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Project ID:

24-2-03-19

Year:

2024

Date Started:

08/01/2024

Date Completed:

Title:

The reduction of nitrogenous disinfection byproducts in drinking water by prescribed fires in forest

Project Proposal Abstract:

1. Problem Statement
While drinking water disinfection is critical to protecting public health, the precursors of toxic and unregulated nitrogenous disinfection byproducts (N-DBPs) appear to proliferate in drinking water sources following wildfires. Preliminary results presented in this proposal suggest that prescribed fires can reduce the precursors and formation of these DBPs of public health concern in drinking water. However, investigations of prescribed fires in exporting N-DBP precursors from managed watersheds and subsequent N-DBPs in drinking water are limited. We plan to perform prescribed fires at first-order watersheds with different management histories and vegetation types (The Santee Experimental Forest in SC, The Monongahela National Forest (MNF) in WV, and Ribbon Creek in Alberta, CA), and to monitor water quality, N-DBPs precursors and N-DBP formation before and after the prescribed fires. This study is responsive to focus #3 of Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), "Prescribed fire effects on water quality and quantity." It will advance our understanding of the impacts of prescribed fires on the water quality/quantity and formation of N-DBPs in drinking water.
2. Objectives
Our past research with prescribed fires guided the development of the following hypotheses for this study: i) Periodic prescribed fire practices minimize the biomass of the detritus layer on the forest floor, resulting in a lower export of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), a major source of N-DBP precursors, ii) DON leaching from managed sites contain more aromatic nitrogen moieties that are more easily removed during drinking water treatment, and iii) N-DBP formation from prescribed burned DON materials can be minimized through optimized oxidation strategies during water treatment.
The aim of this study is threefold: i) to examine the impact of prescribed fires on the export of the N-DBP precursors to water sources; ii) to investigate the removal of these precursors during drinking water treatment; and iii) to evaluate the formation and potential toxicity of N-DBPs under different oxidation strategies.
3. Benefits
Emerging N-DBPs pose an important health risk to the public health. This study will demonstrate our expectation to reduce the amount of N-DBP precursors through prescribed fires in drinking water sources. In addition, the treatment and oxidation strategies developed as part of the study will provide essential information to minimize the occurrence of these toxic substances in drinking water. This research will fill critical information gaps by examining the effects of prescribed fires on the occurrence of N-DBP precursors in drinking water sources to advance public health protection.
Both government and water utilities examine the potential hazards and/or benefits of prescribed fires on drinking water bodies to make informed decisions about fire prevention strategies. Therefore, they can allocate resources more effectively based on the research findings, leading to more sustainable practices. In addition, the research findings will serve as educational material for community and water utility preparedness about the effects of prescribed fires. Finally, the planned deliverables, including peer-reviewed papers and policy recommendations, promise substantial societal and scientific impact.

Principal Investigator:

Tanju Karanfil

Agency/Organization:

Clemson University

Branch or Dept:

Other Project Collaborators

Type	Name	Agency/Organization	Branch or Dept
Agreements Contact	Terry H Rumph	Clemson University	Office of Sponsored Programs
Budget Contact	Terry H Rumph	Clemson University	Office of Sponsored Programs