The Impact of Septic Systems on Long Island’s Aquifer: A...
Transcript of The Impact of Septic Systems on Long Island’s Aquifer: A...
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CandiceJ.Foley,Ph.D.SuffolkCountyCommunityCollege
SCCC-HelmsleyTeam:MargaretAltizer,NatalieNiemann,NinaLeonhardt,SeanTvelia,PeterMaritato,SharadhaSambasivan,TroyTucker,ElaineMerenda-NIHIRACDACAPSScholars:DominiqueWilliams,AngelaMigues
2018NCSCEScience&EngineeringforSocialGoodFebruary9-11,2018-GeorgiaTechUniversity
TheImpactofSepticSystemsonLongIsland’sAquifer:ACitizenScienceInterdisciplinaryStudy
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• NationalScienceFoundationScholarshipsforScience,Technology,Engineering,andMathematics(NSF-S-STEM)
• NationalScienceFoundationSFLouisStokesAlliancesforMinorityParticipation(NSF-LSAMP)
• HarryandLeonaHelmsleyCharitableTrustNYProject• ScienceEducationforNewCivicEngagementsandResponsibilities(NSF-
SENCER)andtheNationalCenterforScienceandCivicEngagement(NCSCE)
• InstitutionalResearchandAcademicCareerDevelopmentAwards-NewYorkConsortiumfortheAdvancementofPostdoctoralScholars(NIHIRACDA-NYCAPS)
• NationalScienceFoundationAdvancedTechnologicalEducation(NSF-ATE)
• NationalScienceFoundationImprovingUndergraduateSTEMEducation(NSFi-USE)
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PartnershipsandCollaborationsviaGrant-FundedInitiatives
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SENCER-NYPHelmsleyProjectatSuffolkCountyCommunityCollege
• Focus:IssuesaffectingLongIsland'swatersupplyandquality.• Drinkingwaterisdrawnfromasole-sourceaquifer
• Primarymeansofwastedisposalisthroughindividualcesspools/septictanksparticularlyinSuffolkCounty
• Formedinterdisciplinarycitizensciencelearningcommunity.• Chargedwithexploringandinvestigatingtheimpactofsepticsystemsonour
LIwatersupplythroughthelensoffourcourses:chemistry,journalism,engineeringscienceandconstructiontechnology.
• Classesexploredtheissuewithineachoftheirclassesandexchange,shareresources,andaggregatethisinformationutilizingBlackboardasacentralcommunicationstool.
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SENCER-NYPHelmsleyProjectatSuffolkCountyCommunityCollege
• Groundwaterexperts,localpoliticiansandcommunityleadersaswellasourIRACDApost-doctoralTeachingScholarwerescheduledtoleadonlinediscussions.
• DiscussionsexaminednewsepticsystemscurrentlybeingpilotedwhichreduceNitrogenloading.
• Studentssynthesizedscientificinformationalongwitheconomic,societalandrenewableenergyimplicationstoarriveatarecommendation.
• RecommendationsdisseminatedtoinformthecollegeandregionalcommunityviacapstonepresentationsattheStudentUndergraduateResearchConferenceonApril21,2017(sponsoredbySUNY),SENCERSSI,SUNYAppliedLearning
• OtherNYProjectHelmsleypartnerinstitutionswillsharetheirSENCER-themedinterdisciplinaryprojects.
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SENCER-NYPHelmsleyProjectatSuffolkCountyCommunityCollegeChemistrystudents
demystifyingthechemicalreactionsofseptictanksandwatersupply.Whatishappeningandwhy?Developunderstandingofhowcrucialthesituationisandwhatistheactionthatmusttakeplace.
EngineeringScience
Whatistheproblem,howdoweimplementasolution,andwhatarethetradeoffs.
Journalism
Createwritingstoeducate,disseminatetothepublicanddiscusstheprosandconsoftheimplementationofsystem.Withoveramillionhomesandvitalwatersupplyatstake,whatdoesthismean?Watervscost?
ConstructionTechnology
Developdrawinganddescriptivediagramsdemonstratinghowthesystemoperates.Generatedescriptivediagramsdemonstratinghowourundergroundwatersupplyoperates.Howcanwedesigninformativeinformationforthepublic?
Blackboardascentralcommunicationlinkwithpossiblesocialmedia.Expertsinlocalgroundwaterpresenttostudents,regularstudentplanning/exchangemeetings.Disseminationofinformationtothecommunity,aninformedcommunity.
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SelectedStudentThoughtstoDiscussionPrompt:“WhatDoYouThinkisthePrimaryThreattoourDrinkingWater?”
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• Potablevs“wildwater”• Patternsinposts-sewageandfertilizers• Sewage–dataongeology,cost,constructionissues• Fertilizersvsherbicidesvspesticides;overuseandcoststoconsumers• Fertilizers–nopermits• EPAfines• Unlicensedanduninsuredbusiness–avoidstaxestoGovernment• SuffolkCountyFertilizerReductionAct
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StudentresponsetoDiscussionQuestion“WhatdoyouthinkisthePrimaryThreattoourdrinkingwater?”
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“…….AsregardsthedrinkingwaterthreatsforLongIsland,Idon'tthinkwecanseparatethreatstoourpotablewaterfromtheissueswithallofthe'wild'watersurroundingtheIsland(theSound,theOcean,thebaysandinlets;saltwaterandfresh).AfterreadingmanyofthepostsIambeginningtoseeapattern.Manyofthepostsarefocusontwomainissues:sewageandfertilizers.”
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Excerpts:StudentComments
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“….IthinkmostpeopleinformedoftheissuewillagreethatgivenLongIsland'suniquegeologicalcharacteristics,giventhefactthatLongIsland'spopulationiscurrentlyalmosteightmillion(threemillionofwhomliveinSuffolkandNassaucounties),giventhefactthatweretainallofourpotablewaterfromaquifersundertheisland,itisincome-prehensiblethatwecontinuetousecesspoolsforholdingsewage.Whenthereistheveryclearpossibilitythatwhatisinthosecesspoolswilleventuallycontaminatethefreshwatersupply,itisincumbentonustofindanalternativewayfordealingwithourwaste.Onepossiblesolutionwouldbetocreateasewersystemthatwoulddraintotheocean.Oneobviousproblemwiththatiscost.ThecostofswitchingeveryneighborhoodinSuffolkandNassaualonewouldbeastronomical.Theworkrequiredishighlyinvasive.…...Also,thereistheveryunfortunatepossibilitythatbythetimesuchaprojectwasapproved,funded,andcompleted,damagetoouraquiferwillhavealreadybegunandcontinuingformanyyears.”
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“…..fertilizer-isalsoamorecomplexproblem...IamactuallyveryfamiliarwiththisissuebecauseIownedandoperatedasmalllandscapingbusinessforthepasttenyearswithmybrother…..First,itisimportanttokeepinmindthedifferencesamongfertilizers,herbicides,andpesticides…..
Fertilizersareusedtofeedalawn.Homeownersapplyfertilizerstotheirlawnsmainlybecauseofpoordecision-makingwiththeirlandscaper.Also,landscaperswillapplyfertilizerstomakemoney,andIassureyouthereisnoeasiermoneytobemadebyalandscaperthantoapplyfertilizers.Theprofitmarginisenormousandthereisanincentivetoapplyingitbecausethereareessentiallynorulesregulatingitsapplication.Stateandlocalgovernmentsdonotrequirespecialpermits.toapplyfertilizers,andtheyareveryoftenappliedincorrectlyandunnecessarily.Onewaytopreventtheoveruseoffertilizersisforahomeownertoaskthathisorherlandscaperleavebehindtheclippings,…..makingfertilizerapplicationsallbutunnecessary.”
Excerpts:StudentComments
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• AstorymapofthedatacollectedwaspreparedandthesemapsareinteractiveThelinktomapscanbemanipulatedbytheusertoturnonandofflayersandtoseethetabledataassociatedwitheachpoint,thoselinksarewithinthestorymap.
• WithinBlackboardweaddedaquicklinktoamapapp,sothatstudentscouldseetheirdatagraphicallyandalsohavetheabilityforturningonandofflayers.
ESRIMappingofChemistryStudentWaterSampleData
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Stud
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Stud
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Plottedon
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Stud
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ModelDesignedbyEngineeringandConstructionTechnologyStudents
Liquidwasterecovery
LiquidandsolidwastecapsSolidwastemodel
AnalternativesepticsystemisinstalledinfrontofahomeonLauraCourtinNesconsetonAug.20,2015.Suffolkwantstochangethesanitarycodetolegalizesuchsystemscountywide.PhotoCredit:JamesCarbone
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Septicsystemsarefailingtomeetstandardsandregulationputinplacetoday.Itisimportantforthesesystemstoworkproperlytoensurethatthewaterqualityoftheseareasdonotbecomecontaminatedbyharmfulchemicals.Thestateshouldrequireallpersonnelwhoeitherneedrepairsfortheirsystemsorneedacompletelynewsystemtogetanupgradedsepticsystemfortheirhome.
Manysystemsinhomestodaywerebuiltbeforenew,necessaryregulationswereputinplace.Theyareoutdatedtotoday’sstandards.Theseoldsystemsdonotproperlyworkinordertoremovecontaminatescontainedinsewage.Repairedsystemsalsolackreliabilitytoperformthistaskandarenotuptonewcode(Unknown).“Mysepticsystemisabout20yearsold,hasneverexhibitedanyproblems,thereareabsolutelynosignsofanyproblemsoutside(nosmells,nodampareas,noexcessivevegetationgrowth),andIhavehaditpumpedoutapproximatelyevery5years”accordingtoSepticHealthResources.
ExcerptsfromaJournalismPaper:SepticSystemUpgrades
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Atwenty-year-oldsystem,pumpedeveryfiveyears,withnosignsofanyproblemscouldstillbepollutingwatersupply.Theproblemwiththisspecificsystemwasthatitwasleakingthroughsoil,downtobedrock,anddownhilltoanearbylake.Thiscontaminationshowednosignsnearthehomeinwhichitwasbuiltforyetitstillmanagedtocovertlycausecontamination("HealthResources").
Theissuemanyfindwithupgradingthesystemsistheabilitytoregulatethemandthecosts.Itmaybehardtorequireeveryonetoupdatetheirsystemsandkeeptrackofwhodidandwhodidnot.Anyonewhoneedsrepairsoranewsystemcouldsimplyberequiredtogetanewsystemwhichisuptocurrentcodes.Thiscouldbecostly.
Allcurrentsepticsystemswillfailorneedrepairsatonepoint.Systemswillalwaysrequireagreatcostinordertoworkproperly.Payingtoupgradethesesystemswillonlyensureabetterqualityandlastingsystem.Thiswillalsobebeneficialtokeepingdrinkingwatercleaner.
ExcerptsfromaJournalismPaper:SepticSystemUpgrades
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Dr.AlisonBranco;DirectorPeconicEstuaryFoundation
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• Interdepartmentalworkwithanonlinecomponentrequiressomeadjustmentforfacultyandstudentsunfamiliarwiththeprocess.
• Interdisciplinarystudent-centeredprojectsfacilitatelearning.• Studentsremainedengaged.Fewerthanusualdroppedoutoftheircoursesandtherewerefewer“F”and“D”grades(journalismcourse)
• Studentstookchargeoftheirlearning.• Programcontinued2017semester.StudentsandIRACDAPostDoccollaboratedinanIntroductiontoResearchcourseasrelatedtotheirfallwork.
LessonsLearnedandFuturePlans
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ResearchMethodsCourse,IRACDA,SUNYUndergraduateResearchConferencePresentation
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• NSFATEcomplementaryprojecttodevelopagreenenergyoptioninengineeringscienceandelectricaltechnologyandtoinfuseunderstandingofenergyingeneraleducationcourses
• Institutionalization:CHE134ProgramLearningobjective:Evaluateanddiscusscontemporaryscience-relatedsocialandethicalissues,bothlocallyandglobally,usingscientificknowledgeandreasoningØ Assessedawrittenformalreportbasedonqualityofdrinkingwateranalysisusinga
standardizedrubric(attachedattheendofthereport).Ø StudentsstudiedwaterqualityfrompubliclyavailableSuffolkcountywaterauthority
data(SCWA).Thisassignmentisbasedonthe5Elearningmodel,whichincludesfivephases:engage,explore,explain,elaborate,andevaluate.
Ø Spring2017assessmentdataresultsfrom6of9CHE134coursestaughtonall3SCCCcampusesincludingdayandeveningclassesofourmajor’slevelsecondsemesterchemistryCHE134courses
BroaderImpacts
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Ø TheincorporationoftheHelmsleyWaterQualityprojectelementsinstitutionallyledtoover90%ofstudentsmetorexceededstandardsandlessthan10%ofstudentswereseentoapproachstandardsandnonefellbelowstandards.
Ø StudentsreportswereevaluatedbaseduponrubricwhichincludesContaminantsAnalysis,ContaminantImpact,andEthicalIssuesandRemediation
Ø Resultsindicatethatstudentsareinterestedtolearnaboutwaterqualityandotherenvironmental/ethicalissuessurroundingthem.
BroaderImpacts
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Publication:
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Acknowledgements HelmsleyCharitableTrustNSF-ATENSF-S-STEMNSFLSAMPNSFSENCERNIHIRACDACAPSNSFGeoCORENSF-IUSENYSEDCSTEPSCCC-HelmsleyTeam:MargaretAltizer,NatalieNiemann,NinaLeonhardt,SeanTvelia,PeterMaritato,SharadhaSambasivan,TroyTucker,ElaineMerenda-NIHIRACDACAPSScholars:DominiqueWilliams,AngelaMigues