Augustana students present at state water conference

Augustana College students joined officials on April 17 at the Illinois Section of the American Water Association industry conference in Peoria to present research from the college’s water line inventory project. The multi-faceted project included community outreach, GIS and equitable finance planning.

Known as WATERCON, the annual event brings together utilities and industry suppliers, consultants, manufacturers and regulators to share information through the exhibits, education and networking events. Presenting students included: Zack Horve, a senior environmental studies major from Mackinaw, Ill.; Adriana Reyes, a junior geography major from Chicago, Ill,; and Erik Bergren, a junior economics and public health double major from Geneseo, Ill. 

All three students were among the student researchers on the multi-year, interdisciplinary project. They were joined at the conference by Augustana Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Kimberly Murphy, Augustana Sustainability Manager Peyton Heisch and City of Rock Island Water Superintendent Jason Upton. View the WATERCON presentation.

“WATERCON provided our students the opportunity to share their lead service line community-based research project methods and results with a diverse group of professionals and experts all focused on safe and sustainable water practices,” said Dr. Murphy. “The students also discussed the life skills they developed that are valuable for their personal growth."

Augustana announced a partnership with the City of Rock Island to identify the city’s service lines in July 2022. The project is in compliance with the 2022 Illinois' Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act, which requires cities to inventory lead service lines, implement replacements and coordinate financing strategies to fund this work. 

The college’s Center for the Advancement of Community Health and Wellness, led by Dr. Murphy, and the Upper Mississippi Center, led by Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Dr. Michael Reisner, assisted in gathering data for the project.

Over 12,000 residential homes were included in the survey, which accounts for 25 percent of inventory citywide. With the use of predictive modeling, the project leaders were able to estimate the remaining 75 percent.

As an economic and public health student, Bergren said presenting on how to equitably serve communities through water pipe replacement was the perfect combination of his majors. 

“Seeing how excited and curious industry leaders were in our research was the best part of my experience at WATERCON,” he said. “I’m glad our research has the potential to help more communities beyond Rock Island."

In addition to WATERCON, Augustana students recently presented at The Mississippi River Research Consortium, held April 16-18 in La Crosse, Wisc. Augustana-led presentations included research focused on microplastics in freshwater urban watersheds and land use factors affecting erosion and entrenchment in the Goose Creek Watershed of Davenport, Iowa.

Presenting students included:

• Annie Gill, a senior environmental studies from Naperville, Ill.

• Fynn Greene, a sophomore biology; environmental studies; and women, gender and sexuality studies triple major from Geneseo, Ill. 

• Zack Horve, a senior environmental studies major from Mackinaw, Ill.

• Hannah McKoon, a junior geology and Spanish for professional use double major from Geneseo, Ill.

• Briana Reagan, a junior geology and environmental studies double major from Poplar Grove, Ill.

• Jenna Sorenson, a senior biology and environmental studies double major from Barrington, Ill.