This research aims to develop an understanding of how interventions designed to improve water quality in buildings can be used to mitigate Legionella pneumophila concentrations. Intervention methods can be described as any approach that can be used to improve microbial water quality. In order to provide a foundation of background knowledge, a literature review was conducted to identify similar studies and collect relevant and timely research similar to the subject. The information gathered from the literature review was used to structure the sampling process and parameters. Using the research collected from the literature review, a review table was created to summarize the differences in the studies conducted and to determine research gaps. To categorize the studies, intervention methods, contaminants addressed, and water quality meta-data were differentiated for each of the articles. For the purpose of the sampling process, the three interventions analyzed consist of flushing, water heater set point change, and both flushing and water heater set point change. The locations of the sampling consisted of the city drinking water inlet, the basement janitor's closet, basement shower, 2nd floor, 3rd floor, and 7th floor break rooms and restrooms of the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV at ASU. For the flushing intervention, the sampling results demonstrated an increase in free and total chlorine concentration post flushing which aligns with the research found in the literature review. In addition, it was observed that iron concentrations drastically increased for both the cold and hot water by flushing. There was a significant decrease detected for ATP concentrations post flush in the hot line. However through the sampling session, the flushing intervention did not yield statistically significant results for Legionella concentrations.

Methane (CH4) is a prominent greenhouse gas that contributes to the negative impacts of global warming and climate change, whose emissions have more than doubled since the Industrial Revolution primarily due to anthropogenic sources. The main pathways in which methane moves through the environment are methanogenesis and methanotrophy. Methane is primarily generated by acetoclastic methanogenesis in wetlands while it can be oxidized both aerobically and anaerobically. Wetlands are important methane emission sources at 177 - 284 Tg CH4 year-1. The Tres Rios Wetland (TRW) is a constructed facility to complete nutrient removal of treated municipal wastewater, and has shown low emissions of methane. Whether such low emissions could be achieved through active anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is not known, and the main objective of this work is to evaluate the rates of AOM in TRW. In this study an isotopic method and a mass balance method were utilized to determine the rate of AOM from top sediments found at Tres Rios at various locations and in two sets of sampling. The results showed that evidence of AOM occurred in the sediments of both sampling events conducted. The first sampling set showed evidence of AOM at all locations along a transect, showing that oxidation of methane is indeed occurring in Tres Rios sediments. Evidence from both methodologies suggested that high methanogenesis rates occurred at the outside location closest to the water. The second sampling set showed that the highest rate of AOM occurred at the outlet location, with the lowest rate occurring in the middle location. DNA extractions and PCR images resulted in a poor DNA yield, and inability to extract DNA. It was determined that the isotopic approach was less accurate than the mass balance approach due to unexpected delta CH4 values. It was determined that dilutions of CH4 ppm lead to less accurate isotopic measurements needed to estimate AOM rates using a 13C pulse technique. Literature review suggests that factors including water presence, temperature, redox potential, and plant presence can be influential in the oxidation of methane. This AOM assay can be beneficial in better understanding how methane cycles at Tres Rios, and can provide opportunities for future research in determining which factors influence the oxidation of methane in different locations throughout wetlands.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are facilities with a large potential for energy savings and improvements, but the factors behind their efficiency remain largely unstudied. In this thesis, a limited study toward developing a benchmarking tool to allow comparison of operation of WWTPs in terms of energy intensity (EI) will be analyzed. While the comparison of WWTPs is very complex, an initial start with comparing EI will be a useful tool. The methodology for this will first involve a literature review into EI at WWTPs to understand current statistics. After this, publicly available data gathered by Department of Energy sponsored Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) from 2009 to 2021 of WWTP EI will be studied to show the potential for improvement of EI. This comparison can highlight certain states that currently exhibit more efficient plants, change in efficiency over time, as well as compare specific treatment technologies in literature to the general data gathered from the IAC. Lastly, the first step toward development of this benchmarking tool is a study of the 13 WWTP operations analyzed by the Arizona State University (ASU) IAC using a data envelopment analysis (DEA). This DEA can begin to show how a tool could be used with more data to accurately compare and benchmark a WWTP based on performances of similar WWTPs. This tool could allow operators a possibility of seeing how well their performance compares, and work toward an improvement in their EI.

The objective of my honors thesis was to implement the mindfulness habit of journaling over the course of six months, then use the journal entries as a means to reflect upon observations of pre-selected metrics (connecting Zen teachings to my daily life, accessing my ability to rest, navigating relationships to others, and developing compassion for myself) in order to track how learning about Zen Buddhist philosophy impacts my life.

How can we address the causes, impacts, and potential solutions of poor air quality in the Phoenix South Mountain Community? This project focuses on the science, history, and politics surrounding the poor air quality in the South Phoenix area, with an emphasis in creating and implementing local, generational, and technological solutions.

Though invisible from our vision, and often from our minds as a result, the quality of the air around us has immense impacts on the health of the environment and our populations. Typically, defined by the presence of three main pollutants, particulate matter 10, particulate matter 2.5, and ozone, air quality can be highly localized. Because of this, some communities can be hit harder by air quality issues. The South Mountain Village is an example of a community that is being drastically impacted by issues of air quality. Even though air pollution can have an array of causes that are difficult to pin-point, the impacts that it has on human health and quality of life are just the opposite. Consistent exposure to polluted air can result in short term health effects such as discomfort and shortness of breath along with longer term effects such as asthma and lung cancer. Areas with higher concentrations of pollutants in the air often see an increase in the health issues mentioned. In the case of the South Mountain area, there are many direct and indirect sources of the issue. The area has a higher than average amount of industry such as metal and plastic manufacturing, and the residences are mixed right in with these. Additionally, the area has less wealth and a higher population of racial minorities. These two things are not coincidences, as air quality is an environmental issue that is highly systemic. This thesis project will surround the process of developing and implementing ideas to mitigate the negative effects of air quality in the area, as well as exploring sources of the issue -- both scientific and historic. Project ideas ranging from technology to policies will be considered and investigated in order to produce feasible and actionable plans.

Chlorinated ethene contamination is present at hundreds of sites around the U.S. and threatens the health and quality of living in many communities. Complete reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes to ethene is possible by the anaerobic bacteria Dehalococcoides mccartyi which uses H2 as an electron donor for the process. Microbial chain elongation (MCE) has recently shown viability as an H2 producing process for reductive dechlorination. This study examined the presence of native chain-elongating organisms in soil and groundwater samples from a Superfund site contaminated with chlorinated ethenes using batch microcosms experiments. The study’s findings have implications for the use of MCE to promote detoxification of chlorinated ethenes at contaminated sites.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) typically stabilizes 40-60% of influent wastewater sludge. Improving the methane yield in wastewater may produce enough energy to power some wastewater treatment processes, while the production of volatile-fatty acids (VFAs) generates economic incentives for yard waste pre-fermentation. In this research, pre-fermenters consisting of inocula composed of media; cellulose, lantana, or grass; and rabbit cecotrope were fed various concentrations of plant matter. The contents of these pre-fermenters were the influent for respective anaerobic digesters. The microbial consortium derived for the lignocellulosic pretreatment with common yard waste in Arizona successfully increased methane production in AD, while producing additional VFAs during pretreatment in all systems. The performance of the system appeared to depend on plant matter loading and operating time, with a higher plant loading increasing the VFA production and a longer operating time increasing soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) in pre-fermentation, and therefore the methane production in AD increased. The pre-fermenter with the highest plant matter loading and longest operating time –1.44 g plant matter per day at a 9.6% influent concentration and 193 days of total operating time– produced 10,000 mg COD/L of VFA, and its reactor produced about 460 mL methane (CH4) per day, which was almost twice the production of the control AD at 250 mL CH4 per day. This research uses yard waste that would previously be disposed of in landfill to increase valuable product production in AD. The potential value added to wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) processes by these methods could incentivize the expansion of wastewater treatment, thereby increasing sanitation access. The use of net-neutral biogas as a fuel source for WWTPs is additionally an incremental solution for reducing carbon equivalents present in the atmosphere, thereby reducing the greenhouse gas effect.

When we examine the word “dignity” regarding the built environment, we must look at how the building creates a sense of respect and honor. Buildings placed into communities without thoughtful consideration in how they will make occupants feel is undignified design. Design decisions that place the form of a building over its function allows aesthetics to become the primary criteria for judgement. When it comes to well-designed spaces, they should not just be a matter of aesthetics since they can shape our ideas about who we are and what we deserve. We need design that addresses the inhabitants needs, enhancing their overall experience. This is dignified design. We can ensure good design is a fundamental right by understanding the impact that the education system has on architects, and on shaping design to meet people’s needs. In this paper, I will address how a shift in the Architectural Education system could lead to more dignified design