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The Evaluation and Expansion of the Solar Disinfection Method for Reclaimed Residential Greywater
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Transcript of Final Project Report - The Evaluation and Expansion of the Solar Disinfection Method of Reclaimed...
The Evaluation and Expansion of the Solar
Disinfection Method for Reclaimed Residential
Greywater
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 3
A. Summary of Phase I Results .................................................................................................................... 9
Background and Problem Definition ........................................................................................................ 9
Purpose, Objective and Scope ................................................................................................................. 10
Data, Findings, Outputs/Outcomes ......................................................................................................... 10
Biotechnology ........................................................................................................................................ 12
Design Optimization and Fabrication ................................................................................................. 16
Discussion, Conclusions, Recommendations .......................................................................................... 18
Assurance that research misconduct has not occurred during the reporting period ............................ 19
B. Proposal for Phase II ............................................................................................................................... 20
P3 Phase II Project Description ............................................................................................................... 20
Quality Assurance Statement ................................................................................................................. 22
Project Schedule ..................................................................................................................................... 23
EPA Human Subjects Research Statement ............................................................................................. 24
C. References .............................................................................................................................................. 25
Attachments ............................................................................................................................................ 28
Budget ......................................................................................................................................................... 30
Budget Justification .................................................................................................................................... 32
Relevance and Past Performance ................................................................................................................ 34
Relevance to EPA ................................................................................................................................... 34
Past Performance of the Principal Investigator: ...................................................................................... 34
Resumes ...................................................................................................................................................... 35
Dr. Patricia Phelps .................................................................................................................................. 35
Kristine Lilly ........................................................................................................................................... 35
Student Bios ........................................................................................................................................... 36
Current and Pending Support ...................................................................................................................... 42
Confidentiality ............................................................................................................................................ 42
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
NCER Assistance Agreement Project Report Executive Summary
Date of Project Report: 03/12/2015
EPA Agreement Number: SU835926
Project Title: Evaluation and Expansion of Solar Disinfection Method for Residential
Greywater
Faculty Advisor(s), Departments and Institutions: Dr. Patricia Phelps, Biology, Dr. George
Staff, Department Chair of Earth Sciences, Austin Community College
Student Team Members, Departments and Institutions: Kelli Boydston, Emma Drueke,
Christina Edgar, Mariah Farrar, Stephanie Gage, Andrea Gonzalez, Samer Hasan, Michael
Hixson, Isabelle Jaimes, Ben Jeffries (Lead), Caitlyn Lankford, Katy Leatham, Michelle
McGill, Kristine Lilly (Author - Project Manager), Paul Newcomb, Miranda Peterson, Dylan
Reynolds, Elizabeth Savercool, Matthew Schulze, Marcus Searle, G.P. Selvaggio, (Lead),
Chynna Spangle, Jered Staton, Kevin Strickland, (Lead), Thomas Thompson, Josh Walden
Project Period: 8/31/2014 – 8/30/2015
The Evaluation and Expansion of the Solar Disinfection
Method for Residential Greywater
Description and Objective of Research: The solar disinfection
of greywater (SODIS), is a method that has been developed and
proven as a means to produce potable water in a low-cost,
effective, and nontoxic manner. Currently over 2 million people
in 28 developing countries use the SODIS method for daily
drinking water (Centers for Disease Control. 2012).
Issues of water scarcity affect every continent on the planet.
More than 1.6 billion people live in areas suffering from water
scarcity, and more than 500 million people are approaching this
situation. This problem encompasses over one fourth of the
…Issues of
Water
Scarcity…
world’s population (UNDESA,
U. N. 2011). In the United
States, the challenges of water
scarcity issues are being
exacerbated by intense drought
across the entire Southwest,
including California, Texas and
Oklahoma (USDM, U. S. 2015).
Water shortage within the U.S. is
not just an environmental
concern when our current daily
demand for water threatens the
availability of this precious
resource in the future. A crisis
may soon emerge into other
areas of the U.S. when local
surface and groundwater sources
can no longer support our
increasing demand for water
(GreenFacts. 2008). It is
estimated that there will be a 50% shortfall of water supply for many counties in central Texas
within the next two decades based on current water usage and demographics (USDM, U. S.
2015).
In Phase I of this research project, the Austin Community
College S-STEM research team has proposed that solar
disinfection (SODIS) can be used in the United States as a way
to recycle greywater in a residential setting. “Greywater is all
reusable wastewater from residential […] bathroom sinks, bath
tub shower drains, and clothes washing equipment drains”
(EPA Region IX, 1998). Water can be recycled just like any
other recycling medium such as aluminum, paper and plastic.
Its process is aptly named greywater recycling. Recycled
greywater can be used in many applications around the home
and can provide safe irrigation water for lawns and gardens
while also reducing the amount of water each home uses.
While the SODIS method is well established to produce
drinking water without chemicals or energy by using recycled
plastic bottles, the process is limited by the amount of water that
Figure 1: Drought conditions are impacting the majority of
the US mainland. USDA graphic. Photo Credit
http://bigislandnow.com/2014/01/16/
Figure 2: A Woman Using SODIS
(Swiss Federal Institute)
can be treated at one time. The focus of Phase I was to explore different vessel configurations to
increase the quantity of water produced, and lessen the time it takes to disinfect the water.
Summary of Findings: Using a standardized laboratory
greywater solution (synthetic greywater) that was capable
of maintaining the viability of the E. coli, students
‘spiked’ synthetic greywater and divided it into two tubes:
1.) A solar UV (ultraviolet) transmitting tube and 2.) A
darkened tube of the same material which allowed no
penetration of light, as the control. This approach allowed
students to evaluate the effectiveness of the solar
disinfection prototype vessels and solar collectors. The
use of a standardized laboratory greywater solution
helped to ensure valid analysis of experimental results to
compare the effectiveness of greywater disinfection
between different experimental runs. The Biotechnology
team also worked on culturing a strain of E. coli that is
more resistant to the chemicals normally found in
greywater to simulate the type of E. coli bacteria that is
more commonly found in a residential setting. This hardy
strain of E. coli would serve to improve efficacy of solar
disinfection prototype designs. A comprehensive report of
findings and outputs regarding standardizing laboratory
greywater, culture of a chemically resistant strain of E. coli and final testing procedures,
protocols and analysis are further discussed in the project summary with supporting data and
graphs.
The Design Optimization and Fabrication team was comprised of students with various
disciplines of engineering, math, physics, and environmental majors. At the writing of this report
the Design Optimization team has developed three prototypes for testing standardized (synthetic)
greywater. A one-half-liter (0.5L) borosilicate glass tube with a high reflective parabolic trough
was tested and yielded adequate disinfection, with a 4-log reduction (99.99%) of E. coli cell
viability. A comparison study between borosilicate
glass and UV transmissive acrylic was performed
using a three liter Acryrite® tube and a three liter
borosilicate glass tube with a 3-fold wider diameter.
Again, test analysis demonstrated adequate
disinfection with a 4-log reduction in E. coli cell
viability and indicated a negligible difference in
efficiency of disinfection between borosilicate glass
and Acrylite® brand acrylic. In Phase I, design
Figure 3: ACC S-STEM student Joe
Rodriguez
…4-log
reduction
(99.99%)
prototypes progressively expanded vessel size while focusing on
modifying reflective accoutrement to decrease the time it takes to
achieve disinfection.
ACC students hope to complete two additional experiments before
the National Sustainable Expo in April. Experiment 4 will be a
comparative study of solar collector design and the effect of
reflective intensity of light based on the design of the solar collector
in Prototype 1. Both the reflectivity of the material and the
parabolic shape of the reflector will be compared. Experiment 5 will be an evaluation of the
expansion of the test vessels and optimal solar collector design determined from Experiment 4.
Students project that the new prototype designs will demonstrate a substantial increase in volume
capacity of the disinfection vessel while significantly reducing disinfection time. Data, Findings,
Outputs/Outcomes are detailed in the project summary with supporting photos of prototypes
designs. SOP’s for the use of Prototype designs are published online and referenced at the end of
this report.
Conclusions: Austin Community College students have
proven the concept of applying the SODIS solar disinfection
approach towards the sanitation of greywater, as described in
the project The Evaluation and Expansion of the Solar
Disinfection Method of Reclaimed Residential Greywater.
Solar disinfection of water can be achieved at larger volumes
and at a more rapid disinfection rate than outlined by the
SODIS method of disinfection used for drinking water. The
use of solar disinfection can be very effective in the
residential setting and has the potential to save the United
State billions of gallons of water per year. Solar power, which
is the energy source on which solar disinfection operates, is
less energy-consuming in comparison to energy costs required
to operate other disinfection systems such as ozonolysis. Solar
disinfection can also reduce the need for toxic chemicals such
as chlorine in residential greywater disinfection processes.
This will lessen water disinfection byproducts from the environment.
Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies:
A. Continuation of current research models focused on the expansion of the volume of water
that test vessels can successfully treat and the reduction of exposure time to achieve
disinfection.
Figure 4: ACC S-STEM students perform
testing on solar disinfection prototypes
B. In addition to expanding the volume and improving the efficiency of our solar system, we
would like to develop a fully-operational prototype that is ready for residential household
use. Further study is needed to determine the design of:
a. Pre- disinfection storage tanks
b. Pre- and post-treatment/filtration
c. The configuration needed to maximize gravity feed of the treatment system
d. The operation control design for automating the filling and emptying of vessels in
response to light intensity.
e. A dye that will photo bleach at the same rate of ultra-violet disinfection. This dye
would be environmentally friendly, and by use of a comparator, the homeowner
would be able to tell if greywater has been sufficiently treated.
f. The design must not only be aesthetically pleasing to a homeowner, it must be robust
enough that it can operate with a minimum of maintenance.
C. The S-STEM team would also like to expand our large-volume and rapid method of solar
disinfection into other applications such as in sanitation of rainwater collection systems
for drinking water. We hope to partner with Sustainacycle of Kyle, Texas who has an
interest in being able to commercialize our design product to replace the conventional
treatment methods currently used for sanitizing rainwater.
D. We feel that consumers using greywater treatment systems will not only become more
aware of their water usage, but will become more concerned about their contribution of
ecologically disruptive components into their environment. We hope to bring awareness
to the consumer of the impact that their selections of cleaning products and detergents
have on the quality of the water being treated by our solar disinfection system. In an
effort to promote educated consumer choices, we hope to test and compare greywater
recipes that use “environmentally friendly” detergents with recipes of “environmentally-
unfriendly” consumer products. These synthetic greywaters will be evaluated both
chemically and biologically.
Supplemental Keywords: Water, physical and biological integrity of the systems,
improvements in water purification and distribution, water conservation, sustainable water
management, urban water planning, water
A. Summary of Phase I Results
Background and Problem Definition
Water is defined as a renewable resource; however, due to the exponential growth in human
population and subsequent increase in water demand, the availability of sustainable freshwater
sources is becoming increasingly limited (David Pimentel J. H., 1997). This water scarcity,
coupled with mankind’s climate vulnerabilities, has created water deficits affecting all levels of
society (Gleick, 2000). Addressing these hypercritical issues of water scarcity and water demand
necessitates the development of efficient water reuse technologies and more sustainable water
management practices (USGCRP, 2009). During Phase I, this project has focused on two
principle paths towards combing key applications to address this need for more sustainable water
practices: 1. Greywater recycling, 2. Incorporation of the solar, chemical free disinfection
processes. Both of these applications are in accord with current EPA and NSF guidelines, and are
expected to be an integral to future water management plans (EPA Region IX, 1998).
Given the historical dependent relationship between society and the availability of usable water,
the problems of water scarcity are at the crux of all growth and prosperity (Homer-Dixon, 1991).
By increasing the productivity of one unit of water, the results cascade across all sectors affected
by water scarcity; public health, the industries of energy and food production, as well as issues of
civil stability and security (Homer-Dixon, 1991) (David Pimentel J. H., 1997) (Gleick, 2000).
Historically, the benefits of creating more sustainable water use practices have had a positive
exponential effect, where access to water has always translated to prosperity. Without it,
populations are subject to disease, famine, war and collapse. (David Pimentel J. H., 1997).
In relation to people, prosperity and planet, the supplemental application of SODIS establishes
more efficient water use practices and conservation by:
Integrating water reuse / recycling
Dramatically reducing the amount of water each household will demand from their
municipal supplier, or well.
Reduction of potential DBP’s inadvertently created through chlorination.
While the issues of water scarcity and water demand are not new, recent stressor drought events
coupled with future population estimates have generated increased scrutiny into the efficacy of
current water management practices. With drought and other adverse climate events growing in
frequency, it’s becoming ever more important to increase the productivity of one unit of useable
water, while also reducing cost. When current trends of water use models are clear, combined
with expected population estimates, water scarcity will increasingly be defined by the
availability of sustainable water sources. At current levels of water use, increases in global
population will exponentially raise water demand beyond projected capacity. Given the
population increases expected worldwide, from 6.1B in 2000, to just under 10B by 2050, the
acquisition of sustainable water sources, will continue to be at the forefront of any responsible
water budget (EPA, 2010) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011). There are no indications that water
demand per capita will decline. Local solutions at point of use, such as water use efficiency and
water reuse, or recycling, “can satisfy most water demands, as long as it’s treated to ensure water
quality appropriate for use” (EPA Region IX, 1998). Incorporating greywater reuse at point of
primary use assuredly reduce demand upon municipal providers, while also empowering
individuals to institute more efficient water use behaviors.
By utilizing solar disinfection and greywater reuse for residential applications, water and
energy demand can be reduced, with substantial financial and water resource savings acquired.
Using a study of 1,188 homes, the 1999 American Water Works Association report, Residential
End Uses of Water, established a national household mean daily use of 409 gallons of water per
day (gpd), where 70 percent was used indoors, and 30 percent was used outdoors (Peter W.
Mayer and William B, 1999). Nationwide the indoor use remains relatively steady at 26.7
percent, with 76.44gpd going towards toilet flushing. As residential greywater represents all
waste water generated by a household excluding the toilet, a greywater reuse system could
recover an average of 209.86gpd. This volume covers the mean 199.14gpd of residential water
demand required for toilet and irrigation, which could be sourced by greywater reuse instead of a
municipal water source. That’s an average of 76 thousand gallons a year, per household (Peter
W. Mayer and William B, 1999).
Phase I also begins to illustrate some of the other benefits of the passive disinfection process
beyond volume. While conventional disinfection methods of chlorination, UV light bulbs, and
ozone all require extensive amounts of energy to perform, SODIS, which uses the sun as its
source of energy, does not. Therefore the benefits of SODIS go beyond reducing water demand,
while also lowering the energy and chemical demand required by the generation of potable
municipal water. Also, there are over 500 known disinfection by-products (DBPs )created
through chlorination, some of which have been found to have carcinogenic properties (EPA,
2012) (PCP, 2008-2009). Supplemental use of solar disinfection would, by substitution, lower
the detrimental health risks associated with DBPs (PCP, 2008-2009).
Purpose, Objective and Scope
Purpose: To expand established known limitations of the solar disinfection method as applied
to residential greywater. The water being treated is equivalent to greywater of a single family
home and is ideally representative of all the greywater which would be collected from showers,
bathtubs, hand washing lavatories, clothes washing machines, etc. Our approach for testing will
be microbial analysis of greywater, before, during, and after solar disinfection treatments. The
total microbial loading will be tested following procedures outlined in the National Primary
Drinking Water Regulations (EPA, 2009) and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water
and Wastewater (2012).
Data, Findings, Outputs/Outcomes
The research team’s primary focus for Phase 1 was to improve time efficacy, and push volume
restrictions of the solar disinfection method of residential greywater.
Phase I Objectives and Predictions from Original Proposal
1. Objective 1: Fabricate disinfection vessels which replicate current capacity constraints of
the SODIS solar disinfection method.
Actual Accomplishment: ACC S-STEM students satisfied Objective 1 to fabricate
vessels which replicate current capacity constraints of the SODIS method. Students
performed a comparative analysis on two test vessel materials: acrylic and borosilicate
glass. Both test vessels met and exceeded current capacity constraints of SODIS.
2. Objective 2: Assess data after the first round of tests is conducted for each design;
conduct instructor consultations and incorporate their feedback, and; consider design
changes and the possible elimination of the weakest performing design.
Actual Accomplishment: ACC S-STEM students satisfied criteria outlined in Objective
2. Five vessel prototype designs were developed, and as of the writing of this report,
testing and experiments were performed on three. Additionally, five solar collector
designs were developed and fabricated. Comparative observations were made. As of the
writing of this report, a comparative experiment has been scheduled. Data and analysis
will be presented at the National Design Expo in April, 2015.
3. Objective 3: Make preparations for multiple assays to be run on the remaining vessel
designs for consistency (the final run of observations is intended to illuminate poorer
designs).
Actual Accomplishment: ACC S-STEM students satisfied criteria outlined in Objective
3. To date, each prototype design has the capacity to be ‘scaled up’ and expanded to
accommodate a larger volume of water without the use of energy or chemicals and with a
significant shorter exposure time than outlined in the SODIS standard.
Below are the summary reports that detail how objectives specified in the original proposal were
addressed and the outcomes/outputs that were successfully achieved.
Biotechnology
ACC S-STEM students focused efforts to develop a standardized synthetic greywater that could
maintain cell viability of laboratory E. coli bacteria. Students developed a recipe for synthetic
greywater by combining a standardized bath-greywater recipe that was published in a Clemson
University study with a laundry greywater that was compliant to ANSI-NSF standards.
(Christopher, D. 2012)(NSF. 2013). The final recipe incorporated the most common and popular
household brands of cleaning products and detergents sold in America for each ingredient listed
(Lilly, K. 2014). These recipes were made in concentrate and then combined and diluted as
needed to form the final useable greywater. The full recipe is detailed on the attached “Preparing
1 L of 10x concentrated “mixed-use” and “Laundry” greywater” SOP.
To improve clarity of synthetic greywater that meets the criteria outlined in the SODIS method
with turbidity level less than 30 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)(Anwendung. 2009).
Synthetic greywater solution was filtered through microfiber clothes. Filtration is a necessary
step for effective solar disinfection because any particulate matter can act as a shield against the
UV rays (Anwendung. 2009). Without filtration the time it takes for ultraviolet radiation to
disinfect the water will increase or not work at all if the particulate matter concentration is too
high. Since the end-user of a residential greywater treatment system might want to be able to
access easily-obtained filtration materials, microfiber cloth products were explored for their
ability to reduce greywater turbidity to the SODIS-specified 30 NTU levels. Microfiber cloths
sold for household cleaning was found to fit this requirement.
Escherichia coli (ATTC 25922) was used to test for solar disinfection, since this is only
microbe currently regulated by the City of Austin, Texas. Students observed that the synthetic
greywater solution had issues with maintaining cell viability when inoculated with low levels of
Escherichia coli. To remedy this, tests were performed to optimize the E. coli inoculation sizes
used for testing over the 6-hour period of solar exposure. A 2% inoculum was found to provide
a low background level of cell death following inoculation. Moreover, students adapted a strain
of E. coli that was more resistant to the chemicals synthesized in the greywater by routinely
subculturing this strain in 20% greywater. The final results showed that a 2.0% inoculation of E.
coli that survived the previous experiments was a good option for the testing of solar disinfection
of greywater. The final solution used in all subsequent testing was therefore a 50:50 mix of
laundry to bath greywater solutions inoculated with 2.0% E. coli.
The standard protocol for preparing the greywater-resistant E. coli for inoculation was as
follows. On the first day, an isolated E. coli colony is selected from a media plate and transferred
to a culture tube containing 10% filtered sterilized greywater and 90% tryptic soy broth (TSB).
The culture was shaken overnight at 32ºC at 180 rpm. During the second day the culture was
transferred to new culture tubes containing 20% filtered sterilized greywater and 80% TSB and
were shaken overnight at 32ºC at 180 rpm. On the final day the culture was transferred to a final
flask containing the amount of 20:80 greywater-TSB needed to achieve a 2% inoculation.
Optimal amount of greywater for culturing was devised by using a series of different greywater
to TSB concentrations at 2% E. coli inoculations with the A600 measured daily.
Experiment Data, Graphs and Analysis
Figure 5: Solar Disinfection results for 10% E.coli greywater
Results and Analysis of Experiment 1: The 0.5L borosilicate glass vessel in conjunction with the
12” parabolic trough high reflective solar collector in this experiment produced a 4 log reduction
in CFU/mL of E. Coli. (99%). The disinfection of Prototype 1 was more successful than the 3 L
and 0.5 L PET bottles that placed on a reflective surface according to the standard SODIS
method, which did not produce any decrease in CFU/mL when streaked. This first solar
prototype was used, along with a 3 L bottle control, to compare results from experimental runs
that followed, and the same pattern was observed under all circumstances: a rapid decline in E.
coli viability in the prototype, with little loss in dark controls, and substantially less loss of
viability in the light-treated 3L bottle.
Unfortunately, the 10% E. coli inoculum created a high turbidity in the greywater, resulting in a
2-log (99% disinfection) over a period of 6 hours in the sunlight.
Experiment 2:
Results and Analysis of Experiment 2: Experiment 2 tested a lower inoculation size of E. coli:
1% (v/v) in synthetic greywater. Unfortunately, this inoculatin rate resulted in a drastically-low
viability in the dark controls. Subsequent lab studies showed that pre-conditioning the E. coli
innocula in 20% filter-sterilized greywater in TSB and increasing the inoculation rate to 2% (v/v)
E. coli resulted in a more robust maintenance of cell viability in the dark.
Experiment 3:
Results and Analysis of Experiment 3: For Experiment 3, biotech students cultured a 2.0%
inoculation of greywater resistant E. coli in accordance from data analysis of experiment 2 and
intervening lab studies. The vessels were filled immediately after inoculation. The graph implies
a number of things. There is approximately a 90 minute time period observed for the E. coli to
acclimate to its environment, which is seen in both the initial dip and spike before the samples
even out. Also, the control samples not exposed to UV now either even out or continue to grow.
This implies that the E. coli samples are now able to live in the greywater and that it is the UV
treatment disinfection the water. Note, the original prototype of the 0.5 liter tube never has an
initial spike in E. coli growth. This suggests that the diameter of the test vessel may be one of
the most important factors of the effectiveness of UV treatment of greywater.
Figure 4: Solar Disinfection results for 2.0% E.coli greywater
This experiment was performed in near freezing temperatures on a very cold and windy day in
Texas, compared to the previous experimental runs. The log-6 (99.9999%) loss in E. coli
viability and a log-4 (99.99%) loss in the wider-diameter Prototype 2 vessels within 4 hours of
sunlight such sub-optimal conditions was very encouraging. This run also demonstrates that
ultraviolet radiation alone, without a synergistic effect of heating, can efficiently kill the
bacteria.
A more stable
initial culture
density might be
result from pre-
incubating the
synthetic
greywater for a
couple of hours
prior to loading
the
photobioreactor
prototypes in
subsequent
experimental
runs. This may
lead to results that
are easier to interpret and to estimate how long it takes for the UV treatment to begin working.
Also, although the initial growth spike appears to be higher in glass than in acrylic, the amount
of time t to reach a 99% kill rate is approximately the same. The glass material appeared to
weather the elements and handling better, as the acrylic material quickly sustained several
scratches of unknown origin. This knowledge, combined with the sustainability factors of glass
vs acrylic, has led to a decision to discontinue use of expensive acrylic models for more eco-
friendly and inexpensive glass models.
There are two additional experiments planned after the submission of this report. The first one is
scheduled for Friday, March 13, in which comparisons will be made between the shape of the
parabolic solar collectors and the intensity of the reflective linings. The goal of this experiment
will be to standardize the shape and the reflective surface of all experiments in the future. The
second experiment will be on Friday, March 27 and will involve upscaling of the current models
to larger vessel size. The purpose of this experiment will be to test the increase in diameter of
test vessels. During this experiment two vessels of different diameter of borosilicate glass will be
compared to determine if future models need to focus on larger volume vessels or on multiple
Figure 5: Temperature Time Series Experiment 3
thinner vessels connected using modular assembly methods. The effects of increased vessel
diameters and relative sizing of the solar collectors remain to be examined, but is on the agenda
for completing this research project.
Design Optimization and Fabrication
Prototype 1
Borosilicate glass was chosen as the material for Test
Vessel 1. Borosilicate glass is a type of glass with silica
and boron trioxide as the main glass-forming constituents.
Borosilicate glass has a low coefficient of thermal
expansion (~3 × 10−6 /°C at 20 °C), making it resistant to
thermal shock (Borosilicate Glass. (2005). Additionally,
borosilicate glass allows for UV-A (wavelength 320–400
nm) transmission (Varnakavi, N. 2012), making it the
optimal choice of material for the vessels in The
Evaluation and Expansion of the Solar Disinfection
Method of Residential Greywater project. UV-A solar irradiation can inactivate water borne
microorganisms therefore, selection of a material for test vessels that allows for this wavelength
of the ultraviolet spectrum is necessary to achieve optimal results. Test vessel 1 had an outside
diameter of 32.6mm and tube length of 1053mm. The borosilicate glass tube was suspended in a
semi-circular trough (solar collector) with a high-reflective lining of aluminum. The Design
Optimization and Fabrication team used a schedule 40 pvc pipe that was sliced horizontally to
fabricate the solar collector. The shiny side of aluminum foil was used as the lining to make the
interior surface of the solar collector reflective. The width of the solar collector was 6 inches.
The borosilicate glass tube was suspended inside of the solar collector with small pieces of
acrylic to maximize the amount of ultraviolet light penetration. The point at which solar rays
meet after reflection is known as the focal point. This point can be found in a semi-circular
reflective trough with the equation , with r being the radius of the trough.
The frame of the solar collector and test vessel, also referred to as the ‘cradle’, was constructed
out of typical A36 carbon steel and was welded to create a sturdy frame. The frame design was
constructed so that the solar collector would be at the correct geographic latitudinal angle to the
sun, to maximize solar efficiency. Austin, Texas is located at 30.2500° N, so the correct angle for
the solar collector would be 30 degrees.
Figure 6: Prototype 1
It was recommended that the next experiment involve duplicate versions of every model being
tested with one of each model not being exposed to light. Because of time constraints and
necessity to generate data, the Design Optimization and Fabrication team chose to expand
volume size of the test vessels and also agreed with the Biotech team that more controls were
needed for the next experiment to justify results. Additionally, The Design Optimization and
Fabrication team wanted to determine if borosilicate glass was truly the best material to achieve
maximum results in solar disinfection of greywater. It was decided that Experiment 2 would also
be a simultaneous comparative study and analysis of borosilicate glass to Acrylite® brand acrylic
tubing.
Prototypes 2-A & 2-G
Prototypes 2-A and 2-G were essentially the same design, however the test vessels were of
different materials; Borosilicate glass and Acrylite® brand acrylic. Prototype 2-G consisted of a
test vessel made of borosilicate glass. It was determined that the volume of greywater for
Experiment 2 would be increased to 3L. The borosilicate glass test vessel for Prototype 2-G had
an outside diameter of 80mm and a length of 882mm. The Acrylite® brand acrylic test vessel
for Prototype 2-A had an outside diameter of 110mm and a length of 1500mm.
Figure 7 Prototypes 2 and 3 Borosilicate Glass
And Acrylic Tube Test Vessels
Analysis of Biotech Report: Data suggests that there is a correlation in the diameter of each
vessel and the initial spike of E. coli during experiment. Biotech students hypothesize that once
the diameter of the disinfection vessel reaches a threshold, it takes longer for solar disinfection to
begin working. One of the objectives of the Design Optimization and Fabrication team is to
determine the threshold diameter at which solar disinfection becomes ineffective. This diameter
threshold will take into account the focal point of the solar collector to maximize UV-A
penetration. The comparison analysis of borosilicate glass vs. UV transmissive Acrylite®
acrylic was found to be negligible. Given the petroleum based manufacturing methods of acrylic,
the Design Optimization and Fabrication team has opted to use eco-friendly borosilicate glass for
future studies.
Experiment 4 is scheduled for March 13, 2015. It will consist of 4 prototypes of 0.5L borosilicate
test vessels for each solar collector design. Data, Graphs and comparative analysis are pending
and will be available for presentation at the P3 National Sustainable Design Expo in Washington.
SOP for Prototypes 1, 2-A & 2-G can be found here. (Lilly, K. 2015).
Discussion, Conclusions, Recommendations
We postulate the evaluation and expansion of the solar disinfection of water will yield benefits
worldwide across all demographics of economic standing. The combined reduction of water
demand and increased productivity of a single unit of water will open opportunity to further
human growth, provide stability in public health and usher in fundamental changes to water
practices of consumer end-users. Current modern systems of water management are inefficient.
They waste water, energy, and money by not matching the quality of water to its applied use.
Appropriately matching water-quality to water-need will allow for the reuse of greywater to
become a more accepted process, where the use of potable water in non-potable applications like
toilet flushing and landscaping to become obsolete. As a key strategy for reducing demand, the
implementation of the solar disinfection of greywater is an important strategy and will help to
provide more sustainable water management practices. This study proves that inexpensive
materials can be configured to safely, rapidly, and efficiently disinfect greywater. Depending on
diameter sizes of the greywater vessel, the sizes of the solar collector, and the reflectivities of the
solar harvesting surfaces, a greater than 4-log (99.99%) loss in viability of E. coli in less than 4
hours can be achieved. This kill-rate meets regulated standards for E. coli loads, based on
bacterial loadings of household greywater being reported in the literature. The advantages of
low energy-intensity and low-toxicity of this treatment system shows promise for use in the
marketplace for reuse of household greywater for residential irrigation of landscapes and
gardens.
To the betterment of both human prosperity and the planet, the benefits of the solar disinfection
method of greywater spread beyond economic concerns and into environmental and qualitative
value by reducing the demand for the conventional disinfection processes currently required by
the production of high-quality potable water. The supplemental application of the solar
disinfection method of greywater will not eliminate the use of chlorination; however, the
subsequent reduction in chemical demand will lessen the inadvertent introduction of DBP’s into
the environment.
Recommendations:
Better public information and awareness of the opportunities, benefits and risks associated with
greywater will be necessary to expand greywater reuse.
Further study is recommended into the long term effects of conventional cleaning products in use
with a residential greywater irrigation systems.
Assurance that research misconduct has not occurred during the reporting period In an effort to expand scientific knowledge, improve the public-well being and to conserve
limited resources, the 2014-2015 Austin Community College S-STEM research team has
accepted federal funding in good faith, to pursue the call of scientific query. We affirm our
process has been transparent, impartial and conducted with the highest integrity and ethical
considerations. The ACC S-STEM research team is committed to responsible and ethical
research conduct and practices, and assures that no research misconduct has occurred during the
reporting period to include but not limited to: fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in
proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.
B. Proposal for Phase II
P3 Phase II Project Description
Project Description, Novelty and Evaluation
The expansion of the solar disinfection method of residential greywater can have a significant
impact on water consumption and conservation efforts here in the United States. This technique
can be applied to many areas spanning the full range of social and economic demographics. As
this technology was initially developed in parts of the world where drinking water is scarce,
(Simon Dejung, M. W. 2007) new developments can only create additional prospects for
greywater reuse. The research team hopes to show that with proper disinfection, the collection
sources and reuse options for collected residential greywater can be expanded. If successful in
creating an energy and chemical free method of disinfecting residential greywater, the costs of
collecting, treating and reusing this reclaimed water will reduce. In turn, the average household’s
demand from aquifers, surface water, and local municipal sources will lessen, and will ideally
expand EPA and state codes regarding collection/reuse (Simon Dejung, 2007). Current
residential greywater treatment and disinfection systems can be supplemented and improved by
our expanded solar disinfection research and successful prototypes and designs, which will
reduce energy and chemical demand. Ultimately, providing improvements in water reuse for the
home will greatly reduce overall water waste.
Proposed Phase II Objectives and Strategies:
A. Continuation of current research models focused on the expansion of the volume of water
that test vessels can successfully treat and the reduction of exposure time to achieve
disinfection.
B. In addition to expanding the volume and improving the efficiency of our solar system, we
would like to develop a fully-operational prototype that is ready for residential household
use. Further study is needed to determine the design of:
a. Pre- disinfection storage tanks
b. Pre- and post-treatment/filtration
c. The configuration needed to maximize gravity feed of the treatment system
d. Irrigation systems that are best compatible with solar disinfection and volume of
treated water
e. The operation control design for automating the filling and emptying of vessels in
response to light intensity.
f. A dye that will photo bleach at the same rate of ultra-violet disinfection. This dye
would be environmentally friendly, and by use of a comparator, the homeowner
would be able to tell if greywater has been sufficiently treated.
g. Finally, the design must not only be aesthetically pleasing to a homeowner, it
must be robust enough that it can operate with a minimum of maintenance. We
hope to partner with local companies in the area who support sustainability.
h. The S-STEM team would also like to expand our large-volume and rapid method
of solar disinfection into other applications such as in sanitation of rainwater
collection systems for drinking water. We hope to partner with local companies in
the area who support sustainability who has also have an interest in being able to
commercialize our design product to replace energy consumptive and chemical
dependent treatments currently in use for sanitizing rainwater.
C. Consumers using greywater treatment systems will likely not only become more aware of
their water usage, but will also become more concerned about their contribution of
ecologically disruptive components into their environment. We hope to bring awareness
to the consumer of the impact that their selections of cleaning products and detergents
have on the quality of the water being treated by our solar disinfection system. In an
effort to promote educated consumer choices, we hope to test and compare greywater
recipes that use “environmentally friendly” detergents with recipes of “environmentally-
unfriendly” consumer products. These synthetic greywaters will be evaluated both
chemically and biologically.
The Public Health and Safety Organization and the National Science Foundation have published
guidelines (NSF/ANSI Standard 350 and 350-1) to establish material, design, construction and
performance requirements for onsite residential and commercial water reuse treatment systems.
They have also set water quality requirements for the reduction of chemical and microbiological
contaminants for non-potable water use. S-STEM students will strictly adhere to these guidelines
and parameters set forth by these agencies and supported by the E.P.A. (Environmental
Protection Agency) to ensure the safety of public health. Greywater treated by prototype designs
for solar disinfection will also meet the Standard 350 effluent criteria in order to sustain the
natural resources of the planet and will additionally utilize F.D.A. (Food and Drug
Administration U.S.) approved materials in the construction of all prototypes and storage
equipment and tanks. Following these guidelines will provide a consistent method and measure
of performance and compliance for the final design of the residential greywater solar disinfection
unit.
Quality Assurance Statement ACC S-STEM students are strongly committed to the application of sound scientific principles in
its analyses, and the production of quality and environmentally protective prototypes with sound
engineering design in the Evaluation and Expansion of the Solar Disinfection Method of
Residential Greywater. All data collection methods will adhere to procedures outlined in the
EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans EPA QA/R-5 (EPA, 2001). All sample
designs will adhere to procedures outlined in the EPA Guidance on Choosing a Sampling Design
for Environmental Data Collection EPA QA/G-5S (EPA, 2002).
Project Schedule Months 1 – 6 (August 2015 – January 2016)
Ordering of all supplies, equipment and tools listed for Year 1 on Budget Justification worksheet.
Continue research, design and expansion of solar disinfection test vessels and collectors until
disinfection of a 25 gallon vessel is achieved.
Design Optimization and Fabrication team will develop 2 modular design concepts for a ‘turn-
key’ residential system.
Automation team will design concept ideas for the automated/operational filling and emptying of
test vessels that can be immediately utilized in scaled up prototypes for testing and analysis.
Biotech team will continue to test and analyze data from test vessels to determine if disinfection
of residential greywater has been achieved and to make recommendations on parameters that
need to be adjusted in solar disinfection design to improve volume constraints and decrease
disinfection time.
Biotech team will begin research, testing and analysis of a photo bleaching dye that will facilitate
end consumer in determining if disinfection of residential greywater has been achieved.
Months 6 – 12 (February 2016 – July 2016)
Design Optimization and Fabrication team will begin to build out first modular disinfection
system capable of processing a volume of 25 gallons of residential greywater per day.
Automation team will integrate automated/operational design so that modular disinfection system
can operate without user control.
Biotech team will continue to test and analyze data from solar disinfection systems to determine
system’s capabilities to achieve disinfection of residential greywater. The biotech team will
continue to make recommendations on parameters that need to be adjusted in solar disinfection
design to improve volume constraints and to decrease disinfection time.
Biotech team will continue research efforts in developing a photo bleaching dye and will test
developed products in lab and in field.
Months 12 – 18 (August 2016 – January 2017)
Ordering of all supplies, equipment and tools listed for Year 2 on Budget Justification worksheet.
Design Optimization and Fabrication team will begin to build out second modular disinfection
system capable of processing of volume minimum of 25 gallons of residential greywater per day
based on success/failure analysis of first modular disinfection system that can be utilized
anywhere in the contiguous United States based on geographic latitude.
A comparative analysis will be performed testing the durability, lifecycle and weight loads
between borosilicate glass and acrylic for larger scaled residential systems.
Fabrication team will develop a solar disinfection system capable of being mass produced.
CAD (Computer Animated Drawing) schematics will be designed and a solar disinfection unit
base will be laser cut out of foam.
A wax mold will be constructed for a fiberglass base that can be mass produced.
Fiberglass base will be integrated into second modular disinfection system.
Biotech team will continue to test and analyze data from solar disinfection systems capabilities to
achieve disinfection of residential greywater, and continue to make recommendations on
parameters that need to be adjusted in solar disinfection design to improve volume constraints and
to decrease disinfection time.
Biotech team will continue research efforts in developing a photo bleaching dye and will test
developed products in lab and in field.
Biotech team will begin comparative analysis of greywater recipes that are environmentally
friendly against recipes of conventional and popular environmentally “unfriendly” products.
These synthetic greywaters will be evaluated both chemically and biologically. Results will be
published.
Months 18 – 24 (February 2017 – July 2017)
Team final and official reports on all prototype designs (biologic and engineering), data, findings,
outcomes/outputs, presentations, and partnerships will be generated with accompanying
schematics, SOP’s, graphical data and publications.
Teams will prepare to present in Washington at the National Sustainable Design Expo in April.
EPA Human Subjects Research Statement The proposed research does not involve human subjects.” All research is being conducted on
types of SODIS disinfection vessels created by Biotechnology and Environmental Science
students enrolled at Austin Community College District (ACC).
C. References
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Attachments
Preparation of 1 L of 10x concentrated “mixed-use” and
“Laundry” greywater
Title: Preparing 1 L of 10x concentrated “mixed-use” and “Laundry” greywater
Institution: Austin Community college
Prepared by: Revision Number: 002
Scope and Application
The purpose of this SOP is to give instruction in the creation of 1 liter of concentrated synthetic greywater
Summary of Method
Dissolve substances in minimal Deionized water and stir to dissolve. Then use deionized water to bring each solution to a final volume of 1 L. When needed mix solutions 50:50 and add 18 liters of tap water for a final volume of 20 liters.
Materials Required
Mixed Use Greywater
Colgate Fluoride – Regular Gillette Endurance
Test Dust Commet with Bleach
Head and Shoulders 2 in 1
Dove Shea Butter Softsoat, Antibacterial Deionized (DI) water
Laundry Greywater
All (2x) or Tide (2x) NaHCO3
Na2PO4
(NH4)2SO4
Equipment Required
1 L Beaker Graduated Cylinders
Funnels
pH meter and buffers with HCl and NaOH
Stir Bars and Plates
Weight Boats
Container that can be autoclaved
Protocol
Protocol Experimental Data
Mixed Use Greywater
1. Measure out the following ingredients and place them into a beaker containing 0.5 L of DI water
a. 0.30g Colgate Fluoride Regular b. 0.20 Gillette Endurance c. 1.00g Test Dust d. 1.90g Head and Shoulders 2 in 1 e. 3.00g Dove Shea Butter f. 2.30g Softsoap, Antibacterial g. 1.00g Comet with Bleach h. 0.30g Lactic Acid
2. Stir to dissolve. Add more water if necessary but do not go over 1 liter.
3. Use a calibrated pH meter and HCl and NaOH to bring the solution to 7.4 pH
4. Transfer the contents of the beaker to a 1 L graduated cylinder and bring to volume with DI water.
5. Transfer to a labeled container and autoclave to sterilize.
6. Hold until ready to use.
Laundry Greywater
7. Measure out the following ingredients and place them into a beaker containing 0.5 L of DI water a. 4.00 mL All (2x) or Tide (2x) b. 0.20g NaHCO3 c. 0.40g Na2PO4 d. 0.40g (NH4)2PO4 8. Stir to dissolve. Add more water if necessary but do not go over 1 liter.
9. Use a calibrated pH meter and HCl and NaOH to bring the solution to 7.4 pH
10. Transfer the contents of the beaker to a 1 L graduated cylinder and bring to volume with DI water.
11. Transfer to a labeled container and autoclave to sterilize.
12. Hold until ready to use.
Mixing Greywater For Use
1. Mix the “mixed use” and laundry greywater 50:50.
2. Add enough tap water so that the 50:50 greywater mix is 10% of the final volume. Show calculations on the right.
3. Use within 3 days.
Budget
The proposed budget for Phase II development of The Evaluation and Expansion of the Solar
Disinfection Method of Residential greywater is as follows:
Construction Supplies - $22,450.00
Custom Fiberglass Fabrication - $8,500.00
Automation and Robotic Supplies - $4,920.00
Analytical Products - $21,455.30
Travel - $10,504.00
Indirect Cost @ 10% - $6,782.93
Total - $74,612.23
The design of a residential ‘turn-key’ greywater disinfection system will require pre and post-
treated greywater storage, plumbing, fittings, and method/systems of treated water for
irrigational purposes. Operational/automation control designs will facilitate the filling and
emptying of treatment vessels and eliminate consumer operating error by automating correct
geographic latitudinal angle. Automated sensors will also ensure public safety by ensuring that
an influx of influent greywater is re-directed to appropriate systems.
Finally, this system will need to be engineered and designed at a level that would support mass
production and consumer friendly installation and monitoring, while maintaining a physically
aesthetic and unobtrusive presence.
Instrument kits and analytical products will be used to monitor water quality and microbial
parameters in laboratory setting. These products will determine whether conditions are favorable
for microbial growth and/or if disinfection has been achieved in laboratory and field testing.
Reagents will help calibrate probes and provide standards for the colorimetric assays.
The Budget Justification is in accordance with OMB-approved form SF-424A is itemized in the
Budget Justification.
Budget Justification
Budget Categories Year 1 Year 2 Total
Construction Supplies
Aluminum/Galvanized Tin Sheets and reflective materials $1,250.00 $1,250.00 $2,500.00
Hardware: Nuts, bolts, clamps, quick connect fittings, food grade gaskets, food grade hosing, food grade tubing, couplings, reducers and extenders, mounting hardware, spigots, shut-off valves, supply lines, screws, adhesive, mirrored film $500.00 $250.00 $750.00
Construction Tools: Propane torch, tongue and groove pliers, hacksaw, metal file, basin wrench, pipe wrench, hand auger, adjustable wrench, tubing cutter, blades, drill, drill bits, sanding material, wood clamps, hosing C-clamps, bracing and brackets $500.00 $500.00
FDA approved Water Storage Tanks - 25 gallons - 4 @ $500.00 each $2,000.00 $2,000.00
Borosilicate Glass Products (Custom order: minimum 0.5 ton melt glass) $2,500.00 $5,000.00 $7,500.00
Acrylite® acrylic tubes $500.00 $500.00 $1,000.00
Lumber (Structural systems support) $500.00 $500.00 $1,000.00
Warehouse Storage Rental @ $300.00 per month $3,600.00 $3,600.00 $7,200.00
Total $11,350.00 $11,100.00 $22,450.00
Custom Fiberglass Fabrication
CAD Laser cut foam mold $1,500.00 $1,500.00
Custom Wax mold Pour (Resin Coat, Seal, Wax and Tooling Gel, Laminate) $3,500.00 $3,500.00
Fiberglass pour (20 Units) $3,500.00 $3,500.00
Total $8,500.00 $8,500.00
Automation and Robotic Supplies
Microcontroller Board (Arduino and compatible) @ 75.00 each $150.00 $150.00 $300.00
Direct Drive (Pan and Tilt) SPT200 Direct Drive Pan & Tilt System @ $50.00 each $100.00 $100.00 $200.00
Water Sensor Kits (Temp/FLow) @ $50.00 each $100.00 $100.00 $200.00
DFRobot Wireless Programming Module for Arduino @ $110.00 each $220.00 $220.00 $440.00
Digital Linear Actuator (2in) Heavy Duty 115 lbs. @ 250.00 each $500.00 $500.00 $1,000.00
Circuit Board - Snap Circuits Extreme 750-in-1 Kit w/Computer Interface @ $100.00 each $200.00 $200.00 $400.00
Tamiya Planetary Gear Box @ $20.00 each $40.00 $40.00 $80.00
Various Mechanical Parts (Spacers, bars, screws, gear mounts, motor mounts, acrylic enclosures for microcontrollers, cables, guide rails, bearings, clamps, adapters, tracks, sprockets, pulleys) $475.00 $475.00 $950.00
Laptop (for Programming) Toshiba 15.6" Satellite C55D-B5319 Laptop PC with AMD E1-2100 Processor, 4GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive and Windows 8.1 $250.00 $250.00
400W solar power unit with 1500W power inverter and 12V battery for field-testing prototypes $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Educational Materials/ Necessary Software $100.00 $100.00
Total $3,135.00 $1,785.00 $4,920.00
Analytical Products
Reagent, supplies for mulitmeter (glassware, reagent kits, calibration kits), L-Spreaders $2,400.00 $2,400.00 $4,800.00
Microbiological Growth Media, TSA @ $350.00 each and TSB Powder , $700.00 $700.00 $1,400.00
Vernier LabQuest2 analytical instrument with Optical DO Probe, SpectraVis spectrophotometer/fluorimeter, CO2 sensor, temperature probe, pH meter, and software for field-testing prototypes @ $2700 per pkg $5,400.00 $5,400.00
Petri Dishes 35x10 mm, case @ $250.00 each $500.00 $500.00 $1,000.00
Plastic Cuvettes (UV-VIS) $200.00 $200.00 $400.00
Water Purification Filter DIY Kit Ceramic Carbon Silver Impregnated 4x4 in. @ $50.00 each $500.00
$800.00
$1,300.00
Portable Incubators/Cooler @ 679.00 each $1,358.00 $1,358.00
Escherichia coli lyophilized cells @ 245.00 each $490.00 $490.00 $980.00
Phosphate Buffered Saline @ $100.50 $201.00 $201.00 $402.00
Pipettes @ $119.70 each $239.40 $239.40 $478.80
Coliscan EZ-gel 10 sets or more - $21.05 per set $210.50 $210.50 $421.00
Eppendorf Easypet 3 (2) @ $458.00 $916.00 $916.00
Hannah Combo pH/EC/TDS/Temp Tester $199.50 $199.50
Analytical Standard Pigment @ ~$100.00 each $500.00 $500.00 $1,000.00
Organic Extraction Solvents $500.00 $500.00 $1,000.00
Solvent Safe Pipette tips $200.00 $200.00 $400.00
Total $14,514.40 $6,940.90 $21,455.30
Travel
Travel to the National Sustainable Design Expo: Hotel: 8 people at 200/night x 3 nights = $4800.00; Airfare: 8 people x $500.00 roundtrip = $4000.00; Per Diem: 8 people x $46/dy x 3 = $1104.00
$9,904.00 $9,904.00
Local Travel $600.00 $600.00
Total $10,504.00 $10,504.00
Total Direct Costs $67,829.30
Total Indirect Costs @ 10% $6,782.93
Total Grant Request $74,612.23
Relevance and Past Performance
Relevance to EPA
“Water research conducted at the EPA provides the science and tools necessary to develop
sustainable solutions to 21st century water resource problems, ensuring water quality and
availability in order to protect human and ecosystem health” (E.P.A. 2014. Water Research).
The research and development of The Evaluation and Expansion of Solar Disinfection Method to
Treat Residential Greywater affords a viable and economical solution to current water
availability issues that affect the majority of the U.S. today.
There is a growing demand for safe, reliable, and cost-effective reclaimed wastewater in the
U.S. (E.P.A. 2014. Water Research) The decrease of water demand and increased productivity
of a single unit of water, will provide insurance for future water availability and guide necessary
changes to consumer water practices spanning a full range of demographics.
Solar disinfection can also further the goals set forth by the E.P.A. of pollution control and
prevention by reducing the need for the use of chlorine in residential greywater disinfection
processes. This will reduce water disinfection byproducts from the environment.
Past Performance of the Principal Investigator:
There is no prior past performance information and/or reporting history that exists for principal
investigators, Dr. Patricia Phelps or Dr. George Staff.
Resumes
Dr. Patricia Phelps
Kristine Lilly
Student Bios
Ben Jeffries is a student at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. Ben is
slated to graduate in 2016 with an A.A.S. in Environmental Science/Technology. He
currently works for the United States Geological Survey as a Hydrologic Technician
under the Department of Interior’s Student Career Pathways program. Honors and
Awards: Lead student investigator and author of the E.P.A. Project P3 - Grant: #SU
835926 Evaluation and Expansion of Solar Disinfection Method of Residential
Greywater. Current License held as C-Class Wastewater Operator TCEQ#
WW0044287. Participant: CCURI National Poster Session, Washington, D.C. Hart
Senate Building, Oct 2014. Awarded for his authorship and presentation of the pilot
study, Insect Biodiversity Loss Due To Automobile Impact. NSF Grant # NSF
1118679. He is devoted towards issues of water quality, watershed analysis and
environmental concerns. He currently volunteers for the USGS Green Team and stream cleanup events.
G.P. Selvaggio is a student at Austin Community College, in Austin, Texas.
G.P. moved to Texas from Los Angeles, California, and began study at ACC to
complete his Physics and Calculus sequences. He plans to transfer to the Cockrell
School of Engineering at the University of Texas in the fall of 2015. G.P. has
functioned as the Team Leader of Fabrication and Design Optimization for the EPA
P3 Project Grant: #SU 835926 Evaluation and Expansion of Solar Disinfection
Method of Residential Greywater. G.P. volunteers as an Algebra tutor for
underprivileged high-school students, and speaks at schools around Austin
regarding drug and alcohol awareness.
Kevin Strickland is a biotechnology student at Austin Community College
located in Austin, Texas. Kevin is currently focusing on various undergraduate research
projects before his expected graduation date in summer 2015. Kevin is currently the
lead of the biotechnology team of the EPA-sponsored undergraduate research project
involving the solar disinfection of greywater for reuse in residential irrigation. This
research will be presented at the EPA P3 National Sustainable Design Expo in
Washington D.C. later this year. Kevin plans to use his scientific background to gain
entrance to graduate school for Microbiology in the fall of 2016.
Jered Staton is a second year student at Austin Community College (ACC) in
Austin, Tx. Jered will be transferring to a four year university in the fall of 2015 to
pursue a degree in Civil Engineering. Jered was awarded the S-STEM scholarship in
the fall of 2014 and is currently working with fellow students on a sustainability
project. As a former welder and materials enthusiast Jered was selected to join the
Optimization/Fabrication team. As a member of this team he has an opportunity to
offer his knowledge of materials and construction in order to build an ideal
prototype. Jered served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps prior to
returning to school in the pursuit of a second bachelor’s degree. Using skills
obtained through military experience Jered has been able to effectively manage his
team in order to meet all deadlines set forth by project administration. While not in
class or working on the project, Jered serves as an intern for the Texas Commission
of Environmental Quality’s Water Department and as a Math and Physics tutor at
ACC’s learning lab during weekend days.
Kristine Lilly is a student at Austin Community College located in Austin, Texas.
Kristine is majoring in Environmental Science and is slated to graduate in 2015 with
an A.S. and A.A.S. in Environmental Science/Technology. She currently works for
Austin Community College as the S - STEM Project Manager and Student
Coordinator for E.P.A. Project P3 - Grant: #SU 835926 Evaluation and Expansion of
Solar Disinfection Method of Residential Greywater. She has also worked as a tutor at
Austin Community College helping students in the areas of Geographic Information
Systems, College Algebra and Speech - Public Speaking. Honors and
Awards: President's Honor Roll 2011 - Present, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society 2011
- Present, S.T.E.M. Scholarship Recipient 2012 - 2014 and Women's Independent
Scholarship Program Recipient (W.I.S.P.) 2011 - 2014. Kristine currently volunteers
for the LCRA River Watch program by providing water quality analysis on the
Colorado River monthly. Her work helps to ensure water quality along the Colorado
River in the State of Texas. She is a member of the Sierra Club - Lone Star Chapter
and the Coastal Conservation Association - Aransas Bay Chapter.
Caitlyn Lankford is a full-time 3rd year student attending Austin Community
College (ACC) located in Austin, Texas. She will be graduating from ACC with an
Associate’s degree in Engineering in the fall of 2016. Caitlyn plans to continue her
education at a four year university where she will eventually work towards a Master’s
degree in Biomedical Engineering. She was awarded the opportunity to be a part of the
S-STEM scholarship project where she is currently a part of the Biotech team. Caitlyn is
also on the President’s Honor Roll at ACC where she has earned and maintained a 4.0
GPA, while also raising her three year old son, Aiden. She is inspired by nature and the
biology of various organisms, and she hopes to translate her observations and
conclusions in ways that can help people.
Chynna Spangle is a student at Austin Community College (ACC) in Austin, Texas.
She is a Geology Major and works as a Lab/Administrative Assistant for the Geology
Department at ACC. She also dedicates many hours as the Vice-President of ACC’s
Geology Club. Chynna is passionate about getting girls involved in STEM fields, and is
an S-STEM scholarship recipient. Chynna plans to transfer to the Jackson School of
Geosciences at UT Austin in Spring 2015. She will likely go into Sedimentology or
Petroleum Geology. Chynna is also working on a GIS (Geographic Information
Systems) certificate. She is dedicated to her two year old son. When not involved with
parenting and academia, Chynna spends her free time drawing stratigraphic columns and
hunting for fossils. She is also a devout fencer.
Andrea Gonzalez is an undergraduate student at Austin Community College in
Austin, Texas. Her major Engineering and her expected graduation date is spring 2016.
She plans to transfer to the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a bachelor’s degree
in Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering. Andrea was awarded the S-
STEM scholarship in January 2015 and works on the biotech team. She anticipates
induction into Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society this semester. Andrea enjoys nature
and works to protect our natural resources.
Elizabeth Savercool is a third year, full time student attending Austin Community
College (ACC) in Austin, TX. She will be graduating from ACC in the spring of 2016
with an Associate's degree in Physics. She will transfer to a four year university to pursue
a PhD in Physics. Elizabeth was awarded the S-Stem scholarship and is currently working
with her fellow scholarship recipients on a sustainability project. She is on the Design
Optimization/Fabrication team. She is an officer in ACC's Society of Physics Students
organization, and a member of ACC's American Chemical Society. She currently works as
a registered nurse for a pediatric home health agency and is raising a teenage daughter.
She is inspired by the dynamic field of Physics and its infinite possibilities.
Kelli Kathleen Boydston is a student at Austin Community College located in
Austin, Texas. She is majoring in Geology and is graduating with an A.A.S. in Spring
2016. Kelli also plans on furthering her education at the University of Texas at Austin,
also majoring in Geology. She is involved in the Public Communications/ Technical
Writing area of the S-STEM scholarship project. Kelli has enjoyed spending time
volunteering throughout her years at Austin Community College while being a member of
Phi Theta Kappa. She is happiest being with her two children, reading, studying, and
being outdoors.
Mariah Farrar is from Dallas, Texas and is currently a sophomore at Austin
Community College in Austin, Texas. Mariah is majoring in Biotechnology and will be
transferring to the University of Texas at Austin - College of Natural Sciences in fall
2015. She is slated to graduate from the University of Texas in 2017. Mariah is a part of
the Biotech team in the S-STEM program and is also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa
Honor Society.
Michael Ryan Hixson is an engineering scholar at Austin Community College. He
will be graduating with an Associate of Science in Engineering (General) from ACC
during May of 2015. He is currently aspiring to graduate from ACC and transfer to the
University of Texas in continuation of his engineering education. Michael is part of the
Honors program as well as the local chapter of the honor society Alpha Gamma Pi. In
addition to his engineering curriculum, Michael provides supplemental instruction for
elementary algebra at ACC Cypress Creek. He also volunteers his problem solving skills
at Bridges to Growth in Georgetown, TX. Michael is Part of ACC’s Design and
Fabrication team that works to produce pro-environment solutions. He was born in
Austin, Texas and has lived and studied in many different parts of the U.S. including;
Los Angeles CA, Asheville NC, Glendale CA, and Las Vegas NV. He is happy to be
back home in Austin with the blessing of time, and the support of many people.
Michelle Lynne McGill is a student at Austin Community College in Austin,
Texas. Michelle hopes to graduate by the end of 2016 with an A.S. in Biotechnology.
Outside of class, Michelle enjoys reading, going to concerts/comedy shows and
spending time with her family.
Miranda Peterson is a full-time student at Austin Community College. She is
working toward an A.S. in Environmental Science and is slated to graduate in the fall of
2015. Miranda joined S-STEM at the end of 2014. Miranda has played a role in the
public communications and technical writing team for the P3 project regarding the solar
disinfection of residential greywater. Miranda has recently joined the ACC Geology
Club and is enjoying her school club. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking and the
outdoors. She looks forward to combining this passion and education towards a career
as a Park Ranger.
Thomas Thompson is a student at Austin Community College located in Austin,
Texas. Thomas is majoring in Environmental Science and is scheduled to graduate in
2015 with an A.A.S in Environmental Science/ Technology. He is an S-Stem
scholarship recipient working with the Public Communications and Technical Writing
team. Thomas has done volunteer work for the National Forest Service in Summit
County, Colorado and also enjoys volunteering with the Sustainable Food Center in
Austin, Texas.
Dylan J Reynolds is a student at Austin Community College located in Austin, Texas. Dylan is majoring in
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and is expected to graduate in 2016 with an A.S. in Engineering.
He is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and a member of the S-STEM research group. Dylan
was awarded the S-STEM scholarship in 2015 and is participating in the Evaluation and Expansion of Solar
Disinfection Method of Residential Greywater E.P.A. Project P3 - Grant: #SU 835926. He is part of the
Biotech Team which is a subgroup of the S-STEM project. His role contributes in data collection and analysis
which involves running experiments as well as analyzing and interpreting collected data.
Katy Jo Leatham is a sophomore student at Austin Community College located in Austin, Texas. Katy is
majoring in Civil Engineering and is projected to graduate in 2017 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Katy’s
area of concentration in the S-STEM group is data collection, analysis and graphing. Katy is a Phi Theta Kappa
member and also a Texas Real Estate agent with an interest in structural development.
Other Participating Students:
Emma Drueke
Christina Edgar
Samer Hasan
Stephanie Gage
Isabelle Jaimes
Joe Rodriguez
Michelle Lebeouf
Paul Newcomb
Matthew Schulze
Marcus Searle
Gretchen Smith
Josh Walden
Current and Pending Support
Confidentiality
By submitting an application in response to this solicitation Austin Community College District
grants EPA permission to make limited disclosures of the application to technical reviewers both
within and outside the Agency for the express purpose of assisting the Agency with evaluating
the application. Information from a pending or unsuccessful application will be kept confidential
to the fullest extent allowed under law; information from a successful application may be
publicly disclosed to the extent permitted by law.
