We are active in the following research areas:

Water agencies in the U.S. and elsewhere are expanding water reuse (or wastewater reclamation) as part of their water supply portfolio to meet the needs of growing populations and to face future uncertainties. These uncertainties include the threat of droughts, changing water regulations, and the potential effects of global climate change on water supply.  Reclaimed wastewater has many uses, such as landscaping, irrigation, indoor uses in buildings (like toilet flushing), and fire protection.  There are also environmental applications, like groundwater recharge and stream flow augmentation in areas short on freshwater.  Although water reuse is generally regarded as a sustainable approach to water supply management, the presence of a variety of microconstituents raises concerns about the use of this water.  Considerations include ecological effects and contamination of potable aquifers. Although the release of treated wastewater to surface water has historically been commonplace given the lack of alternatives, water recycling nevertheless requires consideration of a complex set of benefits and risks at sites where a natural source (rain, groundwater, rivers) is replaced or augmented with tertiary effluent.

Pictures: (1) Coyote Creek in San Jose CA, site evaluated for stream flow augmentation using reclaimed wastewater; (2) photosimulator used to irradiate contaminant solutions with simulated sunlight to determine rates and products of photolysis