Faculty News

The end of lead pipes: An engineer’s take on the historic national effort to eliminate them

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 20:04:25 +0000

The end of lead pipes: An engineer’s take on the historic national effort to eliminate them Jeff Zehnder Wed, 10/30/2024 - 14:04

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this month that it will require utilities to replace all lead drinking water pipes serving customers in the country within the next decade, marking the most aggressive regulation on lead in drinking water to date.

“This new rule is part of a progression of not just trying to treat a symptom but going back to the source and removing that material from our everyday use,” said Julie Korak, assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering.

The rule comes a decade after the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, when the city’s failure in water treatment exposed nearly 30,000 schoolchildren to lead, a neurotoxin that can impact children’s brains and nervous systems.

The EPA estimates that there are more than 9.2 million lead service lines—underground water pipes that serve water from public pipes into properties—in communities across the country. If a structure was built before 1986, there's a higher chance it has a lead service line, Korak said. To support this effort, the EPA has announced $2.6 billion in new funding. While replacing all these pipes will be a huge undertaking, it needs to be done, she added.

“We have to recognize that there are disparities where the presence of lead service lines disproportionately impacts disadvantaged communities. To promote equity across our country in terms of what kind of environmental hazards we're exposed to, it's important to address this disparity.”

The municipal government of Boulder recently announced that the city has no lead service lines after conducting a two-year inventory. Denver Water, the utility serving the city, has replaced 24,000 lead service lines, about a third of the estimated total, by July 2024.

As water utilities around the country race to identify and replace lead service lines, ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder today sat down with Korak to chat about the new rule and how individuals can protect themselves from lead in water.

Why is lead in water such a concern?

Lead is a toxic element. Unlike some other contaminants of concern, there is no safe level of lead, which means that there's no concentration or dose below which we don't experience adverse effects.

When lead from water pipes leaches into the water that we consume, it can have harmful toxicological effects, especially on children, such as low birth weight and adverse cognitive impacts. Exposure to lead during their developmental stages can be particularly adverse to their health. While it will be costly to replace all the lead service lines, the EPA analysis shows that benefits outweigh the cost in this case.

How does lead get into the water?

Lead has been used as pipe material for centuries, dating back to Roman times. It’s a soft, easy-to-mold material, which makes it ideal for shaping into durable pipes. But over time, the pipes can corrode, dissolving lead into the water. In addition, as water flows through the pipes, it can dislodge small particles of lead, which are then carried by the flowing water to consumers.

What is being done currently to minimize the impact of lead pipes?

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Lead and Copper Rule has been in effect since the early 1990s. The EPA requires utilities to take steps to test for lead in drinking water, identify homes with lead service lines, and adjust water treatment methods to decrease lead release if the lead levels are above a certain threshold.

However, there is a recognition that as long as these lead service lines are present, they pose a potential risk, and a long-term plan to remove this potential risk is in the best interest of public health.

This new regulation is not to say that the previous methods have not worked. Tests have shown a decrease in blood lead levels across the country over the last 50 years. This decrease comes from a combination of different regulations to remove lead from not only water pipes, but also gasoline and paint.

How are lead pipes being replaced?

Replacing service lines will be a continuous effort with dedicated teams for impacted communities. If you start doing some of the math for average-sized communities, utilities need to be replacing a line every other day, for the better part of a decade, to make it happen. Larger metropolitan areas would likely need a more aggressive schedule.

One of the first challenges is determining how many pipes need to be replaced and where those pipes are located. Some communities may have good records of what pipes were used during construction. Some may have almost no records at all. In those cases, utilities will look at when buildings were constructed and what materials would have most likely been used at that time. They may visit sites and dig up a portion of the front yard to inspect materials, or request to go into a basement to see what kind of material is coming into the home.

Most utilities will replace lead service lines with copper pipes. Although also a metal, copper does not have the same adverse health impacts. From a regulatory perspective, the concentrations at which we become concerned are orders of magnitude different between lead and copper. For lead, concentrations above 10 micrograms per liter will trigger action. The action level for copper is just over one milligram per liter.

What can individuals do in the meantime to protect themselves from lead?

If someone is concerned that they might be exposed to lead from service line, there are filters that are certified to remove lead, both the dissolved lead and the small particles. It's important to purchase the filters from a reputable vendor and make sure that it's certified by NSF for lead removal. Larger utility companies will likely have a resource page on their website that recommends types of filters that are effective against lead.

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Research shows air filters in classrooms improves overall ventilation and air quality

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 20:17:43 +0000

Research shows air filters in classrooms improves overall ventilation and air quality Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/19/2024 - 14:17

Mark Hernandez's air quality research is being highlight by Denver 9 News.

The work which initially focused on reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Denver Schools during pandemic is now expanding beyond concerns of just infectious diseases and helping to improve air quality in schools across the state.

Hernandez is a professor in the Environmental Engineering Program and air quality expert.

"We now have data from ventilation performance for buildings all over the state. The good news was, we found out a lot of our buildings and classrooms are high performing. They have really good air quality and they really didn’t need the air cleaners," Dr. Hernandez said. "Others are less performing and when we put those in, we found out they helped ventilation systems do their job."

Read the full story at 9News...

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Ryan interviewed on mine wastewater research

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 21:56:17 +0000

Ryan interviewed on mine wastewater research Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/25/2024 - 15:56

Joe Ryan spoke to the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Sun about the use of viruses to kill bacteria in mining wastewater.

This wastewater, which can come with radioactive, cancer-causing materials, and yes, bacteria, often gets shoved back underground for storage. But increasingly, ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ and other states are looking at ways to clean the wastewater enough that it can be used in other mining operations instead of fresh water. It’s an intriguing idea in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ, where fresh water supplies have been strained by a two-decade megadrought.

However, Ryan, an expert on contaminant fate and transport in waterways who was not involved in the research, has significant doubts about the utility of the development.

“It’s a questionable solution to a problem that just doesn’t seem at the top of the list of importance if you’re trying to do something with produced water,” Ryan said.

Read the full article at the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Sun.

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ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder professor introduces modern water management approaches during USAID visit to Armenia

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:55:44 +0000

ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder professor introduces modern water management approaches during USAID visit to Armenia Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/06/2024 - 13:55

Research Professor Edith Zagona introduced modern water management approaches during a USAID-sponsored visit to Armenia. The weeklong visit, which included a seminar for the students and faculty of Yerevan State University, was part of USAID’s Improved Water Resources Management for Sustainable Economic Growth in Armenia program, held at the university May 20-24.

The program is led by Deloitte, which specializes in helping government agencies mitigate the impacts of climate change and achieve their climate equity, resilience and sustainability goals, with technical assistance from ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder.

"It was important for the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder team to better understand the needs of the Armenian government and their stakeholders for improving water management," said Zagona, the director of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder's Center for Advanced Decision for Water and Environmental Systems (CADSWES).

The project's objective is to improve Armenia’s water management by ensuring equitable access to water while protecting freshwater resources, said Kat Demaree, a project manager at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder's Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience (MCGER) who attended the USAID-sponsored program along with Carlo Salvinelli, an MCGER instructor. The ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder team is providing technical and advisory services, including training, applied research and analysis to the Government of Armenia, local communities, the private sector and partnerships with universities.

"Poor water resource management in Armenia has led to the overuse of existing resources, creating an urgent need to reshape how natural resources are managed and distributed," Demaree said.

Armenia’s rural communities are running out of water for irrigation and drinking due to uncontrolled use by fish farms, small hydroelectric power plants and pollution caused by untreated mining tailings. Insufficient water flow also means some hydroelectric plants cannot operate at full capacity, leading to economic losses for power producers. Currently, about 30 communities in the Ararat Valley and 85 communities in the Syunik region are experiencing serious water shortages, she added.

The visit was particularly significant for establishing the academic program for the Armenian students enrolled in the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder online graduate certificate program in global engineering. The program launches this summer with a cohort of Armenian students, who will receive approximately 95 percent tuition reimbursement through an MCGER grant.

MCGER provides multiple pathways for engineers to enter the field of global engineering including through its online certificate curriculum. Courses offered to students and working professionals of Armenia under this program include water profession (leadership and management), introduction to water quality, water monitoring technologies, introduction to water resource management, simulation modeling, introduction to development economics and data analytics for development. The program also includes a practicum, allowing students to intern with the USAID Armenia Improved Water Management for Sustainable Economic Growth program.

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ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ part of landmark legislation for green water quality infrastructure

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:48:54 +0000

ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ part of landmark legislation for green water quality infrastructure Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/04/2024 - 09:48

Governor Jared Polis has signed into law the new ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Senate Bill SB24-037, titled "Study Green Infrastructure for Water Quality Management." Sponsored by Senators Cleave Simpson and Jeff Bridges, along with Representatives Mike Lynch and Karen McCormick, this significant legislation aims to enhance water quality and environmental sustainability in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ. This landmark bill is supported by a NASA-funded Congressional earmark provided by ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Congressman Joe Neguse.

The bill directs the team at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience and ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ State University's Energy Institute to work directly with the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Department of Public Health and Environment to identify new pathways to restore rivers and watersheds in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ, improve water quality, and reduce emissions associated with water and wastewater treatment.

Over the next two years, this team will develop up to three pilot projects in collaboration with communities and utilities to demonstrate the use of green infrastructure and green financing mechanisms. This work will include actively restoring watersheds using public and private sector investment, including the purchase of carbon credits based on avoided electricity demand from water treatment.

Evan Thomas, Director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder said, “It has been a rewarding experience to propose this idea and work with Senator Simpson and other elected representatives and state officials in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ to bring it to life, and we're looking forward to what this could mean for ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ's water and air.”

Dr. Thomas, who is also an environmental engineering professor at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder will additionally lead a $950,000 congressionally mandated, NASA-funded research project to monitor water quality and understand the impact of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ on the Yampa and Cache la Poudre rivers in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ. “ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ half of America’s rivers don’t meet the Clean Water Act standards and that’s also true in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ,” Thomas said. “We have many rivers that are on what is called the 303(d) list, meaning that they’re impaired and they don’t meet the Clean Water Act,” said Thomas.

Thomas and his team have already been utilizing sensors to monitor these rivers. With the new funding, these sensors will continue to collect data for at least another year. The objective is to identify contamination sources and develop effective, nature-based solutions. Unlike traditional point-in-time sampling methods, the robust and durable sensors provide cost-effective, continuous measurements.

“The idea is that we can develop technologies that help communities and help the state better manage watersheds so that we can restore watersheds, we can restore land cost-effectively and in a way that benefits more people,” Thomas said.

Photo: Director/Professor Evan Thomas, Governor Jared Polis & Senator Cleave Simpson at the Senate bill signing in Alamosa, ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ.

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Karl Linden receives UVA's Lifetime Achievement Award

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:10:01 +0000

Karl Linden receives UVA's Lifetime Achievement Award Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/20/2023 - 09:10

Professor Karl Linden was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the UV World Congress, hosted from Sept. 10-13 at the InterContinental Dubai - Festival City hotel in Dubai.

"It was one of the sweetest moments of my career," said Linden, chair of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder's Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering.

During the event, Jennifer Osgood, president of the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA), called upon those who have worked with Linden, been his student or read his papers to stand.

"Almost the whole room was standing," said Linden, who expressed gratitude to his mentors, colleagues and students. "It was quite overwhelming and humbling. It gave me chills."

The IUVA aims to promote the use of Ultraviolet Technology a leading technology for public health and environmental applications, and to establish itself as the leading authority on the use of Ultraviolet Technology through advocacy within education, industry, research and global public policy sectors.

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Vance wins Fulbright Scholar Award to do a year-long research project in Indonesia

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 20:07:53 +0000

Vance wins Fulbright Scholar Award to do a year-long research project in Indonesia Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/20/2023 - 14:07

Assistant Professor Marina Vance of the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar Award for research that will investigate the use of fixed-location and mobile low-cost air quality monitors in Indonesia.

Fulbright Scholar Awards are prestigious and competitive fellowships that provide unique opportunities for scholars to teach and conduct research abroad.

Vance will spend a year on the island of Java, working in collaboration with local researchers at the Centre for Climate Risk and Opportunity Management in Southeast Asia and Pacific (CCROM-SEAP) at Bogor Agricultural University.

“I’m hoping to learn from their expertise in outdoor air quality, while also bringing my expertise in indoor air quality,” Vance said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to combine the two areas of focus.”

Although the importance of reducing outdoor air pollution has been centered in the public consciousness for some time, there is increasing awareness of the necessity to improve indoor air quality as well, especially when one considers that most people spend about 90% of their lives indoors.

Along with plans to investigate ways to fine-tune the measurements of fixed-location and mobile low-cost air quality monitors, Vance also hopes to understand better how indoor and outdoor air pollution influence one another.

“There’s newfound public interest in understanding the quality of indoor air since the COVID-19 pandemic,” Vance said. “Raising awareness about everyday ways we can improve it is definitely part of the motivation of my research.”

Vance focuses on the study of aerosols, otherwise known as particulate matter, or PM, which are minute particles suspended in the atmosphere and account for a specific form of air pollution. Inhalable PM, which is less than 10 microns in diameter (PM₁₀), and fine PM (PM_2.5), which is less than 2.5 microns in diameter, are both known for their negative effects on human health and the environment.

In Java, Vance plans to monitor PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations in two different ways. First, she plans to use research-grade measuring instruments at CCROM-SEAP and potentially other institutions across the island.

Although these research-grade measuring instruments are highly calibrated to monitor the particulate matter found in the atmosphere of their specific locale, they have their limitations. A challenge is accounting for the spatial heterogeneity of concentrations, especially in a large country like Indonesia.

In addition to using research-grade measuring instruments, Vance plans to use mobile low-cost air quality monitors like PurpleAir, which scientists have begun using as a research tool because of their potential for greater spatial coverage. These sensors can also provide greater time resolution, with minute-level or 10-minute averages reported, in comparison to the daily averages reported by monitoring stations.

However, due to the novelty of the technology, the measurements of these sensors are not always 100% accurate until they are calibrated for the specific makeup of the particulate matter in the local atmosphere.

Field techniques for calibrating mobile low-cost sensors are an ongoing area of study for researchers and scientists. By collocating them with measurement stations and comparing the data sets, Vance hopes to gain insights into how to improve the sensors.

“These can also be very useful for everyday consumers in their homes,” Vance said. “You’re cooking, for example, and the indoor air pollution gets bad. The sensor will let you know that you should open a window or turn on the exhaust hood over your stove.”

Along with the opportunity to take her research in new directions, Vance looks forward to spending a year in a new culture and climate with her family.

Vance has a 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter with her husband Eric Vance, an assistant professor in applied mathematics at ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder, who was awarded a Fulbright Scholar Award in Indonesia as well.

“There will be challenges for us in the coming year,” said Vance, “but also great opportunities to grow together as a family.”

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Unlocking the monsoon mystery and its impact on society

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 19:29:15 +0000

Unlocking the monsoon mystery and its impact on society Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/12/2023 - 13:29

Balaji Rajagopalan grew up in a small railroad town near Hyderabad, India, in a home without running water. At night, the sound of water would often awaken him, prompting him to rush with cooking pots to collect water spurting from a pipe in the backyard. During the dry season, the pipe often ran dry, forcing him and his neighbors to queue up to manually pump a single bucket of groundwater.

Now a ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder professor of civil engineering and an expert in hydrology, climatology and water resources, Rajagopalan was recently honored with a Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship and an opportunity to make a difference in his native country.

His Fulbright work in India centers around developing monsoon forecasting models to aid residents in flood preparedness; exploring the intricate interplay between monsoonal climate and public health; and unraveling the monsoon variability over a timeframe of 5,000 to 10,000 years, along with its role in the peopling of the Indian subcontinent.

“I want to give back,” said Rajagopalan, a first-generation college graduate. “The areas I am working on — climate and water — are central here.”

Starting in August, he will spend four to six months over a two-year period at four host institutions — the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, as well as Gandhinagar, Roorkee and Ashoka Universities. He plans to foster collaborations among these and other institutions in India and facilitate research exchanges between the universities in India and ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder.

Having served as the chair of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Rajagopalan is also excited to observe how some of India’s top institutions teach civil engineering and to mentor and engage with early career scientists, including students and faculty.

Monsoon clouds arriving at Port Blair, Andaman, India. Photo Credit: RIDHVAN SHARMA

Fascination of the Monsoon
For more than 20 years, Rajagopalan has dedicated his research to understanding and modeling the variability and predictability of flow in the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ River and the Indian monsoon.

He wonders aloud why the amount of water in the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ River has been declining for more than two decades and whether the decline is random or hints at a more systematic global climate pattern. He raises the same question about annual fluctuations in the Indian monsoon rainfall.

“Those questions fascinate me,” he said. “Both the ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ River and the Indian monsoon are the lifeblood of the societies that depend on them.”

He recalls that in the late 19th century, during the British colonial rule of India, the monsoon mercilessly failed, leading to a devastating famine that claimed the lives of millions. In the wake of this catastrophic event, the British colonials established the Indian meteorological department to study the monsoon. Since then, there’s been more than a century of studies to understand this climatic phenomenon.

“But still, there are many more questions,” he says. “That’s the fascination of the monsoon.”

Flooding in Mumbai, India, 2017. Photo credit Paasikivi

Flood Forecasting
Rajagopalan points out a challenge specific to India: During the monsoon months of June, July and August, precipitation falls as water rather than being stored as snow, as happens in ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ. Without sufficient infrastructure to store and manage the excess water, much of it will flood the landscape and drain into the adjoining seas, he says.

He emphasizes the pressing need for improving flood forecasting in India, given the significant percentage of the population that lives near rivers.

Reliable forecasts would enable disaster managers to make well-informed decisions regarding public evacuations. Planning agencies could prepare in advance if they knew whether the upcoming season would bring above-average rainfall. Similarly, reservoir managers need that information before the monsoon season begins to anticipate the volume of water they may collect and whether they need to open gates early to create additional capacity.

At the seasonal time scale, the significance of an accurate monsoon rainfall forecast has broad implications. A forecast indicating a below-normal summer monsoon season can exert pressure on agriculture commodities, resulting in reduced spending capacity for individuals. Farmers rely on these forecasts to make informed decisions regarding agriculture, either by cultivating more drought-resistant crops or by irrigating.

Rajagopalan also highlights the importance of data modeling and understanding the underlying physics behind floods and droughts to develop effective forecasting tools.

“Developing predictive tools is of huge importance for anywhere, but especially for India as the monsoon rainfall drives agriculture, water resources, ecology and public health,” he says. “The monsoon threads through the entire socio-economic fabric.”

Public Health
“Everything is connected to the monsoon in some way,” Rajagopalan said.

India, in particular, remains highly vulnerable to the monsoon’s variability, and the impact extends beyond floods or droughts. The monsoons also affect water quality, public health, agricultural output and even the Indian stock market, he says.

Weaker rainfall directly impacts the country’s GDP, given that at least 50 percent of the population resides in villages heavily reliant on agriculture. Crop failures often drive rural residents to migrate to urban areas in search of employment, placing sudden strain on urban resources. This has an impact on nutrition, poverty and public health, he says.

During his research, Rajagopalan will delve into the profound impact of monsoons on public health. Monsoonal rains create stagnant water in ponds, providing ideal breeding grounds for malaria and dengue in disease-carrying mosquitoes. Additionally, poor water quality during this period contributes to illnesses like diarrhea.

“There is a direct link between monsoon rainfall and public health, and that is a whole new and important area to climate connection, " he said.

Monsoons over time
The third aspect of Rajagopalan’s research involves studying the monsoon’s variability across the current geological epoch, known as the Holocene period. Gaining insight into the monsoon’s fluctuation throughout this 5,000- to 10,000-year time period can unlock the secrets behind the rise and fall of societies, and human migration, Rajagopalan said.

Civilizations typically flourished during robust monsoons and declined when the monsoons became weaker. Combining statistical methods with contemporary and ocean sediment core data, his research aims to reconstruct the variability of climate and vegetation over Indian subcontinent and Eurasia during the Holocene. This will be used to understand the role of climate in the migration of societies during this period.

“People move for all kinds of reasons, but often climate tends to be the catalyst, even in contemporary times,” he said. “Even through civil wars, people tend to stay. The natural human tendency is to live where one grew up and among familiar surroundings.”

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Hernandez discusses indoor air quality with Washington Post

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:57:11 +0000

Hernandez discusses indoor air quality with Washington Post Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/12/2023 - 11:57

The Washington Post is highlighting ways to keep air quality better indoors.

The outlet interviewed Mark Hernandez, who advocates for installing HEPA air cleaners in homes, especially now, with smoke from Canadian ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ blanketing the northeastern United States.

“I look at them (air purifiers) as the seat belts for lungs," he said. Hernandez is helping to install filters in schools across the state in partnership with ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ’s Clean Air for Schools program.

Hernandez is a professor in the Environmental Engineering Program and air quality expert.

Read the full article at the Washington Post.

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ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder spinout company celebrates carbon-credit investment by Mortenson Co.

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 21:15:17 +0000

ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder spinout company celebrates carbon-credit investment by Mortenson Co. Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/01/2023 - 15:15

Mortenson Center director leads Virridy, which is working to connect the global carbon credit market to regulated water treatment obligations

M. A. Mortenson Companies, Inc. invests $2M in Virridy for Africa and United States Freshwater Carbon Projects involving partners University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder, Moore Foundation, Autodesk Foundation

This week, M. A. Mortenson Companies, Inc. signed a carbon credit pre-purchase agreement with Virridy Carbon LLC to enable project capital investment in programs in Rwanda, Kenya, and the United States. The deal will ensure the emissions avoidance of at least 50,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent, generated by either Virridy’s water security projects in eastern Africa or ‘watershed carbon’ river restoration projects in the United States. The Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder is also engaged in developing elements of these projects with support from the Autodesk Foundation.

Three people gathered around and installing a water filter that is blue and plasticIn Rwanda Virridy deploys water treatment systems in schools, avoiding the demand for forest fuels to boil contaminated drinking water. This program will reach over 600,000 students by 2025 and is expected to avoid over 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030. The Virridy leadership team innovated and demonstrated the first-ever carbon credit for drinking water treatment programs globally, starting in Rwanda in 2007.

In the United States, Virridy is innovating how to connect the global carbon credit market to regulated water treatment obligations. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is funding Virridy to develop a methodology earning carbon credits through installing green infrastructure, like riparian shade and improved agricultural practices, and thereby avoiding the construction and operation of gray infrastructure for water treatment.

American water treatment and transport accounts for over 4% of national electricity demand, a figure that is projected to rise dramatically as advanced treatment technologies are adopted in coming decades to comply with regulations and guard against risks of catastrophic wildfire and other pressures. Avoiding upgrades where possible by generating quantifiable watershed health improvements not only will reduce carbon emissions by avoiding energy use, but also create a host of co-benefits in as regional resiliency, biodiversity, employment, public health and recreation.

Globally, billions face water insecurity and water quality challenges. Water is an under-invested sector facing increasing pressure from climate change. Meanwhile, carbon credit markets provide incentives for nature-based climate solutions, but lack project diversity and quality.

Three people gathered around a piece of water equipment in Rwanda outdoorsAt this intersection, Virridy brings "Freshwater Decarbonization With Data Science." We use our proprietary technology and water and carbon markets expertise to restore watersheds and improve water quality, catalyzed and partially funded by generating and selling high quality carbon credits. Our team has developed large-scale drinking water programs in Rwanda and Kenya reaching over four million people; large-scale watershed restoration programs in the United States motivated by the Clean Water Act; and have patented and published our technology solutions linking in-situ sensor data with remote sensing and data science to deliver high quality spatial and temporal water resource predictions as the digital monitoring, reporting and verification audit trail for high quality freshwater decarbonization credits.

M. A. Mortenson Companies Inc. is the parent company of Mortenson Construction (“Mortenson”). Mortenson is a U.S.-based, top-25 developer, builder and engineering services provider serving the commercial, institutional, and energy sectors. Mortenson’s expanding portfolio of integrated services helps its customers move their strategies forward, ensuring their investments result in high-performing assets. The result is a turnkey partner, fully invested in the business success of its customers.

The Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience at the University of ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder combines education, research, and partnerships to positively impact vulnerable people and their environment by improving development tools, policy and practice. Their vision is a world where everyone has safe water, sanitation, energy, food, shelter, and infrastructure.

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Faculty News

The end of lead pipes: An engineer’s take on the historic national effort to eliminate them

Why is lead in water such a concern?

How does lead get into the water?

What is being done currently to minimize the impact of lead pipes?

How are lead pipes being replaced?

What can individuals do in the meantime to protect themselves from lead?

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Research shows air filters in classrooms improves overall ventilation and air quality

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Ryan interviewed on mine wastewater research

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ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder professor introduces modern water management approaches during USAID visit to Armenia

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ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ part of landmark legislation for green water quality infrastructure

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Karl Linden receives UVA's Lifetime Achievement Award

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Vance wins Fulbright Scholar Award to do a year-long research project in Indonesia

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Unlocking the monsoon mystery and its impact on society

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Hernandez discusses indoor air quality with Washington Post

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ŷ���ڱ���Ƶ Boulder spinout company celebrates carbon-credit investment by Mortenson Co.

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ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder professor introduces modern water management approaches during USAID visit to Armenia

ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ part of landmark legislation for green water quality infrastructure

ŷ��ڱ��Ƶ Boulder spinout company celebrates carbon-credit investment by Mortenson Co.