Abstracts and Posters from the Networking Session
The Agroecology Lab – UMaine Ecology & Environmental Sciences
by Rachel Schattman, Sara Delaney (sara.delaney@maine.edu), Sara Kelemen, Haley Jean and Ali Bello
The Agroecology lab at the University of Maine has a mission to create and communicate useable new agroecological knowledge through research and synthesis, in collaboration with end-users and communities, to sustain and improve socio-ecological systems. We will share our lab’s vision, goals and definition of agroecology as we practice it. We will also show each of the projects currently led by lab members. By presenting our work we hope to start conversations and make new connections.
Predictive Statistical Model Development for Adsorption of Forever Chemicals (PFAS) by Microplastics
by Dilara Hatinoglu (m.dilara.hatinoglu@maine.edu) and Onur Apul (Civil & Environmental Eng.)
With the action of sunlight, wind, and waves, marine plastics degrade into micron-sizes over time. Due to their high surface area and hydrophobicity, microplastics have recently raised concerns about being vectors for transferring hazardous pollutants into the biota. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemically stable compounds due to strong C-F bonds (544 kJ/mol) in their structure. Despite increasing awareness of their persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic behavior in the environment, many PFAS are still extensively used in various industries. Recent literature emphasized the coexistence of microplastics and PFAS in the environment and produced a database of PFAS’ adsorption onto microplastics. However, given the influence of plastic properties (e.g., polymer type, particle size), PFAS characteristics (e.g., functional groups, chain length), and the variability of aquatic matrices (e.g., salinity, pH, dissolved organic matter), it is not feasible to have a complete representation of the risk by conducting laboratory experiments alone. Therefore, this study aims to develop a predictive model for adsorption of PFAS by microplastics using linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) approach. The model regarding polystyrene yielded an R2=0.93 (n=13, molecular weight cutoff <900 g/mol), and molecular volume, hydrogen bond accepting and donating parameters were the most predominant descriptors.
Submerged Oyster Cages as a Shoreline Retreat Mitigation Strategy
by Liam Hanley (liam.hanley@maine.edu) and Kimberly Huguenard (Civil & Environmental Eng.)
This project is one of several projects currently active in the Coastal Engineering group at the University of Maine’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The purpose of this study is to examine the use of sunken, over-wintered oyster farms as a strategy to reduce shoreline erosion. Wave forces constantly erode shorelines across the world, and natural solutions to coastal erosion have been studied to be effectual and generally better for ocean ecosystems than “hard engineering” solutions. Aquaculture represents a large portion of Maine’s economy, and some studies have been conducted on capitalizing on the breadth of Maine aquaculture for engineering solutions. This project involves measuring wave characteristics on a longline of oyster cages owned by Maine Ocean Farms, in Freeport, Maine. Field observations will be used to produce a numerical model of the localized area, so that different environments and farm layouts can be tested for efficacy. This project will inform oyster farmers and policy makers on layout strategies for their sunken oyster farms, with shoreline retreat in mind. This study will quantify the effect of bottom lying oyster gear on reducing wave height from winter storms and inform how these effects can be increased generally in Maine, to reduce coastal erosion. This project is currently ongoing and will have results by the end of Summer 2022.
by Rachel Fowler (rachel.a.fowler@maine.edu), Kate Warner, William Gawley and Jasmine Saros (Climate Change Institute and School of Biology and Ecology)
Recent work has shown that average water clarity of lakes in Acadia has been decreasing since 1995. This decline corresponds to an increase in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations across the same set of lakes. It is believed that rapid changes in climate conditions and atmospheric deposition have resulted in these shifts in DOC and subsequent declines in water clarity. In particular, extreme precipitation events are correlated with elevated lake water DOC concentrations. A consequence of these fluctuations in DOC from extreme precipitation events is changing phytoplankton community structure. We analyzed a sediment core from Seal Cove Pond to create historical algal pigment and diatom reconstructions, and evaluated modern responses of phytoplankton community structure to storm events in Seal Cove Pond. From the 1990s to present, many algal pigments increased, while some declined. Shifts in pigments within algal groups may indicate that certain taxa have gained competitive advantages with changing environmental conditions that mediate light, nutrient availability, and water temperature. The diatom record shows that Discostella stelligera, an indicator of lake thermal structure, has increased since the beginning of the record in 1880. The highest relative abundance occurred in recent decades, which may reflect observed trends in increasing water temperature and DOC.
The potential of cellulose nanofibers for packaging and construction material solutions
by Colleen Walker (Process Development Center, colleen.walker@maine.edu), Doug Bousfield (Chemical and Biomedical Eng.), Mehdi Tajvidi (School of Forestry, Laboratory of Renewable Nanotechnology)
Cellulose based packaging has many advantages over plastic, metals, glass and other materials because cellulose is sustainable, often easy to recycle, will decompose if littered in the environment, produces green electricity if burned, and sequesters carbon if placed in a landfill. However, paper and paperboard often do not have the barrier properties required for certain applications. Cellulose based construction materials have similar advantages compared to metal and cement, but is often not used in some situations. Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) can be produced at low cost and show promise to solve some of the issues around barrier properties in packaging and issues in construction. Samples of CNF suspensions will demonstrate the potential for CNF to be used as a thickener in some situations. Also, samples of paper coated with a CNF layer and free standing CNF films show the potential for this novel form of cellulose to provide a grease barrier layer; this layer could replace the need for PFAS chemicals to obtain grease proof paper. CNF layers have also been shown to be good oxygen barrier that could eliminate the need for a metal layer in many common packaging solutions such as candy wrappers or chip bags. CNF mixed with wood particles creates a particle board that does not require formaldehyde based resins. Samples of these potential products will be provided with the hope to simulate thinking on other solutions.
by Gabrielle Hillyer (Ecology and Environmental Sciences, gabrielle.hillyer@maine.edu), Lauren Ross (Civil & Environmental Eng.), Sohaib Alahmed (TetraTech) and David Taylor (stakeholder partner)
Fisheries managed on a community scale can often lack the resources or capacity to conduct research on complex issues in a sustainable manner. One approach to mitigating this issue is through stakeholder-engaged science, where researchers partner with community leaders to identify and study salient issues. In this poster, we present a case study focused on understanding tidal circulation, water pollution, and other issues in the St. George Estuary, ME to support the wild soft-shell clam fishery. The wild soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) fishery has declined in landings over the last few decades due to multiple complex ecological and social factors. One of these factors is an increased frequency and persistence of water-quality closures related to fecal coliform bacteria. Using stakeholder engaged research and sustainability science methods, we worked with clam harvesters in Thomaston, ME to deploy multiple low-cost Lagrangian drifter buckets, and an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) to measure current speeds and provide oceanographic computer model validation data. The model has been shared back with the community, who is now providing new questions and directions for researchers to pursue and informing local decision making about conservation, restoration, and water quality closures. This collaborative approach highlights how science can serve communities, while maintaining scientific credibility and community-based legitimacy.
Global Cross-Resources Assessment of Offshore Renewable Energy Research and Development
by James Spalding (University of Strathclyde Civil & Environmental Eng., spalding.james.k@gmail.com), Chris White (University of Strathclyde Civil & Environmental Eng.), Lauren Ross (UMaine Civil & Environmental Eng.)
Models of future global based on varying climate mitigation scenarios show to meet international warming targets further renewable energy development is needed. By 2030 renewable energy must account for at least 60% of the global energy supply. Renewable energy makes up 23% of energy production to date, less than 1% coming from offshore renewable energy (ORE). However, ORE energy potentials have been estimated to be more than double the global demand. Previous ORE energy assessments typically consider only a single resource type and due to large variability in methods and units used, it is largely unknown how the energy potentials compare. This research undertakes a global cross-resource assessment of ORE energy potentials through creation of a new database including more than 600 previously published resource assessments of ORE. These results are compared to the energy potentials of offshores wind, tidal currents, waves and offshore solar. A feasible upper limit for tidal current and offshore solar is calculated. The results of this study imply that previous work assessing energy potentials has not been motivated by the total available energy. Future research and development of ORE resource types can, however, be optimized by employing a cross-resource assessments as demonstrated by this work.
by Yuksel (Rudy) Alkarem (yuksel.alkarem@maine.edu, Civil & Environmental Eng.), Kimberly Huguenard (Civil & Environmental Eng.) and Richard Kimball (Mechanical Eng.)
My research is focused on developing a digital-twin model for floating offshore wind turbine that aims at integrating active tuned mass damping (TMD) control module to mitigate platform motions due to the coupling effect of wind and wave excitations. The active TMD takes the current state of the float as the input as well as its future state based on nonlinear forecast of the wave both spatially and temporally and provides optimum TMD characteristics on a wave-by-wave basis that minimize the platform response, particularly the rotational acceleration as it is the driving factor in the fatigue of the upper, complex part of the wind turbine, i.e., the rotor-nacelle assembly. This research is in its Proof-of-Concept stage and as a first step, the active control system (ACS) will be coupled with the widely used aero-hydro-servo-elasto dynamic solver, OpenFAST, and the simulations required to get the ACS input will be conducted in the frequency domain (the Slow ACS version). Then, the wave prediction model will be coupled, and the ACS will be updated in the time domain (the Fast ACS version), and its efficacy in reducing platform response will be studied. Eventually, experimental validation will be conducted to back the numerical outcomes.
Pouring spatial data into shellfishery management decision-making
by Bea Van Dam (bea.vandam@maine.edu) and Sean Smith (School of Earth and Climate Sciences)
Bacteria pollution closures of Maine’s shellfish harvest areas have economic and social consequences for harvesters and communities. Management of harvest areas to protect public health while avoiding unnecessary closures requires spatial information to make science-based decisions related to land-sea connections along the state’s ~5,600 km, geographically varied coastline. Prior research demonstrates coastal river watersheds can cluster into coastal “settings” with self-similar physiographic and land cover conditions. Current work integrates near-coast “margin” watershed areas and estuarine waters into an expanded clustering and pollution vulnerability analysis of coastal embayment settings based on factors relating to bacteria landscape sources, delivery of polluted runoff to shellfisheries, and residence time of polluted water within tidal embayments. This poster describes a geographic information systems (GIS) tool to access relevant data for any user-defined embayment along the Maine coastline. The “Estuary Builder” uses digital high-resolution elevation data to route precipitation runoff to embayment outlets, aggregates source, delivery, and residence time proxy metric data for the contributing area, and identifies coastal setting type. The tool provides new capacity for coastal resource managers to rapidly acquire spatial information to guide management strategies in locations with limited data using historic bacteria monitoring station data from well-monitored flats within the same cluster.
Scaling Ocean Waves for Laboratory & Field Testing of Wave Energy Conversion Devices (WECs)
by Lauren Dickson (lauren.dickson@maine.edu, Mechanical Eng.), Lauren Ross (Civil & Environmental Eng.) and Richard Kimball (Mechanical Eng.)
In the face of climate change, we need to turn to renewable energy alternatives soon. Wave Energy Conversion Devices (WECs) harness the power of waves to generate energy, but the path to commercialization for these devices can be long due to long waits for laboratory testing with different prototype components. The goal of this project is to develop and test a rapid prototyping with 3D printed additive materials methodology to speed up testing and the path to commercialization for WECSs. For this project we will work with three WEC manufacturers (Resolute Marine, Oscilla Power and CalWave) to prep their devices for testing in the Wind Wave (W2) Lab and field testing at the Castine Scaled Ocean Test Site (CSOTS). Using collected field data from CSOTS we will then scale the typical Pacific Coast wave environments to W2 Laboratory and CSOTS conditions. Finally, we will develop new WEC components using 3D printed additive materials to be rapidly tested in the W2 and CSOTS environments. This poster presents the scaling methodology and results, which led to a 8:1 scale ratio for the Pacific Ocean conditions vs CSOTS and 20:1 for the CSOTS vs the W2 Laboratory. Similar methodologies presented in this poster can be used for other potential WEC testing sites around the world.
Developing A Community Engaged Website: A Case Study of the Mudflat by the Maine Shellfish Learning Network (MSLN)
by Gabrielle Hillyer (Ecology and Environmental Sciences, gabrielle.hillyer@maine.edu), Katie Moody (MSLN Digital Media Coordinator), Anthony Sutton (Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions), and Bridie McGreavy (Communication and Journalism)
Communication, and especially Information access, learning and adaptive capacity, and informal support networks and relationships are consistently cited across sustainability science literature as key factors that shape localized adaptive governance. These patterns are consistent in the wild clam and mussel fishery, a complex system facing multiple “wicked problems” and where abilities to define and respond to such problems are shaped by myriad relationships between harvesters, families, communities, cultures, histories as well as intertidal ecosystems and shellfish themselves. The Maine Shellfish Learning Network (MSLN) has emerged as an informal organization focused on supporting learning, leadership, and equity across the multiple actors and contexts within the intertidal spaces to create spaces and capacities for localized adaptive governance. As a part of these efforts to support local decision making and broaden the visibility of the fishery, the MSLN has developed a website, the Mudflat (themudflat.org). This poster describes the collaborative process of developing the Mudflat website, key features of the website, and a description of project profiles developed for the website dedicated to diverse restoration and conservation projects led by shellfish communities across the coast.
Upland Microtopography and Implications to Surface Water Detention in Maine
by Bea Van Dam (bea.vandam@maine.edu) and Sean Smith (School of Earth and Climate Sciences)
A notable characteristic of Maine’s forested landscape is the microtopography caused by a combination of factors related to surficial geology and tree fall. These features are often on the scale of single meters wide and decimeters in depth, appearing as “puddles” in the landscape during high magnitude precipitation events. Surface water detention storage provided by depressions can be substantial at the scale of a watershed. Generalized ranges for storage capacity have been summarized in textbooks for varied landscape conditions, but little is known about how microtopography and related detention varies in Maine’s dominant physiographic settings defined by slope, surficial geology, and land cover conditions. With increasing availability of high-resolution elevation data, it has become possible to remotely evaluate the extent of these depressions and quantify the total upland storage capacity they may represent. In this poster we describe and quantify microtopography in varied settings using measurements of hillslope terrain ruggedness and depression volume from several Maine watersheds and relate the distribution of microtopography to variations in landform and land use conditions. The implications of spatial and temporal patterns of storage to runoff generation and habitat are then considered.
Taste and Odor Degradation in Water by Nanobubble-Facilitated Ultrasonication
by Zach Doherty (zachery.doherty@maine.edu, Civil & Environmental Eng.), Sudheera Yaparatne (Civil & Environmental Eng.), Deborah Bouchard (Aquaculture Research Institute, Cooperative Extension), Onur Apul (Civil & Environmental Eng.)
Odor reduction in drinking water treatment is a constant battle, often fought against the presence of earthy or musty odors and tastes. Most often the odorous algal metabolite compounds Geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) are identified as the culprit behind taste and odor issues in drinking water. While many factors such as temperature, microbial concentrations, media, and biodegradable organic matter can affect the removal of these compounds there yet lacks a singular superior strategy to degrade the GSM and MIB compounds. This project will explore the use of cutting-edge nanobubble technology and how it may impact taste and odor emissions. The primary focus area will center on the interaction between intentionally ruptured Nanobubbles and the impact it has on GSM and MIB compounds. It is expected that induced cavitation, which will be accomplished by bathing samples in a sonicator bath, will create free hydroxyl radicals (•OH) that can in turn significantly degrade the present compounds. I have personally seen the potential for vastly improved efficiency nanobubble technology can have in the wastewater treatment field through my experience with the Apul Research Group this past summer and am excited by the immense potential it holds for water treatment.
by Reilley Hicks (reilley.hicks@maine.edu), Sam Rickerich and Lauren Ross (Civil & Environmental Eng.)
Climate change is increasing the severity and frequency of storms, which places coastal communities at risk to elevated water levels, storm surges, wave activities and erosion. A better understanding of tidal and wave processes – which drive sediment transport and coastal erosion – will support informed engineering design and mitigation strategies. Current research motivated by these coastal processes focuses on the interaction of tidal and wave driven currents and the resulting bottom stresses in nearshore coastal waters. Wind wave observations from Castine, Maine form connections between wave bottom stress and tidal phase while idealized hydrodynamic-wave numerical model results explore the structure and drivers of hydrodynamics in the vicinity of a tidal inlet. Numerical model results indicate that asymmetries between flood and ebb tidal currents are enhanced in the presence of waves – which produce a shoreward current at depth and a return flow near the surface. The near bottom current amplifies bottom stress in shallow water. Observational results support these findings, as the frequency of bottom stresses is highest during spring-low tides and increases with wave height. This work shows that the inclusion of tidal and wave processes is necessary in coastal environments when assessing long term sediment and pollutant transport.
Resilient Coastal Communities: using interdisciplinary research and stakeholder engagement to face coastal pollution challenges in New England
by Sam Roy (Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions), Sean Smith (sean.m.smith@maine.edu, School of Earth and Climate Sciences), Bridie McGreavy (Communications and Journalism), Brett Gerard (School of Earth and Climate Sciences)
The culture and economy of coastal Maine is closely linked to near-shore water quality. Besides impacts on health, bacterial pollution in estuaries has negative effects on the state’s multimillion dollar tourism and shellfishing industries. Our related research is designed around management interests of Maine coastal communities to: a) evaluate guidelines for shellfish harvest closures linked to bacteria pollution, b) identify locations more vulnerable to bacteria pollution problems, and c) determine if guidelines for closures should vary with respect to estuary location. Here we present decision support tools focused on precipitation runoff, land-sea connections, and pollution source, delivery, and estuary residence time metrics. The outcomes provide new information to guide state coastal regulation practices, organized by two components: 1) Identification of coastal settings that correlate to high frequency of bacteria contamination by cluster analysis and regression, 2) Estimation of surface runoff residence time and concentration within estuary shellfish harvesting zones as a proxy for contamination risk.
Linking Hydrodynamics to Harmful Algal Blooms on the Coast of Maine
by Taylor Bailey (taylor.l.bailey@maine.edu, Civil & Environmental Eng.), Lauren Ross (Civil & Environmental Eng.), Sean Smith (School of Earth and Climate Sciences), Maeve Dineen (Civil & Environmental Eng.), Hanna Cronin (Civil & Environmental Eng.)
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) associated with the toxic diatom Pseudo-nitzchia (PN) have appeared in the coastal waters of Maine in recent years. The blooms are alarming because they produce the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) that can lead to amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), a potentially fatal illness when infected shellfish are consumed by humans. Despite this, knowledge of the environmental and hydrodynamic conditions that influence HAB occurrence and transport in marine waters is limited. The gaps in knowledge surrounding HABs influences shellfish harvesting closure decisions when PN is detected, adversely affecting the livelihood of aquaculture farmers and fishermen who rely on harvesting for income. This stakeholder driven research aims to support a more advanced scientific basis for closure decisions by investigating factors that influence HABs through measurements and hydrodynamic modeling of the Frenchman Bay estuary system. By drawing correlations between observational water quality data and measured levels of DA in shellfish meats, this work will help to identify conditions that cause HABs in the Gulf of Maine. Preliminary results suggest a correlation between precipitation events and bloom occurrence, which will be linked to hydrodynamic conditions from model hindcasts of the year 2016, the most severe year of ASP events in Maine. These findings will inform the development of a hydrodynamic forecasting model of Frenchman Bay, which is currently underway. The model will serve as a tool to inform management decisions surrounding bloom events and to advance understanding of HAB development and transport in marine waters.
Land-sea Connections of Coastal Places, People, and Science in Maine
by Sean Smith (sean.m.smith@maine.edu, School of Earth and Climate Sciences, Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions), Lauren Ross (Civil & Environmental Eng.), Bea Van Dam (School of Earth and Climate Sciences), Taylor Bailey (Civil & Environmental Eng.)
One challenge of coastal pollution management is the development, delivery and application of scientific knowledge and information related to land-sea connections to stakeholders that interpret observations of coastal events and outcomes from biophysical research in different ways. Problems confronting shell fishing communities often relate to the sources, delivery, and residence time of rainfall runoff and associated pollutants. Estuary responses to pollution events are influenced by geomorphology and human activities, with some problems caused by elevated source contributions and efficient pollutant delivery from watersheds, others influenced by estuary flushing times, and co-occurring problems under conditions governed by tides and seasonal runoff patterns. Scientists and stakeholders have the task of designing approaches for adapting knowledge from research into management actions with consideration of unique attributes in coastal settings and scenarios at moments in time. Our ongoing research focuses on these socio-biophysical dynamics of coastal pollution with a goal of providing tools to help make science-based decisions to address impaired estuary water quality conditions, implement closures of shellfish harvesting areas, and strategize monitoring resources for management purposes. Here we provide an overview of our strides towards co-producing knowledge for sustainability solutions that will provide better predictions of water quality conditions in estuaries and new forms of information, data sources, and tools to help coastal resource managers and communities respond to pollution problems.
by Simin Moavenzadeh Ghaznavi (simin.moavenzadeh@maine.edu) and Onur Apul (Civil & Environmental Eng.)
The ubiquitous occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment is one of the most significant contemporary environmental concerns. These human-made compounds, which are extremely persistent due to their strong C-F bonds, may bioaccumulate and pose health risks to humans. PFAS cannot be easily destroyed by conventional oxidation technologies or natural attenuation. Therefore, they circulate in the environment indefinitely hence are called forever chemicals. One pertinent destination of PFAS is solid waste management facilities (landfills), which originate from PFAS-laden wastewater biosolids, commercial products or adsorbents that are discarded. Although, most modern landfills have leachate collection systems, leachates may leak underground over the years and contaminate soil, groundwater. Consequently, landfill liner materials are perceived to be one of the last barriers to breaking this forever cycle and decrease the risks of PFAS release back to the environment. The physicochemical properties of PFAS (e.g., chain length, molecular weight, functional group), leachate chemistry (e.g., ionic strength, organic content, pH) and the properties of composite liners (e.g., organic matter content, surface area, textural class) are particularly imperative for PFAS fate and partitioning to landfill liners. In this work, we experimentally evaluate several commercially available landfill geomembranes in terms of PFAS partitioning to evaluate their affinity for retaining these molecules in the landfill. Our preliminary evaluation indicates that different geomembrane liners obtained from Juniper Ridge Landfill show different adsorption affinities towards probe molecules. We intent to create permeation experiments and predictive models for PFAS adsorption onto liners as a part of our study.
Giving Form to Flow: Modeling Paleohydrology in North-Central Coastal Peru
by Elizabeth L. Leclerc (elizabeth.leclerc1@maine.edu, Climate Change Institute and Anthropology)
In coastal Andean archaeology, a longstanding interest in human-water relationships is intensifying, especially as diminishing glacial water supplies bring new urgency to issues of water management. However, archaeologists have few tools or models for understanding water environments of the past and especially how variability in climate, land use, and water management in headwater regions influenced coastal water flows. Using the Supe River basin in Peru as a case study, I developed a methodology for modelling paleohydrological dynamics at the basin-scale to provide a context for interpreting cultural developments related to water. The approach uses commonly available data and basic geospatial techniques so that it is accessible to archaeologists who may lack in-depth hydrological knowledge.
Ultra-Low-Cost, Remote, and Continuous Water Quality Detection System
by Liza White (liza.white@maine.edu, Chemical and Biological Eng.), Ainslie Allen (Chemical and Biological Eng.), Joshua Andle (School of Computing and Information Science), Salimeh Yasaei Sekeh (School of Computing and Information Science), Caitlin Howell (Chemical and Biological Eng., Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Eng.)
Water flowing into water treatment systems requires frequent testing to properly maintain operational parameters such as total solids, oxygen demand, and preservation of the treatment equipment; however, current methods obtain such information via manual collection and testing in a dedicated lab, which limits the frequency of testing, and has a large cost. Through leveraging the Maine paper industry technology and machine learning, we looked to develop a continuous, cost-effective detection system of incoming wastewater streams. Our mass-manufacturable and affordable approach to spectroscopy uses a nanostructure pattern that acts as a diffraction grating, breaking up incident light into its component wavelengths. As those wavelengths pass through a water sample of interest, they are absorbed or transmitted in a way unique to the makeup of the compounds present. Furthermore, the sensor system can be equipped with a machine learning algorithm to continuously monitor the diffraction pattern and alert a remote user when deviations beyond defined tolerance levels are detected. The development of a low-cost, continuous detection system for wastewater streams will permit treatment plant operators to quickly and effectively make adjustments to ensure optimal plant operation.