Purifying Wastewater for Rural Communities Project Proposal and Final Report
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Authors
Hutchison, Lauren
Lowery, Harrison
Shackelford, Tessa
Issue Date
2022-07
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Keywords
University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee , Sewanee DataLab 2022 , DataFest 2022 , Purifying Wastewater for Rural Communities , Ecosystem , Wetlands , Climate change , Water treatment
Alternative Title
Abstract
In 2016, Dr. McGrath, Professor of Biology at Sewanee, lobbied for the construction of three wetland basins at the Sewanee Utility District (SUD) in order to research the efficacy of wetland treatment for a small community setting. For the past few years, water quality measurements have been taken at the SUD's wetlands to better determine the outcomes of wetland treatment in rural communities like Sewanee. Our team's goal was to set up visualizations that allow our community partner, Dr. McGrath, to understand the water quality trends of the wetlands over time to push for sustainable development in the community.
Description
Population growth and climate change continue to pose ever-increasing challenges to water treatment facilities. Constructed wetlands, designed and built to mimic natural wetlands, are a more sustainable and cost effective alternative to purify wastewater. The Sewanee Wetlands Project has been collecting data over the past several years to determine the effectiveness of its constructed wetlands, and we are analyzing this data to determine if constructed wetlands function efficiently on a small scale in rural communities. We are also creating a community accessible dashboard which will educate the public further on wetlands and climate change.
Citation
Publisher
University of the South