The Madison City Council approved the continuation of a program that provides funding for graduate research in the UW-Madison Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Tuesday in return for information on the city's water quality.
The recommendation to continue the third year of this symbiotic relationship came from the city's Board of Water Commissioners, headed by Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3.
\We are incredibly lucky to have these kinds of resources here,"" Cnare said. ""This works out well because not only do we gain benefit from the research in terms of knowledge and constantly being able to improve our control of the water utility, it also always allows a university student to complete requirements for their master's degree ... to get experience.""
Current research involves testing bacteria prevalence and prevention.
""The first thing we looked at with the student's help and work was, 'Do we have a problem with this biofilm?'"" Cnare said. ""The student tested two wells, and we determined that there are things we can do to keep this at bay, to keep the bacteria from growing.""
Madison Water Utility's Principal Engineer Al Larson said the students analyze implemented changes in the water system.
""We've been looking at the water quality and the distribution system. They've been doing a lot of bacteriological testing and looking at chlorine levels-the effectiveness of disinfection,"" Larson said.
The Madison Water Utility allots a $33,000 maximum per academic year to provide financial assistance for this research, Cnare said.
Engineering graduate student Judith Moran uses this program funding. Graduate students are selected by Dr. Gregory Harrington, an associate professor in UW-Madison's Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.
""He and I work with the graduate student to select topics...based on what would be in the best interest of the city of Madison,"" Larson said.
