About us
Wellela D. Hirpassa (Ph.D.).
I have extensive experience in Environmental sustainability and Water Quality management and assessment. I have conducted various research on water and soil to find the category and the level of contamination in drinking water, soil, and edible vegetables. I have also provided numerous workshops on environmental education such as natural conservation, restoration, storm runoff control, green roofs, rain gardens, wetlands, pollution control …and different topics regarding environmental sustainability to establish environmental awareness and knowledge to eradicate contaminated products in the environment at Washington, DC for more than 12 years through the University of District of Columbia Cooperative Extension Program. As a result, environmental stewardship increased the behavior change of handling and thought for environmental sustainability, especially the Anacostia Riverbanks, which is an example of improvement to minimize pollution. Many Washington DC communities after the workshops on lead contamination changed their pipes that were built before 1986.
Installed Rain Gardens in several elementary and high school premises in Washington, DC, and trained students and teachers on how to minimize storm runoff and prevent contamination from entering water resources that we are drinking from. Co-established Water quality testing laboratory at the University of the District of Columbia Co-operative Extension Program. Randomly collected drinking water samples from Washington, DC residents, tested them for lead contamination, and co-published the results.
Managed Water Quality and Soil Fertility, including Building Material Testing Laboratory from 2015- 2018 in Finfinnee (Addis Ababa), Ethiopia. I also consulted on environmental management on the World Bank Project in Oromia, Southern National, and Gambela, under the Urban Infrastructure Institution Development for more than several cities, and established an environmental management system (2019-2021).
I have accomplished managing various projects from the EPA awarded to Clarkson Systems & Analyses, Inc., and from USDA/CSREES, and the District of Columbia Government awarded to the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C.
I Conducted lead contamination tests in water, soil, vegetables, and air in several residents’ houses and more than 1000 daycare centers. I served as a member of the Steering Committee in the Regional Mid-Atlantic Water Quality Program (2006-2013) and actively participated in proposal generation that secured grants for the regional program. I collaborated with the Mid-Atlantic Water Program and produced a K-12 Water Quality Curriculum to enhance water quality at Washington, DC schools.
I worked for the BAE System on Y2K changing for the Montgomery County Health Department Project and developed the Oracle form in Suitland for the Office of Naval Intelligence for the BAE System Project. I tested E-coli contamination in drinking water at Arrowhead Water Company in Orange County, California.
I established Hirpassa Consulting LLC and registered trademark Women Consultant in Environmental & STEM Education LLC. I believe this firm provides intensive experiences and environmental knowledge with incurred in developed and developing countries hands-on experiences and education to improve environmental sustainability for states, nations, and the World.
– Dr. Wellela Hirpassa
Language: Write, Read and Speaks English, Oromo Language & Amharic.
Education:
Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, 07/2020
M.S. Environmental Science, the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 05/95
B.S. Environmental Science, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C
A.A.S, Water Quality, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C, 05/92
WATER QUALITY EDUCATION COORDINATOR/ Water Quality Education Program EXTENSION AGENT
TESTING LEAD CONTAMINATION IN DRINKING WATER COLLECTED FROM WASHINGTON, DC RESIDENTS’ HOUSES
Water Research Resource Institute (WRRI) and University of the District of Columbia Cooperative Extension Service Collaborate to Establish water quality education & monitoring program
Starting in 2004 , Wellela Hirpassa collaborated with the Institute to prepare a strategic plan for the water quality monitoring program. This enabled the institute to enhance Water Resources Research Institute with establishing laboratory in the Land-Grant University of the District of Columbia and enabled us to develop proposals for funding from agencies such as EPA, USGS, and the DC government. The plan included the establishment of a water quality laboratory for testing, research and teaching purposes. Water Quality Education also established through the Cooperative Extension Program to address water quality problems through the DC residents. Water The Quality Education Program started 2006 and enabled to joined Mid-Atlantic Water Program and developed proposals for funding from USDA/CSREES to run the program. The Water Quality Education Program established many rain gardens in DC’s Schools for enhancing methods of reducing stormwater to the community and youth for the protection of safe drinking water. Water quality Education also enabled proposal to the DC government to enhance green the roof and received funds in 2013. Over the years, the collaboration between the Cooperative Extension Service and Water Resource Research Institute, Wellela Hirpassa, enabled an integrated approach to solving problems that affect the residents of Washington DC. This approach enabled to successfully completed the strategic plan in 2013 Thanks to her efforts, the laboratory is still in use today and has provided significant benefits for the University of the District of Columbia students. After 2013, Wellela Hirpassa went to Africa and coordinated water quality & soil fertility laboratory including establishing environmental management at Urban Institution and Infrastructure Development Program funded by the World Bank and managed by the World Bank.
The following are required to establish a credible water quality monitoring program:
1. Employ a qualified water quality extension agent to plan, implement, and assess the monitoring program
2. Identify grant funds to establish an EPA-certified water quality testing lab with research and teaching
capabilities at the University
3. Develop mechanisms of disseminating (Geographic Information System, GIS) results to benefit all
stakeholders, particularly DC residents
The following has been accomplished thus far:
1. The Cooperative Extension Service in collaboration with WRRI has hired a water quality extension agent.
2. The School of Engineering and Applied Science has provided space for the Lab.
3. The Institute has developed a proposal for grant funds to begin the monitoring program which will include
random samplings and outsourcing water quality testing until the Lab is equipped and EPA-Certified
4. The Institute will employ two student interns to work with the new Extension agent in implementing the
monitoring program