UMass Lowell SLICE: Service-Learning Integrated throughout the College of Engineering
SLICE
UMass Lowell
One University Avenue
Engineering Building 224
Lowell, MA 01854 USA

Linda Barrington
Engineering Service-Learning Coordinator
(978) 934-2627
Linda_Barrington@uml.edu

John Duffy
SLICE Faculty Coordinator
Prof. of Mechanical and
Energy Engineering
(978) 934-2968
John_Duffy@uml.edu
UML Home > College of Engineering > SLICE > Project Examples

Service-Learning Project Examples

Using Hydrology to Gain Insight on Chloride Levels in Wells In Dunstable

Course: 14.460 - Water Resources Engineering

Instructor: Xiaoqi (Jackie) Zhang

Partner: Town of Dunstable, Massachusetts


Partner and Project Description: Using Hydrology to Gain Insight on Chloride Levels in Wells In Dunstable.  During the previous semester in the Environmental Engineering Lab class, water samples from wells in Dunstable were analyzed on a one-time basis to determine chloride concentrations. The Dunstable Board of Health (BOH) was concerned that there might be an extensive groundwater contamination problem and so a sample of well waters was provided for testing. A wide range of concentrations was reported.


UML students in the Water Resources Engineering course were asked to look at the hydrologic conditions at the sites of the various wells in order to try to explain to the BOH the hydrologic conditions that may contribute to the values found at the various wells. If certain hydrologic conditions are consistently shown to be associated with either high or low concentration readings, the BOH  may obtain a better understanding of how widespread the problem in the Town may be and may also have a basis for paying greater attention to finding a cause for cases that may be brought before the board by concerned citizens when the situation for their case appears to be anomalous.


In order to address this community need, Professor Zhang developed a new S-L project for this course.  In addition, this project has provided continuity within the Civil Engineering department at UML.  Professor Zhang reported that this project proved to be easy to implement and it tied well with the course content.  Professor Zhang further commented, “We are very fortunate to have Bill Moeller, S-L coordinator for the department, and to be the community partner.  He was instrumental in every aspect of the development of this project.  The effort he spent on this project made this project much easier to implement.”


Learning objectives met by the S-L project:

  • The impact of hydrologic information on pollutant transport


Community objectives met by S-L project:

  • Helped the community to understand why the wells had the levels of contamination recorded
  • Final reports on all the wells
  • A sample student report.