Grants

• Request for proposals
• Questions and Answers
• Deadlines
• Competitive Grants 08/09
• Competitive Grants 07/08
• Competitive Grants 06/07
• Competitive Grants 05/06
• Competitive Grants 04/05
• Competitive Grants 03/04
• Fellowships & Student Support

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Engineering for Underground Storage and Recovery of CAP Water in Northwest Pima County. $45,491.

Robert Arnold and Wendell Ela, Chemical & Environmental Engineering.

The project investigates engineering challenges attendant to aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) of treated CAP water by northwest Pima County utilities. ASR will facilitate full use of their contractual CAP allotment by the utilities. Problems motivating the study include (i) water loss during reverse osmosis for salinity reduction, (ii) well scaling/fouling associated with ASR of treated CAP water, and (iii) formation of disinfection by-products when CAP water is chlorinated to control fouling. Technical solutions to be investigated include chemical and membrane softening, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, pH adjustment, water blending, variable split-stream treatments, and chlorine dose adjustments.

Impact of Temperature and Precipitation Events on Recreational Water Quality in the State of Arizona. $45,491.

Kelly Bright and Chuck Gerba, Soil, Water & Environmental Science.

Human-induced global climate changes caused by greenhouse gases are predicted to cause worldwide increases in temperature and precipitation. These may cause an increase in waterborne disease outbreaks through contamination events and a rise in the occurrence of thermotolerant waterborne pathogens. We propose to conduct a multi-seasonal surveillance study of the bacteria Vibrio cholerae (non-O1/non-O139) and Aeromonas spp. and the parasite Naegleria fowleri from recreational surface waters with varying physical, chemical and biological characteristics from around Arizona to determine their occurrence and distribution and to attempt to correlate these with global climate change factors such as temperature and precipitation events.

Simple Techniques for Backyard Water Harvesting: An Online Instruction Module. $44,781.

Theresa Crimmins and Katherine Waser, Office of Arid Lands Studies,

Water is a scarce commodity throughout Arizona. Rainwater when properly harvested can supply a large percentage of the water used for landscaping purposes. The proposed on-line learning module will communicate techniques for backyard water harvesting using video, animations, and supplemental downloadable documents. These materials are intended for use by homeowners, neighborhood associations, and by established programs such as Mater Watershed Stewards, Master Gardeners, UA Extensions WaterSmart workshops.

Use of Secondarily Treated Wastewater and Ground Water in Algae Photobioreactors for Biofuel Production. $47,498.

Joel Cuello, Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering and Kim Ogden, Chemical & Environmental Engineering

This study has two specific aims: 1) to use the algae Botryococcus braunii to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from secondarily-treated wastewater coming from a treatment plant; and 2) to use the algae Chlorophyceae Dunaliella tertiolecta grown in groundwater from Tucson Water or brackish groundwater to determine if alternative water sources can be used in photobioreactors to produce biofuels. Specifically, how non-purified water and wastewater affect algae wastewater bioremediation, algae growth, and algae biofuel production will be investigated. The proposed system addresses the two critical needs of the state for water reuse and production of renewable biofuel.

Rainwater Harvesting Certificate Program and Demonstration Project. $5,746.

Cado Daily, Cochise County, Candice Rupprecht, Master Watershed Stewards and Cynthia Warzecha, Coconino County, Cooperative Extension

This certificate program will increase the level of knowledge and application by participants on the collection and non-potable use of rainwater, and will result in the construction of multiple rainwater collection systems for public demonstrations. Classes will be offered to the public and participants who complete all classes will be awarded a certificate. Participants will construct a passive collection of berms, swales and gabions; a 55 gallon rainbarrel for participant take-home; and two large containerized systems. Materials created for class can be modified for use in other areas of the state, or county-wide.

Anammox for Nutrient Nitrogen Removal from Sludge Liquors. $53,450.

James Field and Reyes Sierra, Chemical & Environmental Engineering.

Sludge liquors from the dewatering of digested sludge contain high concentrations of ammonia which account for 15-25% of the N load at municipal wastewater treatment plants. This load poses a serious challenge to existing nutrient removal technologies. The project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of the recently discovered anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process, in which bacteria oxidize ammonium to benign dinitrogen gas (N2) under anaerobic conditions, as an economical and sustainable alternative to nitrogen nutrient removal from sludge liquors.

Yuma Desalting Operations, Water Quality and Vegetation Distribution in the Cienega de Santa Clara. $30,895.

Karl Flessa, Geosciences.

Water Quality and vegetation in the Cienega De Santa Clara wetlands will be monitored in order to predict how water quality, in particular salinity, affects the density and distribution of marsh vegetation. The bird diversity of the wetlands, located in Sonora, Mexico, makes the area a top conservation priority in the Colorado River delta (Zamora-Arroyo et al. 2005). The Cienega's principal source of water is brackish groundwater from Arizona's Wellton-Mohwak Irrigation District. Critical bird habitat could be affected if the Yuma Desalting Plant (YDP) is re-started. We will generate the baseline water quality data necessary for evaluating the possible effects of re-starting the YDP. We will expand the previous water quality research program by evaluating vegetation response to variation in water quality.

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Clogging on Stream-Aquifer Interaction in the Upper Santa Cruz Valley. $30,266.

Tom Meixner, Hydrology & Water Resources and Paul Sheppard, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research.

In water-limited environments effluent is a valuable water source for riparian restoration and aquifer recharge. For example, in-stream infiltration of effluent in the Upper Santa Cruz River aids in maintaining safe-yield conditions in the Santa Cruz AMA (SCAMA). With results from an existing TRIF supported project we have documented that clogging does occur and influences recharge and that the impact of clogging varies over time. In this study we propose to document the impact of effluent on riparian vegetation and quantify the spatial and temporal variability of clogging on riparian water use. Specifically, we will determine the influence of effluent on uptake by trees and estimate the spatial and temporal influence of clogging on recharge rates. We will do so by addressing four questions. First, to what degree do trees utilize effluent? Second, how does the influence of effluent on vegetation vary with distance from the river? Third, what is the spatial and temporal variability of stream bed clogging and recharge within the Santa Cruz River? Fourth, how can a high-resolution snapshot of clogging be coupled with the tree ring analysis to develop a robust understanding of an effluent dominated river system?

Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Research Project. $47,976.

Jonathan Overpeck, Institute for the Study of Planet Earth, Arizona Research Labs.

This project will provide the basic climate change information needed to support the pending Governor Napolitano climate change adaptation strategy initiative. PI Overpeck is assisting the Governor's team in this effort, and has already begun a collaborative effort to develop an enhanced climate change web resource for the state. We will extend this effort to work with scientists and stakeholders across the state - especially those relating to water resources and those involved with the yet-to-be-announced Governor's climate change adaptation working group - to ensure that the climate change web resource is optimal for supporting climate change adaptation strategy discussions.

Detection and Intervention of Vulnerable Tap Water Via Customer Surveillance and Enhanced Water Quality Monitoring. $43,166.

Ian Pepper, Soil, Water & Environmental Science and Mary Derby, Epidemiology.

EPA estimates that 16.4 million enteric illnesses attributable to drinking water occur annually, with a recent increase of illnesses linked to contaminated groundwater sources. In response to Homeland Security Presidential Directive-9, and EPA and CDC's recommendations to enhance water surveillance and monitoring programs, water utilities are evaluating water quality indicators under their control, such as customer reports of illness that can be used to enhance surveillance. Here, we will develop a water utility monitoring surveillance protocol driven by customer reports of illness and water quality monitoring for early detection and intervention of compromised tap water. In addition to customer surveillance, we will also evaluate indigenous baseline microbial water quality in municipal tap water utilizing molecular methods.

Seasonal Reclaimed Water Quality: An Assessment of Nutrient, Chemical and Biological Variability. $35,430.

Channah Rock and James Walworth, Soil, Water & Environmental Science.

Increasing demands on limited water resources have made wastewater reclamation for municipal irrigation an attractive option for extending water supplies in the semiarid Southwest. However, limited knowledge is available on the seasonality of chemical and microbial constituents found in reclaimed water. This study will define water quality markers by quantifying indicator organisms and variations of chemical constituents in reclaimed water delivered to four end-users in southern Arizona. This study will explore spatial and temporal variations in microbial contamination and in addition, will aid in a better understanding of chemical impacts and potential consequences relating to the environment and society.

Preliminary Evaluation of Antibiotic and Illicit Drug Contaminants in the Colorado River and Their Potential for Food Chain Transfer. $14,400.

Charles Sanchez, Yuma Agricultutal Center

Several antibiotics and illicit drugs have been detected in portions of the Colorado River and in one significant waste stream tributary (Las Vegas Wash). Furthermore, one or more of these chemicals has been detected in the sediments and plant material collected from the Las Vegas Wash. Antibiotics present in the environment can produce resistance in microorganisms which could have a potentially drastic effect on human health. In addition, while the ecotoxicological significance of trace levels of illicit drugs in surface water are not well understood, their presence cannot be dismissed outright because of their potential to adversely affect biota during prolonged exposure. In this project, we will gain preliminary information on distribution of these compounds in the Colorado River as affected by location to urban/suburban discharges and season. We also wish to evaluate the potential for food chain transfer into edible food plants from irrigation water. This information is a prerequisite for any possible effort to reduce human exposure to these pharmaceuticals.

Optimum and Minimum Irrigation Requirements of Landscape Trees. $20,959.

Ursula Schuch, Plant Science, Ed Martin, Maricopa Agricultural Center and Rick Gibson, Pinal County, Cooperative Extension.

This long-term research and demonstration project addresses the area of water conservation. The objectives of the project are to determine how nine species of commonly used landscape trees will perform in Maricopa, Arizona, when supplied with irrigation at 30%, 50% or 75% of reference evapotranspiration (ETo). With trees established in January 2007 and irrigation treatments starting in February 2008, data will be collected for the next five years to document differences in growth and overall appearance and the site will be used for educating and training of landscape professionals, policy makers, and home owners on water conservation in urban landscapes.

Science Education That Makes a Difference - through Inspired Teacher Leaders. $34,479.

Kerry Schwartz, Water Resources Research Center.

By engaging teacher leaders in bringing water education into local schools, including feeder schools, we will create a network of water champions in the Greater Phoenix Area. Water education marketing and delivery is ineffective if approached from a top down perspective. This project creates an on-the-ground, grassroots network of individuals responsible for bringing water education resources and opportunities to their area schools and communities. By investing in this network of water champions the Water Sustainability Program (WSP) will have a delivery network to introduce new water initiatives to the Greater Phoenix Area. The WSP program's goal of establishing UA water programs in the valley will be realized through this grassroots approach.

Ground Water Age Dating for Water Budget Development in the Show Low Watershed, Navajo County, AZ. $4,800.

Kristine Uhlman, Water Resources Research Center, Chris Eastoe, Geosciences and Steve Campbell, Navajo County, Cooperative Extension.

The vulnerability of water resources to climate change in the Show Low Creek Watershed will be assessed by isotopic age-dating. Samples will be collected from local water supply wells and from a spring feeding Billy Creek. Samples will be analyzed for naturally occurring Carbon-14, Oxygen, and Hydrogen isotopes. The analysis will identify water source, resident time in the aquifer, and length of time since the water fell as precipitation to recharge the aquifer. Ground water age dating of water resources will assist resource managers and policy makers in developing a water budget to balance competing resource demands.

Arizona Rivers' High School Riparian Research Experience (RRE) Collaboration with Nemo's Surface Flow Wet/Dry Monitoring Campaign. $1,810.

Martha Whitaker and Jim Washburne, Hydrology & Water Resources

AZ Rivers is collaborating with NEMO, to have AZ Rivers high school students and volunteers participate in NEMO's Annual Surface Flow Wet/Dry Monitoring Campaign. This project will provide training and will purchase 12 GPS units and field supplies for 12 teams of 2 to 3 volunteers. The GPS units will be available for loan year-round to AZ Rivers teachers, students, volunteers and NEMO volunteers.