Expert Details
Water Treatment Technologies, Water Quality
ID: 735389
New Jersey, USA
A scientist who combines technical knowledge with innovation for practical solutions. Expert in evaluation and design of advanced coagulation, clarification, filtration, disinfection, and membrane technologies for water treatment. Utilize data analytics for the optimization of water quality and efficiency at treatment plants. Go-to person for problem-solving, implementing solutions at existing facilities and helping to launch new pilot plants and operations. Affected changes resulting in >$8M in capital and operational savings in long-term internal and externally funded projects.
Areas of Expertise:
Water Processes/ Technologies Investigation/ Analysis/ Research Data Analytics Project Management Oral/ Written Presentations Cost Savings/ Optimization Innovation/ New Technology Operational Troubleshooting Coagulation Clarification/ Filtration Disinfection Membrane Technologies
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1996 | Degree: Ph.D. | Subject: Civil Engineering | Institution: University of Massachusetts at Amherst |
| Year: 1990 | Degree: MS | Subject: Environmental Engineering | Institution: University of Massachusetts at Amherst |
| Year: 1987 | Degree: BS | Subject: Chemical Engineering | Institution: Cornell University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2018 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Proprietor | Department: |
Responsibilities:Business development, project management |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2005 to 2018 | Employer: American Water | Title: Manager, Water Technology | Department: R&D |
Responsibilities:Project management, research managementPrincipal Scientist, 2017 - 2018 • Implemented a chemical optimization program with projected savings of 20-40% annually. • Managed >$10M in funded research projects, coordinating all aspects of projects including financial and technical reporting, regulatory interactions, invoicing, quality controls, and communications with research partners. Manager, Water Technology, 2013 • 2017 • Saved more than $7M by initiating a biofiltration program for plants. • Designed and patented a coagulant recovery system. Senior Environmental Engineer, 2005 - 2013 Developed corrosion control practice changes that resulted in >$l.SM savings in chemical costs. Awarded for research projects and papers, serving on Innovation and Environmental Excellence Team focusing on drinking water quality, treatment plant troubleshooting, and process improvement and design. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2001 to 2004 | Employer: Black & Veatch | Title: Manager, Water Process Technology | Department: |
Responsibilities:Technical assistance, business development |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 2001 | Employer: Hazen and Sawyer | Title: Principal Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Managed day-to-day operation of New York City DEP Croton Pilot plant. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| American Water Works Association National Plant Operations Research Committee; chair for 3 years National Coagulation and Filtration Committee National Emerging Water Quality Issues Committee National Particulate Contaminant Research Committee National Biological Drinking Water Treatment Committee NJ AWWA Research and Technical Transfer Committee, Chair for 2 years International Water Association Water Innovation Network for Sustainable Small Systems (WINSSS) Science Advisory Committee American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Professional Engineer, Civil Engineering, NJ License |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2002-2003 |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| AWWA Distribution & Plant Operations Division Best Paper Award “Determining Vulnerability and Occurrence of Residential Backflow” Journal of the American Water Works Association. AWWA Distribution & Plant Operations Division Best Paper Award “Microbial Risk Modelling for Main Breaks” Journal of the American Water Works Association New Jersey Section of the American Water Works Association Research Award Best Paper Awards: Journal of the American Water Works Association (2 years) Research Award: New Jersey Section of the American Water Works Association |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Expert has 14 peer-reviewed publications as author or co-author and 14 published research reports. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology: President Obama's "Science and Technology to Ensure the Safety of the Nation's Drinking Water" working group Scientific Publications: Journal of American Water Works Association, ASCE Journal of environmental engineering, Applied and Engineering Microbiology, Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua Peer Reviewer: Journal of American Water Works Association, Ozone Science and Engineering, Journal of Water Supply and Technology, Science of the total environment Journal, Water Research Journal, Desalination Journal Water Research Foundation: Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, or Project Advisory Committee member on more than 15 projects Presentations: More than 90 presentations at national and regional American Water Works conferences, International Ozone Association conferences, Water Research Foundation symposiums, International Ultraviolet Association International Congress, Tifft Water Supply Symposium, European Union training courses, Small Public Water Systems Technology Assistance Center Patent: Simultaneous Recovery of Coagulant and Acid (US patent) Published papers: 13 Reports and Book Chapters: 14 Conference Presentations: 64 |
Additional Experience
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS Doctorate in Civil Engineering: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA Master of Science in environmental engineering: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Professional Engineer (P.E.): New Jersey registration license Professional Associations: American Water Works Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, International Water Association, American Water Works Association committees (member and chairman) Advisory Boards: Water Innovation Network for Sustainable Small Systems, New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment Engineering Research Center Building and Leading Effective Teams, Executive Education Program, Columbia University, New York, NY |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Additional experience: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lecturer Hazen and Sawyer, P.C. CH2M-Hill Malcolm Pirnie Engineers American Water Project Manager Water Quality Sensors and Event Detection Led an internally funded project to evaluate existing water quality sensors • Evaluated gaps in existing coverage • Evaluated commercially available event detection software and developing strategies for the use of artificial intelligence and neural networking to find water quality anomalies. Project Manager Remote Sensing for Algal Blooms • Was developing a research track for the use of satellites and UAVs (drones) to detect harmful algal blooms with remote multi or hyperspectral imaging. • Will create guidance to incorporate the resulting data into operational tools for treatment plants and/or early warning systems. Project Manager Electrochemical Oxidation Technology • Led investigations into novel 3-dimensional electrode technologies for the oxidation of trace organic chemicals including pharmaceutical and personal care products, algal toxins, synthetic organic compounds, perfluorinated compounds, and others. Project Manager Canoe Brook Reservoir Algae Control Project • Managed $350,000 project evaluating ultrasonic buoys for control of blue-green algae in a New Jersey reservoir • Used multiple tools for analysis including imaging flow cytometry (Fluid Imaging FlowCam), fluorescence emission-excitation matrix (FEEM) analyses, and other standard analyses to complement buoys' onboard analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of control. • Conducted evaluations of projected cost savings and payback period. Savings amounted to $87,500/yr. with simple ROIof 1.8 yrs. Project Manager Investigation of Coagulant Recovery and Reuse • Led internally funded research into the recovery of alum and ferric from water treatment plant residuals using several approaches including acidification and Donnan dialysis and acidification/ membrane assisted capacitive deionization (MCDI) • Developed bench testing programs to evaluate technical, economic, and regulatory feasibility Project Coordinator Evaluation of Biofiltrotion • The developed case for change in internal practices • Led coordination around American Water where plants are changing from regeneration/ replacement of GAC to biofiltration; A developed model testing program to evaluate the effectiveness of biofilters for particle and organic removal. • Over 75% of American Water GAC plants converted to performance-based GAC replacement (biofiltration) accounting for over $5.5M in savings over three years. Implemented filter inspection protocols to monitor performance in each filter. Conversions reduced individual plants total cost of GAC ownership by 70-95%. Technical Resource Raw Water Quality Assessment Committee American Water-Acciona Agua-Tampa Bay Water • Served on a joint workgroup to determine if anomalous raw water quality had impacts on treatment plant performance. • Developed a program for continuous and grab sampling. Technical Resource Dobbs Avenue/Birch Creek NJ American Water Assisted in the development of a testing plan for rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCTs) for IPMP (a taste and odor causing compound) and perfluorinated compounds for two groundwater systems in NJ. ***Many more examples of projects available upon request. *** |