A recent UC study found that 42% of live sea otters and 62% of dead sea otters were infected with Toxoplasma. The researchers suggest that land-based freshwater runoff is a source of the parasite, likely transported by surface runoff from fields and yards to coastal areas.
Researchers at UCR's CE-CERT are developing a way to convert wet waste, such as sewage sludge and grass clippings, into synthetic diesel fuel and electricity. The process has the potential to produce up to 26 barrels of fuel and 34 megawatt-hours of electricity per day.
A University of Toronto researcher found a polar lake in the Arctic has recovered significantly despite decades of sewage dumping, using diatoms as effective bio-monitors. The phosphorus levels have declined sharply since 1972, tracking the decrease in population at a former Canadian military base.
The US Navy is developing a new system to treat non-oily wastewater from its vessels, eliminating costs and fines associated with discharging wastewater. The Aerated Non-Oily Wastewater Membrane Treatment System (AMTS) has shown promise in treating graywater and vacuum-collected sewage, allowing ships to remain on their stations longer.