Nationwide Assessment of Cost Impacts to the Clean Water Agencies Triggered by PFASDecember 8, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Pooja Sinha Abstract: The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) initiated a membership survey in 2022 to estimate cost impacts attributable to the presence of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater and biosolids. The survey collected 103…

Water is Water–Not Waste! International Options for Smart Wastewater Treatment DecisionsNovember 17, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: WasteWater Education 501(c)3 Abstract: For many small communities in Hawaii, the US, and overseas, the central wastewater infrastructure is not always affordable, geologically impossible to construct, and financially unsustainable with local resources. WasteWater Education 501(c)3, with 21 years of…

Impacts of Physical Stressors on Coastal Groundwater Flow and Transport ProcessesOctober 27, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Xiaolong (Leo) Geng Abstract: Coastal beach aquifers play a pivotal role in supporting healthy ecosystems along the coastline. Consequently, it is essential to understand the complexity of the driving mechanisms interacting at the shoreline. My presentation focuses on…

Metabolic Models and Machine Learning Methods for Bioprocess OptimizationOctober 6, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Garrett Roell Abstract: Non-model microbial species offer unique potential for biomanufacturing. However, the development of novel microbial hosts requires holistic metabolic knowledge and modeling tools for strain engineering and fermentation optimization. I will present computational methods for unravelling…

Reinventing the Toilet for Global Sanitation: The NEWgenerator Resource Recovery MachineSeptember 15, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Daniel Yeh Abstract: This presentation is part of the AAEES Kappe Lecture series Billions of people worldwide suffer from poor sanitation due to a lack of wastewater infrastructure. With high capital expenditure and operational expenditure, the conventional approach…

After the Fire: The Importance of Scientific Support in Protecting Health and RecoveryAugust 18, 2023 (12:30 pm, HST) ∙ WRRC Special Seminar ∙

Speaker: Dr. Andrew J. Whelton Abstract: In response to the Maui wildfires and the probable contamination of water infrastructure, Dr. Andrew J. Whelton, Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana, was invited…

The Consequences of Groundwater Withdrawals and their Implications for Sustainable Yield in Hawai‘iApril 28, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Scot Izuka Abstract: How much groundwater is available for human use from Hawai’i’s aquifers? It depends. All groundwater withdrawals-even from the smallest wells-have consequences such as water-table decline, saltwater intrusion, and reduction of groundwater discharge to springs, streams,…

Environmental Justice Through the Lens of Coastal HealthApril 14, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Eileen Nalley Abstract: A legacy of contamination from unsustainable land use affects the health of coastal ecosystems and communities around the globe. In Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands, where many communities are reliant on marine resources for their…

Envisioning Water Security and Resilience in the Pacific: Lessons from Integrated Ridge to Reef Studies in American SamoaMarch 24, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speakers:  Ms. Mia Comeros and Dr. Chris Shuler Abstract: Enhancing actionable science links to management of natural resources in island communities is critically important given the strong land-sea connection, intrinsic vulnerability to terrestrial runoff and climate change impacts, and high…

An Engineering Solution to Restoring Wai: Kānewai Spring and Kalauha‘iha‘i FishpondMarch 10, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speakers:  Mr. Chris Cramer and Ms. Hina Ioane Abstract: The 1990s widening of Kalanianaʻole Highway caused an environmental catastrophe by cutting the freshwater flow to Kalauhaʻihaʻi Fishpond in Niu, Oʻahu and Maunalua Bay. Nearby Kānewai Spring in Kuliʻouʻou was also…