A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty member has received a $660,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award to study how fuel contamination can affect drinking water during the treatment process.
Emily Marron, an assistant specialist in the Water Resources Research Center and cooperating graduate faculty and instructor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, will lead the five-year project, which runs through June 2031.
The research focuses on what happens when chlorine—commonly used to disinfect drinking water—reacts with fuel that has entered water supplies after spills or leaks. While chlorine is regularly added to drinking water systems to help control bacterial growth and eliminate harmful pathogens, it can also react with fuel-related chemicals to create unintended byproducts that may pose health risks.
Marron and her research team will use advanced analytical chemistry techniques, such as high-resolution mass spectrometry, to identify the compounds formed during these reactions, measure how quickly they develop and better understand how fuel changes over time affect water treatment. The findings could improve how contaminated drinking water systems are evaluated and treated following fuel releases.
Clean drinking water, complex contamination
“Clean drinking water is something every community depends on,” Marron said. “I hope this research gives scientists and water professionals better tools to understand complex contamination events and make informed decisions that help protect public health.”
The project could also provide new insight into the types of chemical compounds people might have been exposed to in drinking water following the Red Hill fuel contamination in 2021. Rather than recreating the specific conditions of the Red Hill incident, the research will use controlled laboratory experiments to build a scientific framework for studying fuel-contaminated water. The research could also help inform public health decisions and improve response strategies during contamination events.
In addition to the research, the project includes education and community outreach. Marron will develop an undergraduate teaching module in partnership with local water professionals, including the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, to give students hands-on learning opportunities in environmental chemistry and drinking water treatment.
The project will also establish a community-centered laboratory that expands access to low-cost drinking water testing. The effort is designed to help residents better understand water quality, environmental chemistry and the science behind keeping drinking water safe.
The NSF CAREER program is among the foundation’s most notable awards for early-career faculty, recognizing researchers who integrate innovative research with education and community engagement.
