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Local Partnerships: Developing Solutions for Rapid Needs

About the Webinar

Originally presented on December 11, 2024

Watch the webinar.

Working collaboratively with a variety of partners, including EPA regions, states, and Tribes, is a vital feature of ORD research and its goal to address high priority near-term community needs. Directly working with partners provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships between researchers and communities.

Researchers collaborated with local partners in EPA Region 6 to better understand Naegleria fowleri, also known as brain-eating amoeba, and its potential to contaminate splash pads. Over the past several years in EPA Region 6, splash pads connected to disinfected drinking water have been at risk of contamination. Presenters will discuss their investigation into this issue, identify best management practices, and provide risk mitigation tools for prevention and detection of various waterborne disease outbreaks.

About the Presenters

Helen Buse is a microbiologist with EPA's Office of Research and Development in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since joining EPA in 2007, her research has focused on understanding the role of free-living amoebae, biofilms, water quality parameters, and operational and engineering aspects in the growth of Legionella pneumophila within drinking water systems. Her current work aims to utilize various treatment technologies to decontaminate and maintain drinking water quality within premise plumbing systems. Helen has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University.

Jatin Mistry is a life scientist with EPA's Region 6 (serving Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and 66 Tribal Nations) in the Water Division's Drinking Water Section. Jatin was a Public Health Fellow in EPA's Office of Research and Development. This unique opportunity allowed him to understand how drinking water research contributes to regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act. In 2009, Jatin joined EPA's Region 6 office in Dallas. He currently serves as the Drinking Water State Program Manager for the State of Arkansas and implements drinking water rules in the Region. Jatin has a bachelor's degree in Microbiology and a bachelor's degree in Medical Technology, both from the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a master's degree in Public Health from the Texas A&M School of Public Health.

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Last updated on March 20, 2025
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