On the morningof August 14, Dr. Jun Zhu from University of Arkansas delivered an online lectureentitled “The US Experiences in Dealing with Non-Point Source Pollution toRivers and Lakes”. Dr. Jun Zhu’s research direction mainly includes wastetreatment technologies for protecting air and water quality related to animalproduction, renewable energy production technologies, bioconversion of wastesinto value-added products. The event was host by Dr. Zhiying Han.

In thelecture, Dr. Jun Zhu introduced the sources and technologies in preventing andcontrolling nonpoint source pollution in the United States. The sourcesidentified generally include precipitation, land runoff, infiltration,drainage, seepage, hydrologic modification, and/or atmospheric deposition. Itis recognized that nonpoint source pollutants that cause the greatest impacts onsediments, nutrients, toxic compounds, organic matter, and pathogens. Inresponse to these sources and pollutants, the US Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) has provided a range of guidelines and technologies to palliatethe effect of non-point source pollution on water bodies such as rivers, lakes,wetlands, coastal waters, and ground water. Authorized by the US Congress, EPAin 1987 established Section 319 in the Clean Water Act, which providesfinancial resources to state governments to fight non-point source pollution, ahost of different technologies have been developed and implemented. Theeffectiveness of many such technologies in controlling non-point sourcepollution is also discussed.

In theinteractive session, Dr. Jun Zhu responded the questions and thoughts offaculty and students.