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

飓风艾达于2021年8月29日在路易斯安那州富尔雄港附近登陆，为4级大飓风。艾达是一场致命的飓风，具有毁灭性的沿海风暴潮和破坏性的大风。它给路易斯安那州南部带来了暴雨，并在许多农村地区造成了灾难性的洪水，主要是洛杉矶的侯马和拉普莱斯。这种大规模的洪水有可能运输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进行采样，以评估地下水质量。这项研究的目的是增进对飓风艾达之后极端洪水对路易斯安那州沿海地下水质量影响的了解。采样活动包括在飓风艾达过后1个月、3个月和6个月从地下水井中收集150个样本。这项研究将利用事件前的采样与飓风后的数据进行比较。该项目是一个对时间敏感的独特机会，可以收集易腐烂的数据，并提高对从内陆地区到地下水的洪水污染程度的了解。具体目标是：(I)确定飓风艾达过后洪水和地下水中粪便污染、重金属和病原体负荷的来源(S)，ii)利用16SRRNA扩增片段测序来表征地下水微生物群落的变化，以及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人们了解保护和管理地下水资源的需要。将向井主提供信息，以用于制定严重洪灾后保护地下水供应的指导方针。它还将帮助未来的研究项目，如用于控制和处理地下水污染物的小型消毒技术的评估和开发。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力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NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力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.