Events Calendar

Astani Civil and Environmental Engineering Seminar

Speaker: Dr. Jeanne VanBriesen, Carnegie Mellon University

Talk Title: Effects of fossil fuel extraction and utilization wastewaters on drinking water treatment processes

Abstract:
Changes in human activities associated with fossil fuel extraction and utilization can alter source waters in ways that affect treatment choices, costs, and the quality of the finished water distributed for human consumption. Produced waters from oil and gas extraction, especially those associated with shale formations, are often high in salts and bromide. Discharge of these wastewaters, even after partial treatment, can increase surface water concentrations of dissolved solids and bromide. Similarly, coal-fired power plants can produce wastewater with high dissolved solids, where the bromide concentration depends on the source coal, the addition of bromide for mercury control, and the use of pollution control devices such as flue-gas desulfurization units. These new or increasing sources of bromide have the potential to affect drinking water treatment plants. Several areas of the country not traditionally associated with high source water bromide levels (including the Ohio River Basin) have been reporting increasing bromination of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in treated drinking water. These changes may require changes to treatment at the drinking water plant or new methods for DBP control in the distribution system. This represents a significant challenge for drinking water infrastructure in the United States. A recently completed three year field study, and an analysis of state and industry reports for produced water quantity and quality, along with power plant discharge data, enables an assessment of the effect of fossil fuel extraction and utilization activities on source water quality and finished water disinfection by-products in the Monongahela River in Southwestern Pennsylvania.



Biography:
Dr. Jeanne M. VanBriesen is the Duquesne Light Company Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. VanBriesen holds a B.S. in Education and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University. She is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Delaware. Her research focuses on biotransformation of recalcitrant organics, detection of biological agents in drinking water and natural water systems, and speciation-driven biogeochemistry of chelating agents and disinfection by-products. Dr. VanBriesen has published fifty scientific papers and given more than 100 professional presentations. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Colcom Foundation, the Heinz Endowments, the Packard Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance. Dr. VanBriesen has served on the boards of the Association for Environmental Engineering and Science Professors and the Ohio River Basin Consortia for Research and Education. She is currently serving on the U.S.EPA Science Advisory Board.


Host: Dr. Amy Childress

Location: Seeley G. Mudd Building (SGM) - 101

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Evangeline Reyes