Gregory D. Boardman
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Expertise: Solid and Liquid Waste Treatment; Pollution Prevention; Water Treatment and Conservation
| Phone: 540-231-1376 | FAX: 540-231-7916 | e-mail: |
Research Interests
Solid and liquid waste treatment, water treatment and conservation, pollution
prevention, environmental toxicology.
Personal Information
Dr. Gregory Boardman is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
and Director of the Annual Short Courses for Treatment Plant Operators at Virginia
Tech. Dr. Boardman is licensed as a professional engineer (P.E.) in Virginia
and registered as a Diplomate of Environmental Engineering (DEE). He performs
research in the areas of industrial and hazardous waste management, environmental
toxicology, and water and wastewater treatment. Since joining the Virginia
Tech faculty in 1976, Dr. Boardman has served as an engineering consultant
to more than 20 agencies and companies, been the principal or co-principal
investigator for more than 90 funded projects, and published more than 150
papers and reports in the environmental area.
Current Projects
Relationship of feed composition to water quality
Several members of the CFAST team are involved in this work.
The primary goal is to develop excellent feeds that have minimal effect
on water quality. The feed therefore needs to be economical, nutritious
and assimilated well. Among the water quality parameters being monitored
are various nutrients and suspended matter. These experiments are being
performed with yellow perch, tilapia and shrimp.
Nutritional requirements of shrimp
The CFAST team is again working together to investigate the growth
of a freshwater shrimp in the water effluents from a tilapia farm. In the
initial stages of the work, the health and growth of shrimp will be monitored
in the effluents, as well as in a series of controls. If the shrimp die or
fail to grow well in the effluents, the effect of various treatments, including
nutrient additions and pretreatment of the effluents, will be studied.
Treatment of effluent waters from a trout farm
A experimental, full-scale sedimentation tank will be designed,
installed and tested in this study. The tank will be partitioned into various
sections to prevent short circuiting and to allow for evaluation of various
filters and the use of mollusks in removing suspended matter and nutrients.
This work is being performed in conjunction with Dr. L. Helfrich.
Simulation and optimization of recirculating facilities
A computer model is being developed in this study that will allow
for the simulation and optimization of operations in recirculating aquaculture
facilities. Such variables as oxygen use, nitrification and water recirculation
rates are among the parameters being considered. The first version of the
model will be based on the growth of tilapia.
Stimulation of Vitellogenin in Fish
Vitellogenin, a type of protein, is a biomarker for estrogenic activity. In this study, levels of vitellogenin in medaka are being assayed by means of ELISA, following exposure of the fish to commonly used chemotherapeutics.
Reduction of Disinfection By-Products (DBPs)
The goal of this project is to identify means of reducing the DBPs (trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids) created at a full-scale, water treatment plant. The role that sludges in treatment plant clarifiers may play in contributing to DBP levels is being rigorously studied.
Recent Publications
Chapters in Books
2002 Boardman, G. D., and Kelley, M. B., The Removal of Microbes through Clarification, American Society of Civil Engineers, Monograph.
Papers
2005 Maillard, V.M., Boardman, G.D., Nyland, J.E. and Kuhn, D.D., Water Quality and Sludge Characterization at Raceway-System Trout Farms, Journal of the Aquacultural Engineering Society, 22(4): 271-284 .
2004 Boardman, G.D., Starbuck, S.M., Hudgins, D.B., Li, X., and Kuhn, D.D., Toxicity of Ammonia to Three Marine Fish and Three Marine Invertebrates, Environmental Toxicology, 19: 134-142.
2002 Sandu, S.I., Boardman, G.D., Watten, B.J., and Brazil, B.L., Factors Influencing the Nitrification Efficiency of Fluidized Bed Filters with a Plastic Bead Medium, Journal of the Aquacultural Engineering Society, 26: 41-59.
2001 Adam, C.A., Dietrich, A.M., Gallagher, D.G., Whelton, A.J., Boardman, G.D., and Edwards, M.A., Implementing US EPA's Operator Certification Program for Small Systems in Virginia, Journal of the American Water Works Association, August, 93(8): 51-61.
2000 Christopher, H. J., Boardman, G. D, and Freeman, D. L., Aerobic Biological Treatment of 2, 4-Dinitrotoluene in Munitions Plant Wastewater, Water Research. 34(5): 1595-1603.
