This project integrates expertise from seven disciplines (computer science and engineering, environmental engineering and science, community social science, biogeochemistry, hydrology, natural resource management, and statistics) to study the complete feedback loop of SWC on how reliable data analytics and crowdsensing improves drinking water safety and management, and ultimately community well-being and sustainability.
Why do we care about nitrate contamination? The residential drinking water supplies in rural northern Indiana rely on private groundwater wells and it is known that a serious problem is nitrate contamination according to a survey by the St. Joseph County. Nitrate contaminates the water supplies from such things as fertilizer applications or seepage of septic tanks. Ingestion of nitrates from contaminated waters results in methemoglobinemia.
THE GOAL:
IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF VARIABILITY IN DATA COLLECTED BY CITIZEN SCIENTISTS
- By combining test strip data and lab measurements, we will be able to understand more about spatial and temporal variability in data reporting across urban, suburban, and rural communities in Northern Indiana.
- We will empower homeowners with an improved understanding of their own water quality through community engagement in the scientific process.
- Our results will be useful to make recommendations of groundwater management at state and regional level through stakeholder partnerships.