News Article

iUTAH researchers at Utah State University are taking a fresh look at stormwater management as part of a federally-funded study to improve water reuse in the western United States. The team of engineers, scientists and sociologists are among a growing group of water quality experts who say it’s time for new ideas in stormwater management. Their research proposal was chosen among five nationwide to receive part of an Environmental Protection Agency grant totaling $3.3 million. USU will receive $774,283.

Ryan Dupont, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Utah State University and iUTAH researcher, and other scientists hope to change this scenario. As water quality experts, he and a team of researchers are exploring a new approach to stormwater management. This approach would replace the current concrete systems with a more natural system that minimizes contamination, and allows the water to be stored and reused. Decentralizing the infrastructure is a key component to the new approach. Preliminary data on the effectiveness of this new approach are being collected now.

The project is a collaborative effort involving two other iUTAH researchers. Doug Jackson-Smith, a professor of sociology, will gather the opinions of stakeholders and the public on this new approach to stormwater management. And Sarah Null, an assistant professor of watershed sciences, will study the possible ecological benefits of the proposed system. The project was recently awarded an Environmental Protection Agency grant for continued research.

Press: Utah State Today

iUTAH researchers are looking for a new approach to stormwater management that decentralizes and minimizes the need for water treatment. Credit: Utah State University