Prof. M. Robin Collins

• Professor of Civil Engineering

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, 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 two 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 evaluation of arsenic adsorptive media, chloramination disinfection by-product production and river bank filtration.

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 Resin
  
  
• 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
   

Most Recent Publications

1. M.R. Collins. “Common Faux Pas in Piloting, Designing, and Operating Slow Sand Filters” in Sustainable and Safe Drinking Water in Developing and Developed Countries. Edited by P. Singer, UNH, Chapel Hill. (2009)(In Press).
   
   
2. V. Partinoudi, M.R. Collins & G. Smith. “Assessing Water Quality from the Riverbank Filtration Pumping Study in Manchester, NH” Proceedings of 13th Canadian National Drinking Water Conference, Quebec City, Quebec, (2009). (In Press).
   
   
3. M. Unger & M.R. Collins, “Assessing E.coli Removal in the Schmutzdecke of Slow-rate Biofilters,” Jour. AWWA:100:12:60, (2008).
   
   
4. V. Partinoudi & M.R. Collins, “Assessing Riverbank Filtration Removal Mechanisms,” Jour. AWWA:99:12:61, (2007).
   
   
5. P.G. Pope, G.E. Speitel, Jr & M.R. Collins. “Kinetics of Dihaloacetic Acid Formation during Chloramination,” Jour. AWWA:98:11:107, (2007).
   
   
6. P.G. Pope, M. Martin-Doole, G.E. Speitel Jr & M.R. Collins, “Relative Significance of Factors Influencing DXAA Formation during Chloramination”. Jour. AWWA:99:9:144, (2007).
   
   
7. H. Dopfer, D. Burt, M.J. Bailly & M.R. Collins. “Assessing In-situ Regenerable Filter Media for Enhancing NOM Removals.” Proceedings of the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE), in Toronto, Ontario. (2007).
   
   
8. B.D. Jobb, W.B. Anderson, M.R. Collins, and R.A. LeCraw, 2007. “Removal of Emerging Contaminants and Pathogens Using Modified Slow Sand Filtration: An Overview.” Proceedings of the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE), in Toronto, Ontario. (2007).
   
   
9. Recent Progress in Slow Sand Filtration and Alternative Biofiltration Processes. Edited by R.Gimbel, N.J.D. Graham & M.R. Collins. IWA Publishing, London, UK, (2006).
   
   
10. V. Partinoudi, M. Martin-Doole, P.L. Dwyer & M.R. Collins. “Assessing Temperature Influences on Slow Sand Filtration Treatment Performance.” Proceedings of the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition, in San Antonio, TX. (2006).
    
    
11. M. Unger & M.R. Collins. “Assessing the Role of the Schmutzdecke in Pathogen Removal in Riverbank and Slow Sand Filtration.” Recent Progress in Slow sand Filtration and Alternative Biofiltration Processes, Editors R.Gimbel, N.J.D. Graham and M.R. Collins, IWA Publishing, London, UK. (2006).

Biography

• Ph.D., 1985, University of Arizona, Civil Engineering
  
  
• M.S., 1972, Virginia Tech, Sanitary Engineering
  
  
• B.S., 1970, Virginia Tech, Civil Engineering with Distinction
  

Director, New England Water Treatment Technology Assistance Center, 1999- Present

Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Hampshire, 1997-present

Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Hampshire, 1991-1997

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Hampshire, 1985-1991

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

Scientific and Professional Society Memberships

American Society of Civil Engineers/Environmental Engineering Division

American Water Works Association

New England Water Works Association

Tau Beta Pi

Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors

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

Institutional and Professional Service of Last Five Years

American Water Works Association Research Foundation

• Member Project Advisory Committee (1990-present)

New England Water Works Association, Chair

• Student Activities Committee (1990-2004)
• Member, Technical Program Committee (1990-2002)
• Member, International Paper Exchange Committee (1993-present)

Tau Beta Pi/New Hampshire Alpha Chapter

• Senior Faculty Advisor (1986-2003)

Peer Reviewer for numerous journals

Co-Organizer for 4th International Conference on Slow Sand Filtration and Alternative Biological Filtration (2004-2006)

UNH Faculty Senate (2004-2005)

UNH/CEPS/CiE Curriculum Committee (2001-2003)

UNH/CEPS ABET Committee (2002-2003)

UNH/CEPS/CiE Graduate Student Coordinator (2005-present)

NSF Proposal Review Committee (2003)

Professional Development Activities of Last Five Years

Numerous Presentations at Annual Conferences of AWWA and NEWWA

Attended ASCE Teaching EXCEED Workshop, West Point (2003)

Presented at IWA Leading Edge Technology Conference, Praha (2004)

Presented at NATO Workshop on Riverbank Filtration, Slovakia (2004)

Invited Chair, Ph.D. Review Committee, University of Surrey, UK (2004)

Presented at EPA/USGS Joint Workshop on Riverbank Filtration (2003)

Teaching Interests

Drinking water treatment processes, water chemistry, public health engineering, on-site wastewater disposal systems, environmental pollution and control