UC Spark

Associate Professor David Wareham

Civil and Natural Resources Engineering

Fields of Research

  • Environmental engineering
  • Environmental engineering education
  • Biological Nitrogen Removal
  • Engineering and Environmental Ethics
  • Oxidation-Reduction potential control of wastewater treatment systems
  • Pesticide and arsenic removal via denitrification
  • Volatile fatty acids generation from anaerobic digestion

Researcher Summary

Research is in the area of process control for biological nutrient removal systems, removal of nitrates from groundwater and aerobic denitrification. Specific interests are:
-Biological nutrient (nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) removal from wastewaters has received increasing attention in the last few decades. Research has been undertaken in the general area of optimization of these types of plants and a better understanding of the biological mechanisms involved. Examples of recent research topics/areas: Automated control of sequencing batch reactor BNR plants, modelling of Oxidation-Reduction Potential behaviour in BNR Plants, aerobic denitrification in wastewater treatment systems. Removal of nitrates from groundwater, use of rock filters for nutrient removal in oxidation ponds and wetlands for grey water treatment.
-Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs) are used in BNR plants as efficient sources of carbon for nitrate and phosphorus removal. Recent research has focussed on the environmental and operational parameters important for maximizing the production of VFAs from sludges. In addition, research on the use of VFAs in the denitrification process and the use of VFAs as a co-substrate in the biodegradation of pesticides is being conducted.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Groups

Key Methodologies

  • Bench-scale anaerobic digesters
  • Denitrification batch tests
  • Sequencing batch reactor treatability studies of wastewater

Affiliations

Publications


  • Valigore, J.M., Gostomski, P.A., Wareham, D.G. and O'Sullivan, A.D. (2012) Effects of hydraulic and solids retention times on productivity and settleability of microbial (microalgal-bacterial) biomass grown on primary treated wastewater as a biofuel feedstock. Water Research 46(9): 2957-2964. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2012.03.023. (Journal Article)
  • Fongsatitkul, P., Wareham, D.G., Elefsiniotis, P. and Charoensuk, P. (2012) Treatment of a slaughterhouse wastewater: effect of internal recycle rate on chemical oxygen demand, total Kjeldhal nitrogen and total phosphorus removal. Environmental Technology 32(15): 1755-1759. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2011.555421. (Journal Article)
  • Fongsatitkul, P., Elefsioniotis, P. and Wareham, D.G. (2012) Two-Phase Anaerobic Digestion of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste: Estimation of Methane Production. Waste Management & Research 30(7): 720-726. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0734242X11429987. (Journal Article)
  • He, X. and Wareham, D.G. (2011) 2,4-D removal via denitrification using volatile fatty acids. Water Science & Technology 63(1): 178-183. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2011.030. (Journal Article)
  • Fongsatitkul, P., Wareham, D.G. and Elefsiniotis, P. (2011) Industrial Wastewater Treatment by SBRs: Influence of Long SRTs, Non-aerated Period and Organic Load on System Performance. Rhodes Island, Greece: 12th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (CEST2011), 8-10 Sep 2011. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Panthi, S.R. and Wareham, D.G. (2011) Removal of arsenic from water using the adsorbent: New Zealand iron-sand. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering 46(13): 1533-1538. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10934529.2011.609376. (Journal Article)
  • Wareham, D.G. (2010) 2,4-D removal via denitrification using volatile fatty acids. Montreal, Canada: IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition (IWA 2010), 19-24 Sep 2010. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Fongsatitkul, P., Elefsiniotis, P. and Wareham, D.G. (2010) Effect of mixture ratio, solids concentration and hydraulic retention time on the anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Waste Management & Research 28(9): 811-817. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0734242X09355654. (Journal Article)
  • Wareham, D.G. and Elefsiniotis, P. (2009) Alkaline Solubilization of Coconut Shells for Use in the Denitrification Process. Environmental Engineering Science 26(3): 673-678. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ees.2008.0020. (Journal Article)
  • Fongsatitkul, P., Wareham, D.G. and Elefsiniotis, P. (2009) The effect of organic load and anoxic/oxic fraction on carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal in a SBR treating a carbon-limited wastewater. Chania, Greece: 11th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (CEST2009), 3-5 Sep 2009. In Proceedings A320-A327. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Wareham, D.G., Le Masurier, J. and Mackechnie, J. (2006) Encouraging creativity in design through student competitions. Muscat, Oman: Ninth Annual Conference of UNESCO International Centre for Engineering Education (UICEE), 11-15 Feb 2006. In 9th UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering Education Conference Proceedings 193-196. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Wareham, D.G., Elefsiniotis, T.P. and Elms, D.G. (2006) Introducing ethics using structured controversies. European Journal of Engineering Education 31(6): 651-660. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03043790600911712. (Journal Article)
  • Strang, T. and Wareham, D.G. (2006) Phosphorus removal in a waste-stabilization pond containing limestone rock filters. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science 5(6): 447-457. (Journal Article)
  • Holman, J.B. and Wareham, D.G. (2005) COD, Ammonia and Dissolved Oxygen Time-Profiles in the Simultaneous Nitrification/Denitrification Process. Biochemical Engineering Journal 22(2): 125-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2004.09.001. (Journal Article)
  • Elefsiniotis, P., Wareham, D.G. and Smith, M.O. (2005) Effect of a Starch-Rich Industrial Wastewater on the Acid-Phase Anaerobic Digestion Process. Water Environment Research 77(4): 366-371. (Journal Article)
  • Strang, T.J. and Wareham, D.G. (2005) Nitrogen Removal in a Small Waste Stabilization Pond Containing Rock Filters. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science 4(6): 451-460. (Journal Article)
  • Elefsiniotis, P. and Wareham, D.G. (2005) The ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards: Their Relationship to Sustainability. ASCE Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice 131(3): 208-212. (Journal Article)
  • Elefsiniotis, P. and Wareham, D.G. (2004) Anaerobic Digestion of Mixed Municipal and Starch-Rich Wastewater: VFA Production and its Application to Denitrification. Montreal, Canada: IWA 10th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, 29 Aug-2 Sep 2004. 1 33-38. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Elefsiniotis, P., Wareham, D.G. and Smith, M.O. (2004) Use of Volatile Fatty Acids from an Acid-Phase Digester for Denitrification. Journal of Biotechnology 114(3): 289-297. doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2004.02.016. (Journal Article)
  • Wakelin, S., Elefsiniotis P. and Wareham, D.G. (2003) Assessment of Stormwater Retention Basin Water Quality in Winnipeg, Canada. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada 38(3): 433-50. (Journal Article)
  • Holman, J.B. and Wareham, D.G. (2003) Oxidation-Reduction Potential as a Monitoring Tool in a Low Dissolved Oxygen Wastewater Treatment Process. Journal of Environmental Engineering 129(1): 52-58. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2003)129:1(52). (Journal Article)
  • Wakelin, S.C., Elefsiniotis, P. and Wareham, D.G. (2003) Response of stormwater retention basins to two chemical aquatic weed control methods. Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 85(1-3): 23-32. (Journal Article)
  • Strang, T. (2002) Phosphorus Removal in a Waste Stabilization Pond System with Limestone Rock Filters. Auckland, New Zealand: Proceedings of the 5th International IWA Specialist Group Conference on Waste Stabilization Ponds, 2-5 Apr 2002. 615-621. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Wareham, D. and Milke, M. (2002) Water quality laboratory for large civil engineering classes. ASCE Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice 128(2): 88-93. (Journal Article)
  • Wareham, D.G., Farajollahi, A. and Milke, M.W. (1998) Influence of alkalinity on the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite-sand liners. Water Science and Technology 38(2): 151--157. (Journal Article)
  • Farajollahi, A. and Wareham, D.G. (1998) Numerical modelling of the effects of acidic contamination on pollutant migration through bentonite-sand liners. Environmental Technology 19: 381--390. (Journal Article)
  • Wareham, D.G. and Wilkinson, D.L. (1998) Optimisation of coastal city wastewater treatment and disposal systems. Auckland, New Zealand: Proc. of the 1998 IPENZ Annual Conference (Vol. 3), Feb 1998. 63--67. (Conference Contribution - Other)
  • Farajollahi, A., Wareham, D.G. and Milke, M.W. (1998) The influence of alkalinity on the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite-sand liners. Vancouver, Canada: Proc. Water Quality International 1998 Conf. (Volume 7), 21-26, June 1998. 309--316. (Conference Contribution - Other)