Science from the Tap

Science from the Tap

by Daniel Gerrity
Earth SciencesLife Sciences
Season 1
Playing the Enteric Pathogen Slots in Las Vegas
Mask mandates, social distancing, and frequent hand washing became the norm during the COVID-19 pandemic. While these measures were directed at SARS-CoV-2, public health officials noticed that there were corresponding reductions in other respiratory viruses, such as influenza. But what impact, if any, did these measures have on the spread of enteric pathogens--the ones most commonly associated with diarrhea? This episode takes a "deep dive" into wastewater surveillance, but this time focusing on enteric pathogens, specifically norovirus, adenovirus, enterovirus, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia. By looking at how wastewater concentrations of these pathogens vary over time and by location, we can better understand how infections are spreading, where public health interventions might be appropriate, and even the implications for our drinking water systems. This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on a publication in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. The original article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EW00620H
S1 · E21
Dec 15, 2024
13:33
Virus Roller Coasters and the Law of Averaging
The steady climb of a roller coaster generally leads to an exciting, stomach-turning descent. But in the world of drinking water, peaks can be stomach-turning in a much different way. To mitigate these scenarios, potable reuse systems that turn wastewater back into drinking water are often designed assuming worst-case scenarios (e.g., peak pathogen concentrations). While this is a conservative approach to public health protection, it can have adverse consequences on the sustainability of these treatment systems. This begs the question: is there another way to mitigate peak pathogen conditions? This episode takes a "deep dive" into disease outbreaks, the effects on wastewater pathogen concentrations, and the implications for the design of potable reuse systems. In particular, this episode focuses on hydraulics and the effects of mixing and dispersion on contaminant spikes. In other words, can we attenuate peak virus concentrations using the law of averaging ? This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on a publication in ACS ES&T Water. The original article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.1c00378
S1 · E20
Dec 9, 2024
11:12
Pop Quiz: Is Your Drinking Water System Ready for SARS-CoV-2
There is always a baseline level of uncertainty when it comes to making critical decisions. But what do you do when there's a significant 'shock' to the system that causes this baseline uncertainty to spike? In 2020, when the genetic signal of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in wastewater, the field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was jumpstarted. But this also raised questions of whether this emerging pathogen posed any risks to public drinking water systems, particularly in the context of potable reuse. This episode takes a "deep dive" into the drinking water industry's response to SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this episode describes an 'editorial perspective' written in response to questions of whether our potable reuse systems were sufficiently robust to handle this new pathogen. This editorial demonstrates that we can leverage prior knowledge, identify and conduct critical research to fill knowledge gaps, and continue to protect public health, even under extreme uncertainty. This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on a publication in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. The original article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW90031A
S1 · E19
Dec 8, 2024
11:09
All Aboard the Potable Reuse Treatment Train
Engineers don't always drive trains, and trains don't always ride on tracks. For decades, civil and environmental engineers have been designing potable reuse treatment trains to ensure that communities throughout the world have safe and reliable drinking water supplies, even in water-scarce regions. All of these treatment trains successfully convert wastewater into purified drinking water, but they don't always follow the same track. This episode takes a "deep dive" into potable reuse, providing examples from multiple cities throughout the world, to show how engineers are constantly innovating to ensure that water always comes out of your tap. This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on a publication in the Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology - Aqua. The original article is available here: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2013.041
S1 · E18
Dec 7, 2024
20:32
Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself, My Name Is O-3
What do you think of when you hear the word "ozone"? Maybe the hole in the ozone layer? Or the harmful lung irritant present in smog? In describing ozone, the American Lung Association uses the phrase "ozone is good up high, bad nearby". But what if I told you that ozone can also be good nearby? This episode takes a "deep dive" into the use of ozonation for drinking water and wastewater treatment. Ozone is a strong oxidant and disinfectant and also generates even more powerful hydroxyl radicals, resulting in an advanced oxidation process (AOP). This episode discusses how engineers leverage the power of ozone to destroy contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) that are commonly found in wastewater--an important step in making sure that recycled water is safe for public and environmental health. This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on a publication in Environmental Science & Technology. The original article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1021/es400781r
S1 · E17
Dec 5, 2024
11:04
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due: Virus Removal During Secondary Wastewater Treatment
Bacteria often get a bad rap, although justified in the case of something like Legionella or E. coli O157:H7. But they're not all bad! In fact, bacteria are the workhorses of wastewater treatment, specifically secondary biological treatment with "activated sludge". Untreated wastewater is loaded with organic matter and nutrients that, if not removed, would result in severe ecological consequences upon environmental discharge. To avoid these issues, engineers design activated sludge processes--think of a chunky soup loaded with bacteria--to remove the organics and nutrients within the treatment plant. But what happens to other microorganisms, specifically viruses, as they encounter these bacterial 'chunks'? This episode takes a "deep dive" into virus removal in activated sludge processes, specifically in the context of potable reuse. Potable reuse is the process of converting wastewater into a safe and reliable drinking water supply. As you might guess, this requires A LOT of treatment and A LOT of virus removal. To minimize costs while adequately protecting public health, it's critical to "give credit where credit is due". The goal of this study was to determine whether regulators should award virus removal credit to secondary treatment to eliminate the need for other costly, energy-intensive treatment processes. This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on a publication in Water Research. The original article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122886
S1 · E16
Dec 5, 2024
14:57
Dental Nightmares: Cavities, Root Canals, and...Legionella?
Many people fear their next trip to the dentist. Best case scenario you might slip through with just an uncomfortable cleaning, but you could also wind up diagnosed with a cavity, or maybe even needing a root canal. But what if I told you that your biggest concern should be Legionella? This episode takes a "deep dive" into this emerging water-related pathogen and its connection to dental offices. We'll cover who is at risk and what mitigation measures can be implemented so you can return to your regularly scheduled dental nightmares. This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on a publication in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. The original article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2021.1939878
S1 · E15
Dec 5, 2024
11:59
Roommates Wanted: Lower Rent, Lower Risk (of Legionella)
Whether you own or rent, cost of living just keeps rising. What if I told you that roommates would not only reduce your cost of living but could also reduce your risk of infection by Legionella? Sounds crazy, right? And if you found someone who loves to take frequent and/or long showers, you could reduce your risk even further...your water bill would be a different story though. This episode takes a "deep dive" into the factors that affect your risk of infection or clinically severe illness due to exposure to Legionella in your home. By combining a Legionella growth model with simulated water demands in a model home, this study determined that risks could be reduced with more people living in the home or by implementing system purges. And 'smart purging' could reduce risks while also minimizing water waste. This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on a publication in Environmental Science & Technology. The original article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c01208
S1 · E14
Dec 4, 2024
10:52
Could Legionella Be Lurking In Your Groundwater?
Legionella is currently the leading cause of drinking water disease outbreaks in the United States. U.S. drinking water regulations are generally based on an acceptable annual risk of infection of 1 in 10,000 people. Confirmed Legionella infections are still slightly below this benchmark, but some estimates put the true infection burden--accounting for both confirmed and undiagnosed cases--at 2 to 3 times the acceptable level. Legionella is commonly associated with premise plumbing systems (i.e., the pipes within your house), particularly in systems with insufficient maintenance and long periods of water stagnation. Although Legionella is indirectly regulated in surface water systems, there are currently no established federal regulations for Legionella in groundwater. This episode takes a "deep dive" into the occurrence and implications of Legionella in groundwater systems. Listeners will learn the basics of Legionella pneumophila, how often it's detected and at what concentrations, and, most importantly, what can be done to control Legionella to avoid the severe health outcomes associated with Legionnaires' Disease. This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on a publication in Water Research. The original article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.118615
S1 · E13
Dec 4, 2024
12:37
Finding a Fungal "Needle in a Haystack"
There are now countless examples of how wastewater surveillance can be used to track trends in infectious disease transmission within a community. Most of these examples focus on established pathogens that have become endemic within those communities, including SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). But can these same wastewater methods help detect the introduction of a pathogen into a community? What if the source is just a single person? Wastewater surveillance can't be that sensitive, right? This episode takes a "deep dive" into the use of wastewater surveillance to monitor for Candida auris, which is an antifungal resistant yeast and emerging public health threat. This episode focuses on two different studies that implemented wastewater surveillance--first in Las Vegas, Nevada, where there was a known outbreak of C. auris, and then in St. George, Utah, where there was no prior evidence of C. auris in the local community. This is an AI-generated podcast created with NotebookLM based on two publications in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The original articles are available here: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2902.221523 and https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3010.240173
S1 · E12
Dec 3, 2024
10:44
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