June 2004 Measuring how urban rivers, wetlands affect coastal water quality
Pioneering research by Stanley Grant, a professor of environmental engineering, is showing how runoff from urban rivers and coastal wetlands is a significant source of coastal water pollution. Grant is leading a groundbreaking bacteria study of Orange County’s Santa Ana River and its adjacent salt marshes. The study is unusual because of the vast quantity of data collected (over 300,000 data points in 3 weeks of intensive field testing) and the range of chemical and genetic tests being performed to differentiate human and animal sources of waste. Grant estimates that at least a portion of the pollution signal in the surf zone is from sea bird fecal waste. The marshes are located behind Huntington State Beach, one of the nation’s most popular recreational beaches, which annually is posted for significant periods due to high levels of bacterial pollution. Contact Stanley Grant at 949-824-8277, sbgrant@uci.edu
Finding the sources of coastal water viruses
In studies on the health implications of urban runoff on coastal water, Sunny Jiang, assistant professor of environmental analysis and design, is currently identifying the source of human virus contamination in Orange County beaches. Although coastal water quality is routinely monitored using bacteria as indicators, viruses are more resistant to environmental degradation conditions and therefore may persist after the destruction of bacteria. Her research has shown that nearly 40 percent of Southern Californian beaches near major storm drains contain human viruses and may potentially impact human health during water contact recreational activities. Urban runoff from rivers and creeks is the most likely source of human viral contamination in the coastal zone. Contact Sunny Jiang at 949-824-5527, sjiang@uci.edu
Exploring freshwater ponds for clues on birth defects
Biologists Bruce Blumberg and David Gardiner are using a major grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study the reasons why a significantly increasing number of frogs in freshwater ponds develop gross deformities and extra limbs. Specifically, they are targeting chemicals related to vitamin A, called retinoids, which they believe are linked to these deformities. Retinoids are necessary for the development of all vertebrates, but excesses or deficiencies in these chemicals cause birth defects, particularly in the central nervous system. This retinoid study, Blumberg says, will help scientists understand worldwide frog deformities and deaths and provide vital data for the ongoing study of both wildlife and human birth defects derived from environmental sources such as freshwater ponds. Contact Bruce Blumberg at 949-824-8573, 949-824-6873, blumberg@uci.edu
Contact David Gardiner at 949-824-2792, dmgardin@uci.edu
Searching for unwanted chemicals in treated water
While arsenic levels in water have been the subject of public debate, Dele Ogunseitan, associate professor of environmental analysis and design, says there are a host of other chemicals in our waters that could affect human populations. Ogunseitan is currently studying pharmaceutical drug levels in wastewater and has found in many instances that common treatment efforts do not remove these compounds. Since treated wastewater is reused for a variety of purposes, these residual drugs may pose a public health hazard. Ogunseitan also investigates the sources of mercury in wastewater and is working with Physicians for Social Responsibility and Californians for Pesticide Reform to prepare a detailed report on the effect of common pesticides in water on human health. “The more we understand the chemical soup in our waters, the more we can take steps to regulate it,” he says. Contact Dele Ogunseitan at 949-824-6350, oaogunse@uci.edu
The UCI Urban Water Research Center is working to promote an in-depth understanding of urban water issues in order to assist local, state and federal agencies with their efforts to promote health, to enhance the efficient and fair use of water resources and to protect the environment. A partnership among several UCI disciplines, including environmental analysis and design, urban and regional planning, civil and environmental engineering and Earth system sciences, the center pursues research that addresses topics such as water supply, demand and distribution, water quality issues for drinking and recreational use, how wetlands can reduce pollutants entering our streams and rivers from urban runoff, and how the acquisition and distribution of water and wastewater affect urban ecosystems, urban water reuse and public policy. Here are a few of the topics the center’s researchers can discuss:
• Contamination and remediation of groundwater basins in urban areas;
• Bacteria, viruses and chemicals in coastal waters;
• The use of science in urban water policy making;
• Trade-offs between beach-water quality and restoring coastal wetlands;
• Finding the right incentives to use water wisely;
• Seismic hazards and water supplies;
• Water reclamation and reuse in urban areas;
• Climate change and 20- to 30-year water forecasts for California and the Western United States.
