| Fall 2005 UMASS
Amherst Operations Research / Management Science Seminar Series |
Date: Friday, October 28, 2005 Time: 11:00 AM Location: Isenberg School of Management, Room 112 |
| Speaker: Professor
David A. Reckhow Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Massachusetts at Amherst |
| Biography: Professor David A. Reckhow has
been on the Faculty of the University of Massachusetts since 1985 and
is currently Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering.
In addition, he has has served as Director of The Environmental
Institute since 2002. Prior to coming to UMass he was a
Post-Doctoral Research Associate with the Compagnie
Générale des Eaux in Paris. Dr. Reckhow's research
interests include chemical oxidation of pollutants in water,
coagulation processes, and aquatic organic matter in natural systems
and drinking waters. He has special interests in disinfection
byproducts and ozonation processes for drinking water treatment.
Dr. Reckhow has an active research program (currently PI on 8 research
grants), and he regularly serves as a consultant to industry and the
federal government |
| TITLE: Chemicals in the Water: The Struggle to keep America’s Drinking Water Safe |
| Abstract: The modern history of drinking
water in the developed world is a triumphant story of technology and
innovation. While once commonplace, waterborne diseases are now
so rare as to make national news whenever an outbreak is
identified. Yet, we continue to be plagued by water quality
concerns. Chlorine, the very disinfectant that has saved us from
typhoid and cholera, is now thought to be causing various forms of
cancer in the US population. It might also be responsible for
widespread spontaneous abortions and abnormally low birth
weights. Yet, identifying the real risks from public drinking
water has proven to be great challenge, eluding the top scientists at
the National Institutes of Health. Instituting fair and equitable
controls that insure the US public is protected from unacceptable risk
may even be a greater challenge. In this talk, I will present
some of the background on use of chlorination, and formation of
disinfection hazardous byproducts in public water supplies. I
will bring in some of the latest research in this area and discuss the
USEPA strategy for protecting consumers of public drinking water. |
| This series is organized by the
UMASS Amherst INFORMS Student Chapter. Support for this series is
provided by the Isenberg School of Management, the Department of
Finance and Operations Management, INFORMS, and the John F. Smith
Memorial Fund. For questions, please contact the INFORMS Student Chapter Representative, Ms. Tina Wakolbinger, wakolbinger@som.umass.edu |