Prof. M. Robin Collins 
- Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Director of the New England Water Treatment Technology Assistance Center
T: (603) 862-1407
robin.collins@unh.edu
A115A Gregg Hall
Civil Engineering, UNH
Durham, NH 03824
Research Overview
Dr. Robin Collins is currently a Professor of Civil Engineering, Director of the Water Treatment Technology Assistance Center and a member of the Environmental Research group at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Collins has conducted research in cooperation with numerous water utilities by characterizing natural organic matter and disinfection by-product precursor removals from selected water treatment processes including slow sand filtration, direct filtration, diatomaceous earth filtration, riverbank filtration, membrane filtration and conventional treatment. He has worked with numerous public water suppliers and consulting engineers nationwide in evaluating and piloting several filtration options, especially slow sand filtration. He has also co-organized three international research conferences and two regional workshops on slow sand filtration. His current research interests have focused on water treatment technologies for small systems involving adsorptive media for arsenic removal, disinfection by-product precursor and pathogen reductions by biological and microbial filtration, and development of engineering training modules for selected non-traditional technologies.
Selected Research Projects
- Assessing the Role of Schmutzdecke in Microbial Removals by Riverbank and Slow Sand Filtration
- Assessing the Influence of Various Regeneration Variables on Radium Contaminated Ion-Exchange Resins
- Evaluating Temperature Influences on Microbial Removals by Slow Sand Filters
- Assessing Zero-Valent-Iron (ZVI) for Arsenic and Fluoride Removals
- Evaluating Metal (e.g., Fe) Addition to Enhance Filtration Performance
- Exploring the Use of an Anion Resin Mat for Enhancing Organic Precursor Removals from Small-Scale Slow Sand Filters
- Assessing Microbial Removals from Various Membrane Configuration & Operating Conditions
Selected Recent Publications
Pope, P.G., Speitel, Jr, G.E., Martin-Doole, M. and Collins, M.R. "DXAA Formation Kinetics During Chloramination", Annual AWWA Conference Proceedings, Anaheim, CA 2003 and submitted to Jour AWWA 2004.
Speitel Jr, G.E., Pope, P.G., Collins, M.R. and Martin-Doole, M. 2004. Disinfection By-Product Formation and Control During Chloramination. AWWARF Final Report, Denver, CO.
P. Dwyer and R. Collins. 2004. Environmental Technology Verification Report: Physical Removal of Microbiological and Particulate Contaminants in Drinking Water-Separmatic Fluid Systems Diatomaceous Earth Pressure Type Filter System Model 12P-2. NSF 04/01/EPADWCTR. NSF International, Ann Arbor, MI.
Hadnagy, E., Collins, M.R., Gardner, K.H., “The evaluation of Competitive Adsorption on Selected Arsenic Adsorbents”. AWWA Annual Conference Proceedings, Orlando, FL, June 13-17, 2004.
Partinoudi, V. and Collins, M.R. “Assessing Riverbank Filtration Removals”. International Water Association Leading Edge Technology Conference Proceedings in Prague, Czech Republic, June 2004 and Water Science and Technology Journal.
Professional Licenses
Professional Engineering Licenses in Kansas, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Biography
Degrees
Ph.D., 1985, University of Arizona, Civil Engineering
M.S., 1972, Virginia Tech, Sanitary Engineering
B.S., 1970, Virginia Tech, Civil Engineering with Distinction
Experience as a Faculty Member, Department of Civil-Engineering, UNH
Director, Water Treatment Technology Assistance Center, 1999- Present
Professor, 1997-present
Associate Professor, 1991-1997
Assistant Professor, 1985-1991
Other Related Experiences
Research & Teaching Assistant, 1982-1985, University of Arizona
Private Consultant, 1982, Western Design Consultants, Lander, WY
District Engineer, 1979-1982, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Lander, WY
District Engineer, 1975-1978, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Chanute, KS
Sanitary Engineer, 1972-1975, U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, Fort Riley, KS
Co-op Engineering Student, 1967-1970, Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, Roanoke, VA
Honors and Awards
2005 American Water Works Association Academic Achievement Award – Major Advisor – 1st Place Best Thesis
1998 American Water Works Association Academic Achievement Award – Major Advisor – 1st Place Best Thesis
1996 Association of Environmental Engineering Professors Distinguished Service Award
1994 University of New Hampshire Excellence in Public Service Award
1993 American Water Works Association Academic Achievement Award – Major Advisor – 1st Place Best Thesis
1990 American Water Works Association Academic Achievement Award – Major Advisor – 1st Place Best Thesis
1986 American Water Works Association Academic Achievement Award – 2nd Place Best Dissertation
1975 U.S. Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service
Phi Kappa Phi – National University Honor Society
Tau Beta Pi – National Engineering Honor Society
Chi Epsilon – National Honorary Civil Engineering Fraternity
Teaching Interests
Drinking water treatment processes, water chemistry, public health engineering, on-site wastewater disposal systems, environmental pollution and control.
Current Graudate Students
No information is currently available.