20th Annual EPA Drinking Water Workshop: Session 9
In-Depth Training
Training descriptions and trainer biographies for Session 9 of the 20th Annual EPA Drinking Water Workshop.
September 14, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET
See the full workshop agenda for all sessions.
Session 9A: Corrosion
This session will cover the fundamentals of lead and copper release including corrosion, the role of particles, and metal solubility relationships in drinking water. Distribution system assessment approaches, including water sampling strategies and pipe scale analyses, will also be addressed. Lastly, corrosion control strategies and corrosion control assessment tools will be presented. Cases study data will be used to illustrate important messages where appropriate.
Trainers:
- Darren A. Lytle, Ph.D., P.E. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Darren is an environmental engineer with EPA's Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since beginning work at EPA in 1991, his primary goal has been to research the quality of drinking water. Over the years, he has investigated and published works on drinking water systems, including work on distribution system corrosion control and water quality (e.g., red water control, lead and copper corrosion control); filtration (emphasis on removal of particles, and microbial contaminants and pathogens from water); biological water treatment; and iron and arsenic removal. Darren holds a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois, an M.S. in environmental engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and a and a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Akron. - Simoni Triantafyllidou, Ph.D. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Simoni is an environmental engineer with EPA's Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her research interests include aquatic chemistry, corrosion science, drinking water quality/treatment, sustainable drinking water infrastructure (premise plumbing/distribution systems) and public health. Simoni has authored/co-authored more than 30 publications on various scientific aspects of these research areas. At EPA, she is primarily conducting research on metallic corrosion and inorganic contaminants in drinking water. Simoni holds both a Ph.D. and an M.S. and in environmental engineering from Virginia Tech and is the chair of AWWA’s Committee, Premise Plumbing: Beyond the Meter. She is the recipient of First Place M.S., Thesis Awards by the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) and by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), an Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Award by AEESP, and Best Paper Awards from the journals Environmental Science and Technology, Journal AWWA and AWWA’s Opflow Periodical. - Mike Desantis, Ph.D. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Mike is a physical scientist with EPA's Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has 18 years of experience on the characterization of corrosion solids and their effects on drinking water quality in lead, copper, and iron drinking water piping. Mike has a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Cincinnati, an M.S. in geology from the University of Idaho, and a B.A. in biology with specialization in marine science from Boston University. - Jennifer Tully, M.S. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Jennifer is a physical scientist with EPA's Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has spent the past seven years examining drinking water pipe corrosion scales and deposits and developing sampling plans to investigate the occurrence of lead in drinking water. Prior to her work in ORD, she spent three years with EPA's Office of Water as an ORISE participant and assisted in the implementation of the third unregulated contaminant monitoring rule (UCMR 3) and the rule development process for UCMR 4. Jennifer holds an M.S. in geology and a B.S. in geology with a minor in biology. - Stephen Harmon, M.S. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Steve is the branch supervisor for the Drinking Water Quality Branch of EPA’s Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Water Infrastructure Division. He has been involved in the analysis of drinking water, pipe scale and particulate materials at EPA for over 30 years. Steve’s major analytical areas of interest include powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy with EDS, and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence. - Christina Devine, Ph.D. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Christina is an engineer with EPA's Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her research interests include drinking water quality/treatment, aquatic chemistry, corrosion science, sustainable drinking water infrastructure, and public health. At EPA, she is conducting research on lead in drinking water with a current focus on lead service line identification. She is the Vice-Chair of the American Water Works Association Premise Plumbing: Beyond the Meter Committee. Christina holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in environmental engineering and a B.S. in engineering science and mechanics from Virginia Tech. - David Wahman, Ph.D. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Dave is a research environmental engineer with EPA’s Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati, Ohio. His research interests include disinfectant chemistry, disinfectant biofilm penetration, and distribution system water quality issues, including nitrification. He is a registered professional engineer with over 27 years of experience. Dave holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering and an M.S.E. in environmental and water resources engineering and from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in civil engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Following graduation with his Ph.D., he conducted a post-doctoral fellowship at the EPA before accepting his permanent position. - Colin White, M.S. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Colin is a physical scientist with EPA's Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response where his work focuses on lead and copper corrosion. Prior to joining EPA, he served as the manager of the Emerging Contaminants Section at the Ohio EPA where he managed policy and implementation of unregulated contaminants (manganese, Legionella, PFAS), harmful algal blooms, and the Lead and Copper Rule. He also supervised the Public Water System Enforcement and Rule Unit at Ohio EPA. Colin began his career in drinking water with a research fellowship from EPA as an undergraduate, which continued though completion of a master's degree. Colin has authored dozens drinking water related scientific manuscripts and given numerous presentations and had led research projects on topics, including lead and copper corrosion, biological treatment for arsenic and ammonia, the characterization of bioterrorism agents in drinking water, and Legionella in premise plumbing.
9B: Drinking Water Microbiology
This session will provide an introduction to drinking water microbiology and EPA’s regulatory requirements for microbial monitoring. Many of the common drinking water microbial methods required by regulations will also be demonstrated. You will have the opportunity to perform microbiological tests alongside EPA scientists and to examine previously run tests.
Trainers:
- Laura Boczek, M.S. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Laura is a research microbiologist with EPA's Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response. Her research areas have focused on disinfection efficacy of various microorganisms in drinking water, including the study of premise plumbing pathogens with an emphasis on Legionella; specifically, the ecology of these organisms, understanding how they persist, and what steps can be taken to mitigate the risk of infection to insure public health protection. She has also been involved with antibiotic resistance studies in various environmental matrixes and with pathogens and method development in biosolids. Laura holds an M.S. in biological science from the University of Cincinnati and a B.S. in biological science from Northern Kentucky University. - Jennifer Best, M.S. | EPA Office of Water
Jennifer is a senior microbiologist with EPA's Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Technical Support Center in Cincinnati Ohio, where she has served since 2001. Jennifer enjoys working at the intersection of science and policy in her role at EPA, where she provides technical support for regulatory and programmatic activities. In addition, Jennifer serves as a technical expert on several TNI committees and is the Part 9000 Coordinator for Standard Methods. Jennifer holds an M.S. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
9C: PFAS Treatment 101
This session will cover the fundamentals of treating PFAS in drinking water from piloting to full-scale operation at small systems. Participants will understand how modeling and scale-up approaches can be used to come to a sustainable treatment choice that will minimize both capital and operating costs while giving assurances that the small system can handle the operational aspects of the technology.
Trainers:
- Ashley Voskuhl, B.S. | Association of State Drinking Water Administrators
Ashley is a senior policy analyst with ASDWA, where she focuses primarily on the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), regulatory implementation, engineering and standards, and compliance and enforcement. Prior to joining ASDWA in January 2022, Ashley spent five years as an environmental specialist with Ohio EPA’s Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, working on regulatory development and implementation with a specific focus on the LCR, unregulated contaminants, and engineering standards. She previously worked at U.S. EPA’s Office of Research and Development where she conducted research on the impacts of corrosion on lead in drinking water. Ashley received her B.S. in chemical engineering from The Ohio State University. - Michael Finn, P.E. | EPA Office of Water
Mike is an environmental engineer with EPA's Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, Targeted Community and Compliance Assistance Branch. He is currently working with states and public water systems on the implementation of the Surface Water Treatment Rules, the Disinfection Byproducts Rules, the Groundwater Rule, and the Lead and Copper Rule, as well as microbial and other contaminant treatment issues, alternative treatment technologies, and potable water reuse. Mike has 30 years of experience in public water supplies and drinking water treatment and serves as a national subject matter expert in the areas of disinfection and microbial treatment of drinking water. He is a licensed professional engineer in California and Maryland and a certified water treatment operator. - Thomas F. Speth, Ph.D., P.E. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Tom serves as senior science advisor for EPA’s Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in the Office of Research and Development. He is a professional engineer who has worked in the field of water treatment research at EPA since 1986. At EPA, Tom has served as branch chief of EPA’s Treatment Technology Evaluation Branch from May 2005 to January 2009. From January 2009 to March 2018, he served as division director of EPA’s Water Supply and Water Resources Division. During this time, from September 2015 to December 2016, he served in a detail with EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water’s Standards and Risk Management Division as a senior engineering advisor assigned to the Flint Enforcement Team. From March 2018 to April 2023, he served as the associate director for science for the Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response. Tom is a member of AWWA, ASCE, and ACS. He has served as trustee for AWWA's Water Quality and Technology Division, an associate editor for ASCE's Journal of Environmental Engineering, a member of Journal AWWA’s Editorial Advisory Board, and as a trustee and chair of AWWA’s Water Science and Research Division. Tom has a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Cincinnati, an M.S. in civil/environmental engineering from Michigan Technological University, and a B.S. in chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University. - Jonathan Burkhardt, Ph.D. | EPA Office of Research and Development
Jonathan is an environmental engineer with EPA’s Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Water Infrastructure Division and has over ten years of experience in research associated with drinking water quality and supply topics. He is currently leading research into modeling PFAS removal using granular activated carbon and ion exchange systems and modeling water quality in premise plumbing systems and water distribution systems. Jonathan holds a Ph.D., and M.S., and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati. - Eugene Leung, M.S., P.E. | California State Water Resource Control Board
Eugene Leung (lee-young) is the drinking water treatment technical specialist for the California Water Board’s State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW), which is responsible for developing and enforcing drinking water regulations and standards in California. His office is in the San Francisco Bay Area, and he is responsible for the review and acceptance of treatment technologies and techniques for drinking water treatment. Eugene’s current efforts include working with and reviewing technologies as alternative filtration technologies, biological treatment of inorganic and organic contaminants, and treatment of PFAS and hexavalent chromium. He has also guided various state funded studies in UV-AOP; point-of-use and point-of-entry treatment; and true cost, feasibility, and challenges of nitrate treatment at disadvantaged communities. Eugene has worked for California’s Drinking Water Program since 1997, where he started as a field engineer regulating public water systems and was promoted to his current position in 2010. Prior to this, he worked for a year at Alameda County Water District. Eugene Holds an M.S. and a B.S. in civil engineering from UCLA and is a registered civil engineer and a T4 Water Treatment Operator in California. - Detlef Knappe, Ph.D. | North Carolina State University
Detlef is the S. James Ellen Distinguished Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. He joined the NCSU faculty in 1996 after receiving a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Detlef’s research interests broadly encompass drinking water quality and treatment, and he has conducted research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) since 2010. Detlef is a member of the North Carolina’s Secretaries’ Science Advisory Board, is deputy director of NCSU’s Superfund Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, and serves as associate editor of the AWWA Water Science journal. - Lan Cheng, Ph.D. | North Carolina State University
Lan is a postdoctoral researcher in the research group of Detlef Knappe at North Carolina State University, where she earned her Ph.D. degree in civil engineering in May 2023. In her Ph.D. program, she developed a scale-up approach to predict the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by anion exchange resins from bench-scale column data. Her research also investigated how properties of PFAS, anion exchange resins, and background water matrix constituents affect anion exchange resin use rates. In addition, she studied the kinetics and mechanisms of PFAS uptake by anion exchange resins using bench-scale experiments and density functional theory (DFT). Lan’s Ph.D. research was funded by the Water Research Foundation and the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory. She is a member of American Water Works Association. - Issam Najm, Ph.D. | Water Quality & Treatment Solutions, Inc.
Issam is president of Water Quality & Treatment Solutions (WQTS), an environmental engineering and science consulting company located in Los Angeles, California. He has more than 30 years of experience working on the evaluation and resolution of water quality and water treatment challenges facing water agencies. He specialized in conducting bench- and pilot-scale testing of water treatment technologies and their application at full-scale systems. Issam is a registered professional civil engineer in California, and an adjunct associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California Los Angeles. He holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in civil engineering from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. - William Grady, B.S. | New York State Department of Health
Will is an engineer in the Design Section of the Bureau of Water Supply Protection at the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). The Design Section is responsible for performing regulatory design reviews for drinking water infrastructure projects and management of drinking water funding programs in NYS. William joined NYSDOH in 2019 and has been co-Western Area Project Manager in the Design Section since 2021. Prior to joining NYSDOH, he worked for an environmental consulting firm on environmental remediation projects. Will holds a B.S. in environmental resources engineering from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. - Eric Yeggy, B.S. | Water Quality Association
Eric joined the Water Quality Association (WQA) in 2009, and is the technical affairs director in Lisle, Illinois. WQA is a not-for-profit international trade association representing the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. He serves as a resource and advocate for the betterment of water quality by participating in numerous committees and task forces under American Society of Plumbing Engineers, the American Water Works Association, NSF International, and other organizations. Eric plans and coordinates the activities of the WQA Water Sciences Advisory Council and the WQA Industry Research Committee. Prior to joining WQA, he began his career in the environmental testing industry where he gained a wide range of experience in analytical chemistry and managing quality systems. Eric holds a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa.
9D:Best Practices for Communicating Science and Risk
In this session, you will learn key best practices for effectively communicating science and risk related to your projects. The session will also include meaningful interactive exercises and practice opportunities.
Trainer:
Diane Russell, B.S. | EPA Region 5
Diane is a community involvement coordinator with EPA’s Region 5, where she leverages her position in a Michigan field office to maximize engagement and relationship building in communities experiencing an emergency or living through long-term cleanups. Over her nearly 15-year career, she has become a national subject matter expert in community engagement specializing in science and risk communication. Some of her high-profile projects include dioxin and furan cleanup in and along the Tittabawassee River, PCB cleanup in and along the Kalamazoo River, DDT and PBB cleanup at the Former Velsicol Chemical Plant in St. Louis, Missouri, PFAS and heavy metal waste removal in Rockford, Michigan from former tannery operations by Wolverine World Wide, and lead the community engagement teams in the Flint Water Response and the East Palestine Train Derailment in Ohio. Diane has also leveraged resources to empower communities to effectively participate in decision-making including development and support of five Superfund Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) within the region, management of a multi-community, long-term facilitation support contract, and lead a multi-agency agreement bringing over $1.5 million dollars to community partners for fish consumption advisory education. She prioritizes award-winning methods in her work and integrates teaching and on-the-ground experience to mentor young professionals. Diane holds a B.S. with double majors in geophysics and earth science secondary education from Western Michigan University.