EPA's Science Matters Newsletter: The Water Research Issue

View as a Webpage About this Issue GEMS Journal Watch EPA Research In the News Highlights From Our Blog EPA Grants Volume 3 | Number 3 | August / September 2012 About this Issue About this Issue A note from Dr. Suzanne van Drunick, the National Program Director for EPA’s Safe and Sustainable Water Resources research program. GEMS: Great Environmental Moments in Science Keeping Beaches Safe… with Statistics! EPA researchers and partners are creating tools to help beach managers protect public health. Into the Dead Zone EPA researchers are creating a state-of-the-art three-dimensional model of the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone. Beneath the Surface Innovative glider surfs underneath the ocean, delivering new data about coastal waters. Why Study Green Infrastructure? EPA scientists and engineers are exploring how to tap green, effective, and low-cost methods to improve stormwater management. Stormwater Calculator to Manage Rainfall Runoff A new tool developed by EPA allows planners and property owners to assess how green infrastructure can be used to reduce rainwater runoff from development sites. Helping Cities Benefit from Green Infrastructure EPA provides research and guidance on the incorporation of green infrastructure into Omaha’s combined sewer overflow control plan. Showing Buried Streams the Daylight Researchers compare the effectiveness of buried streams versus open-air streams for removing harmful excess nitrogen from water systems. Public Database Helps Users Provide Clean Drinking Water EPA’s Drinking Water Treatability Database provides a one-stop shop for information on contaminants and treatment options. New Ballast Water Protocols to Stop Invasive Species EPA partners with the U.S. Coast Guard to develop ship treatment system protocols. Small Businesses Keeping Our Water Clean and Protected EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program supports innovative environmental technologies. Strengthening Streams in California The State of California employs EPA’s causal assessment CADDIS tool to identify and treat problems in waterways. Keeping an Eye on Wetlands EPA researchers develop ways to study, assess, and report on the state of the nation’s wetlands. Protecting Drinking Water from Re-contamination EPA scientists advance understanding of how biofilms in a drinking water system can harbor harmful bacteria following decontamination. Planning Better for a Changing Climate EPA researchers and partners develop assessment tools to help communities make better informed environmental decisions. Tools to Assess Potential Water Contaminants EPA researchers are developing high tech tools called “Dashboards” to help assess potential water contaminants. Journal Watch Recently Published Journal Articles Related to Water Research Learn about some of the recent research EPA researchers and their partners have published in scientific journals. It All Starts with Science: Highlights From Our Blog Getting My Feet Wet Energy and water waste is growing problem across the country – but not if the EPA and U.S. Army have anything to say about it. Working hard to achieve ‘Net Zero’ status, researchers develop new tools and plans assist communities across the nation. Dena Vallano, a Science and Technology Policy Fellow from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), talks about her experience with the program. Sharing EPA Knowledge 7,000 Miles Away Three prominent EPA scientists traveled to Saudi Arabia to represent the United States at the Saudi International Environmental Technology Conference 2012. While there, they presented fascinating lectures and provided valuable risk assessment training. Abdel Kadry and Ila Cote recount their time at the conference. Decisions, Decisions… and a new tool to help us make them! Whether you’re going swimming for fun or sampling for a project, the quality of your surrounding water can make or break a day. But what good is the information if it isn’t up-to-date? Tarlie Townsend outlines a new tool being developed by EPA scientist Dr. Blake Schaeffer that uses satellite technology to solve every day water quality problems. Is the Cleanup Working? SPMDs Help You Find Out. EPA wants to know if underwater cleanup measures are working and they know just the way to test it—Solid Phase Microextraction Devices (SPMDs). Sean Sheldrake and Alan Humphrey explain the science behind and useful outcomes of this innovative method. EPA Scientists and Engineers Win Presidential Award The prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) was awarded to two EPA scientists by President Barack Obama this summer. Christina Motilall details the research of Dr. Mehdi Hazari and Adam Eisele and what it was like for them to meet the president! EPA Research in the News EPA Climate Change Research Aids Tribal Discussions EPA studies have indicated disproportionate adverse effects on tribal nations in the United States from climate change. Tribal leaders came together to discuss these effects and their plan for preserving their tribal nations. EPA and P&G Collaborate for Sustainability EPA and Proctor & Gamble are collaborating to develop a sustainability tool to improve manufacturing operations. Cleaning Up the Great Lakes EPA awards $750,000 to fund Great Lakes research at Michigan State University. EPA Launches Stormwater Management Contest EPA invites student teams across the country to participate in its design challenge - the Campus Rainworks Challenge. Researcher with Storied Career to Head EPA’s National Center for Environmental Assessment EPA names Kenneth Olden, Ph.D., as the new head of the National Center for Environmental Assessment. Forecasting Your Water Quality EPA is developing a mobile app to deliver local water quality forecasts with the touch of a button. EPA Research Grants Grants and Funding Opportunities For information about EPA grants and funding opportunities, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/ncer. Science Matters is produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development. All content is copyright free and can be reprinted without permission. Comments, feedback, and suggestions for future stories are welcome. Please contact Aaron Ferster: ferster.aaron.