D19 – Managing Harmful Algae Blooms in Worcester
Project Description
The City of Worcester has multiple different bodies of water accessible to the community for recreational purposes. Every summer, residents from all over the city like to visit the different recreational areas to make the most out of the hot summer weather. This kind of HAB can cause many adverse health effects in both humans and animals including vomiting, diarrhea and flu-like symptoms. HAB formation has been an issue identified from a local to an international level. Many places and organizations have established a set of guidelines to manage the potential effects that HABs could cause. In order to manage recreational water quality and avoid closing beaches, a management strategy that covers prevention, monitoring, treatment and response strategies should be established.
Project goal and objectives
For this project, we collaborated with Jacquelyn Burmeister, Senior Environmental Analyst for Worcester’s DPW to recommend management strategies for monitoring, prevention, treatment and response for HABs in Worcester by evaluating and augmenting current strategies. We focused on the three main objectives outlined below:
- Objective 1: Evaluate the current management strategies for Worcester and other locations
- Objective 2: Research methods for prevention, monitoring, and treatment for HABs
- Objective 3: Research and recommend a public notification and response plan
Team and Advisors
Team:
Zheng, Liang, Electric& Computer Engineering
Caffrey, Daniel Parker, Electric&Computer Engineering
Galvez, Diana Gabriela, Biomedical Engineering
Pesce, Austin, Mechanical Engineering
Advisors:
Jiusto, Scott
Gaudette, Glenn R
Project Sponsor
Jacquelyn Burmeister, DPW&P Water Operations
Project Deliverables