Environmental Engineering: Developing Communities

under construction

Overview:

Currently, Prof. Bielefeldt is collaborating with Prof. Amy Javernick-Will and PhD student James Harper to explore Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) from a perspective of human systems, based on behavior change theory.

Professor Bielefeldt has conducted significant research on the use of ceramic water filters for point-of-use, household scale drinking water treatment. This research was conducted in collaboration with Prof. R. Scott Summers and a number of graduate and undergraduate students.

Link to more information on research and publications at: 

Funding for this Engineering for Developing Communities (EDC) research has come from a variety sources. 

  • James Harper is being funded by a GAANN Fellowship (US Dept of Education, Graduate Assistantships in Areas of National Need, Engineering Resilience) and iDE
  • Ceramic water filter research was funded by a US EPA P3 grant, a Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation Grant (2007), and NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site

Journal Publications:

  1. Harper, J., A. Bielefeldt, A. Javernick-Will, K. Dickinson, T. Veasna, T. Kozole, C. Nicoletti. 2021. Household Preferences for Rural Fecal Sludge Management Services in Cambodia: A Discrete Choice Experiment. Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c04636.
  2. Harper, J., A. Bielefeldt, A. Javernick-Will, T. Veasna, C. Nicoletti. 2020. Context and Intentions: Practical Associations for Fecal Sludge Management in Rural Low-income Cambodia. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development.
  3. Bielefeldt, A.R., M.W. Stewart, E. Mansfield, R.S. Summers, J.N. Ryan. 2013. Effects of chlorine and other water quality parameters on the release of silver nanoparticles from a ceramic surface.  Water Research.  47, 4032-4039. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.01.058.
  4. Bielefeldt, A.R.,  K. Kowalski, A. Kohler, C. Schilling, S. Schreier, and R. Scott Summers. 2010.  Removal of Virus to Protozoan Sized Particles in Point-of-Use Ceramic Water Filters.  Water Research.  44 (5): 1482-1488.  doi:10.1016/j.watres.2009.10.043   
  5. Bielefeldt, A.R., K. Kowalski, and R.S. Summers. 2009.  Bacterial Treatment Effectiveness of Point-of-Use Ceramic Water Filters.  Water Research.  43 (14): 3559-3565.  doi:10.1016/j.watres.2009.04.047

Conference Paper Publications:

  1. Harper, J., A. Bielefeldt, A. Javernick-Will, T. Veasna, C. Nicoletti. 2018. Intentions and Behaviors Toward Fecal Sludge Management in Rural Communities. Engineering Project Organizations Conference (EPOC). Brijuni, Croatia.
  2. Panacewicz, L.P., A. Bielefeldt, C. Schulz, R.S. Summers, and T. Relph.  2010.  Enhanced Ceramic Water Filtration System for Contaminant Removal for Households in Developing Countries.  AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference (WQTC).  Savannah, GA. Nov. 14-17.

  3. Stewart, M.W., A. Bielefeldt, E. Mansfield, R.S. Summers, and J.N. Ryan. 2010. Effects of water quality parameters on the release of silver nanoparticles from a ceramic surface using a quartz crystal microbalance.   AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference (WQTC).  Savannah, GA. Nov. 14-17.

  4. Bielefeldt, A.R., R.S. Summers, A. Kohler, andK. Kowalski.  2009.  Bacteria and Virus Removal in Point-Of-Use Ceramic Water Filters.  Presentation and paper at the Water Environment Federation Disinfection 2009 – International Ceramic Pot Filter Workshop.  March 1. Atlanta, CA. 

  5. Kowalski, K., Angela R. Bielefeldt, and R. Scott Summers. 2008.  Bacterial Growth in Point-of-Use Ceramic Water Filters.  Presentation and paper in the Proceedings of the2008 Institute for the Environment Environmental Symposium: Sustainable and Safe Drinking Water in Developing and Developed Countries: Where Science Meets Policy, edited by Phil Singer.  Nov. 5 - 6.  University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, NC. 

Book Chapter Publications:

  1. Bielefeldt, A.R. 2011.  Chapter 2 - Appropriate and Sustainable Water Disinfection Methods for Developing Communities.  Water Disinfection.  K.M. Buchanan, Ed.  Nova Publishers.    Pp. 45-75. ISBN: 978-1-61122-021-6.