Water Pollution Control Facility Research Articles

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in Pennsylvania surface waters: A statewide assessment, associated sources, and land-use relations

The objectives of this study are to identify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Pennsylvania surface waters, corresponding associations with potential sources of PFAS contamination (PSOC) and other parameters, and compare raw surface water concentrations to human and ecological benchmarks. Surface water samples from 161 streams were collected in September 2019 and were analyzed for 33 target PFAS and water chemistry. Land use and physical attributes in upstream catchments and geospatial counts of PSOC in local catchments are summarized. The hydrologic yield of the sum of 33 PFAS (∑PFAS) for each stream was computed by normalizing each site's load by the drainage area of the upstream catchment. Utilizing conditional inference tree analysis, the percentage of development (>7.58 %) was identified as a primary driver of the ∑PFAS hydrologic yields. When percentage of development was removed from analysis, ∑PFAS yields were closely related to surface water chemistry associated with landscape alteration (e.g., development or agricultural cropland), such as concentrations of total nitrogen, chloride, and ammonia, but also to count of water pollution control facilities (agricultural, industrial, stormwater, and/or municipal waste pollution abatement facilities). In oil and gas development regions, ∑PFAS yields were associated with combined sewage outfalls. Sites surrounded by ≥2 electronic manufacturing facilities had elevated ∑PFAS yields (median = 241 ng/s/km2). Study results are critical to guide future research, regulatory policy, best practices that will mitigate PFAS contamination, and the communication of human health and ecological risks associated with PFAS exposure from surface waters.

The management of cholera epidemics and the Neva River in St. Petersburg in the nineteenth century

Cholera first broke out in St. Petersburg in 1831, becoming a frequent visitor thereafter. Considering the frequency of its visit, it is worth trying to understand what the epidemic represented and became for residence of the capital. The complexity of water pipe and pollution control facilities in the city is one of the important components that story.

Cedar Rapids Water Pollution Control Facility Successful Recovery of a Solids Management System from a Catastrophic Flood

Cedar Rapids Water Pollution Control Facility Successful Recovery of a Solids Management System from a Catastrophic Flood

Research Digest: Field Validation of Biokinetic Coefficients for Predicting Degradation of Organic Compounds

This research was the first significant demonstration of an extant respirometric test to determine the biodegradation rate parameters (biokinetics) of select individual organic compounds at full scale wastewater treatment plants. Extant kinetics were measured at five different municipal and industrial activated sludge systems. The respirograms were well correlated with actual analytical measurements of compound disappearance for ethylene glycol and acetone. Furfural respirograms revealed differential rates of oxygen consumption, indicative of the formation of an intermediate compound which was identified as furoic acid in subsequent analysis. A calibration procedure was developed to assess the competent biomass concentration, since the COD fraction tended to underestimate the degrading fraction for two of the four test compounds. Acetone, for instance, had a measured influent COD fraction of 0.08%, and the actual competent fraction was estimated to be 2.3% based on the model calibration. Once the competent biomass concentration was determined, extant kinetic parameters were subsequently used to predict activated sludge system performance. Predicted effluent concentrations were within 2, 5, and 16% of the average measured concentrations for acetone, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, and furfural, respectively. Day to day predictions for these compounds were less accurate, possibly due to the non-steady state nature of the activated sludge systems studied. Alkyl sulfate (AS) was not predicted well with respect to the percentage difference between predicted and measured concentrations. However, the overall mass difference was small (4.2 μgCOD/L predicted versus 0.82 μgCOD/L measured). The sub part per billion measured concentrations for AS were at least a magnitude of order lower than any of the other target compound concentrations. One of the surprising findings of the study was that the variability in kinetic parameter values was no more than typically observed in laboratory activated sludge reactors operated at steady-state. The dynamic operating nature and varying influent concentrations resulted in the maximum standard deviations for furfural at the Cedar Rapids Water Pollution Control Facility (standard deviations were 54 and 79% of the average values of and KS, respectively). From these results, a sampling and testing period of 8 to 10 tests over a three month period is recommended to accurately characterize the biodegradation performance of an activated sludge system with respect to specific organic compounds in the influent. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series ISBN: 9781843396307 (eBook)

BNR Process Monitoring and Control with Online Nitrogen Analyzers for Nitrogen Credit Exchange Program in Connecticut

Long Island Sound was designated as an “estuary of national significance” in 1998, and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) was directed to develop a comprehensive conservation and management plan (CCMP) for protecting and enhancing the water quality and health of the Long Island Sound. A reduction of 58.5% of the nitrogen load from point and non-point sources within 15 years (by 2014) as measured against the 1990 base load was adopted by the CCMP. To administer and enforce the nitrogen reduction target, the Connecticut Department of Environment Protection (CT DEP) in conjunction with the LISS and U.S. EPA developed a total maximum daily load (TMDL) in 2001. To achieve the TMDL goals, the CT DEP developed a nitrogen trading program among 79 wastewater treatment plants located throughout the state, and established the Nitrogen Credit Advisory Board (NCAB) and the Nitrogen Credit Exchange (NCE) Program in 2002.In 2008, the NCAB proposed funding for the purchase of online or portable analyzers for DO and nitrogen, up to $40,000 for each wastewater treatment plant, to improve BNR process control. The total funding recommended by NCAB was $1,966,500. The study presented in this report summarized the use of online analyzers by water pollution control facilities (WPCFs) in Connecticut, and considerations for the use of online analyzers for automated process control are discussed. Case studies from the wastewater treatment facilities in Connecticut were provided, which sheds light on the practical approaches towards automated online process control for the improvement of BNR process performance.This title belongs to WERF Research Report SeriesISBN: 9781780407692 (eBook)

Piloting of Mainstream Phosphorus Recovery and Deammonification Technologies at the City of Portage Water Pollution Control Facility

Piloting of Mainstream Phosphorus Recovery and Deammonification Technologies at the City of Portage Water Pollution Control Facility

건설사업장의 수질관리 기술 적용사례 비교분석

To deal with the water pollution arising from the construction site, this study raises the issues of management and laws and it suggest the efficient way to reduce water pollution by through the case studies. In order to study, seven cases were selected from Environmental Management Best Practice Competition co - sponsored by Construction Association of Korea and Construction Environment Association. As a study result, there are problems that depending on the characteristic of the construction site environment simple alone settling facilities can not handle muddy and dirty water generated by the construction site. However, when the construction site applied improved water pollution control facilities with reflecting the characteristic of muddy and dirty water. The problem can be solved moreover it can achieve exceeded emission standard. Therefore new regulations and management with water pollution control facilities considering characteristic of environment is needed to cope with water pollution arising from the construction site.

Small Seaside Community Dilemma—Managing One of the First Limit of Technology Permits for Nitrogen Through Extreme Flow and Load Fluctuations

The Chatham Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF), which is the first wastewater treatment facility permitted to remove nitrogen to the limit of technology in Massachusetts, was upgraded starting in early 2010 to achieve an effluent annual average total nitrogen (TN) of 3 mg/L (milligrams per liter) based on the total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) set for the surrounding coastal estuaries by MassDEP (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection). Along with the WPCF upgrade, the collection system was expanded as part of the Town’s comprehensive wastewater management plan (CWMP) implementation. The population in Chatham swells from the year-round residential population of 6,125 to a daily high of up to 40,000 residents and visitors in the summer months. Although currently seen to a small extent in the summer wastewater flows, the summer population will have an increasing impact on the facility over time as the collection system eventually expands to serve two thirds of the Town.

Eliminate the Use of Wedged Wood Timbers and the Pumping Station Will Still Operate

Eliminate the Use of Wedged Wood Timbers and the Pumping Station Will Still OperateThe Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) needed to revamp an aging primary effluent pumping station due to downward revisions of the flows to this treatment process train. The pumps had systematic control and vibration issue shortly after startup more than 15 years ago. HDR was hired to design a 3.68 m3/d (84 mgd) primary effluent pumping station. Prior to embarking on a new design,...Author(s)John E. KochSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Oct, 2013ISSN1938-6478DOI10.2175/193864713813715887Volume / Issue2013 / 9Content sourceWEFTECCopyright2013Word count141

Optimizing Membrane Bioreactor/ Reverse Osmosis Performance for Municipal Wastewater Treatment

Combining microfiltration (MF) and reverse osmosis (RO) is an accepted practice for treating secondary effluent to allowable levels for common and advanced reuse applications. Several municipalities in the United States and abroad use this combination on a large scale. This leads to the next innovation in treating wastewater—membrane bioreactors (MBRs), the specialized use of MF integrated with activated sludge treatment followed by RO. The Southern Nevada Water Authority has been conducting an ongoing test of such a configuration at the Las Vegas Water Pollution Control Facility since 2009. The study's goal is to better understand the fouling of RO membranes, which directly treat MBR effluent, and to evaluate technologies to minimize RO fouling. The pilot has had stable operation for more than 4,000 hours and has not required RO cleaning when operated at a flux rate of 14 gpd/ft2 (23.8 LMH) and higher. The results have confirmed that MBR–RO is a viable wastewater treatment technology.

A state-wide survey in Oregon (USA) of trace metals and organic chemicals in municipal effluent

Oregon's Senate Bill 737, enacted in 2007, required the state's 52 largest municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and water pollution control facilities (WPCF) to collect effluent samples in 2010 and analyze them for persistent organic pollutants. These facilities are located state-wide and represent a variety of treatment types, service population sizes, geographic areas, and flow conditions. Of the 406 chemicals ultimately analyzed, 114 were detected above the level of quantification (LOQ) in at least one sample. Few persistent pollutants were found possibly because of their diversion from effluent via sorption to sludge (solids phase) or high LOQs for certain chemicals. Several pesticides, as well as benzene and phenol degradation products, all previously unreported in effluent, were detected. Ten polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) congeners were present at low concentrations in ≤10 samples, while polychlorinated naphthalenes and dioxins/furans were not detected at all. Twenty-one polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners were found, nine of which have been reported in Osprey eggs in Oregon and Washington. Methylmercury was present in 65% of samples, with average and maximum concentrations of 0.18 and 1.36ng/L, respectively. Although they are generally assumed to be innocuous by-products of sewage treatment, additional research is needed on potential impacts to aquatic ecosystems of high loadings of coprostanol and cholesterol. These results suggest that effluent, rather than just receiving waters, should itself be analyzed for a wide range of contaminants in order to understand how upstream sources, conveyed through WWTPs and WPCFs, could be impacting aquatic ecosystems.

Life cycle implications of urban green infrastructure

Low Impact Development (LID) is part of a new paradigm in urban water management that aims to decentralize water storage and movement functions within urban watersheds. LID strategies can restore ecosystem functions and reduce runoff loadings to municipal water pollution control facilities (WPCF). This research examines the avoided energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of select LID strategies using life cycle assessment (LCA) and a stochastic urban watershed model. We estimate annual energy savings and avoided GHG emissions of 7.3 GJ and 0.4 metric tons, respectively, for a LID strategy implemented in a neighborhood in New York City. Annual savings are small compared to the energy and GHG intensity of the LID materials, resulting in slow environmental payback times. This preliminary analysis suggests that if implemented throughout an urban watershed, LID strategies may have important energy cost savings to WPCF, and can make progress towards reducing their carbon footprint.

The Oxnard advanced water purification facility: combining indirect potable reuse with reverse osmosis concentrate beneficial use to ensure a California community's water sustainability and provide coastal wetlands restoration

The City of Oxnard in California is implementing a strategic water resources program known as the Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment (GREAT) program, which includes an Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) that will use a major portion of the secondary effluent from the City's existing Water Pollution Control Facility to produce high-quality treated water to be used for irrigation of edible food crops, landscape irrigation, injection into the groundwater basin to form a barrier to seawater intrusion, and other industrial uses. The AWPF, currently under design by CH2M HILL, will employ a multiple-barrier treatment train consisting of microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultravioletlightbased advanced oxidation processes to purify the secondary effluent to conform to California Department of Public Health Title 22 Recycled Water Criteria for groundwater recharge. The AWPF, which will have initial and build-out capacities of ca. 24,000 and ca 95,000 m(3)/day, respectively, was limited to a 1.8-hectare site, with 0.4 hectares dedicated to a Visitor's Center and administration building. Further, the depth below grade and height of the AWPF's structures were constrained because of the high groundwater table at the site, the high cost of excavation and dewatering, and local codes. To accommodate these various restrictions, an innovative design approach has been developed. This paper summarizes the design constraints and innovative solutions for the design of the AWPF.

Energy from Residuals – Comparing Anaerobic Digestion to Drying/Gasification Model

ABSTRACT This paper reports on results from a biosolids management study conducted for the Susquehanna Water Pollution Control Facility (SWPCF) operated by Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA) of Pennsylvania. The facility currently co-settles waste activated sludge (WAS) with primary solids. The blended residuals are dewatered by a centrifuge and then are stabilized to Class B using quick lime. A portion of the final Class B product (25% TS in average) is land-applied on local farms by a contractor, and the remainder is landfilled at the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA) Landfill In 2008, approximately 7,800 wet tons were landfilled and almost same amount was land applied. Faced with re-negotiating their long term landfilling contract and the prospect of increasing costs, LASA wanted to investigate alternative treatment processes and end-uses, considering public health, environmental sustainability, flexibility, as well as cost-effectiveness. The study started with a broad list of alternatives for biosolids management. The list was narrowed down by a screening process involving a weighted scoring/ranking system to develop a “short list” for full evaluation. A “market-back” end-use analysis of the various biosolids products generated by each alternative helped to shape the ranking/scoring process in terms of public health and sustainability. An economic analysis was done for each of the “short-listed” alternatives (process trains) in order to determine the 20-year life cycle costs (LCC) of each. The top two alternatives based on the 20-year LCC, Anaerobic digestion with co-generation and gasification with power production, are substantially different with respect to energy generation, final products and approach to sustainability. This paper will explain the selection process step-by-step, while highlighting these differences.

Use of an Online Nitrate Analyzer and Supplemental Carbon Addition Equals Additional Nitrogen Removal and Increased Nitrogen Credit Sales for a Long Island Sound Water Pollution Control Facility

Use of an Online Nitrate Analyzer and Supplemental Carbon Addition Equals Additional Nitrogen Removal and Increased Nitrogen Credit Sales for a Long Island Sound Water Pollution Control Facility

IFAS Pilot Study for Cold Weather Nitrogen Reduction

Facing a new effluent total nitrogen discharge limit, the Town of Stafford Springs Connecticut chose to upgrade their Water Pollution Control Facility using a fixed media Integrated FixedFilm/ Activated Sludge (IFAS) system. The IFAS media would allow a retrofit of the existing aeration basins for biological nutrient removal without having to add basin volume. The raw influent wastewater was a mixture of municipal and industrial wastes that included at high concentration of fibrous suspended solids from a local textile manufacturer. Because of the unusual nature of the wastewater, a pilot study was commissioned to confirm the design basis for the IFAS system. After good initial results, the pilot study was cut short due to operational difficulties associated with the fibrous influent. Other fixed media IFAS systems were studied to help confirm the design rate, and the Town decided to proceed with construction of the IFAS system in April of 2009.

Full Scale Evaluation of an Alternate Carbon Source and Methanol for Low Level Denitrification at a Long Island Sound Water Pollution Control Facility

Full Scale Evaluation of an Alternate Carbon Source and Methanol for Low Level Denitrification at a Long Island Sound Water Pollution Control Facility

Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (Eugene and Springfield, Oregon): Optimizing Wet Season Treatment Performance and Permit Compliance

Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (Eugene and Springfield, Oregon): Optimizing Wet Season Treatment Performance and Permit ComplianceThe Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission, which provides wastewater services for Eugene and Springfield, Oregon, conducted a performance optimization study regarding enhancement of the secondary clarifiers at its Eugene-Springfield Water Pollution Control Facility. Enhancement included retrofitting eight existing clarifiers by replacing inset dual overflow weir launders with perimeter...Author(s)Matthew G. NoesenBob SprickGlen DaiggerSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 20 - Raining Cats and Dogs: Effective Wet Weather Flow Treatment StrategiesDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2009ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20090101)2009:17L.831;1-DOI10.2175/193864709793955906Volume / Issue2009 / 17Content sourceWEFTECFirst / last page(s)831 - 837Copyright2009Word count167Subject keywordsSecondary clarificationoptimizewet weather

Quick Fix Odor Control at the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department Roger Road WWTP

Quick Fix Odor Control at the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department Roger Road WWTPPima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (PCRWRD) manages a sewer conveyance system that includes over 3,300 miles of sewer pipes, 66,000 manholes and 29 active lift stations. PCRWRD operates two major wastewater treatment facilities within the Tucson metropolitan area, the Roger Road Wastewater Treatment Plant (Roger Road) and the Ina Road Water Pollution Control Facility (Ina...Author(s)Joseph R. PopeckChris QuigleyBob BuecherSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 5: Odor Control Planning and Monitoring IDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2008ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20080101)2008:4L.345;1-DOI10.2175/193864708788808104Volume / Issue2008 / 4Content sourceOdors and Air Pollutants ConferenceFirst / last page(s)345 - 353Copyright2008Word count361

Seasonal distributions and cycling of mercury and methylmercury in the waters of New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary

Mercury (Hg) contamination, which includes its toxic byproduct monomethylmercury (MMHg), is ubiquitous and often severe in estuarine and near-shore systems of industrialized countries. However, Hg cycling is not well studied in anthropogenically impacted systems such as New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary (NY/NJ Harbor), and more generally, knowledge concerning the biogeochemical cycling of toxic metals is limited for estuaries and coastal regions. Here, we are reporting results from a 1-year seasonally focused field investigation on the behavior and fate of Hg and MMHg in NY/NJ Harbor. Filtered (< 0.2-μm) and unfiltered reactive (labile) and total Hg, as well as filtered and particulate MMHg, were measured in surface and bottom waters (5–9 stations) in August 2002, February 2003, and May 2003. Scavenging by particulate matter is a major control on the partitioning of total Hg in the vertically well-mixed waters of the Harbor; 89–99% of total Hg (log K D = 5.3–6.5) and 56–89% of MMHg (log K D = 4.5–5.6) were in the particle phase. Mean levels of unfiltered total Hg (30–550 pM) and total MMHg (0.2–1.8 pM; filtered + particulate) were greater and more variable seasonally at the sites in Newark Bay and the Upper Harbor, as compared to the Lower Harbor and Jamaica Bay, consistent with fluvial inputs (Hudson River yields 90% of freshwater input) as a principal source of total Hg to the Harbor. Water-column particle-specific concentrations (mean ± SE) of total Hg (4.8 ± 0.5 nmol g − 1 ) and MMHg (20 ± 2 pmol g − 1 ; 0.4% of total Hg) are comparable to levels in surface sediment, suggesting significant sediment suspension and deposition. The major sources of total Hg (∼ 2440 mol y − 1 ) to NY/NJ Harbor are rivers (∼ 1640 mol y − 1 ; 67% of total inputs), the East River (∼ 630 mol y − 1 ), water pollution control facilities (WPCFs; ∼ 140 mol y − 1 ), and direct atmospheric deposition (∼ 30 mol y − 1 ). Although direct atmospheric deposition to NY/NJ Harbor is small, leaching (ca. 25–30% watershed delivery) of atmospheric Hg deposition to the NY/NJ Harbor watershed is a significant source (22–69%), but additional unknown sources also appear to contribute to fluvial Hg loadings. The MMHg flux to the Harbor from internal and external sources is estimated as 33 mol y − 1 with 18 mol y − 1 from rivers (55%), and 8 mol y − 1 (25%) from in situ sedimentary production and mobilization. While fluvial MMHg inputs are dominant, the relative source strength of watershed versus sedimentary riverine production is not yet clear.