Water Quality, Outreach and Wellness (WOW) Laboratory

Baltimore City Agricultural Irrigation Water Quality Project 

The Baltimore City Agricultural Irrigation Water Quality Project is funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Baltimore City Department of Public Works. This innovative Knowledge Building project in Baltimore City has been testing harvested rainwater and other irrigation sources used at community gardens and urban farms in the city from 2020-2022. Additionally, we have created multimedia education and outreach materials about rainwater harvesting in urban agriculture, including an open-access webinar series. Our goals are to 1) address a critical knowledge gap about the safety of harvested rainwater runoff for produce irrigation; 2) increase knowledge about water quality, water conservation, and alternative garden water sources among urban growers, and 3) steadily increase the number of urban growers using this important water source (outcomes).

Principal Investigator:
Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein, PhD, MPH

Collaborators:
Andrew Lazur
Marcus Williams 
Kelsey Brooks

Project Sponsors:
Chesapeake Bay Trust
Baltimore City Department of Public Works

RRIPER (Rooftop Runoff Irrigation Produce Eaten Raw)

The RRIPER (Rooftop Runoff Irrigation Produce Eaten Raw) program led by Dr. Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein in the Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland seeks to evaluate the quality of harvested rainwater and rooftop runoff used to irrigate produce. Using alternative water sources is increasingly important as we face a global water crisis. It is crucial that every drop of water be used wisely, including water that falls as rain or runs off our roofs. Despite the abundance of rainwater barrels in use in Maryland, gardeners have previously been advised against using harvested rainwater or rooftop runoff to irrigate gardens because of water quality and food safety concerns. However, studies on the microbial and chemical quality of harvested rainwater or rooftop runoff are limited and contradictory.

During the summers of 2018 and 2019, the RRIPER program analyzed rooftop runoff, soil, and produce grown with rooftop runoff for bacterial indicators (total coliforms and E. coli), pathogens (Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes), and heavy metals (aluminum, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc) in vegetable raised garden beds using a subsurface irrigation system supplied by rooftop runoff in Frederick, Maryland. While the water quality data of the garden beds at the coalition is still being analyzed, prior research has shown that community gardens with stormwater management systems can increase community wellbeing and protect environmental resources (Tom et al., 2013). The Frederick garden site has shown social benefits of harvesting stormwater runoff, including community engagement and improved access to fresh produce. More detailed information on the Frederick raised vegetable garden beds can be found in the University of Maryland Extension fact sheet “Watering Seeds of Change with Rainwater”. We plan to continue our work to evaluate multiple types of rainwater and rooftop runoff harvesting systems to assess their safety for irrigating fresh produce.

Principal Investigator:                                 
Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein, PhD, MPH

Collaborators:
Claire Hudson
Leena Malayil
Suhana Chattopadhyay
Sarah Allard
Manan Sharma
Amy Sapkota
Drew Ferrier
Marcus Williams
Kelsey Brooks
Andy Lazur
Jon Traunfeld
Neith Little

Project Sponsors:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture through CONSERVE: A Center of Excellence at the Nexus of Sustainable Water Reuse, Food & Health;
University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Strategic Initiative Implementation Team: Optimize Urban Environments Through Design, Green Technology and Community Engagement

CONSERVE

CONSERVE (COordinating NontraditionalSustainable watER Use in Variable climatEs): A Center of Excellence at the Nexus of Sustainable Water Reuse, Food, and Health’s mission is to facilitate the adoption of transformative on‐farm treatment solutions that enable the safe use of nontraditional irrigation water on food crops. Climate change and population growth are stressing our freshwater resources, requiring the exploration of alternative water sources, including reclaimed water (highly treated municipal wastewater). Finding reliable, safe irrigation water is especially important for farmers as agriculture is the largest water user worldwide and in the US. For water reuse in agriculture to be a viable option, buy-in from farmers is crucial.
As the co-Project Director of Extension for CONSERVE, Dr. Goldstein led a multi-region needs assessment survey among farmers on nontraditional water use opinions and communicated research results to growers, local and state regulators, and other interested parties through multimedia outreach and educational materials as well as through in-person workshops and community events. The CONSERVE Extension team is increasing understanding and acceptance of water reuse in agriculture among non-agricultural communities through outreach and education activities.

Principal Investigator: 
Amy R. Sapkota, PhD, MPH

Co-Project Director of Extension: 
Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein, PhD, MPH

Project Sponsors:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Moving Beyond the “Yuck Factor”: Measuring brain responses to water reuse terms and determining if natural environmental images change responses

Water reuse (the beneficial use of reclaimed water) is becoming increasingly necessary as climate change and population growth stress freshwater resources. While government agencies, scientists, and the water industry have recognized the importance of water reuse, a commonly cited barrier is consumers’ negative perceptions - the ‘yuck factor’. There is an urgent need to determine how to increase public acceptance of water reuse. Education could be instrumental for changing perceptions, but to date there has been a lack of outcome studies on the effectiveness of water reuse education.
This study’s goal is to improve acceptability of water reuse by determining if educational videos modulate perceptions of water reuse terms. We are measuring changes in neural activity in response to multiple categories of water reuse terms pre- and post-exposure to water reuse education videos using electroencephalogram (EEG). The results from this study can validate and increase the effectiveness of water reuse education materials using objective neurocognitive measures. The integration of psychology into water resource educational efforts will aid targeted education campaigns which will impact communication, acceptance, and policy.

Principal Investigators:
Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein, PhD, MPH
Edward Bernat, PhD

Project Sponsor:
Brain and Behavior Initiative (BBI) at the University of Maryland (UMD)

RANG (Reducing Anxiety with Nature and Gardening) 

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and resulting stay-at-home orders have resulted in increased levels of anxiety and stress. There have been several news articles written about the increase in seed sales and the benefits of gardening, however there have been limited scientific studies about if gardening and reduced anxiety are significantly associated. We have developed a survey to determine the increase in gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic and if gardening is associated with reduced stress and anxiety. The results of this survey will be used by University of Maryland Extension (UME) educators in addressing and directing future educational programming and resource development for existing and beginning gardeners.

This survey is open to all individuals who are at least 18 years old and located in the United States.  It is estimated that the survey will take 10 minutes or less to complete. The survey is anonymous and does not contain questions that may personally identify you. Please complete the survey only once. The survey will be open until June 1, 2021. Thank you for helping us identify ways to reduce stress and provide gardening information.

Principal Investigator:
Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein, PhD, MPH

Collaborators:
Marcus Williams
Naomi Sachs, PhD
Jennifer D. Roberts, Dr.PH, MPH

Healthy Garden, Healthy You

Mental health and food insecurity are two of the greatest public health challenges facing our nation.  Gardening is a means to provide nutritious food, and a growing body of literature has identified the mental health benefits of gardening, including mood improvement, reduced anxiety, and trauma recovery.  Racial and ethnic minority communities, including those in local Prince George's County and Baltimore City, MD are disproportionately impacted by poverty, mental health problems, and limited access to healthy food.  Through this project we will create virtual toolkits, host a webinar, and develop fact sheets to share information with local, underserved urban communities about the mental and physical health benefits of gardening.  Urban gardening will be further promoted by teaching community members how to start their own urban gardens and equipping them with garden starter kits. 

Principal Investigator:
Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein, PhD, MPH

Co-Principal Investigator:
Jon Traunfeld, M.Agr.

Student Collaborators:
Emmie Healey, PhD Student
Cameron Smith, MS Student

Project Sponsor:
Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM)

• On April 22, 2022 the article "Reducing Anxiety with Nature and Gardening (RANG): Evaluating the Impacts of Gardening and Outdoor Activities on Anxiety among U.S. Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic" was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/512
• At the AWRA Annual National Capital Region Water Resources Symposium conference at UDC on April 8, 2022, Emily Healey won 2nd place for her poster about evaluating indicator and heavy metal presence concentration in irrigation water on urban farms in Baltimore City, MD.
• At UMD School of Public Health's Public Health Research Day, Cameron Smith's poster titled "Baltimore City Irrigation Water Quality: Current Use and Needs from Baltimore City Farmers and Gardeners" won 1st place in the Masters Students category.
• On December 21, 2022, the article https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34863989/ was published online in Environmental Research.
• A November 2nd Diamondback article, "UMD professor awarded $20k grant for research on gardening, mental health", highlighted Dr. Goldstein's intentions to share the mental health and food security benefits of gardening with local communities. 
• In the "Happy & Well" webinar on October 21, 2021, Dr. Goldstein presented the RANG study results, discussing how gardening and outdoor, nature-based activities support happiness and wellbeing.  
• Dr. Goldstein's recent receival of the Health Information Outreach Award from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 1 and her intention to study the mental and physical health benefits of urban agriculture were highlighted in the article "Healthy Garden, Healthy You", published on SPH's website on October 11, 2021.
• Dr. Goldstein discussed the RANG study results in the webinar "Energize Your Mind, Boost Your Spirit" on September 20, 2021, highlighting the mental health benefits of participating in outdoor, nature-based activities.
• Prescott College's Food Systems Friday series on May 21, 2021 featured CONSERVE members' presentation, "Every Drop Counts: Agricultural Water Reuse Advances from the CONSERVE Center".
• On March 29, 2021 Home101 hosted the webinar "Improving Your Home and Health Through Gardening" in which Dr. Goldstein presented the RANG survey results and their implications for the mental health benefits of gardening.
• Our gardening and mental health survey was featured in the Baltimore Sun article "Pandemic growth spurt: Interest in gardening still trends upwards in Baltimore County" published on April 26, 2021.
• The Replate Blog featured the RRIPER project's accomplishments and future plans in a post titled "You Can't Rain Enough On This Parade" on April 19, 2021.
• The article "Urban Agriculture Combats Food Insecurity, Builds Community" was published by EOS in January 2021 and highlights the work done by the RRIPER project. 
• Our survey on gardening and outdoor activities as stress management techniques was highlighted in the Maryland Today article "Digging Into Gardening Trends" on September 3, 2020.
• An article exploring farmers' preferences for education and outreach related to nontraditional water use was published in JEMA.
• On December 4, 2019 we held the first in a series of Maryland grower water reuse workshops.  The Maryland Independent news outlet published an article about the successful workshop titled "Farmers, ag experts explore opportunities for reclaimed water."
• The RRIPER project was selected as a recipient of the Interdisciplinary Projects for Community Resilience in Urban and Peri-urban Environments Seed Grant from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Strategic Initiative Implementation Team: Optimize Urban Environments Through Design, Green Technology and Community Engagement.

Former WOW Lab Members