Previous Research

Below you can find a brief description of the previous research the DWJL has engaged in.

Drinking Water Newspaper Text Analytics

Goal: Pollution in the Press uses a socio-hydrological approach to evaluate local awareness of drinking water quality issues. By employing text analytics, we explored the potential drivers of regional water quality narratives within 25 local news sources across the United States. The goal of the research was to extend our current understanding of variations in local narratives to consider nuances of water quality issues and indicate opportunities for increasing equity in environmental risk communication.

Research Assistants: Mariah D. Caballero

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Gilligan, Dr. Thushara Gunda, & Dr. Yolanda J. McDonald

Machine Learning approach to predicting PFAS contamination in Community Water Systems (CWSs)

Goal: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS are an emergent class of contaminant molecules harmful to human health. PFAS testing is currently conducted on a limited, statewide basis. While millions of Americans are potentially exposed to PFAS compounds through their drinking water, only 17 states have enforceable standards, guidance levels, or require notification of presence in drinking water. To predict PFAS presence in community water systems (CWSs), we train a series of machine learning models based on observations from existing testing performed by the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection.

Research Assistants: Aakash Manapat

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Hiba Baroud, Dr. Ke Jack Ding, Dr. Jonathan Gilligan, & Dr. Yolanda J. McDonald

Tennessee Community Water System (CWS) Estimated Service Area Boundary (ESAB) Digitization Process

The Tennessee Community Water System (CWS) Estimated Service Area Boundary (ESAB) Digitization Process was a state-sponsored research project where DWJL members partnered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), and the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts (TAUD) to visualize and analyze community water systems throughout Tennessee.

Research Assistants: Marie Caiola (Lead)

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Yolanda J. McDonald

Student Alumni: Austin Fernandez,Minoli Fernando, Rachel Flores, Ashley Kim, Aakash Manapat,, Meena Muthusubramanian, Adrienne Parks, & Dmitry Semenov

Tennessee Dental Caries Prevention: Fluoride Levels in Community Water Systems (CWSs)

Goal: The Tennessee Dental Caries Prevention Project evaluated the Tennessee Oral Health Plan program’s spatial selection of intervention efforts. The project assessed if dental services in Tennessee are in the areas of greatest need. The ‘area of greatest need’ was defined as a community served by a water system that did not meet the recommended American Dental Association (ADA) fluoridation level to prevent dental caries (i.e., cavities), 0.7 parts per million.

Research Assistants: Ashley Kim

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Ke Jack Ding, Dr. Yolanda J. McDonald, & Dr. Derek K. Smith

Tennessee Private Wells Project

Goal: The Tennessee Private Wells Project is a multi-methods pilot study conducted in rural Tennessee. The project was a collaborative effort with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), funded by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). The goal of this project was to develop a methodology to estimate populations reliant on private well drinking water sources and associated risk of contamination.

Research Assistants: Mariah D. Caballero (Lead) & Austin Fernandez

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Yolanda J. McDonald

Tennessee Public Water Operator Survey

Goal: The Tennessee Public Water Operator Survey project is a community-based participatory research project. For this project, DWJL members partnered with the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Tennessee Department of Health to create and implement a statewide survey that asks frontline water professionals to assess their systems’ technical, managerial, and financial capacity.

Research Assistants: Kayla M. Anderson (Lead)

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Jonathan Gilligan & Dr. Yolanda J. McDonald

Student Alumni: Mia Dillon & Cate Paxton