Ph. D. Student Sam Hodges Exploring Alternative Ways to Sample Drinking Water

University of Arkansas Department of Civil Engineering Ph. D. student Samuel Hodges is researching grab sample alternatives to sampling drinking water. The title of Hodge’s project was “Development of a Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films Passive Sampler for Drinking Water Disinfection By-Products”. Hodges’s advisor is Dr. Julian Fairey. 

Water utilities have to keep an eye on disinfection by-products in drinking water. These chemicals form during water treatment when disinfectants and organic matter react. Water utilities use grab samples at present, but a time-weighted-average sampling approach may provide more applicable data for monitoring. Hodges and Fairey are working on passive samplers for drinking water utilities. Hodges conducted the laboratory and analysis work and led the report writing. 

“We wanted to offer an option to grab sampling that would be easy for water utilities” said Hodges. “This option is not just easier, but it helps protect drinking water and human health.” 

Hodges’s goal is to work with international stakeholders to address water issues worldwide. He plans to pursue a tenure track faculty position at the collegiate level with a focus on teaching. 

“I have enjoyed seeing how we can couple physics, math, and chemistry to solve problems. This was an interesting project, and it fuels my interest in drinking water treatment.” 

This research was funded by U.S. Geological Survey 104(b) program through the Arkansas Water Resources Center for funding.

Image Courtesy of Julian Fairey