The Great Basin Chapter

The Great Basin Chapter of A&WMA is one of several chapters in the Rocky Mountain States Section. The Chapter territory covers Utah, eastern Nevada and southwestern Wyoming. For more information concerning the history of the Great Basin Chapter of the A&WMA, its goals and accomplishments, please download the pdf below.

Environmental Legislation

Environmental Legislation pending in the 2010 Utah Legislature can be reviewed here.

Upcoming and Recent Events

Science Fair GBC Award Winners

SLVSEF winner: Christopher Bujnowski AMES High School

Project Title: Pollution Sensors: Symptoms and Peak Flow Values in Adolescents

Abstract: Continued industrialization and demand for power has increased air pollution in parts of the world. A by-product of combustion, PM 2.5, particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, can lodge in the alveoli of the lungs, overtime, damaging lung tissue. Lung capacity was monitored in adolescents, ages 14 to 17 on days with healthy, moderate and poor levels of PM2.5, as defined by government standards and reported by local monitors. In year-1, peak lung flow values were compared on green and red air days (p=0.055). In year 2, refinements of year 1's methods attributed to a significant variation in lung capacity, when red and green air days were compared for one test population (p=0.029).

NUSEF winner:Kassandra Wilson

Title: A Field Evaluation on the Presence of Viruses in Treated Sewage from Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Abstract: Wastewater treatment plants have government regulations that are designed to remove contaminants from the water. These contaminants include: viruses, bacteria, chemicals, solids, etc. One of the most challenging to remove and detrimental to the environment are viruses. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to determine the level of viral contamination in the effluent (out flowing) water of Northern Utah wastewater treatment plant. It was hypothesized that viruses would not be present because the treatment process should completely remove them. To test this, 10 ml of wastewater samples were collected from 10 wastewater treatment plants. Samples were also collected from various stages of the treatment process. Lab techniques were completed to culture the viruses found in the collected wastewater samples. The results did not support my hypothesis. Effluent samples from eight of the ten plants showed viral contamination. Two of the wastewater treatment plants had 100% removal of viruses, when comparing influent and effluent samples. To determine the efficiency of viral removal throughout various stages of the treatment process, samples were collected and tested from 13 stages of wastewater treatment. The data shows that through each treatment stage the number of viruses decreased, but did not consistently eliminate the viruses. Therefore, additional treatment methods are necessary to more efficiently remove the viruses. It is vital that these viruses be removed to have clean and safe water and to protect our environment, thus ensuring human health.

2010 Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to this years GBC A&WMA scholarship winners.

The three scholarship winners are:

  • Heather Holmes, University of Utah
  • William Morris, University of Utah
  • Oscar Marquina, Utah State

Each received a $1000 scholarship from the Great Basin Chapter.

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