Andrea Achilli
- Associate Professor
- Associate Professor, BIO5 Institute
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
- Associate Professor, Environmental Science
Contact
Biography
Andrea Achilli main fields of research are membrane processes for desalination and water reuse and energy recovery from water and wastewater. Additional field of his research focuses on process integration, modelling, and optimization and biological processes for water and wastewater treatments. Dr. Achilli is the principal investigator on several research processes on membrane contactor processes and hybrid systems for desalination and water reuse.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering
- University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, United States
Work Experience
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2017 - Ongoing)
- Humboldt State University, Arcata, California (2012 - 2017)
Awards
- Excellence at the Student Interface
- University of Arizona College of Engineering, Spring 2024
Licensure & Certification
- Profession Engineer, Nevada Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (2012)
Interests
Research
Membrane Processes in Environmental ApplicationsWater and Wastewater TreatmentWater ReuseDesalinationProcess Design and Intensification
Teaching
Environmental EngineeringWater and Wastewater TreatmentPhysicochemical ProcessesMass and Heat Transfer
Courses
No activities entered.
Scholarly Contributions
Books
Chapters
Journals/Publications
- More infoAs water utilities implement potable reuse technology, there is a need to understand how to increase public acceptance and trust in public water supplies. The study objective was to use surveys and interviews in a large metropolitan area in Arizona to characterize tap water and advanced purified water acceptability, and factors contributing to (un)acceptability. Participants were recruited through a water utility email listserv for participation in an online REDCap survey and/or 1-hr Zoom interview. Surveys and interviews inquired about perceptions of tap water safety, familiarity with water reuse terms, acceptability of direct potable reuse (called "advanced water purification" in our study for consistency with state messaging), and rationales related to acceptance. Four hundred seventy-nine individuals participated in the survey, and twenty-two individuals participated in the interviews, with roughly comparable demographics for our city of interest but with slightly higher levels of household income and education. Only 36 % of survey respondents use their tap water for drinking water supplies, but (42 %) would be open to drinking advanced purified water. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2024 on risk-based thinking to evaluate how advanced purified water may compare to current drinking water safety and analyzed with inductive thematic analysis. Survey and interview participants wanted more reassurances (e.g., third party testing and opportunities for hands-on testing). Water utilities should prioritize transparent communication strategies, including sharing detailed third-party testing data and direct community engagement initiatives, to enhance public acceptance. Utilities can build trust through clear comparisons between advanced purified water and current tap water quality.
