University of Central Arkansas Scientists’ Research Supports Water Quality Management at Lake Brewer
Dr. Hal Halvorson’s lab at University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is researching what triggers cyanobacteria to produce toxins and taste and odor compounds at Brewer Lake. In partnership with Conway Corp, the owner of Brewer Lake, Halvorson’s research is helping ensure a sustainable, high-quality drinking water supply for the citizens of Conway, Arkansas.
Conway Corp has received an increase in customer questions about taste and odor in drinking water in recent years. Halvorson and his team were tasked with finding out why taste and odor compounds were being produced and why some years were worse than others. The long-term goal is to understand effective treatment solutions.
“We’ve been collecting data for a long time now, and we are shifting from reactionary to proactive–data allows you to do that. It allows you to look forward in time,” Halvorson, assistant professor of Biological Sciences at UCA, said.
Dr. Felicia Osburn, a post-doctoral research associate, is working alongside Halvorson on this project. Her interest is understanding how lake conditions relate to what is going on at the microscale within the cyanobacterial cells themselves.
“We’re still learning a lot about cyanobacteria. At the cellular level, how does toxin production compare to taste and odor molecule production?” Osburn said.
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Post-Doctoral Research Associate Halvor Halvorson Felicia Osburn
“It’s one of the big questions of this grant – is there a link between toxin production and taste and odor?” Halvorson said.
The biggest impact of this project is for Conway Corp to understand water quality at Brewer Lake and any linkage between toxins and taste and odor compounds.
Halvorson’s research also helps raise community awareness of water quality at Brewer Lake. The City of Conway just passed a utility fee to support watershed protection after seeing the links to water quality.
“Of all the projects I have ever had, this has the most interaction with non-scientists, and people who make decisions that are actionable, based on science. When we have new data, we share it with people. There are consequences in the real world with the data sets we collect,” Halvorson stated.
Halvorson and his team will present results at the Arkansas Water Resource Center Conference in July, where he hopes to hear from and inspire others.
“This is one part of the long-term project. Because this reservoir is so important, this project will continue with long term monitoring. We’ve even submitted another grant.” Halvorson said.
More information is available on Halvorson’s lab website, https://www.halvorhalvorson.com/.
This research received funding from the Arkansas Water Resources Center through the U.S.
Geological Survey 104(b) program.
Article written by Anna Mathis
Images courtesy of Halvor Halvorson and Felica Osburn
