Emily Howe is a laboratory technician at Engineering Performance Solutions. While working towards her master’s degree at the University of North Florida, Emily splits her time between lab work and academics. From this dual role emerges a focus on microbiology and environmental research. Emily’s research centers on taste-and-odor (T&O) events in drinking water caused by 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin. These events often trace back to cyanobacteria and are more than nuisance issues – because they persist despite standard treatments, understanding their behavior becomes critical.
While most cyanobacteria are known for producing toxins, Emily focuses on the production of MIB and geosmin instead. What drives her interest is how these substances shape the T&O of drinking water. Despite being harmless, humans can detect MIB and geosmin even at levels as low as 10 parts per trillion (PPT). Such low detection limits prompt rapid consumer complaints, driving up treatment costs for providers.
Looking closely at taste and odor issues nationwide, Emily works backward from broad patterns down to tiny biological details. From various locations across the U.S., water specimens and microbial cultures provide clues about environmental influences. When conditions favor MIB over geosmin, answers may lie in regional differences. Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), the concentrations of each compound are measured in the water samples from which the bacteria are isolated. After isolating each bacterium, genome data are used to construct phylogenetic trees showing how strains relate. This enables tracing bacterial evolution and mapping T&O gene patterns across various species and locations.
The ultimate goal of Emily’s research is to move the industry from a reactive to a proactive stance. By identifying the specific bacterial sources of these compounds, her work provides utilities with the tools needed for improved monitoring and earlier detection. This research not only helps in maintaining consumer trust but also assists in optimizing treatment processes to handle T&O events more efficiently and cost-effectively.