Modeling for Integrated Water Quality Planning in Cleveland, Ohio

Principal Investigators
Dr. Martin T. Auer Dr. Martin T. Auer, PhD Position: Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University Research interests: Limnology Engineering approaches to lake and river management Mathematical modeling of surface water quality Other Projects: Keweenaw Interdisciplinary Transport Experiment in Superior Energy Pathways Supporting Diporeia Populations in Lake Superior Contact: mtauerfoo@mtu.edu 906-487-2799	Dr. David W. Watkins, Jr. Dr. David W. Watkins, Jr., PhD, PE Position: Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University Research interests: Watershed modeling Hydrologic frequency analysis Seasonal hydro-climatic forecasting Climate change impact assessment Decision support systems Other Projects: Integrated Seasonal Drought Forecast-Adaptive Management System for the Lower Colorado River Basin in Texas Robust Decision Making for South Florida Water Resources by Ecosystem Service Valuation, Hydro-economic Optimization, and Conflict Resolution Modeling Sustainability, Ecosystem Services, and Bioenergy Development Across the Americas Contact: dwatkinsfoo@mtu.edu 906-487-1640	Dr. Pengfei Xue Dr. Pengfei Xue, PhD Position: Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University Research interests: Hydrodynamic modeling Coupled physical-biological modeling Dynamics of coupled ocean-atmosphere models Ocean data assimilation Estuary and coastal ocean circulation Other Projects: Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling Dynamics over Maritime Continent and Persian Gulf Development of an Integrated Water-Ice-Atmosphere-Biological Modeling System for the Great Lakes Arresting the Spread of Invasive Species Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) in Lake Superior: Numerical Model Prediction of Potential Dispersal Paths of EWM Contact: pexuefoo@mtu.edu 906-487-1837
Graduate Students
Zoe Miller Zoe Miller Masters Student, Michigan Technological University Contact: zamillerfoo@mtu.edu	Nathan Zgnilec Nathan Zgnilec Masters Student, Michigan Technological University Contact: ndzgnilefoo@mtu.edu

Timeline

January 2014 - December 2015

ABSTRACT

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) has signed a consent decree to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharging into Lake Erie and other receiving water bodies in the greater Cleveland area. Michigan Technological University is partnering with Wade Trim to conduct an integrated planning study to evaluate how various proposed system improvements including CSO control could influence water quality and three pollutants of concern (bacteria, phosphorus, and ammonia nitrogen). Michigan Technological University is using PCSWMM to run continuous simulations of discharges and pollutant loads throughout the system. Challenges have included a lack of geospatial data for existing EPA SWMM 4 models, areas where the EPA SWMM and the NEORSD collection system model overlap, and the large amounts of model input and output data that have to be processed. Results from simulations will serve as inputs to a lake hydrodynamic model, and ultimately they will be used to evaluate and potentially help prioritize water quality control alternatives for the region.

Modeling for Integrated Water Quality Planning in Cleveland, Ohio

Principal Investigators

Graduate Students

Timeline

ABSTRACT

DISCUSSIONS

PROJECT RESOURCES

RELATED PROJECTS