ECi Competition
Get your team ready for this year's Environmental Challenge Competition!
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The ECi competition is open to undergraduate students, graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, and recent graduates (2024) in the environmental field. Teams should consist of 3 to 5 members.
ECi gives students the opportunity to put their knowledge to work. Team members will gain valuable experience working in a group, interacting with professionals, and solving problems. Plus, you get to visit Raleigh, it looks good on a resume, and there's the potential to earn cash prizes!
Although the challenge is somewhat qualitative, teams will be expected to address a wide range of concerns related to the environment, energy, government, transportation and health. Teams will be evaluated based on a variety of issues, including how the problem is interpreted, how conclusions were determined, and how well the team can communicate its reasoning and judgements. In addition to the scientific and technical aspects of this competition, resolution of political and community issues along with appropriate regulatory approaches will be important.
2025 Challenge: PFAS Residuals Management for Drinking Water Treatment in North Carolina
This year’s problem focuses on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s sampling of public water systems. Sites that do not comply with the EPA PFAS MCLs released in April 2024 need to determine how to achieve these levels by 2029. Your assignment is to recommend applicable treatment options to meet the EPA MCLs, the estimated tonnage of residuals that would be generated and require management, how these residuals could be managed within NC, and emissions associated with the proposed management approaches. You must research existing and proposed studies, policies, incentive programs, and best management practices related to the removal of PFAS from drinking water and how these residuals will be managed. Your presentation should include a plan for utilities to comply with removal and disposal of PFAS, and address the preferred disposal option for residuals, treatment technologies, projected waste streams, and disposal capacity.
This year’s problem focuses on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s sampling of public water systems. Sites that do not comply with the EPA PFAS MCLs released in April 2024 need to determine how to achieve these levels by 2029. Your assignment is to recommend applicable treatment options to meet the EPA MCLs, the estimated tonnage of residuals that would be generated and require management, how these residuals could be managed within NC, and emissions associated with the proposed management approaches. You must research existing and proposed studies, policies, incentive programs, and best management practices related to the removal of PFAS from drinking water and how these residuals will be managed. Your presentation should include a plan for utilities to comply with removal and disposal of PFAS, and address the preferred disposal option for residuals, treatment technologies, projected waste streams, and disposal capacity.
Student teams must register for the ECi by emailing Stephanie Bolyard (Stephanie.Bolyard@deq.nc.gov).
Each team member must register for the ACE Conference to participate in the ECi. If your team registers for the ACE Conference by May 5, 2025, you will each save $100 (USD).
