Samuel D. Hodges, Ph.D., P.E. Professional Headshot

Samuel D. Hodges, Ph.D., P.E.

Executing Solutions in Water Treatment & Land Development

Engineering practice focused on the execution of land development, hydraulic modeling, and advanced water treatment solutions. Work encompasses the design of sanitary sewer systems, municipal grading and drainage evaluation, and specialized research in contaminant mitigation, including PFAS tracking and removal.

Operations are currently based in Tennessee and Arkansas, with a history of executing water infrastructure projects and providing technical instruction both domestically and internationally.

Core Competencies

  • Top Skills: Engineering Design, Water Quality, and Water Treatment.
  • Land Development & Municipal Stormwater: Executing site design, coordination, and production for large-scale industrial projects (300+ acres). Implementing and enforcing municipal stormwater management manuals, and acting as a liaison between municipal entities, local engineers, and developers to ensure compliance.
  • Water Resources & Treatment: Designing gravity piping networks, sizing lift stations, and modeling sanitary sewer systems to optimize water age and turnover times. Consulting on wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) startup issues, including grit and scum unit operations, and conducting master plan clearwell evaluations.
  • International Water Infrastructure: Designing and constructing remote spring capture projects and gravity-fed distribution networks. Drilling agricultural and domestic wells using slurry-powered drilling techniques.
  • Technical Instruction: Translating complex engineering principles into actionable instruction. Developing and delivering university-level coursework spanning hydraulics, hydrology, and environmental engineering. Currently serving as Adjunct Faculty at Liberty University and previously at Christian Brothers University.

Technical Proficiencies

Utilizing industry-standard modeling and drafting tools including AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley StormCAD, Arc GIS, EPA Net, and HEC-HMS/RAS. Applying advanced laboratory and analytical skills, including UV Spectroscopy, R Studio modeling, and experimental design.

Education, Credentials & Honors

  • Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, University of Arkansas
  • M.S. in Engineering-Civil, LeTourneau University
  • B.S. in Engineering-Civil, LeTourneau University
  • Licensed Professional Engineer (Arkansas PE No.: 24150)
  • Honors & Awards: AWRC USGS 104b, American Water Scholarship, Doctoral Academy Fellowship.

Volunteer Work & Committees

  • CRED Committee Member: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • Project Advisory Committee Member: The Water Research Foundation (WRF)
  • International Engineering Advisory Committee Member: Northrise University

Selected Project Execution

Industrial Site Development & Wastewater Infrastructure

Kimley-Horn | West Memphis, AR
Leading the design of sanitary sewer gravity piping for a major industrial site. Executing hydraulic modeling to determine ideal water age and turnover, coordinating the scope and fees for a localized lift station, and managing the production requirements for a 300+ acre facility.

Municipal Drainage & Site Grading Enforcement

Buchart Horn | Memphis, TN
Served as the lead grading and drainage reviewer for the City of Memphis Land Development Office. Supervised the update of the city's Standards and Guidelines for plan submittals and enforced the 3rd edition of the Memphis/Shelby County Storm Water Management Manual.

Water Infrastructure Design & Construction in Ecuador

Reach Beyond | Shell, Ecuador
Led teams in the engineering design and construction of spring capture projects and gravity-fed distribution networks in remote jungle and mountain regions. Developed materials lists and collaborated closely with local communities during construction.

Samuel D. Hodges and team on on-site spring capture construction in Ecuador

Well-Drilling Technology Application in Senegal

Engineers Without Borders | St Louis, Senegal
Drilled 30-meter well bores using slurry-powered drilling techniques. Partnered with local villages to provide domestic and agricultural water access using previously designed well technologies.

Samuel D. Hodges with village members operating slurry-powered drilling equipment in Senegal

Selected Publications & Research

Conducted small-scale studies evaluating the adsorption removal of PFAS from groundwater wells. Designed custom diffusion cells to measure organic diffusion coefficients through hydrogels. Developed finite difference models to represent linear diffusion and measured the diffusion coefficients of a suite of 32 PFAS compounds.

Chloronitramide Anion is a Decomposition Product of Inorganic Chloramines

Science (2024) | Co-Author

Identified and quantified the chloronitramide anion as an end-product of inorganic chloramine decomposition in drinking water systems, utilizing HILIC–UHRMS and ion chromatography.

Non-Steady-State Fickian Diffusion Models Decrease the Estimated Gel Layer Diffusion Coefficient Uncertainty for Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films Passive Samplers

Environmental Science & Technology (2023) | Lead Author

Developed a finite difference model demonstrating a tenfold decrease in the uncertainty of gel layer diffusion coefficient estimates, enhancing the reliability of passive sampling metrics for environmental monitoring.

PFAS Quantitation with Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Film Passive Samplers: Capturing Time-Weighted Average Concentrations Around Maximum Contaminant Levels to Facilitate Compliance

Water Research (2026) | Co-Author

Validated and deployed redesigned DGT passive samplers to accurately capture time-weighted average concentrations of 25 different PFAS compounds in natural waters, facilitating regulatory compliance monitoring.

Contact & Connect

To discuss land development, water treatment design, or related consulting opportunities, please reach out via the channels below.