RAPID: Impact of extreme flooding on groundwater quality following Hurricane Ida

飓风艾达于2021年8月29日登陆路易斯安那州富尔chon港附近，为4级主要飓风。艾达是一场致命的飓风，伴随着毁灭性的沿海风暴潮和破坏性的风。它给路易斯安那州南部带来了强降雨，并在许多农村地区造成了灾难性的洪水，主要是霍马和洛杉矶的拉普拉斯。这种大规模的洪水有可能输送化学制剂和微生物病原体并污染地下水。将对受洪水影响地区的水井取样，以评估地下水质量。本研究的目的是提高对飓风Ida后路易斯安那州沿海地区极端洪水对地下水质量影响的认识。采样活动包括在飓风“艾达”过后的1个月、3个月和6个月从地下水井中采集150个样本。这项研究将利用飓风发生前的抽样与飓风后的数据进行比较。该项目是一个具有时效性的独特机会，可以收集易腐烂的数据，提高对内陆地区洪水对地下水污染程度的了解。具体目标是：(i)确定飓风Ida后洪水和地下水中粪便污染、重金属和病原体负荷的来源；（ii）利用16S rRNA扩增子测序来表征地下水微生物群落的变化；（iii）绘制化学和微生物污染的空间分布图，以确定面临有毒污染物暴露风险的家庭。这项研究的结果将使保护和管理地下水资源的必要性变得清晰。将向井主提供信息，用于制定在严重洪水后保护地下水供应的指导。它还将有助于未来的研究项目，例如评价和开发用于控制和处理地下水污染物的小型消毒技术。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Hurricane Ida landed near Port Fourchon, Louisiana on August 29, 2021, as a Category 4 major hurricane. Ida was a deadly hurricane with devastating coastal storm surges and destructive winds. It brought heavy rainfall in Southern Louisiana and caused catastrophic flooding in many rural areas mainly Houma and LaPlace, LA. Such large-scale flooding has the potential to transport chemical agents and microbial pathogens and contaminate groundwater. Water wells in the region affected by flooding will be sampled, to assess groundwater quality. The goal of this study is to advance knowledge of the impact of extreme flooding on groundwater quality in coastal Louisiana following hurricane Ida. The sampling campaign includes collecting 150 samples from groundwater wells, at 1, 3 and 6 months after Hurricane Ida. The study will leverage sampling prior to the event for comparison to post-hurricane data. This project is a time-sensitive and unique opportunity to collect perishable data and improve understanding of the extent of contamination in floodwaters from inland areas to groundwater. Specific objectives are to: (i) determine the source(s) of fecal pollution, heavy metals, and pathogen loads in floodwaters and groundwater post Hurricane Ida, ii) utilize 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize groundwater microbial community changes and iii) Map the spatial distribution of chemical and microbial contamination to identify households at risk of toxic contaminant exposure. The findings from this study will bring visibility the needs for protection and management of groundwater resources. Information will be provided to well owners that can be used to develop guidance for protection of groundwater supplies after severe flooding. It will also aid in future research projects such as evaluation and development of small disinfection technologies for the control and treatment of contaminants in groundwater.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual meritand broader impacts review criteria.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.