Spartan science protects the water we depend on

Water is one of our planet’s most vital resources — essential for life, food production, energy and industry. But it’s facing serious threats from pollution, changes in climate and overuse. Addressing these complex challenges requires collaboration across many fields of research and practice, and at Michigan State University, researchers are doing just that.

More than 200 researchers and students from over a dozen departments at MSU dedicate themselves to protecting and preserving the water systems we all depend on. This commitment is upheld by long-standing centers such as the Institute of Water Research and the MSU Water Alliance, an initiative created to bring together water experts and research teams from across campus to foster collaboration and create solutions to today’s most pressing water issues.

"PFAS and wastewater pollution are degrading rivers all over the world,” says Joan Rose, director of the MSU Water Alliance and the Homer Nowlin Endowed Chair in Water Research. “Pathogen risks are increasing and nutrient pollution in fresh water will cause algal blooms and make these waters unsuitable for drinking or recreation. In addition, climate change and weather instability will cause water and food shortages as well as natural disasters, which impact life and property. The need to respond is urgent, but we can’t respond without federal funding.”

Making drinking water safer with smarter science

Safe drinking water is a major public health achievement but keeping it safe remains a constant challenge. Every year in the U.S., more than 7 million cases of waterborne illnesses occur, causing more than 6,600 deaths and more than $3 billion in health care costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MSU, a global leader in water research, is taking action to improve water safety.

Jade Mitchell is a professor and associate chair in MSU’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. Courtesy photo

With the help of critical federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency, MSU is researching the presence of harmful pathogens like Legionella and the byproducts of disinfection processes in drinking water systems. The goal is to better understand health risks and create a systematic method to monitor water safety — something that shockingly doesn’t exist, even in the U.S. 

Jade Mitchell, the project’s lead and associate chair and professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, explains that aging pipes and unregulated water systems can allow dangerous microbes to grow. At the same time, disinfectants used to kill germs in water systems can produce harmful chemical byproducts.

“We think we’re making water safe, but we don’t fully understand the trade-offs,” Mitchell says. “This research will help improve how we manage water systems and reduce health risks to ensure safer drinking water for people across the country.”

Read more on MSUToday.

Uncovering the invisible dangers of ‘forever chemicals’

That class of human-made chemical compounds known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, are used in many useful products like nonstick cookware, food packaging and stain-resistant fabrics. But because they break down very slowly, their usefulness comes with a cost to our health and environment.

Courtney Carignan, an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Courtesy photo

In southwest Michigan, residents living near an abandoned paper mill landfill are experiencing the effects of this invisible danger. With funding from the Environmental Protection Agency, MSU’s Courtney Carignan has found elevated levels of PFAS chemicals in the drinking water and blood of residents in 77 households.

The study found higher levels of PFAS in residents who used contaminated municipal water compared to those with access to private wells. Blood levels increased with each year of exposure, and some differences in PFAS levels were found between men and women due to biological factors. Even three years after switching to a clean water source, PFAS levels in blood remained elevated, demonstrating the long-lasting presence of these chemicals in the human body.

“We hope this work raises awareness about potential sources and pathways of PFAS in drinking water, which can be an important source of exposure,” says Carignan, an assistant professor in the departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Pharmacology and Toxicology. “I think we can feel good as Michiganders that our state has tested all public drinking water supplies, but most states have done less testing, and people with private wells have to do their own.”

The study shows just how long these chemicals can remain in our bodies and why continued monitoring and cleanup efforts are essential to public health.

Read more on MSUToday.

Making sure beaches don’t make people sick

Nobody wants a day at the beach to turn into a trip to the doctor. But in Michigan, water pollution can pose serious health risks, especially when swimmers aren’t warned in time. That’s why Phanikumar Mantha, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is using science and technology to help.

Phanikumar Mantha, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, examines how the quality of coastal water within the Great Lakes is affected by the circulation of contaminants. Courtesy photo

Mantha is working on ways to monitor beach water quality in real time using sensors and computer models, including machine learning, at beaches around the Great Lakes. These tools help determine when water is unsafe for swimming due to pollution. The research team has successfully tested this approach on several Chicago beaches. 

“When people go to swim at a beach on a beautiful day, the last thing they think about is getting sick from contaminated water,” Mantha says. “We’re working with sensors in the water and along coastlines that can upload data in real time for models to generate recommendations on whether a beach should remain open or closed.”

Funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Geological Survey has allowed Mantha to carry out this research.

As changes in climate and population growth put more pressure on our water resources, the tools and knowledge created by researchers like Mantha are more important than ever.

Read more from AgBioResearch.  

Protecting Michigan’s coastlines from erosion

Water levels in the Great Lakes are always changing, and that can lead to serious erosion along Michigan’s coastline. But figuring out how these levels will change in the future is tough. That’s why MSU researcher Ethan Theuerkauf is studying how coastlines are affected by waves, storms and ice, and what communities can do to protect their shores.

Assistant Professor Ethan Theuerkauf, a coastal geomorphologist, and former master’s student Lucas Rabins survey erosion caused by high water levels at Tawas State Park on Lake Huron. Photo by Erin Bunting

“Changing lake levels are difficult to predict,” says Theuerkauf, assistant professor of geography. “The one thing that is really challenging about the Great Lakes is being able to predict what is going to happen five or 10 years in the future.”

With help from the National Science Foundation, Theuerkauf’s team created a first-of-its-kind program called the Interdisciplinary Citizen-based Coastal REmote Sensing for Adaptive Management, or IC-CREAM.

This program trains local residents along the coastlines of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron to fly drones and capture images of beaches before and after storms. These images are turned into digital maps that show how much erosion has happened over time. This “citizen science” helps coastal towns monitor their changing shorelines.

In places like Chikaming Township, MSU’s data showed that banning seawalls and other “hard armoring” methods actually helped beaches recover. That’s important because protecting the coast helps shield homes, businesses and ecosystems.

“The Great Lakes are unique,” says Emily Kirkpatrick, the Michigan Coastal Management Program’s coastal hazards coordinator. “We want to understand all the factors involved in coastal erosion and beach recovery, and to be able to communicate that information to the public and local decision makers.”

Theuerkauf’s team also works with state and federal agencies and uses data from weather satellites and lake sensors. They’re now studying whether ice that forms on the shore protects beaches or causes more damage.

Their goal? To help Michigan communities make smarter choices that protect coastlines now and for the future.

Read more on MSUToday.

Whether you’re enjoying a day at the beach or relying on clean drinking water to keep your family healthy, the work of MSU researchers is helping protect what matters most. Continued federal investment in MSU research ensures stronger safeguards for drinking water, smarter responses to a changing climate and healthier futures for communities across Michigan and the nation.

For generations, Spartans have been changing the world through research. Federal funding helps power many of the discoveries that improve lives and keep America at the forefront of innovation and competitiveness. From lifesaving cancer treatments to solutions that advance technology, agriculture, energy and more, MSU researchers work every day to shape a better future for the people of Michigan and beyond. Learn more about MSU’s research impact powered by partnership with the federal government.