Water Quality Laboratory at MAC

The focus of the Water Quality group at Maricopa Agricultural Center is to provide knowledge and technical information on a broad range of topics related to water quality.  Research aspects of the program include evaluation of agricultural practices, industrial operations, municipal water systems and environmental quality relating to impaired waters.  Dr. Rock’s Water Quality laboratory at MAC is a certified BioSafety Level II Laboratory, outfitted with general purpose microbiology equipment (laminar-flow clean hood, centrifuges, microscopes, shakers, and incubators) and equipment for growth, isolation, and handling of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.  A separate analytical instrument room contains all necessary equipment for the quantitative study of microbial DNA and is equipped with an advanced molecular detection/quantification system.
The Water Quality Laboratory’s main focus is the detection and isolation of microbial pathogens and indicators in the environment, mainly soils, potable water, wastewater, and biosolids.  In addition, the Water Quality Laboratory is capable of both physical and chemical analyses of various environmental matrices’. 

Extension activities focus on the interaction between the research and the public to promote greater understanding of the issues that affect water quality here in the Southwest.  Current projects of the Water Quality group include the assessment of nutrient, chemical and biological variability of seasonal reclaimed water quality; as well as the evaluation of programs, data sources and utilization of treated wastewater in Arizona.
 
Dr. Channah Rock, Assistant Water Quality Specialist at the University of Arizona and director of the Water Quality group, has been extensively involved in traditional microbiology, parasitology, virology, molecular biology, and has practical experience in wastewater and biosolids.  Kelley Riley, the Water Quality Laboratory manager, has been involved in the detection of pathogens in water using microscopy, molecular technologies, and cell culture and has experience relating to the collection of environmental water samples.  

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy, Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arizona State University, May 2007

Master of Science, Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arizona State University, July 2005 

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology,
Microbiology, New Mexico State University, May 2003

EMPLOYMENT

2007-current Water Quality Specialist, Assistant Professor, University of Arizona                                             

2006-2007 Laboratory Technician/Post Doc, USDA Agricultural Research Service

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• Member of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• Member of Water Quality Center at Arizona State University (WQC-ASU)
• Member of American Water Works Association (AWWA)
• Member of Arizona Water & Pollution Control Association (AWPCA)
• Member of International Water Association (IWA) 

SELECT ABSTRACTS, PRESENTAIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Arizona Water Pollution Control Association

• Molecular Detection of Viral Pathogens in Biosolids by Real Time RT-PCR, 2007

American Society for Microbiology

• Significant Cross-Amplification of Fish Fecal DNA Using Quantitative Real-Time PCR Specific to the Human Bacteroides 16S rRNA Genetic Marker, 2008
  
  
• Presence and transport of Salmonella sp. in soils of a municipal park irrigated with reclaimed wastewater, 2007
  
  
• A New Method for Predicting Level of PCR Inhibition in Biosolids Samples Concentrates, 2007
  
  
• New Strategies for Molecular Detection of Viral Pathogens in Biosolids by Real Time RT-PCR, 2006      
         
• Molecular Approaches for Detection of Pathogens within Biosolids, 2005
  
  
• Threshold Limits for Molecular Detection of Viruses by PCR due to Inhibition by Natural Organic Matter, 2004
  
  
• Evaluation of Immunomagnetic Separation for the detection of Cryptosporidium sp. in the Rio Grande River, 2003
  
  
• Effects of pH and Turbidity on Immunomagnetic Separation of Cryptosporidium sp. from Environmental Water Samples, 2002

ASU/UA Water Quality Center Semi-Annual Meeting

• How good are the microbial detection techniques: can we efficiently detect pathogens in biosolids?, 2006 
  
  
• New Strategies for the Recovery and Detection of Microbial Pathogens and Indicators in Different Types of Biosolids, 2006
  
  
• Sample Processing for Molecular Detection of Enteric Viruses and Indicators in Anaerobically Digested Class B Biosolids, 2005

WEF/AWWA Joint Residuals and Biosolids Management Conference

•   Can we efficiently detect pathogens in biosolids?, 2006

Soil Science Society of America

• Survival, transport, and source tracking of enteric bacteria in soils of a municipal park irrigated with reclaimed wastewater, 2007 
  
  
• E.coli re-growth in a constructed wetland receiving treated sewage effluent: a threat to human health?, 2006 
  
  
• USDA-CSREES National Water Conference
  
  
• Using Q-PCR and Bacteroides-specific molecular markers to quantify sources of fecal contamination in a reclaimed water irrigation pond. 2008 
  
  
• Rock, C. 2007. New Strategies for the Recovery and Detection of Microbial Pathogens and Indicators in Different Types of Biosolids. Ph.D. Dissertation. Arizona State University,  Tempe, Arizona 
  
  
•  Rock, C. 2005. Sample Processing for Molecular Detection of Enteric Viruses and Indicators in Biosolids.  Masters Thesis. Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
  
  
• Channah M. Rock, Morteza Abbaszadegan, and Absar Alum; Characterization and Identification of PCR Inhibition Mitigation strategies for Biosolid Samples (In Review)
  
  
• Morteza Abbaszadegan, and Absar Alum; Development and Evaluation of New Elution and Recovery Procedures for the Detection of bacteria, parasites, enteric viruses and microbial indicators in Class A and B Biosolids. (In Review)
  
  
• Channah M. Rock, Morteza Abbaszadegan, and Absar Alum; Applicability of quantitative Real Time RT-PCR for the Detection of Microbial Pathogens in Class B Biosolids –A Two Dimensional Gradient Approach–. (In Review)
  
  
• Hugo A. Morales-Morales, Guadalupe Vidal, John Olszewski, Channah M. Rock, Debanjana Dasgupta, Kevin H. Oshima, and Geoffrey B. Smith; Optimization of a Reusable Hollow-Fiber Ultra filter for Simultaneous Concentration of Enteric Bacteria, Protozoa, and Viruses from Water Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 2003 69: 4098-4102
  
• Ryan C. Kuhn, Channah M. Rock, and Kevin H. Oshima; Effects of pH and Magnetic Material on Immunomagnetic Separation of Cryptosporidium Oocysts from Concentrated Water Samples Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 2002 68: 2066-2070