooms & Drinking Water Treatment.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 31 Dec. 2020, www.epa.gov/water-research/harmful-algal-blooms-drinking-water-treatment#:~:text=Toxins%20from%20harmful%20algal%20blooms,safe%20and%20cost%2Deffective%20way. 

4. “Lake Erie Algae Blooms: Polluting Our Drinking Water.” Alliance for the Great Lakes, 9 July 2020, greatlakes.org/campaigns/lake-erie-algae-blooms/. 

5. Matheny, Keith. “Lake Erie Algae Bloom Forecast Improved, but States Failing in War against Nutrient Loads.” Detroit Free Press, Detroit Free Press, 9 July 2020, www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/07/09/lake-erie-algae-bloom-forecast/5406096002/. 

6. Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/the-nitrogen-cycle-processes-players-and-human-15644632/#:~:text=%2C%20algal%20blooms. 

7. “Nitrogen Cycle Video.” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Feb. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQohpVN20FI&feature=youtu.be. 

8. “OTT - Transitioning Imaging FlowCytoBot for Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation and Research.” The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), 13 Nov. 2020, ioos.noaa.gov/project/ott-transitioning-imaging-flowcytobot/. 

9. Pollack, Nicole. “Lake Erie's Toxic Green Slime Is Getting Worse With Climate Change.” Inside Climate News, 30 Nov. 2020, insideclimatenews.org/news/09082020/lake-erie-toxic-algae-climate-change/. 

10. “Water Treatment Plant Process.” Water Treatment Plant Process | Canon City, CO, www.canoncity.org/180/Water-Treatment-Plant-Process#:~:text=The%205%20major%20unit%20processes,enters%20the%20various%20treatment%20processes. 

11. “Water Treatment.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Jan. 2015, www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_treatment.html. 

12. “What Is a Harmful Algal Bloom?: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.” What Is a Harmful Algal Bloom? | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, www.noaa.gov/what-is-harmful-algal-bloom.