The focus of my research heavily depended on field work and lab work. Every day I learned a new method of water testing and I was able to create a system that was tested to remove high quantaties of fecal indicator bacteria, suspended solids, and chemicals from vehicular waste present in street runoff. I not only learned how to test for these contaminants in water, but I also learned why and how green infrastructure is especially important in urbanized areas with frequent precipitation. Global climate change is making weather patterns and precipitation events more erratic and unpredictable resulting in heavy storms near coastal sites. These storms overwhelm sewers put in place to diverge stormwater and flooding occurs resulting in human health hazards. My research allowed me to address these health hazards in a laboratory setting. I liked being able to work on a system that can be used to improve living conditions and to reduce health hazards from street runoff.
What I wish was different
I wish that my mentor and I had more than three months to thoroughly test the system and to solidify a paper I was working on. Time really was the limiting factor of my project.
Advice
I would strongly recommend field work in a field that pertains to the advancement of society. GI reuses water and in a country where water is slowly being depleted from aquifers and wells, water reuse is mandatory.
