New England Private Well Initiative
Research
Research at New England Land Grant Universities is developing approaches to protect or renovate private and public drinking water quality.
Pathogens in Groundwater
Improving our understanding of the composition and transport of groundwater pathogens is
improving our management of these waterborne pathogens.
Tufts University, MA is engaged in several CSREES projects
studying pathogens in groundwater. One study develops, evaluates,
and streamlines several analytical methods required to
concentrate, separate, identify, and test for infectivity and/or viability
of several waterborne pathogenic protozoa
in water samples. Other studies are developing new
research techniques relevant to the study of Chryptosporidium parvum
,
and determining the
structural
physiology of the Chryptosporidium parvum oocyst
wall in order to design new treatments to inactivate these oocysts
in drinking water.
Researchers at UNH are studying the
transport
behavior of E. coli in aquifer sediments
.
Similarly, Yale University researchers are developing a comprehensive
understanding of the mechanisms controlling the adhesion
and transport behavior 
of C. parvumoocysts in porous media. By understanding the mechanisms controlling
pathogen transport, researchers will be able to design ways to protect
groundwater supplies from contamination.
A study at the URI is examining the effects of aeration technology 
on the ability of septic sytem leachfields to remove antibiotics from wastewater, on the
antibiotic resistance of fecal coliform bacteria, and on the improvement of water quality.
Also at URI, a
drinking water treatment research and teaching laboratory
is being developed. This laboratory will be used for water treatment research as well
as to teach both students and operators about advanced drinking water treatment processes.
Watershed Best Management Practices (BMPs)
BMPs within a watershed can be a critical tool in minimizing the risk of nutrient, pathogen,
and pesticide contamination to drinking water supplies.
The Jordan Cove Urban Watershed Project
of UConn assessed water quality and quantity
benefits of using pollution prevention best management practices
(BMPs) in a residential subdivision. This study, one of the Section 319 National
Monitoring Program Projects, used a paired watershed approach over two different time periods –
calibration and treatment – and three different watersheds – one control and two
treatments (traditional development and development with BMPs). Mid-project results indicated
that typical hydrologic alterations due to construction activities, such as increased runoff
volume, were not found in the watershed with BMPs. If these BMPs are used more extensively, pollution filtering potential of wetlands may continue safeguarding water quality.
Researchers at URI
Watershed Hydrology Laboratory
determined landscape controls of riparian zone groundwater nitrate removal
.
These insights were translated into methods that can be adapted to available spatial databases
and enhanced our ability to target high value riparian zones for protection and restoration to
improve or maintain water quality. The
URI NEMO Program
(Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials) has incorporated these results into their programming
with municipal officials and modeling efforts. Additional research at the Watershed Hydrology
Laboratory is examining the
effect watershed land use practices
on the hydrology, soils, and groundwater nitrate removal function of riparian zones.
URI, UConn and ASU are collaborating on a new CSREES Integrated project that will gain more insight into sources and sinks of nitrate and translate results into a model to be tested extensively and distributed via the National
NEMO Network .
Other related research projects can be found on the Agricultural Nutrient and Pest Management Research page.
Indicates work supported by the
USDA-CSREES
National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program
.