Sustainability Leadership Fellow Cohort: 2018-2019
Ph.D. Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
Research Summary:Due to increased demand for water, states are increasingly looking to reuse wastewater from oil and gas production for agricultural purposes. This wastewater contains hydrocarbons, salts, radioactive materials and other contaminants. The environmental and health impacts of reusing this water are largely unknown. My research aims to determine if this practice is sustainable by quantifying chemical changes in soil and water. I also quantify the impact of this wastewater on the health of organisms such as wheat, fish and yeast. Our results will aid development of effective treatment techniques and minimize negative consequences from oil and gas wastewater reuse.