Hydraulic Engineering Commons^™

Fate And Transport Of Toxoplasma Gondii Oocysts In Saturated Porous Media: Effects Of Electrolytes And Natural Organic Matter, Christian Pullano

All Theses

Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogenic microorganism that is currently a threat to public health. Understanding the fate and transport of T. gondii through the soil and groundwater is vital in determining the risk it poses to water resources and human health. The physico-chemical interactions between the groundwater and the bio colloid within an aquifer will dictate its mobility and its ability to infect humans. This research examines how various naturally occurring groundwater chemistries containing organic compounds and monovalent and divalent salt solutions will alter the fate and transport of T. gondii. Solutions containing various concentrations of humic acid, fulvic …

Hydrodynamic Signatures Of Recreational Boat Wakes And Their Influence To Sediment Entrainment Along The Shoreline Of A Shallow Estuary, Kelly M. Kibler

Predicting Boat Wake Bank Erosion Risk

Wave energy from recreational boat wakes is associated with erosion and degradation of shoreline ecotones. However, wake effects are often assumed to be negligible when boating lanes are located far from shore. In this study, field experiments were conducted to characterize hydrodynamics of recreational boat wakes at the shoreline of a shallow estuary as offshore sailing-line distance varied from 50 to 200m. Results indicate that wake events were considerably more energetic than ambient conditions, with an average 20% increase in wave height, 190% increase in near-bed orbital velocity, and 110% increase in wave-induced shear stress. Wake events generated farther from …

Cost-Efficient Bridge Scour Health Monitoring Using Commercial Sensors, Connor Embleau, Tien Yee, Metin Oguzmert, Mahyar Amirgholy, Alan Akazemi, Dale Goff

Symposium of Student Scholars

Bridge scouring has been a major international issue regarding bridge health and the overall longevity of a bridge. A common bridge health concern such as scouring accounts for close to 60% of bridge failures in the United States and is a leading cause to a bridge being in critical condition. Traditional methods to combat this failure is to measure the scour depth to assess a bridge health. Due to safety concerns of the traditional method, this study proposes to monitor a bridge’s health using a vibration-based technique. At present, vibration-based techniques have yet to be utilized reliably in the field. …

Hot Spot Analysis Of Potential Sanitary Sewer Exfiltration In Crystal Creek Watershed, Adam Schumacher, Michael Reisner, Kevin Geedey

Independent Research Projects

Crystal Creek in Davenport Iowa drains suburban and park areas before draining into Duck Creek, a tributary of the Mississippi River. Contact recreation is a designated use for all the streams. As a pilot project with the city of Davenport, Augustana College’s Upper Mississippi Center assessed this stream in the summer of 2021 to determine if relatively inexpensive monitoring tools could be used to assess possible sewage contamination in that stream. Running through multiple residential areas, sewer lines follow the studied region of the creek, leading to the hotspot focus that was conducted by student researchers. Fecal coliform, optical brighteners, …

Using Machine Learning In Estimating Changing Bed Shear Over A Flume Test Box, Ghada S. Ellithy, Siddharth S. Parida

Publications

A dam or levee breach caused by overflow erosion is difficult to evaluate during an overtopping event due to difficulty in accessibility and quickly changing conditions. However, for assessment of risk associated with breach time and ensuing downstream consequences, the erosion rate of embankment soils during this process needs to be evaluated. Soil erosion and water depth measurements were taken during flume tests using a Shallow Water Lidar (SWL) system scans. The tests were conducted in a 1-m-wide tilting flume on three cleans and gravel soil mixes with a median grain size D50of 2, 5,and 20 mm. The box measured …

Modeling Vapor Transfer In Soil Water And Heat Simulations: A Modularized, Partially-Coupled Approach, Zhuangji Wang, Dennis Timlin, David Fleisher, Wenguang Sun, Sahila Beegum, Sanai Li, Ya Chen, Vandimalla R. Reddy, Katherine Tully, Robert Horton

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

Coupled water and heat transfer models are widely used to analyze soil water content and temperature dynamics, evaluate agricultural management systems, and support crop growth modelling. In relatively dry soils, vapor transfer, rather than liquid water flux, becomes the main pathway for water redistribution. However, in some modularized soil simulators, e.g., 2DSOIL (Timlin et al., 1996), vapor transfer is not included, which may induce errors in soil water and heat modelling. Directly embedding vapor transfer into existing water and heat transfer modules may violate the modularized architecture of those simulators. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to design a …

Ferrihydrite Enrichment In The Rhizosphere Of Unsaturated Soil Improves Nutrient Retention While Limiting Arsenic And Uranium Plant Uptake, Arindam Malakar, Daniel D. Snow, Michael Kaiser, Jordan Shields, Bijesh Maharjan, Harkamal Walia, Daran Rudnick, Chittaranjan Ray

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

Improvement of nutrient use efficiency and limiting trace elements such as arsenic and uranium bioavailability is critical for sustainable agriculture and food safety. Arsenic and uranium possess different properties and mobility in soils, which complicates the effort to reduce their uptake by plants. Here, we postulate that unsaturated soil amended with ferrihydrite nanominerals leads to improved nutrient retention and helps reduce uptake of these geogenic contaminants. Unsaturated soil is primarily oxic and can provide a stable environment for ferrihydrite nanominerals. To demonstrate the utility of ferrihydrite soil amendment, maize was grown in an unsaturated agricultural soil that is known to …

Nebraska Water Center Annual Report 2022, Nebraska Water Center, Daugherty Water For Food Global Institute

Nebraska Water Center: Administrative Materials

CONTENTS

Overview: The Nebraska Water Center (https://watercenter.unl.edu)

Fast Facts: NWC 2022 Snapshot

Our Work

Water Sciences Lab Sees Rapid Growth in 2022 (https://watercenter.unl.edu/water-sciences-laboratory2)

WSL is Key to AltEn Contamination Monitoring (https://go.unl.edu/mead)

Know Your Well Project Enters Third Phase (https://knowyourwell.unl.edu)

Computer Science Students Build New Platform for Know Your Well Data Collection

Water Sciences Laboratory Helps Nebraska Tackle Nitrate (https://watercenter.unl.edu/water-sciences-laboratory2)

Nebraska Rural Poll Includes Water Quality Questions (https://ruralpoll.unl.edu and https://go.unl.edu/nitrate_strategy)

NWC Holds Platte River Basin Conference (https://watercenter.unl.edu/2022-nebraska-water-conference)

Spring Seminar Series (https://watercenter.unl.edu/spring-seminar-series)

Water Center Undergoes Five-Year …

Sediment Nitrogen Dynamics In Backwater Wetland Confluences Of A Regulated River, Gina Degraves

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

As harmful algal blooms in regulated river systems have increased in the past decade, the importance of understanding sediment nutrients has also increased. Research linking nutrient processes and fine sediment dynamics to harmful algal blooms in confluence wetlands along regulated rivers has recently become apparent. However, the relationship between sediment nutrient dynamics in confluence wetlands has been understudied. Utilization of sediment fingerprinting, high-frequency water quality monitoring, and tracer unmixing mass-balance modeling, was able to suggest sediment N mineralization in Appalachia confluence riparian wetland was not a dominate source of nitrate downstream. Further measures of supplementary tracers and additional sediment sources …

Using Stream Restoration To Mitigate Stormwater Runoff In An Urban Watershed: A Case Study, Jonathan M. Brantley

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The goal of this case study was to evaluate the effectiveness a 275 m regenerative stream restoration design to mitigate stormwater runoff in a highly urbanized watershed. The restoration resulted in a wide, wetland-like floodplain, comprised of a rock base that was overtopped with a filtration media (approximately 30% woodchips and 70% topsoil). The creation of the floodplain-wetland complex in tandem with filtration media lead to increased storage capacity and an increase in hyporheic exchange within the system. Significant reductions were found for the storm hydrograph parameters volume, peak discharge, and time to peak. Reductions in baseflows were also noted …

Simulating Groundwater Pollutant Transport For Remediation Design, Antrim County, Michigan, Abilynn Raetz

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Located in Antrim County, Michigan between the coasts of Torch Lake and Lake Michigan is a hydrocarbon plume that has impacted surrounding residential wells. The plume is comprised of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and primarily resides in the shallowest groundwater aquifer. The plume is suspected of having originated from an underground storage container that was removed in 1979. A conceptual model was developed for the site, comprising of a simplified hydrogeological model. Groundwater modeling was performed using Aquaveo's groundwater modeling software (GMS). PEST parameter calibration was performed on the hydraulic conductivity and recharge values using data from surrounding …

Barriers To Technology Adoption In The Water Treatment Industry, Ian Adams

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This honors project focuses on barriers to technology adoption in the drinking water treatment industry. The scope of this project considers these barriers as they relate to general technology and with a specific focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins. To better understand these barriers, prior research and case studies are analyzed. The case studies include reports provided by Fontus Blue, a water treatment software provider based in Akron, Ohio. The case studies exhibit the benefits and challenges of integrating new technology, including AI systems. With the context of these case studies in mind, a survey was distributed to …

Potential Water Treatment Residual Used For Eutrophication Prevention: Varying Bake Time And Wet-Dry Release Experiments, Noor Fahoum

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A challenge faced today in water ways is the excessive growth of algae due to eutrophication. These harmful algal blooms create problems for the environment and safety concerns for the use of water for drinking purposes. An increase in limiting nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are one of the factors that contribute to eutrophication. This is a concern for the Akron Water Treatment plant where preventative measures are being taken to avoid the potential formation of harmful algal blooms and the cyanotoxins they may release in the water. Through various studies, water treatment residuals (WTR) have been found to …

Evaluation Of Production-Well Performance In Response To Formation Clogging And Rehabilitation For The Keweenaw Bay Tribal Fish Hatchery, Brock O. Howell

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Temporally, the KBIC (Keweenaw Bay Indian Community) Hatchery wells have manifested general trends of declining specific capacity and higher energy consumption due to mineral precipitation in and around the production wells. Monitoring data, laboratory water analyses, and downhole video logging have confirmed that naturally occurring minerals are precipitating and clogging the screens and, likely, the surrounding formations. The reduction in fluid pressures in and around the well-screens from active pumping wells is typical but, ultimately alters the geochemical and physical conditions such that dissolved minerals precipitate on and around the well-screens, therefore, effectively clogging the well. The clogging from mineral …

Predictions Of Produced Water Quality And Recycled Water Optimization For Spatially-Distributed Wells In Point Pleasant Formation, Armel Quentin Mbakop

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The treatment of produced water as a fracturing fluid is becoming an increasingly important aspect of water management surrounding the booming of the unconventional oil and gas industry. Two main problems facing the oil and gas industry are the availability of water for well drilling and completion and disposal of the produced water. Unconventional well drilling and completion in the Utica shale requires large amounts of water. The wastewater that results after production—containing high levels of organic and inorganic matter— is usually disposed of through deep well injection. A new approach reuses this produced water as part of subsequent fracturing …

Mathematical Model Of The Efficiency Of Investments Aimed In The Implementation Of Water-Saving Technologies

Irrigation and Melioration

In Uzbekistan, research work is being carried out aimed at improving the economic mechanisms for the introduction of water-saving technologies for irrigating agricultural crops. At the same time, the issues related to the analysis of the effectiveness of the use of water-saving technologies when irrigating cotton, the development of mathematical methods for assessing the effectiveness of investments, as well as their introduction into practice have not been sufficiently studied. This article provides a mathematical model of the efficiency of investments aimed at introducing water-saving technologies. The results of a numerical experiment of a mathematical model show that the introduction of …

Efficient Use Of Water Resources In The Basins Of Small Rivers, F. Gapparov, M.F. Gafforova

Irrigation and Melioration

The article provides a recommendation for the efficient use of water resources in the basins of small foothill rivers. The research was carried out on the example of the Govasay river basin located in the northern part of the Fergana Valley. The efficiency factor of the canal has been determined and a technical assessment has been given for the management of water resources in the river basin; the efficiency of the canal is 65-75%. A program for the operational management of water resources in The Govasay river basin and a GIS map of water consumers in the Govasay river basin …

Model Of Groundwater Level Control Using Horizontal Drainage, A. Arifjanov, M. Otaxonov, Z. Abdulkhaev

Irrigation and Melioration

The article describes the main factors affecting the rise in the level of groundwater in the city of Fergana and ways to eliminate them. Currently, in order to reduce the negative impact of rising groundwater levels on the environment, crops, buildings and structures, as well as underground utilities, it is proposed to design horizontal drainage in urban areas and a mathematical model has been developed for changing the groundwater level. For this, long-term data from observation wells were analyzed and the hydraulic parameters of horizontal drainage were selected taking into account the hydrogeology of the area. Taking into account the …

Results Of Proximate Analysis Of Energy Use Of Municipal Solid Waste, N.N. Abduganiev

Irrigation and Melioration

In the modern industrialized world, various raw materials are processed and used for human consumption. While some of the raw materials are converted into the desired product, the rest is thrown into the environment as waste. It is known that solid waste is a type of biomass that is formed in the course of human life. The article presents the results of a preliminary analysis of studies on the use of solid waste energy in the Urta-Chirchik district of the Tashkent region. Sorting results showed that the total volume of municipal solid waste in the district consists mainly of wood …

Shredding Of Cotton Stalks Under The Action Of Toothpicks In A Combined Unit, B. Khudayarov, U. Kuziev, B. Sarimsakov, М. Kholbutaev

Irrigation and Melioration

The article presents materials devoted to the justification of the parameters of the crown-wheel of the combined aggreagate. The technological process of work and the design of the working part, which is crushed by crushing cotton stalks, without breaking them, laying them on the movement of the unit, has been substantiated and developed. The optimal parameters of the crown-wheel and the tooth are determined by solving the regression equations that determine the optimal values of the vertical load on the teeth and its working quality. The results of theoretical and experimental research show that the amount of crushing of cotton …

Influence Of Electrophysical Methods On The Processes Of Root Formation Of Grapes, N.M. Markayev

Irrigation and Melioration

The article describes the possibilities of electrophysical processing before planting cuttings during vegetative cultivation of grape seedlings. The processes of root formation in cuttings using the electrophysical method in the article Acceleration of the process of root formation in cuttings of black raisins, treated at 71 V/m and an electric field strength of 15 hours, and an increase in the viability, quality, growth and survival of rooted seedlings up to 16.67-34% Presented the results of experiments on the increase and methods of electrotechnological processing of grape cuttings. The result of the study is the analysis and results of the processes …

Conditions, Criteria And Principles For Creating An Agri-Cultural Land Market In Uzbekistan, A.R. Nurnazarov

Irrigation and Melioration

The article analyzes the prerequisites for creating a market for agricultural land in the Republic of Uzbekistan, special attention is paid to land reform, land degradation (reduction of the bonitet score from 60 in 1991 to 50 or more at present, pasture degradation by 20-30%) and increase in economic from their use, the role of land rent in payments for land. 6 basic principles for creating a land market have been established and systematized, the relationship between X-rays and water in the irrigated farming zone, the role of the market in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the use of …

Economic Assessment Of The Effect Of Family Income On Students' Disciplines, Sh.A. Muratov

Irrigation and Melioration

The importance of higher education in scientific research, its role in poverty reduction and population growth has been studied theoretically. Also, when using the data of social surveys conducted by 538 respondents (students) studying in higher education institutions, they were awarded the Order of the logistics regulator in the economic assessment of the factors influencing the rate of mastery of disciplines. Factors influencing the acquisition of subjects by students: the main income of the family comes from non-farm (69,9 %), sex (52,2 %), studying at a higher education institution on a state grant (108,8 %), the student's course of study …

Innovative Rotor Casing And Leveling Apron For Combined Tillage Machine, A.A. Akhmetov, L.B. Muratov

Irrigation and Melioration

Investigations of the design of a combined machine equipped with an innovative casing and a leveler apron are presented, and the parameters of the leveler apron are substantiated. It was experimentally established that when the height of the drawing prism is exceeded by more than 200 mm, due to the falling of the crumbling part of the soil onto the rotor, the soil is thrown forward in the direction of the machine. Therefore, to eliminate soil waste, it is necessary either to reduce the height of the drag prism, or to increase the distance between the rotor and the leveling …

Ensuring The Uniformity Of Movement Of The Working Bodies Of The Machine For Processing Ridges In The Depth Of Travel, А. Tukhtakuziev, K.G. Abdulkhaev

Irrigation and Melioration

The article theoretically investigates the issue of identifying ways to ensure the deepening of the working bodies of the machine for processing ridges to a given processing depth and its required uniformity of stroke. The research results show that the deepening of the working bodies of the ridges processing machine to a given processing depth and its required uniformity is provided mainly due to the correct choice of the vertical distance from its reference plane to the lower connection points. The novelty of the conducted research lies in the fact that an analytical dependence has been obtained that allows us …

Develepment Of Land Market In Eastern European Countries And Experience For Uzbekistan, A.R. Nurnazarov

Irrigation and Melioration

The article examines the experience of the formation of the agricultural land market in Eastern European countries since the 90 s of the twentieth century, the problems and features of its devel-opment, the impact of the land market on the economies of countries. Particular attention is paid to the transformation of land ownership, methods of land privatization, land pricing, restrictions on land purchase, regulation of land relations in market conditions, issues of granting the right to pur-chase land to foreign individuals and legal entities, requirements for land owners for the presence of a special agricultural education or 3-5 years of …

The Developmet Of Competences Via Techniques For Enhancing Esp (English For Specific Purposes) Vocabulary Of Learners, G. Eshchanova

Irrigation and Melioration

In the article a recent trend in higher education is ESP (English for Specific Purposes) courses is discussed. These courses are designed around students’ needs based on their field of study. The goal is to strengthen students’ proficiency and help them to get ready to cope with everyday situations and deal with professionals in many fields such as: engineering, medicine, education and IT. There are many training sessions organized by international experts whose goal is to train local teachers to teach these courses successfully. In order to develop an ability to learn new vocabulary, for both general English and technical …

Development Of Girls’ Sports, A.R. Khodjanov, V.V. Mahmudov

Irrigation and Melioration

The article addresses current issues of higher education, taking into account its specifics. She has been providing appropriate advice on improving girls' physical well-being. The use of opportunities and qualities has an impact on the creation of comfortable conditions for female athletes. For girls involved in sports, the creation of impressive quality and possible conditions is considered. As a result, the girls-athletes of our institute took 2-3 places in the district and city qualifying rounds of chess, table tennis and won a ticket to the republican stage. At the republican stage, 2 female students of our team took 4th place …

The Imrovement Of Esp Teaching Via Methodical Provision At Technical Institution: Specializm-Oriented English Via Agriculture, G. Eshchanova, U. Nullaev

Irrigation and Melioration

In the given article the ways that ESP combines subject matter and English language teaching is discussed. This approach can be highly motivating for students because students are able to apply what they learn in their English classes to their main field of study, whether it be law, computing, business, tourism, etc. Being able to use the vocabulary and structures that they learn in a meaningful context reinforces what is taught and increases their motivation. Nevertheless, ESP concentrates more on language in context than on teaching grammar and language structures. Additionally, the ways of teaching English in ESL classes and …

Source Apportionment And Health Risk Assessment Of Nitrate In Foothill Aquifers Of Western Ghats, South India, Banajarani Panda, S. Chidambaram, Daniel D. Snow, Arindam Malakar, Dhiraj Kr Singh, L. Ramanathan

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

The present research reports the level of nitrate (NO₃^-), associated health risks and possible sources of contamination in groundwater from south India. Many samples (32%) are above or approaching the recommended level of NO₃^- for safe drinking water. The correlation analysis indicates different sources of NO₃^- contamination in different regions rather than a common origin. The isotopic measurements provide information about potential nitrogen sources contributing NO₃^- to the groundwater. Based on isotope analysis, the sources of NO₃^- in the groundwater of this region are likely to be from (a) …