Water Pollution Control Plant Research Articles

A Modernized Biosolids Management Plan for New York City's Water Pollution Control Plants

A Modernized Biosolids Management Plan for New York City's Water Pollution Control Plants

Energy Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction at the Owl's Head Water Pollution Control Plant Will Lead to Energy Independence

Energy Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction at the Owl's Head Water Pollution Control Plant Will Lead to Energy Independence

WAS Thickening Using Ultra-filtration Membranes – Preliminary Results at Oxford Water Pollution Control Plant

WAS Thickening Using Ultra-filtration Membranes – Preliminary Results at Oxford Water Pollution Control Plant

Life after Lindane in California: Water Concentrations, Poison Control Calls Drop Following Ban

Vol. 116, No. 3 EnvironewsOpen AccessLife after Lindane in California: Water Concentrations, Poison Control Calls Drop Following Ban Valerie J. Brown Valerie J. Brown Search for more papers by this author Published:1 March 2008https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.116-a128aCited by:3AboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit Lindane, a persistent, highly toxic, and bioaccumulative organochlorine insecticide, was used in agriculture and as a topical treatment for human head lice and scabies beginning in the 1940s. As its toxicity became better known, manufacture and use declined in the United States; in 2002, California banned the pharmaceutical use of lindane altogether. According to a new study, that ban appears to have resulted in steep drops in concentrations of lindane in Southern California’s wastewater and a dramatic reduction in calls to the California Poison Control System [EHP 116:297–302; Humphreys et al.].The most common adverse effects of lindane exposure in humans include seizures, dizziness, and headaches. High levels of exposure can be fatal. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has canceled all registrations for lindane-containing compounds in agriculture, the chemical is still available by prescription as a second-line treatment for head lice in states other than California. Its continued pharmaceutical use raises concerns about its potential presence in wastewater effluent and drinking water.The research team, part of the University of California, San Francisco, Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, examined historical lindane concentrations in several Southern California water pollution control plants and compared them before and after the ban. To assess the ban’s impact on human exposures, they analyzed lindane-related calls to California’s poison control hotline between 1998 and 2006. They searched the MediCal fee-for-service pharmacy-paid claims database and obtained national data from Verispan, a commercial health industry data tracker, to determine the number of lindane prescriptions issued. The team also conducted a random survey of pediatricians to ascertain both their awareness of the ban and their current treatment preferences for scabies and head lice.In Los Angeles County, the average wastewater concentration of lindane in 1999 was 36 ppt. By 2006, concentrations had dropped to almost undetectable levels throughout California. In 1998, 135 per 100,000 calls to the Poison Control System concerned lindane; by 2006 such calls had declined to 2 per 100,000. Similarly, lindane prescriptions fell from 114,000 in 1997 to 34 in 2002. Medical providers reported few problems using alternative treatments such as pyrethrins.The study authors are encouraged by their findings but note that lindane is still used in many countries, mostly in the developing world, and that every ton of lindane manufactured produces about 9 tons of toxic waste. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not banned pharmaceutical lindane in the United States, the pesticide is currently under review for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which could eventually lead to a worldwide ban.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited by Nitoi I, Oncescu T and Oancea P (2013) Mechanism and kinetic study for the degradation of lindane by photo-Fenton process, Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 10.1016/j.jiec.2012.08.016, 19:1, (305-309), Online publication date: 1-Jan-2013. Ngueleu S, Grathwohl P and Cirpka O (2013) Effect of natural particles on the transport of lindane in saturated porous media: Laboratory experiments and model-based analysis, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2013.02.009, 149, (13-26), Online publication date: 1-Jun-2013. Goldust M, Babae Nejad S, Rezaee E and Raghifar R (2013) Comparative trial of permethrin 5% versus lindane 1% for the treatment of scabies, Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 10.3109/09546634.2012.723122, (1-3) Vol. 116, No. 3 March 2008Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Originally published1 March 2008Published in print1 March 2008 Financial disclosuresPDF download License information EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted. Note to readers with disabilities EHP strives to ensure that all journal content is accessible to all readers. However, some figures and Supplemental Material published in EHP articles may not conform to 508 standards due to the complexity of the information being presented. If you need assistance accessing journal content, please contact [email protected]. Our staff will work with you to assess and meet your accessibility needs within 3 working days.

Development and Validation of a 3-Dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) Model for Rectangular Settling Tanks in New York City Water Pollution Control Plants

New York City provides secondary treatment to approximately 78.6 m3/s among its 14 water pollution control plants (WPCPs). The process of choice has been step-feed activated sludge. Changes to the permit limits require nitrogen removal in WPCPs discharging into the Long Island Sound. The City has selected step feed biological nitrogen removal (BNR) process to upgrade the affected plants. Step feed BNR requires increasing the concentration of mixed liquors, (MLSS), which stresses the Gould II type rectangular final settling tanks (FSTs). To assess performance and evaluate alternatives to improve efficiency of the FSTs at the higher loads, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) and City College of New York (CCNY) have developed a three-dimensional computer model depicting the actual structural configuration of the tanks and the current and proposed hydraulic and solids loading rates. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Model, Fluent 6.3.26TM as the base platform, sub-models of the SS settling characteristics as well as turbulence, flocculation, etc. were incorporated. This was supplemented by field and bench scale experiments to quantify the co-efficients integral to the sub-models. As a result, a three-dimensional model has been developed that is being used to consider different baffle arrangements, sludge withdrawal mechanisms and loading alternatives to the FSTs.

Estimating Air Emissions Resulting from Implementation of Supplemental Carbon to Enhance Denitrification in Water Pollution Control Plants

Estimating Air Emissions Resulting from Implementation of Supplemental Carbon to Enhance Denitrification in Water Pollution Control Plants

San Francisco's vision for the Future: An Integrated Urban Wastewater Management Plan

The City and County of San Francisco (“City”) embarked upon a 30-year master planning process in part prompted by public concerns related to the neighbourhood impacts of the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant (SEP). The Sewer System Master Plan, as it is called, developed a long term Integrated Urban Watershed Management Plan for the City9s treatment plants and collection system. This paper focuses on the planning framework and public input to the process, particularly as it relates to proposed changes to the SEP. The resulting improvements address issues of replacing aging infrastructure, eliminating odor emissions, and visually screening the treatment plants that are situated within an urban setting. The recommended project addresses the needed repair of the existing infrastructure; and proposes that the City move towards an integrated urban watershed approach, initially through localized rainwater harvesting and opportunistic water reclamation.

Pilot Study for the Applicability of Biofilter Odor Control Technology for use at New York City Water Pollution Control Plants

Pilot Study for the Applicability of Biofilter Odor Control Technology for use at New York City Water Pollution Control Plants

Tri-City Water Pollution Control Plant Phase I Expansion Project

Tri-City Water Pollution Control Plant Phase I Expansion Project

Asset Management at Harmony Creek Water Pollution Control Plant: A Detailed Approach to a High-Level Analysis

Asset Management at Harmony Creek Water Pollution Control Plant: A Detailed Approach to a High-Level Analysis

Modeling and Implementation of Flocculation Zones in Rectangular Final Settling Tanks at the Newtown Creek Water Pollution Control Plant

Modeling and Implementation of Flocculation Zones in Rectangular Final Settling Tanks at the Newtown Creek Water Pollution Control Plant

Conservation‐Induced Wastewater Flow Reductions Improve Nitrogen Removal: Evidence from New York City1

Abstract: Water resources are under increasing pressure to meet potable supply needs while sustaining aquatic ecosystems and fisheries. Growing populations and enforcement of the Total Maximum Daily Load provisions of the Clean Water Act present public water and wastewater utilities with costly options to meet potable water demands and reduce pollutant discharges into receiving waters. This paper documents that New York City’s comprehensive water conservation program – designed to extend the city’s safe yield of potable water—has also resulted in reduced nitrogen discharges from the city’s water pollution control plants during a period of population increases. This paper demonstrates and quantifies the effects that wastewater inflow volume reductions have on increased nitrogen removal, controlling for plant process changes. Conservation programs have saved the city billions of dollars in delayed or avoided capital improvements to both water and wastewater treatment plants, and have enabled the city to meet interim effluent discharge standards.

Performance of A Large-Scale Biotrickling Filter and Activated Carbon Odor Scrubber System At the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant

Performance of A Large-Scale Biotrickling Filter and Activated Carbon Odor Scrubber System At the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant

Full Scale and Laboratory Scale Results from the Trial of MicroSludge at the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant at Los Angeles County

Full Scale and Laboratory Scale Results from the Trial of MicroSludge at the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant at Los Angeles County

Effects of different rates of fly ash and sewage sludge mixture amendments on cation availability and their leachability

A leaching column study was conducted to evaluate the leaching of cations from soils amended with a mixture of (1:1) fly ash (FA) from Port Wentworth power plant, Savannah, GA: sewage sludge (SS) from President Street water pollution control plant, Savannah, GA. Two sets of soil-leaching columns (30-cm high and 7.5-cm diameter; 15 columns per soil) were prepared with a fine sandy soil from Florida (Candler fine sand; pH 6.8) and Georgia (Ogeechee loamy sand; pH 5.6). The top one inch of soil from each of these columns was amended (3 columns per treatment) with 1:1 mixture of SS and FA at either 0, 24.7, 49.4, 98.8 or 148.3 Mg ha− 1 rate. After saturating the columns with deionized water, 18 cycles of intermittent leaching and drying was performed on weekly basis. Leaching of major cations and changes in ionic strength and pH were evaluated on half pore volume (220 mL) of leachate collected at each event. Results of this study indicated that leaching of cations increased rapidly up to the 3rd leaching event, and then rapidly decreased and the concentration of cations reached somewhat similar to that of unamended soil columns. Effects of soil type and rates of amendments on leaching of major cations along with changes of pH and ionic strength are discussed in this paper.

A New Reliable Method for Dimethyl Sulfoxide Analysis in Wastewater: Dimethyl Sulfoxide in Philadelphia's Three Water Pollution Control Plants

A simple but reliable procedure was developed to analyze dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in wastewater. The isotope DMSO_d6 was used as the internal standard to ensure accuracy. The DMSO was reduced with stannous chloride and measured as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) with purge-and-trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The method detection limit was at the sub-microgram-per-milliliter level; precision, as measured by standard deviation, was better than +/- 0.5%; and the recoveries were between 95 and 105% at the level of 2 microg/mL. The procedure could use standard analytical instrumentation used for volatile organic compound analysis. A field study was conducted to validate the method and quantify DMSO concentration range in the three water pollution control plants (WPCPs) in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Results showed that, when a local chemical facility discharged, DMSO concentration could be as high as 12 mg/L in the influent to a WPCP. This would lead to the formation of a toxic "canned corn" DMS odor during the treatment processes.

Study of the effect of DMSO on VOS odour production in a wastewater plant

Odours caused by volatile organic sulphides (VOS) have a history spanning over 20 years for Philadelphia's Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant (NEWPCP). A "canned corn" type of odour has caused residential complaints. Traditional odour control approaches based on hydrogen sulphide failed. This study confirmed that dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) from a chemical facility was the dominant cause of the "canned corn" nuisance odour in the form of dimethyl sulphide (DMS). During a discharge, DMSO concentrations up to 12 mg/L were found in the influent of the NEWPCP. Each DMSO concentration peak induced a DMS peak. DMS concentrations increased from less than 50 microg/L to 6 mg/L with a corresponding decrease in DMSO. Approximately 79% of DMSO from the primary sedimentation influent was passed to the effluent, and to downstream processes, such as the aeration tanks where the DMS was volatilised by the aeration. The DMS partial pressure in ambient air of NEWPCP can be between 0.03 and 0.18 x 10(-3) atm during a DMSO discharge. From the above information, the potential of VOS production is estimated and a practical plan for remediation can be designed.

Assessing the Potential for Nitrification Inhibition at Wastewater Treatment Facilities as a Result of Zinc Orthophosphate Addition to Potable Water Distribution Systems

Portions of the greater metropolitan District of Columbia area have water distribution system corrosion problems. This has resulted in elevated levels of heavy metals, in particular lead from some plumbing and service connections. One alternative being considered for corrosion control is the addition of either phosphoric acid (ortho-phosphate) or zinc ortho-phosphate based products at the water treatment plant to inhibit corrosion of plumbing and service connections that contain lead (Cadmus, 2004). A potential consequence of the addition of zinc orthophosphate (ZnOP) to the water supply is the impact of Zn on the operation of the wastewater treatment plants that receive and treat sanitary wastewater from treated water supplies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of ZnOP, and specifically Zn 2+ , on the nitrification process at the Arlington County, Virginia Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP). Inhibition was investigated using continuous respirometry and nitrate generation rate measurements at the Zn concentration increment expected in the influent wastewater (0.3-0.5 mg/L) as a result of corrosion inhibitor use, although much higher levels of Zn were also evaluated. Short-term batch experiments up to 5 days in length were conducted with fresh mixed liquor samples in an attempt to make 0.5 mg/L Zn as inhibitory as possible, providing conditions that would be expected to sensitize the biomass to Zn stress. Results suggest no significant inhibition at 0.5 mg/L Zn, slight inhibition at 1.0 mg/L Zn after roughly 5-10 hours of exposure, and significant inhibition at 10 mg/L Zn.

A study on volatile organic sulfide causes of odors at Philadelphia's Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant

Volatile organic sulfide (VOS) causes of odors were studied at Philadelphia's Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant between September 11 and November 25, 2003. Results showed that dimethyl sulfide (DMS) dominated the VOS pool whenever VOS concentration rose above the background level (<50 μg/L). Methanethiol was generally less than 10% of VOS and it was mainly found at sites with limited or reduced dissolved oxygen (DO). Dimethyl disulfide occupied ∼1% of the VOS and was often not detectable. Carbon disulfide was not detected. The concentrations of DMS varied by three orders of magnitude, ranging from <5 to 1260 μg/L. High concentrations of DMS, averaging 419 and ranging from <5 to 1000 μg/L, were generally found in return activated sludge. The DMS concentration in the primary effluent ranged from <5 to 729 μg/L and averaged 245 μg/L. Concentrations of DMS in the aeration tank (AT) with high DO were from <5 to 997 μg/L with an average of 250 μg/L. However, DMS concentrations in the AT representing anaerobic conditions were as high as 1260 μg/L. The estimated average purge efficiency of DMS was about 78%, which required a DMS production rate of 108 μg/L h −1 to keep the analyzed concentration in the AT. While a valid but weak statistical relationship between acetone and DMS was observed, there was no strong evidence to support that the methylation of hydrogen sulfide with acetone could be the mechanism for the DMS formation. Instead, DMS production was found to be associated with the characteristics of incoming wastewater. Thus, a VOS precursor was believed to be present in the incoming wastewater, which warranted a need for further investigation.

Predictions of H2S Breakthrough Capacity of Activated Carbons at Low Concentrations of Hydrogen Sulfide

In this study a combined approach based on known theoretical solution of a dynamic model, where the parameters of the model are determined from the experimental data at high concentration of an adsorbate is used. The breakthrough time for the required conditions is calculated from the extrapolation of the experimental data fitted by the theoretical equation derived from the model. Parameters of the model used, e.i. kinetics coefficient and the capacity of an adsorbent are found by fitting theoretical and experimental breakthrough curves obtained for high concentrations of H2S. The results are compared to those collected in “real life” long term tests of coconut shell based activated carbons at North River Water Pollution Control Plant in New York City.