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Arndt Named WWA Researcher of the Year

Mike Arndt and Lynn West display the Wisconsin Water Association award for Arndt as the Researcher of the Year.

MADISON , Wis. - The Wisconsin Water Association (WWA) recently honored Mike Arndt, Ph. D., an assistant scientist in the Wisconsin State Labortory of Hygiene's Radiochemistry department, as the Researcher of the Year. The WWA is the State's organization for water supply professionals.

Arndt was chosen for the award for his work on "gross alpha" testing that is performed on drinking water. He worked closely with Lynn West, supervisor of the Radiochemistry department, at the WSLH's Environmental Health Division facility located on Agricultural Drive on Madison's east side.

The gross alpha test for drinking water has been a source of confusion and consternation for people in the water treatment field for a long time. Using the required EPA Method 900.0, or 900.1, a water sample that contains a complex mixture of radionucleides can be analyzed for gross alpha activity several times producing results that can vary from one another by more than a factor of two. One measurement might indicate that the water sample has a gross alpha violation, while another measurement might indicate that no such violation exists.

Since the cost of remediation of a gross alpha violation can be extremely expensive, it is of the utmost importance to be able to obtain an accurate estimate of the alpha activity of a water sample. Arndt developed a mathematic model of a host of complex factors that affect the gross alpha results, most of which relate to (1) the interaction of alpha particles emitted from the prepared water sample with the detection system, and (2) the sample preparation.

This model can be used to determine the cause of an elevated gross alpha activity. If the gross alpha activity of the model and the actual gross alpha activity are in agreement, then one has accounted for all of the alpha activity in the water sample.

If there is a deficit between the gross alpha activity of the model and the actual gross alpha activity, then one must perform further tests to completely characterize the source of the alpha activity. Such calculations can accurately identify the source of a gross alpha violation and can rule out unnecessary tests and unwarranted or ineffective treatment costs.

The American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AWWARF) was impressed with Arndt's work and that of his colleague, Lynn West, and recently awarded them a significant grant to continue on with this work.

Submitted By: William Sonzogni, Director, WSLH Environmental Health Division

Date: November 26, 2004

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