IMPROVING WATER QUANTITY AND QUALITY: DEVELOP NOVEL AND SUSTAINABLE TREATMENT OF RECYCLED WASTEWATER FOR IRRIGATION

This Seed project aims to improve agriculture sustainability and agro-urban ecosystem health by developing an innovative photochemical treatment for recycled wastewater irrigation and evaluating downstream risk using a greenhouse turfgrass irrigation research trial. Research Objectives: (1) Develop novel photochemical water treatment to degrade organic contaminants. (2) Optimize the treatment by maximizing removal efficiency and minimizing energy and chemical footprint. (3) Evaluate the impact of the treated water with the proposed technology against regular recycled water and potable water on turfgrass growth and health under multiple irrigation scenarios via a greenhouse irrigation research trial. Educational Objectives: (1) Train graduate students/post-doctoral scholars through research and mentoring. (2) Engage undergraduate and graduate students by integrating research findings of water reuse and agricultural sustainability to new course modules.?