The Water Systems Lab, led by Dr. Emily Kumpel in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is a research group studying water infrastructure, systems, service delivery, and communities across diverse urban and rural contexts.
Our work connects technical measurements of water quality and supply reliability to public health outcomes, regulatory practicies, and policies.
PI
Department Civil & Environmental Engineering
Institution University of Massachusetts Amherst
Current location IIT-Bombay, Mumbai Fulbright-Nehru Fellow, 2025–26
Active and past research locations — click markers for details.
News
Jan 2026Congratulations to Gabriel for being honored with the Professor John H. Bracey, Jr. Emerging Leader Award at UMass Amherst.
Dec 2025Emily presented at the 24×7 Water Supply Workshop, Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Development Research, Dharwad.
Oct 2025Kevine presents a poster on his experiments on household water storage at the UNC Water and Health Conference.
Aug 2025Emily begins Fulbright-Nehru fellowship at IIT-Bombay (2025–2026), conducting fieldwork on IWS in Indian cities in collaboration with the Srishti Lab.
Aug 2025Ciara presents two papers at CCWI 2025 (Sheffield): an IWS modeling framework and a novel US public water system typology.
Jun 2025Gabriel presented at IWA Health-Related Water Microbiology, Netherlands.
Research
We study water systems across a range of technical and social contexts. Common threads are supply reliability, water quality risk, and equity of access.
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Intermittent water supply
More than a billion people receive piped water on an intermittent schedule. We study how the nature and predictability of intermittency shapes household coping strategies, water quality, and health outcomes — through field studies in India, lab-scale experiments, and development of measurement frameworks.
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Water quality source-to-tap
How water quality changes from source through treatment and distribution to the tap. We study microbial quality, disinfection byproducts, and contaminant dynamics in reservoirs and distribution systems, including how wastewater intrusion, intermittency, and pipe materials affect health risk. Also includes lead in schools and lead service line identification.
🗺️
Mapping wastewater and water infrastructure
Much of US water and wastewater infrastructure is unmapped at the parcel level, obscuring service gaps and equity issues. We develop machine learning methods to predict service type at scale, working with state agencies in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, and the Gulf States.
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Household water storage
We examine how storage practices affect microbial water quality and whether interventions can convert storage from a contamination risk into a reliable buffer. Combines lab studies, field work in India, Mexico City, and Kenya, and modeling of household water decisions.
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Small water systems
Many small systems face significant challenges meeting Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. We study small system compliance, treatment options, and regulatory data quality — including WASH conditions in rural Alaska where many communities lack running water.
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Implementation and translational research
We provide direct technical assistance to water systems and regulators to translate research into practice. Our largest partnership is with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), supporting SDWA technical assistance, PFAS and emerging contaminants in small and disadvantaged communities, lead in schools and childcare facilities, lead service line inventories, and drinking water well mapping statewide.
Approaches
Our research integrates field, laboratory, computational, and translational methods.
Water quality measurement
Culture-based enumeration, short- and long-read sequencing, metagenomics, AMR profiling, pathogen detection, AOC characterization, regulated and unregulated DBP quantification.
Field data collection
Household surveys, water quality sampling (tap and storage), pressure and flow monitoring, longitudinal data collection — from rural Alaska to urban India.
Machine learning & data science
Graph neural networks, random forests, spatial models applied to infrastructure service prediction, compliance risk identification, and large regulatory/geospatial datasets.
Lab experiments
Scaled-down physical models of water systems for controlled testing — including a recirculating pipe loop that mimics intermittent distribution systems, and bench-scale household storage models for studying contamination and treatment under realistic supply conditions.
Technical assistance
Direct support to water systems and regulators — SDWA compliance, treatment evaluation, data quality — generating research questions grounded in real regulatory challenges.
Qualitative methods
Structured and semi-structured interviews, surveys, document analysis — used to understand household behaviors, utility decision-making, and equity dimensions of water access.
People
Current Team
Emily Kumpel
Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, UMass Amherst
Visiting Associate Professor, IIT-Bombay (Fulbright-Nehru Scholar, 2025–26) Google Scholar ·
CV
Dr. Kumpel is an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UMass Amherst, currently on sabbatical as a Fulbright-Nehru Scholar and Visiting Associate Professor at IIT-Bombay (2025–26). She leads comprehensive drinking water assistance programs for Massachusetts. Before joining UMass in 2017, she spent three years as a Senior Research Scientist at the Aquaya Institute in Nairobi, Kenya.
Postdoctoral Scholars
Dr. Nathalie Thelamaque
Postdoctoral Scholar, CEE, UMass Amherst, 2024– Google Scholar
Nathalie's research focuses on water and sanitation conditions in rural Alaska, using qualitative research methods to understand water access and equity in remote Alaska Native communities.
Ciara's research develops classification approaches for US public water systems and modeling frameworks to understand intermittent water supply systems.
Gabriel's research examines antimicrobial resistance in drinking water distribution systems and seasonal coliform dynamics in drinking water reservoirs.
Poonam studies the unpredictability of intermittent water supply and its associations with child health outcomes in urban India, as well as lead in schools and lead service line predictions.
Mitchel's research focuses on disinfection byproducts in drinking water systems.
Project Staff
Jacqueline White
Drinking Water Assistance Program Associate (Research Fellow), CEE, UMass Amherst
Jacqueline completed her Master's in the group in 2025 and her research focused on lead contamination and remediation in childcares. She currently works as a Research Fellow for UMass on MassDEP Drinking Water Projects, providing support to programs ranging from testing for lead in schools and childcares to supporting public water systems.
Affiliated Researchers
Dr. Nelson da Luz
Research Assistant Professor, CEE, UMass Amherst Google Scholar
Nelson's research focuses on water and wastewater system mapping, drinking water quality monitoring program design, and data-driven approaches to water system management. He completed his Ph.D. with the Water Systems Lab in 2022 and remains an active collaborator.
Dr. Karina Chavarria
Independent Consultant · Postdoctoral Scholar (ASEE Fellow) in the group, 2021–2024 Google Scholar
Karina was a postdoctoral scholar in the group from 2021–2024 and continues as a collaborator and independent consultant. Her work focuses on water quality in water systems, including microbial communities from source to tap, disinfection byproducts (DBPs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and water quality under intermittent water supply, and the current state of point-of-use and point-of-entry treatment in the United States.
If you would like a copy of a paper and cannot get access, please email me.
Last updated: February 2026
By year
By topic
2025
Intermittent versus continuous (24×7) water supply system: empirical findings from Karnataka, IndiaPanchamukhi, P., Billava, N., Nayak, N.S., Kumpel, E., Ercumen, A., Burt, Z.Review of Development and Change, 30(2) · doi
Methods and Uncertainty in Predictions of Arsenic Exposure and Health Outcomes for Private Well Users in MassachusettsAmery, A., Tobiason, J., Kumpel, E.Environmental Science & Technology · doi
Look Out Below: Predicting Wastewater Infrastructure Service Type at the Land Parcel Scaleda Luz, N.*, Taneja, J., Kumpel, E.ACS ES&T Engineering · doi
Seasonal Total Coliform Dynamics in a Drinking Water ReservoirVeras, C.E., Tobiason, J., Marques, A.C., Lee, Y., Kumpel, E.Water Research, 284(15), 123850 · doi
Moving beyond the silos of opportunistic pathogen and disinfection byproduct research to improve drinking water system managementLee, S., Sun, Y., Fan, S., et al., Kumpel, E., et al.Environmental Science and Technology, 59(18) · doi
Impacts of wastewater intrusion on disinfection byproduct formation: an experimental studyRoberts, T., Kumpel, E., Rajesh, L., Lanzarini-Lopes, M., Reckhow, D., Chavarria*, K.PLOS Water, 4(4), e0000273 · doi
Comparing the economic, environmental, and exposure impacts of options for coming into compliance with drinking water regulations in very small water systemsLane, K.*, Tobiason, J., Reckhow, D., Kumpel, E.Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, 5, 015024 · doi
Drinking Water Quality Test Kits for Home Use in the United StatesD'Andrea, L., Kumpel, E.Journal of Water and Health, in press · doi
2024
Water supply interruptions are associated with more frequent stressful behaviors and emotions but mitigated by predictability: A multi-site studyThomson, P., Pearson, A., Kumpel, E., Guzman, D., Workman, C., Fuente, D., Wutich, A., Stoler, J.Environmental Science and Technology, 58(16), 7010–7019 · doi
Disinfection Byproducts in Intermittent Piped Water SuppliesRoberts, T., Reckhow, D., Kumpel, E., Chavarria*, K.ACS ES&T Water, 3(12), 3767–3781 · doi
2023
Water Lead Levels in Massachusetts Schools and Early Education and Childcare FacilitiesAmery, L., Tobiason, J., Kumpel, E.AWWA Water Science, e1358 · doi
Assessment of Contaminants in a Drinking Water Supply WatershedMarques, A., Veras, C., Kumpel, E., Tobiason, J., Guzman, C.International Soil and Water Conservation Research · doi
Effective First Flush Volumes in Rainwater Catchment SystemsCharlebois, B., Reckhow, D., Wittbold, P., Kumpel, E.AQUA — Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society, 72(5), 814–826 · doi
A critical review of the global use and context of trucked water as a potable water supplyLane, K.*, Kumpel, E.ACS ES&T Water · doi
Drinking water accessibility typologies in low- and middle-income countriesChung, H., Kumpel, E., Oke, J.Environmental Research Letters, 18(2), 025009 · doi
Triple Bottom Line Approach for Comparing Point-of-Use/Point-of-Entry to Centralized Water TreatmentLane, K.*, Reckhow, D., Tobiason, J., Kumpel, E.AWWA Water Science, 5(2), e1320 · doi
2022
The Future of Piped WaterMilman, A., Kumpel, E., Lane*, K.Water International · doi
2021
Optimizing Household Water Decisions for Managing Intermittent Water Supply in Mexico CityWunderlich, S., Freeman, S., Galindo, L., Brown, C., Kumpel, E.Environmental Science & Technology, 55(12), 8371–8381 · doi
Water quality monitoring with purpose: Using a novel framework and leveraging long-term datada Luz, N., Tobiason, J., Kumpel, E.Science of the Total Environment, 818 · doi
Intermittent and continuous water supply and water access in India during the COVID-19 pandemicKumpel, E., Billava, N., Nayak, N., Ercumen, A.Journal of Water and Health, 20(1), 139–148 · doi
Long-term analysis of road salt loading and transport in a rural drinking water reservoir watershedSoper, J., Guzman, C., Kumpel, E., Tobiason, J.Journal of Hydrology, 603(B), 127005 · doi
2020
From Data to Decisions: Understanding information flows within regulatory water quality monitoring programsKumpel, E., MacLeod, C., Stuart, K., Cock-Esteb, A., Khush, R., Peletz, R.npj Clean Water, 3 · doi
Evaluating the impact of sampling design on drinking water quality monitoring program outcomesda Luz, N., Kumpel, E.Water Research · doi
Comparing utility-reported hours of piped water supply to households' experiencesRawas, F., Bain, R., Kumpel, E.npj Clean Water, 3(1) · doi
How we assess water safety: A critical review of sanitary inspection and water quality analysisKelly, E., Cronk, R., Kumpel, E., Howard, G., Bartram, J.Science of the Total Environment, 718 · doi
2019
From intermittent to continuous water supply: A multi-dimensional evaluation in Hubli-Dharwad, KarnatakaRay, I., Billava, N., Burt, Z., Colford, J., Ercumen, A., Jayaramu, K.P., Kumpel, E., et al.Economic and Political Weekly, 53(49) · doi
2018
Dry Pipes: Associations between Utility Performance and Intermittent Piped Water Supply in LMICsKaminsky, J., Kumpel, E.Water, 10(8), 1032 · doi
Measuring the impacts of Water Safety Plans in the Asia-Pacific RegionKumpel, E.c, Delaire, C., Peletz, R.c, et al.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(6), 1223 · doi
Pathways to sustainability: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of rural water supply programsMarks, S., Kumpel, E., Guo, J., Bartram, J., Davis, J.Journal of Cleaner Production, 205, 789–798 · doi
Why do water quality monitoring programs succeed or fail? A QCA of regulated testing in sub-Saharan AfricaPeletz, R., Kisiangani, J., Bonham, M., Ronoh, P., Delaire, C., Kumpel, E., Marks, S., Khush, R.International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 221(6), 907–920 · doi
Efficacy of microbial sampling recommendations and practices in sub-Saharan AfricaTaylor, D.J., Peletz, R., Khush, R., Kumpel, E.Water Research, 134, 115–124 · doi
2017
Estimating infection risks and the global burden of diarrheal disease attributable to intermittent water supply using QMRABivins, A., Sumner, T., Kumpel, E., Howard, G., Cumming, O., Ross, I., Nelson, K., Brown, J.Environmental Science and Technology, 51(13), 7542–7551 · doi
How much will it cost to monitor microbial drinking water quality in sub-Saharan Africa?Delaire, C., Peletz, R., Kumpel, E., Kisiangani, J., Bain, R., Khush, R.Environmental Science and Technology, 51(11), 5869–5878 · doi
Measuring household consumption and waste in unmetered, intermittent piped water systemsKumpel, E., Woelfe-Erskine, C., Ray, I., Nelson, K.Water Resources Research, 53 · doi
Seasonal variation in drinking and domestic water sources and quality in Port Harcourt, NigeriaKumpel, E., Cock-Esteb, A., Duret, M., de Waal, D., Khush, R.American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 96(2), 437–445 · doi
Can sanitary surveys replace water quality testing? Evidence from Kisii, KenyaMisati, A., Ogendi, G., Peletz, R., Khush, R., Kumpel, E.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(2) · doi
2016
Intermittent Water Supply: Prevalence, Practice, and Microbial Water QualityKumpel, E., Nelson, K.Environmental Science & Technology, 50(2) · doi
A systems approach to climate, water and diarrhea in Hubli-Dharwad, IndiaMellor, J., Kumpel, E., Ercumen, A., Zimmerman, J.Environmental Science & Technology, 50(23) · doi
Assessing drinking water quality and water safety management in sub-Saharan Africa using regulated monitoring dataKumpel, E., Peletz, R., Bonham, M., Khush, R.Environmental Science & Technology, 50(20), 10869–10876 · doi
Urban water services in fragile states: drinking water sources and quality in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Monrovia, LiberiaKumpel, E., Peletz, R., Albert, J., de Waal, D., Hirn, M., et al.American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · doi
To what extent is drinking water tested in sub-Saharan Africa? A comparative analysis of regulated water quality monitoringPeletz, R., Kumpel, E., Bonham, M., Rahman, Z., Khush, R.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(3) · doi
2015
Upgrading a piped water supply from intermittent to continuous delivery and association with waterborne illness: A matched cohort study in urban IndiaErcumen, A., Arnold, B.F., Kumpel, E., Burt, Z., Ray, I., Nelson, K., Colford, J.M.PLoS Medicine, 12(10) · doi
When are mobile phones useful for water quality data collection? An analysis of data flows and ICT applications among regulated monitoring institutions in sub-Saharan AfricaKumpel, E., Peletz, R., Bonham, M., Fay, A., Cock-Esteb, A., Khush, R.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(9) · doi
2014
Mechanisms affecting water quality in an intermittent piped water supplyKumpel, E., Nelson, K.Environmental Science & Technology, 48(5), 2766–2775 · doi
2013
Comparing microbial water quality in an intermittent and continuous piped water supplyKumpel, E., Nelson, K.Water Research, 47(14), 5176–5188 · doi
Intermittent Water Supply: Prevalence, Practice, and Microbial Water QualityKumpel, E., Nelson, K. (2016)Environmental Science & Technology, 50(2) · doi
Mechanisms affecting water quality in an intermittent piped water supplyKumpel, E., Nelson, K. (2014)Environmental Science & Technology, 48(5) · doi
Comparing microbial water quality in an intermittent and continuous piped water supplyKumpel, E., Nelson, K. (2013)Water Research, 47(14) · doi
Estimating infection risks and the global burden of diarrheal disease attributable to intermittent water supply using QMRABivins, A., Sumner, T., Kumpel, E., et al. (2017)Environmental Science and Technology, 51(13) · doi
Measuring household consumption and waste in unmetered, intermittent piped water systemsKumpel, E., Woelfe-Erskine, C., Ray, I., Nelson, K. (2017)Water Resources Research, 53 · doi
Dry Pipes: Associations between Utility Performance and Intermittent Piped Water SupplyKaminsky, J., Kumpel, E. (2018)Water, 10(8) · doi
From intermittent to continuous water supply: A multi-dimensional evaluation in Hubli-DharwadRay, I., Billava, N., Kumpel, E., et al. (2019)Economic and Political Weekly
Upgrading a piped water supply from intermittent to continuous delivery and association with waterborne illnessErcumen, A., Arnold, B.F., Kumpel, E., et al. (2015)PLoS Medicine, 12(10) · doi
Intermittent and continuous water supply and water access in India during COVID-19Kumpel, E., Billava, N., Nayak, N., Ercumen, A. (2021)Journal of Water and Health, 20(1) · doi
Comparing utility-reported hours of piped water supply to households' experiencesRawas, F., Bain, R., Kumpel, E. (2020)npj Clean Water · doi
Water supply interruptions are associated with more frequent stressful behaviors and emotions but mitigated by predictabilityThomson, P., Pearson, A., Kumpel, E., et al. (2024)Environmental Science and Technology, 58(16) · doi
Intermittent versus continuous (24×7) water supply system: empirical findings from Karnataka, IndiaPanchamukhi, P., Billava, N., Kumpel, E., et al. (2025)Review of Development and Change, 30(2) · doi
A systems approach to climate, water and diarrhea in Hubli-Dharwad, IndiaMellor, J., Kumpel, E., Ercumen, A., Zimmerman, J. (2016)Environmental Science & Technology, 50(23) · doi
Water quality source-to-tap
Seasonal Total Coliform Dynamics in a Drinking Water ReservoirVeras, C.E., Tobiason, J., et al., Kumpel, E. (2025)Water Research, 284(15) · doi
Moving beyond the silos of opportunistic pathogen and disinfection byproduct researchLee, S., Sun, Y., et al., Kumpel, E. (2025)Environmental Science and Technology, 59(18) · doi
Impacts of wastewater intrusion on disinfection byproduct formation: an experimental studyRoberts, T., Kumpel, E., et al. (2025)PLOS Water, 4(4) · doi
Disinfection Byproducts in Intermittent Piped Water SuppliesRoberts, T., Reckhow, D., Kumpel, E., Chavarria*, K. (2024)ACS ES&T Water, 3(12) · doi
Water Lead Levels in Massachusetts Schools and Early Education and Childcare FacilitiesAmery, L., Tobiason, J., Kumpel, E. (2023)AWWA Water Science · doi
Methods and Uncertainty in Predictions of Arsenic Exposure and Health Outcomes for Private Well Users in MassachusettsAmery, A., Tobiason, J., Kumpel, E. (2025)Environmental Science & Technology · doi
Assessment of Contaminants in a Drinking Water Supply WatershedMarques, A., Veras, C., Kumpel, E., et al. (2023)International Soil and Water Conservation Research · doi
Long-term analysis of road salt loading and transport in a rural drinking water reservoir watershedSoper, J., Guzman, C., Kumpel, E., Tobiason, J. (2021)Journal of Hydrology, 603(B) · doi
Drinking Water Quality Test Kits for Home Use in the United StatesD'Andrea, L., Kumpel, E. (2025)Journal of Water and Health
Household water storage
Optimizing Household Water Decisions for Managing Intermittent Water Supply in Mexico CityWunderlich, S., Freeman, S., Galindo, L., Brown, C., Kumpel, E. (2021)Environmental Science & Technology, 55(12) · doi
Infrastructure mapping
Look Out Below: Predicting Wastewater Infrastructure Service Type at the Land Parcel Scaleda Luz, N.*, Taneja, J., Kumpel, E. (2025)ACS ES&T Engineering · doi
Graph Neural Networks for Predicting Wastewater Service Type at a Land Parcel LevelImanirakiza, S., et al., Kumpel, E., Taneja, J. (2025)NeurIPS 2025 Workshop UrbanAI
Small systems & treatment options
Comparing the economic, environmental, and exposure impacts of options for compliance in very small water systemsLane, K.*, Tobiason, J., Reckhow, D., Kumpel, E. (2025)Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, 5 · doi
Triple Bottom Line Approach for Comparing POU/POE to Centralized Water TreatmentLane, K.*, Reckhow, D., Tobiason, J., Kumpel, E. (2023)AWWA Water Science · doi
Effective First Flush Volumes in Rainwater Catchment SystemsCharlebois, B., Reckhow, D., Wittbold, P., Kumpel, E. (2023)AQUA, 72(5) · doi
A critical review of the global use and context of trucked water as a potable water supplyLane, K.*, Kumpel, E. (2023)ACS ES&T Water · doi
Water quality monitoring programs
Water quality monitoring with purpose: Using a novel framework and leveraging long-term datada Luz, N., Tobiason, J., Kumpel, E. (2021)Science of the Total Environment, 818 · doi
Evaluating the impact of sampling design on drinking water quality monitoring program outcomesda Luz, N., Kumpel, E. (2020)Water Research · doi
From Data to Decisions: Understanding information flows within regulatory water quality monitoring programsKumpel, E., MacLeod, C., Stuart, K., Cock-Esteb, A., Khush, R., Peletz, R. (2020)npj Clean Water · doi
Assessing drinking water quality and water safety management in sub-Saharan Africa using regulated monitoring dataKumpel, E., Peletz, R., Bonham, M., Khush, R. (2016)Environmental Science & Technology, 50(20) · doi
To what extent is drinking water tested in sub-Saharan Africa?Peletz, R., Kumpel, E., et al. (2016)International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi
Why do water quality monitoring programs succeed or fail? A QCA of regulated testing in sub-Saharan AfricaPeletz, R., Kisiangani, J., Kumpel, E., et al. (2018)International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health · doi
Efficacy of microbial sampling recommendations and practices in sub-Saharan AfricaTaylor, D.J., Peletz, R., Khush, R., Kumpel, E. (2018)Water Research, 134 · doi
How much will it cost to monitor microbial drinking water quality in sub-Saharan Africa?Delaire, C., Peletz, R., Kumpel, E., et al. (2017)Environmental Science and Technology, 51(11) · doi
How we assess water safety: A critical review of sanitary inspection and water quality analysisKelly, E., Cronk, R., Kumpel, E., Howard, G., Bartram, J. (2020)Science of the Total Environment, 718 · doi
Can sanitary surveys replace water quality testing? Evidence from Kisii, KenyaMisati, A., Ogendi, G., Peletz, R., Khush, R., Kumpel, E. (2017)International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi
Measuring the impacts of Water Safety Plans in the Asia-Pacific RegionKumpel, E.c, Delaire, C., Peletz, R.c, et al. (2018)International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(6) · doi
Global water access
Drinking water accessibility typologies in low- and middle-income countriesChung, H., Kumpel, E., Oke, J. (2023)Environmental Research Letters, 18(2) · doi
The Future of Piped WaterMilman, A., Kumpel, E., Lane*, K. (2022)Water International · doi
A critical review of the global use and context of trucked water as a potable water supplyLane, K.*, Kumpel, E. (2023)ACS ES&T Water
Water, sanitation, and hygiene in rural Alaska: a scoping reviewThelamaque, N.*, Kumpel, E., et al.In review
Urban water services in fragile states: Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Monrovia, LiberiaKumpel, E., Peletz, R., Albert, J., et al. (2016)American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · doi
Seasonal variation in drinking and domestic water sources and quality in Port Harcourt, NigeriaKumpel, E., Cock-Esteb, A., Duret, M., et al. (2017)American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 96(2) · doi
Pathways to sustainability: A fuzzy-set QCA of rural water supply programsMarks, S., Kumpel, E., Guo, J., Bartram, J., Davis, J. (2018)Journal of Cleaner Production, 205 · doi
Projects
Current and past funded research projects.
Last updated: February 2026
Current
Household Water Storage
NSF CAREER · World Bank · 2024–2029
Examines how storage practices shape microbial water quality and whether interventions can convert household tanks from a contamination risk into a reliable buffer. Combines lab studies, field studies, and modeling. Field sites include India, Mexico City, and Kenya.
Field studies across Indian cities measuring IWS characteristics, predictability, and water quality, and how supply variability affects household coping strategies and health outcomes. Active sites: Hubli-Dharwad, Nashik, Solapur, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai.
California State Water Board · MassDEP · EPA · 2022–current
Two related threads: (1) Developing machine learning methods to predict water and wastewater service type at the land parcel scale — filling critical data gaps for equity assessment and policy, working with state agencies in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, and the Gulf States. (2) Developing a novel typology for classifying US public water systems to better understand system diversity and enable more targeted deployment of treatment technologies and regulatory support.
Long-term monitoring of water quality in DCR reservoirs serving the greater Boston area. Studies contaminant dynamics, road salt impacts, watershed land use, and seasonal variability in microbial and chemical indicators. Partnership with DCR Division of Water Supply Protection.
Examining how distribution system conditions — wastewater intrusion, source water variation, and intermittency — affect disinfection byproduct formation and microbial communities. Includes lab-scale pipeloop experiments, field sampling, and analysis of regulatory compliance data.
Safe Drinking Water Act Technical Assistance (MassDEP)
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection · 2021–2027
Comprehensive technical assistance to MassDEP's Drinking Water Program across multiple interagency service agreements. Supports small water system compliance, PFAS and emerging contaminants in small and disadvantaged communities, drinking water data infrastructure, and well mapping. Partners include Tobiason, da Luz, and McBeath.
Lead in Schools & Lead Service Line Programs (MassDEP)
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection · 2022–2026
Two parallel programs supporting Massachusetts utilities and regulators on lead in drinking water. The Lead in Schools/EECF program supports testing and remediation in K-12 schools and early education facilities statewide. The lead service line program assists small and non-transient water systems with LSL inventory development and replacement planning. Research outputs include statewide lead data analysis and predictive modeling of LSL locations.
Point-of-Use and Point-of-Entry Treatment for Small Systems
Water Quality Research Foundation · 2020–2025
Comparing POU/POE treatment to centralized options for small system SDWA compliance using a triple-bottom-line framework — economic, environmental, and exposure costs and benefits. Reviews the current state of POU/POE technology and regulatory pathways.
Community-engaged research on water and sanitation infrastructure, challenges, and resilience in remote Alaska Native communities facing climate-driven change.
Upgrading Intermittent to Continuous Water Supply in Hubli-Dharwad
NSF · UC Berkeley · 2009–ongoing
Multi-dimensional evaluation of the conversion from intermittent to 24×7 piped water supply in Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka. Covered water quality, household water use, health outcomes, and governance.
Designed and operated a bench-scale pipeloop to experimentally characterize how supply intermittency and pressure variation affect contamination intrusion, microbial communities, and DBP formation.
Aquaya Institute · 2013–2018 · MassDEP · 2020–ongoing
Two threads: (1) While at the Aquaya Institute, assessed coverage, quality, and information flows of regulatory water quality monitoring programs across sub-Saharan Africa, including fieldwork in Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Liberia. (2) In Massachusetts, developed frameworks for designing and evaluating drinking water sampling programs, including source water monitoring in DCR reservoirs and distribution system monitoring for small systems.
Measured the impact of Water Safety Plans implemented across the Asia-Pacific region on water quality outcomes and utility practices. Report submitted to WHO.
While at the Aquaya Institute · World Bank · 2013–2015
Assessment of drinking water sources, quality, and access in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Monrovia, Liberia — cities with severely degraded piped infrastructure.
We welcome students and postdoctoral researchers interested in water quality, water systems, and water equity. Our work spans field, lab, and computational methods across a range of international and domestic contexts.
Ph.D. students
We are generally interested in recruiting PhD students with backgrounds in environmental engineering, civil engineering, public health, or related fields. Current priorities include household water storage, intermittent water supply in India, water quality in distribution systems, and infrastructure mapping. Prospective students should apply to the UMass CEE graduate program. If you would like to reach out directly, please send a message that describes your specific research interests, relevant background and experience, and why you want to work with our group in particular — what draws you to our specific projects and approach. I receive many inquiries and cannot respond to all of them, but I make an effort to reply to emails that are personally written and make a genuine connection with our work.
Postdoctoral researchers
Candidates with experience in water quality measurement, microbial ecology, machine learning applied to infrastructure, or related areas are encouraged to reach out. We can work together to identify fellowship opportunities where relevant.
Undergraduate researchers
UMass undergraduates interested in independent study or honors research are welcome to reach out, particularly those with relevant coursework in environmental engineering or data science.
Contact
Emily Kumpel · Faculty profile
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Massachusetts Amherst Currently on sabbatical at IIT-Bombay through summer 2026.
Teaching
Dr. Kumpel teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has received the College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award (2022) and the CEE Department Tighe Faculty Teaching Award (2021).
CEE 487 / CEE 687
Sustainability Engineering for Infrastructure Systems
Undergraduate (3 cr.) / Graduate Special Topics (3 cr.) · New course
Examines sustainability concepts as applied to infrastructure systems, with a focus on water, sanitation, and energy. Students evaluate the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of infrastructure decisions using triple-bottom-line and life-cycle frameworks, and engage with case studies ranging from US small water systems to global development contexts.
CEE 370
Introduction to Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
Undergraduate, required (4 cr., with lab)
Core undergraduate course introducing environmental engineering fundamentals. Topics include physical, chemical, and biological principles; environmental standards and legislation; material balances and reaction kinetics; environmental chemistry and microbiology; biogeochemical cycles; water quality and water resources; air quality; and solid and hazardous waste. Prerequisite: MATH 331 and CHEM 112.
CEE 547
Pipes and Pits: Water, Sanitation, and Global Development
Graduate elective (3 cr.) · New course
Graduate seminar examining water supply and sanitation infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries. Concepts include infrastructure for drinking water and sanitation provision in urban and rural areas; health-related impacts of water and sanitation including waterborne pathogens, transmission routes, prevention and treatment; and sustainability, reliability, and the non-health dimensions of water and sanitation services. Open to advanced undergraduates with permission.
CEE 580
Drinking Water for All: A Community-Engaged Learning Class
Graduate elective (3 cr.) · Co-taught with Milman
Community-engaged graduate course pairing students with small and disadvantaged water systems in Massachusetts to address real regulatory and operational challenges. Students work directly with utilities, apply engineering and policy frameworks to safe drinking water compliance, and develop practical deliverables for partner systems.
Water Systems Lab · Civil & Environmental Engineering · University of Massachusetts Amherst
