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

飓风艾达于2021年8月29日以四级大型飓风强度在路易斯安那州富尔雄港附近登陆。艾达是一个致命的飓风，具有毁灭性的沿海风暴潮和破坏性的大风。风暴给路易斯安那州南部带来暴雨，并在许多农村地区造成灾难性洪灾，主要是路易斯安那州的侯马和拉普拉斯。这种大规模的洪水有可能传播化学剂和微生物病原体，并污染地下水。将对受洪水影响地区的威尔斯水井进行取样，以评估地下水质量。这项研究的目的是推进知识的影响，极端洪水对地下水水质在路易斯安那州沿海飓风艾达。采样活动包括在飓风“艾达”过后1、3和6个月从地下水威尔斯井中采集150个样本。该研究将利用事件前的采样与飓风后的数据进行比较。该项目是一个时间敏感和独特的机会，可以收集易腐烂的数据，提高对内陆地区洪水到地下水污染程度的认识。具体目标是：（i）确定Ida飓风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，以确定处于有毒污染物暴露风险中的家庭。这项研究的结果将使人们了解保护和管理地下水资源的需要。 将向水井所有者提供信息，用于制定严重洪水后保护地下水供应的指导方针。该奖项还将有助于未来的研究项目，如评估和开发用于控制和处理地下水中污染物的小型消毒技术。该奖项反映了NSF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而被认为值得支持。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响评审标准。

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.