Fluorescent Fingerprinting Dissolved Organic Matter as a Water Quality Monitoring Tool in Potable and Reclaimed Water Systems

Inevitably DOM is of major concern to most water utilities and will maintain of concern with changing water quality trends and future shifts in water resource management practices particularly with increasing multi-use water reclamation systems. I hypothesize the application of fluorescence spectroscopy sensors and the PARAFAC approach will help distinguish different water types and changing treated and distributed water quality (potable vs. non-potable), based on the known differences in DOM source and character of these different water types. I propose to evaluate different ways to use the information obtained from the fingerprints revealed by PARAFAC, to develop a widely applicable approach of distinguishing among water sources. The long term goal of this work is to provide the information needed to aid in the development of an on-line, real time water quality monitoring method based on fluorescence spectroscopy sensors and PARAFAC analysis. To address the proposed questions within this study, the central aims and objectives include the following: 1. To assess the fluorescence signature of both potable and reclaimed water, in order to compare and contrast potable and reclaimed water fluorescence signatures of different treatment systems. This will allow us to determine how the fluorescence signature of potable and reclaimed water varies between significantly different source waters and treatment technologies, yielding additional information about the reactivity/stability of the remaining organic matter distributed throughout the distribution system. 2. To measure the effect of individual treatment processes utilized on the fluorescence signature of DOM, to develop an understanding of the factors that make the fluorescence signature of reclaimed water different from potable water and potable water sources. 3. To measure variability in fluorescent signatures of potable and reclaimed water effluents (due to variation in the fluorescing influent organic matter), and to quantify influences of key water quality parameters (pH, temperature, treatment residuals, etc.). 4. To compare and contrast the lowest levels (detection limit) at which reclaimed water can be detected in drinking water, simulating a cross contamination event. 5. To determine the robust ability of PARAFAC modeling for better water system monitoring with different potable and reclaimed water samples, by investigating other systems with different source waters, treatment processes and distributed water quality.Master of Science in Environmental Engineerin