Managed Aquifer Recharge is an increasingly prevalent solution to sustain water availability in arid regions. Recharge of groundwater resources using treated wastewater effluent is one type of managed aquifer recharge that offers long-term sustainable water management. However, there are some concerns regarding the reuse of wastewater and its potential to increase exposures to antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes that could affect human health. Antibiotic resistance genes can confer the ability for bacteria to resist antibacterial treatment, rendering their presence in water supplies as an area of research needed to evaluate where environmental “hot spots” of potential antibiotic resistance disseminate. To evaluate the occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, sampling of an Arizona managed aquifer recharge facility was performed, with target antibiotic resistance genes measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes was evaluated at several sampling wells and in sediments to examine trade-offs between water quantity benefits and water quality issues. The goal of this work is to inform management operations for secure water quality in the face of climate change.
Using National Land Cover Data we analyzed land fragmentation trends from 1992 to 2001 in five southwestern cities associated with Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites.
As sustainability grows in popularity, it is important to understand what may influence people’s perceptions of the environment so that knowledge of how to motivate people to engage in sustainable practices is obtained. This project investigates people's perceptions on green infrastructure in relation to people’s motivation in order to engage in pro-environmental behavior. This study employs an online survey sent to student athletes at Arizona State University followed up by an semi-constructed interview to understand what kind of access these athletes had to green infrastructure while growing up, how much they value the environment today, and whether or not they attribute their current perceptions of the environment to their childhood access to green infrastructure. Findings suggest that there may be a relationship between student athletes’ access to green infrastructure and a higher value of the environment but only in those who are knowledgeable about how green infrastructure can impact the human population. By showing a possible correlation between access to green infrastructure and motivation to conserve the environment, this study shows the importance of environmental design and how the built environment influences people’s perceptions and behavior toward environmental sustainability.
This thesis looks to explore the common barriers and perceptions surrounding sustainable living in westernized societies. We begin by understanding and explaining the complexity and importance of sustainability. Then we go on into a cultural comparison of sustainable lifestyles from places like Mongolia and Northern Arizona. After the comparison, we look deeper into mental barriers, perceptions, and influences that western minds have on the environment and how these beliefs affect their sustainable behaviors. After noticing these obstacles, we were able to research three key solutions to overcoming these barriers: daily practices, contextual motivation, and subjective values. Using these three solutions, this thesis builds out an implementation plan that allows you to help create a more sustainable lifestyle that you can start living out today.