Project Summary: Disinfecting drinking water is a key strategy to providing safe drinking water, but corresponding risk tradeoffs from persistent Opportunistic Pathogens (OPs) and formation of Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) remain poorly understood in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). We aim to achieve a nationwide study of the prevalence of OPs, their free-living amoebae vectors, and (un)regulated DBPs across a wide variety of sizes and types of DWDSs. Further, we will examine fundamental scientific hypotheses related to the occurrence of OPs and DBPs in DWDS and their relative risks.

This will help identify patterns of OPs and DBPs, as well as how hazard prevalence is correlated with general water quality and DWDS factors. Findings will inform co-development of learning modules with utility partners that will facilitate development of practically useful materials for understanding and communicating risks. This is directly responsive to the solicitation and will benefit public health; our identification of the most important factors controlling the relative risks exerted due to OPs and DBPs will allow the formulation of mitigation strategies that will overall reduce risk to the drinking-water consumer.

Group members: Soojung Lee, Hollie Adejumo

Collaborators: Mary Jo Kirisits (University of Texas at Austin); Eric Cambronne (University of Texas at Austin); Polina Sela (University of Texas at Austin); Rebecca Hardin (University of Michigan); Yun Shen (University of California Riverside); Emily Kumpel (University of Massachusetts); David Reckhow (University of Massachusetts); Mariana Lopes (University of Massachusetts); John Tobiason (University of Massachusetts); Kristan VandenHeuvel (The Water Tower); The City of Ann Arbor drinking water treatment plant.

Funding Source: Environmental Protective Agency

Relevant publications: