CITY OF TUCSON WASTE WATER EFFLUENT DELIVERY FACILITY1

ABSTRACT: The Tucson area is totally dependent on ground water, which is in increasingly short supply due to excessive overdrafts. Tucson area waste water treatment plants discharge material quantities of secondary effluent downstream, which is lost to evapotranspiration and recharge of the ground water basin. The city and the four large mining companies who share the common Santa Cruz basin ground water, recognized the common water supply problem and agreed to fund a feasibility study for mining process use of the effluent to partly alleviate the overdraft of ground water. The study analyzed the projected waste water effluent resources, potential mining company demand for waste water effluent and possible interface of an effluent delivery facility with the proposed Central Arizona Project. The effluent resources were analyzed with respect to potential demand. An optimum alignment was selected. An optimum system was detailed through design schematics, amortized cost and finance requirements, and an implementation schedule. It was concluded that a waste water effluent delivery facility could be implemented which would utilize reclaimed effluent in quantities approximating 35 percent of basin overdraft and which would provide revenue for full cost recovery over a 20 year operation period. The mining companies are studying the internal economic impacts of the project.     

欧盟废物焚烧指令的研究与借鉴

为进一步完善我国废物焚烧标准体系,防控废物焚烧环境风险,本文对欧盟废物焚烧指令与我国焚烧标准体系进行了对比分析。欧盟废物焚烧指令分别对专用焚烧厂和协同焚烧厂从废物运输到处理处置全过程的污染物排放控制做出了相关规定,适用于危险废物和非危险废物的焚烧以及常规污染物和有毒污染物的控制。欧盟废物焚烧指令对不同规模的焚烧设施采用统一标准,以日均值和半小时均值为污染物排放限值,更客观、准确地评价了污染物排放对环境的影响。与欧盟废物焚烧指令相比,我国废物焚烧标准涉及废物联合利用处置的相关条文较少,内容不详,项目缺失。我国烟尘、HCl的排放限值均在欧盟标准限值6倍以上,SO2的排放限值是欧盟标准的4~8倍。除CO、NOx的排放限值外,其他污染物排放限值也明显高于欧盟标准限值。我国采用抽样监测方法,监测结果可能在日常排放值的95%置信区间外,不具备代表性。我国可借鉴欧盟废物焚烧指令的成果制定协同焚烧标准,并严格污染物排放限值,考虑采用日均值或半小时均值的评价方法,提高我国废物焚烧标准的精确性和可执行性。     

Assessment of Presence of Heavy Metals and Other Pollution Burden Parameters and Their Effect on Water Quality in Benin City,Edo State

An assessment of the heavy metal content and biological pollution burden of an abattoir dumpsite, an automobile carwash, the Ikpoba River, and a private water borehole located near the abattoir dumpsite was conducted in Benin City in Southern Nigeria, during the rainy and dry seasons. The water samples’ pH was lower than the permissible values, with the river water displaying color and possessing a slight odor. Iron concentrations exceeded the permissible limits for drinking water at all four of the sampling stations in the study area, although not in samples collected from the control station, station 5, a public water borehole that is located some distance away. Lead values were higher than drinking water standards in the samples collected from stations 1 through 4, with some exceptions during the rainy season. Copper, nickel, arsenic, chromium, and aluminum were detected in three out of the four sampling stations located within the study area. However, these metals were detected at levels that were within regulatory limits. The detection of three metals (iron, lead, and zinc) within the study area at levels exceeding drinking water limits suggested that a complete cycle of movement of pollutants into the sampling stations had occurred. Significant biological presences were also detected, as the Ikpoba River water had a standard plate count (SPC) of 130 most probable number (MPN) and a 22 MPN presumptive coliform count (PCC) or 22 MPN. However, Escherichia coli (E. coli) confirmatory tests recorded less than 2 MPN in both seasons. The study has shown that the quality of water in the river may be compromised by effluent discharges from the dumpsite and the carwash channel. Therefore, this situation requires more stringent enforcement of local environmental laws and maintenance of safe distances between domestic and industrial waste sources and domestic or private water wells.     

IMPLEMENTATION OF ACUTE CRITERIA FOR CONSERVATIVE SUBSTANCES1

ABSTRACT: Acute criteria are assigned to the fish and wildlife propagation beneficial use in Oklahoma's water quality standards. Dye studies are analyzed to show that these criteria can be implemented through acute regulatory mixing zones. Acute regulatory mixing zones may be defined as areas in receiving streams where acute numerical criteria may be exceeded without causing acute toxicity. Acute regulatory mixing zones are used to obtain acute waste load allocations. If effluent loading does not exceed acute waste load allocation, acute criteria exceedance is confined to the acute regulatory mixing zone and there is no acute toxicity in the receiving stream. Waste load allocations for acute and chronic criteria are compared to determine which is appropriate to develop permit limits for the dye studies.     

Fish bioassay monitoring of waste effluents

Spills of toxic materials into bodies of water receiving industrial waste discharges can be prevented only if frequent or continuous assessments of effluent quality can be made. Currently available methods can automatically measure individual physical or chemical waste components but cannot assess toxicity caused by the interaction of components or the presence of an unsuspected material. Aquatic organisms, in contrast, respond to their total environment and in this way integrate the effects of all the various chemical and physical waste parameters.This study evaluates the possibility of using the continuously and automatically recorded responses of fish to monitor the toxicity of industrial waste effluents. A review of previously developed toxicity monitoring systems is followed by a field evaluation of a method that uses the computer-monitored ventilatory patterns of 12 bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque) to monitor the toxicity of an industrial waste effluent as it flows into a river. No known toxic spills occurred in the effluent during the operation of this system, but acetone added to the effluent waste caused responses from the fish at concentrations which peaked near the 96-hr LC₅₀ level. Some responses were also noted when no known toxicant was present; these were related to environmental disturbances and system design problems. Recommendations are made for the design of future biologic monitoring units.     

Establishment of permit limits for mill effluent

Various governmental regulatory agencies are responsible for establishing regulations on the discharge of chlorinated organic compounds from pulp and paper mills. The procedures for setting permit limits are the basic topic of this article. Different methods of determining permit limits are set forth and discussed in a number of references, including documents of the Environmental Protection Agency. This paper discusses in detail the application of one particular methodology—the lognormal model approach. In this paper we utilize a real data set and include the necessary calculations required to set up permit limits. The basic tenets of the permit process are such that if limits are set too low, operators who are in full regulatory compliance will still be frequently cited, and if limits are set too high, operators who are not in compliance will seldom if ever be cited. Thus there is a great need for these effluent limits to be determined with great care, both to protect the environment receiving the wastewater and the industry producing the wastewater.     

Quality assessment of composts in the Greek market: the need for standards and quality assurance

An extensive data survey and study of the Greek market for composts or products marketed as such was carried out in order to acquire a comprehensive image of the local situation, in view of the proposed operation of large municipal solid waste (MSW) composting facilities and EU legislation changes. Physical and chemical parameters (moisture, organic matter, electrical conductivity, pH and heavy metals), stability indicators (self-heating potential, germination index) and biological indicators (microbial population, pathogen indicators and selected pathogens) were analyzed for the assessment of product quality. Results revealed wide variations even within the same group of products, which is particularly significant for parameters directly related to environmental protection and public health. The heavy metal content ranged from levels exceeding the fairly lenient Greek standards to below the stringent limits for A+ class compost in Austria. About 25% of the composts examined met the heavy metal limits for the EU eco-label award. Salmonella spp. was not detected in any of the composts but Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium perfringens were found in 17 and 96% of the composts respectively. Pathogen indicator microorganisms were present at levels above suggested limits in all the composts. The high variability of such important parameters in composts available on the Greek market suggests an urgent need for establishing quality assurance procedures and mechanisms in the country. Moreover, the wide range of limit values within EU member states suggests the need for developing EU compost quality standards, in order to harmonize the compost markets.     

Performance assessment of a wastewater treatment plant producing effluent for irrigation in Egypt

A conventional activated sludge treatment facility was the subject of this study. The assessment was directed at determining the characteristics of the raw wastewater, the quality of the treated effluent and the efficiency of the various treatment units. Furthermore, the water quality along the effluent irrigation canal was monitored. The assessment of the quality of the treated effluent for irrigation is based on the guidelines established by the World Health Organization and the Egyptian decree 9/89 for the use of wastewater in agriculture. The results of the study indicated that the concentration of the raw wastewater was considered moderate. The mean values of the COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) and total suspended solids (TSS) were around 250, 102 and 142 mg l–1, respectively. This was attributed to the high quantities of wastewater from industrial sources. The overall efficiency of the treatment facility was good. The mean residual COD, BOD and TSS were 25, 8 and 21 mg l–1 and the corresponding percentage removal values were 90, 92 and 85%, respectively. The maximum percentage removal of oil and grease was 84% with a mean residual concentration of 24 mg l–1. The total viable count (22°C and 37°C), faecal coliform and aecal streptococci were reduced by 99.9% compared to only 99.5% for Salmonella. Bacteriological examination of the dried sludge indicated a reduction of nine logs of faecal coliform and faecal streptococci, as compared to thickened sludge. Analysis of the Ni, Cu, Pb and Cr in the dried sludge indicated that their concentrations are within the permissible limits. Zinc exceeded the consent standards by 50%. The results of the analyses of samples collected at the beginning of the irrigation canal indicated insignificant changes from the characteristics of the final effluent. Samples collected at a distance of 2km along the irrigation canal showed mean reductions in the COD and BOD of 28.6 and 47%, respectively, which could be attributed to sedimentation and/or a self-purification effect. An increase in the total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total viable count was also recorded, which could be due to seepage from the agricultural land. From the data available it is evident that the treated wastewater could be used for restricted irrigation. The design and implementation of a monitoring programme is recommended.     

中美燃煤火电厂空气污染物排放标准比较研究

本文对中美燃煤火电厂国家行业排放标准的内容设置、限值形式、监测、记录和报告规定,以及固定源排污许可证中如何执行排放标准进行了比较。相对于美国,中国燃煤火电厂国家行业排放标准文本内容过于简略,限值形式设置单一,主要采用全国统一的浓度限值而不是采用绩效限值;浓度限值的制定基于部分样本源而不是全部源的数据,很难体现行业的排放控制技术水平;达标判据不科学,也过于严格,小时均值的考核方式影响了火电厂的生产安排;排放标准中监测配套规定单薄,与环境监测的一般规定衔接性不佳,针对性差;记录和报告要求缺位,不能满足排污许可证管理的需求。建议参照美国行业排放标准的内容形式,排放限值采用绩效限值形式,并规定长平均周期的考核要求,将与之配套的监测、记录和报告要求纳入排放标准,以满足固定源排污许可证制度的需求。     

Municipal solid waste generation in Kathmandu, Nepal

Waste stream characteristics must be understood to tackle waste management problems in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), Nepal. Three-stage stratified cluster sampling was used to evaluate solid waste data collected from 336 households in KMC. This information was combined with data collected regarding waste from restaurants, hotels, schools and streets. The study found that 497.3 g capita(-1) day(-1) of solid waste was generated from households and 48.5, 113.3 and 26.1 kg facility(-1) day(-1) of waste was generated from restaurants, hotels and schools, respectively. Street litter measured 69.3 metric tons day(-1). The average municipal solid waste generation rate was 523.8 metric tons day(-1) or 0.66 kg capita(-1) day(-1) as compared to the 320 metric tons day(-1) reported by the city. The coefficient of correlation between the number of people and the amount of waste produced was 0.94. Key household waste constituents included 71% organic wastes, 12% plastics, 7.5% paper and paper products, 5% dirt and construction debris and 1% hazardous wastes. Although the waste composition varied depending on the source, the composition analysis of waste from restaurants, hotels, schools and streets showed a high percentage of organic wastes. These numbers suggest a greater potential for recovery of organic wastes via composting and there is an opportunity for recycling. Because there is no previous inquiry of this scale in reporting comprehensive municipal solid waste generation in Nepal, this study can be treated as a baseline for other Nepalese municipalities.     

CHANGES IN STRATIFICATION IN ONONDAGA LAJKE,NEW YORK1

ABSTRACT: The calibration of a mixed-layer stratification model to the complex stratification region of Onondaga Lake is documented. The short- and long-term impacts of the closure of an adjoining alkali plant on the stratification regime of Onondaga Lake are evaluated with this model from the perspective of natural variations associated with meteorological variability. Chemical stratification prevailed in the lake during the operation of the facility as a result of its discharge of ionic waste. A predicted likely short-term impact of the closure, that was subsequently observed, was the failure of the lake to turn over in the spring immediately following the closure. Spring turnover did not occur regularly during the operation of the facility; but turnover can be expected to occur regularly in the future. Other projected changes in average stratification conditions include: 1) a 45% shorter period of stratification, 2) a 3m deeper upper mixed layer, and 3) a 30% lower maximum density gradient. Substantial variability in the stratification is predicted as a result of meteorological variability, indicating that comparison of characteristics for individual years during and after the operation of the facility could be misleading. The changes in the stratification regime are expected to affect water quality. In particular, certain features of the oxygen resources of the hypolimnioa are expected to improve (e.g., delayed onset of anoxia).     

COST-EFFECTIVE REGULATORY OPTIONS FOR WATER QUALITY LIMITED STREAMS1

With the pressure from industries and municipalities to reduce the waste water treatment costs associated with the permit limits needed to attain the goals of the Clean Water Act, attention has turned ways of introducing flexibility into the regulations without sacrificing the water quality goals. Wisconsin is the first state to have adopted a variety of options from which dischargers may choose when meeting their water quality requirements. These options were developed for the express purpose of minimizing the costs and maximizing the flexibility of the point source water quality regulations while ensuring that permitted discharge would not violate the water quality standards. This paper presents five options that the state has made available to dischargers, as well as one the state did not adopt. The conclusion is that a mix of options can substantially increase the flexibility and reduce the costs of meeting water quality standards on effluent limited streams.     

Inventory of Ocean Monitoring in the Southern California Bight

Monitoring of the ocean environment in southern California, USA, has been conducted by a diverse array of public and private organizations with different motivations, working on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. To create a basis from which to integrate information from these diverse programs, we conducted an inventory of ocean monitoring activities in the Southern California Bight to address the following questions: (1) How much money is being expended annually on marine monitoring programs? (2) Which organizations are conducting the most monitoring? (3) How are resources allocated among the different types of monitoring programs? This inventory focused on programs existing, or those expected to be in existence, for at least 10 years and that were active at any time between 1994 and 1997. For each program identified for inclusion in this study, information was collected on the number of sites, sampling intensity, parameters measured, and methods used. Levels of effort were translated into cost estimates based upon a market survey of local consulting firms. One hundred fourteen marine monitoring programs, conducted by 65 organizations and costing US $31 million annually, were identified. Most of the effort (81 programs, 65% of samples, 70% of costs) was expended by ocean dischargers as part of their compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements. Federal programs (11 programs, 25% of samples, 10% of total expenditures) expended more than state or local government programs. More than one quarter of monitoring expenditures were conducted to measure concentrations and mass of effluent inputs to the ocean. The largest effort expended on receiving water monitoring was for measuring bacteria, followed by sediments, fish/shellfish, water quality, and intertidal habitats. The large level of expenditures by individual agencies has presented opportunities for integrating small, site-specific ocean monitoring programs into regional- and national-scale monitoring and assessment programs.     

Inventory of ocean monitoring in the Southern California Bight

Monitoring of the ocean environment in southern California, USA, has been conducted by a diverse array of public and private organizations with different motivations, working on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. To create a basis from which to integrate information from these diverse programs, we conducted an inventory of ocean monitoring activities in the Southern California Bight to address the following questions: (1) How much money is being expended annually on marine monitoring programs? (2) Which organizations are conducting the most monitoring? (3) How are resources allocated among the different types of monitoring programs? This inventory focused on programs existing, or those expected to be in existence, for at least 10 years and that were active at any time between 1994 and 1997. For each program identified for inclusion in this study, information was collected on the number of sites, sampling intensity, parameters measured, and methods used. Levels of effort were translated into cost estimates based upon a market survey of local consulting firms. One hundred fourteen marine monitoring programs, conducted by 65 organizations and costing US $31 million annually, were identified. Most of the effort (81 programs, 65% of samples, 70% of costs) was expended by ocean dischargers as part of their compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements. Federal programs (11 programs, 25% of samples, 10% of total expenditures) expended more than state or local government programs. More than one quarter of monitoring expenditures were conducted to measure concentrations and mass of effluent inputs to the ocean. The largest effort expended on receiving water monitoring was for measuring bacteria, followed by sediments, fish/shellfish, water quality, and intertidal habitats. The large level of expenditures by individual agencies has presented opportunities for integrating small, site-specific ocean monitoring programs into regional- and national-scale monitoring and assessment programs.     

PLANNING METHODOLOGY FOR ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT ON LAKE EUTROPHICATION1

ABSTRACT: The effects of changing nutrient inputs through land use management, waste water treatment, or effluent diversion are not clear, and managers are discovering that decisions which were effective in reversing eutrophication for one lake are often unsuccessful when applied to another. Simple empirical relationships are often used to predict the impact of management decisions. Errors in estimation could result in either substantial costs for overdesign or failure to meet desired eutrophication levels. This paper presents and illustrates a methodology to evaluate the impact of land use and water resource management decisions on lake eutrophication. The problems of worth of additional information, and uncertainty of estimates were handled within a cost-effectiveness framework. The probability of exceeding a critical level of eutrophication was considered as a measure of effectiveness. The cost criterion is the expected value of opportunity costs, costs of analysis and costs of additional information. Uncertainty analysis techniques were used to estimate the effectiveness of various management alternatives. Bayesian methods can be utilized to determine the worth of additional information. The methodology was applied to Beseck Lake, Connecticut, and the cost and effectiveness measures estimated for a number of land management alternatives. Worth of additional information was not determined in this initial effort in uncertainty analysis for lake eutrophication management.     

Using LCA to evaluate impacts and resources conservation potential of composting: A case study of the Asti District in Italy

Separate collection of municipal solid waste has overcome the 50% threshold in the Asti District in northern Italy, nearly one-third being composed of household and green organic waste. In order to address present and future solutions, it becomes therefore fundamental to assess the environmental performances of the current management of organic waste from separate collection. A from-gate-to-cradle life cycle assessment (LCA) model has been developed by expanding system boundaries, in order to carry out the assessment in the context of the whole waste management streamline. The environmental performances of an existing aerobic plant were made available, based on field measured data, by paying attention to the role and contribution of waste management subsystems. The need for actual and reliable data on materials and energy input, as well as gross and net gains from materials recovery, including benefits arising from use of compost in farming activities, was probably the major drawback that had to be faced. The study integrated the findings of different investigations from the literature with field measured data in order to obtain a more comprehensive framework representative of the area under study. The results may help public administrators to better understand the suitability of using LCA tools when dealing with solid waste management strategies.     

Using LCA to evaluate impacts and resources conservation potential of composting: A case study of the Asti District in Italy

Separate collection of municipal solid waste has overcome the 50% threshold in the Asti District in northern Italy, nearly one-third being composed of household and green organic waste. In order to address present and future solutions, it becomes therefore fundamental to assess the environmental performances of the current management of organic waste from separate collection. A from-gate-to-cradle life cycle assessment (LCA) model has been developed by expanding system boundaries, in order to carry out the assessment in the context of the whole waste management streamline. The environmental performances of an existing aerobic plant were made available, based on field measured data, by paying attention to the role and contribution of waste management subsystems. The need for actual and reliable data on materials and energy input, as well as gross and net gains from materials recovery, including benefits arising from use of compost in farming activities, was probably the major drawback that had to be faced. The study integrated the findings of different investigations from the literature with field measured data in order to obtain a more comprehensive framework representative of the area under study. The results may help public administrators to better understand the suitability of using LCA tools when dealing with solid waste management strategies.     

Air quality assessment for land disposal of industrial wastes

Air pollution from hazardous waste landfills and lagoons is largely unknown. Routine monitoring of toxic air contaminants associated with hazardous waste facilities is difficult and very costly. The method presented in this paper would be useful for air quality assessment in the absence of monitoring data. It may be used as a screening process to examine the question of whether or not volatilization is considered to be significant for a given contaminant and also to evaluate permit applications for new hazardous waste facilities concerning waste volatilization problems.     

EVALUTING STREAM STANDARD VIOLATIONS USING A WATER QUALITY DATA BASE1

ABSTRACT: Cumulative density functions (c.d.f.'s) for water quality random variables may be estimated using data from a routine grab sampling program. The c.d.f. may then be used to estimate the probability that a single grab sample will violate a given stream standard and to determine the anticipated number of violations in a given number of samples. Confidence limits about a particular point on the c.d.f. may be used to reflect the accuracy with which the sample estimate represents the true c.d.f. Methods are presented here for calculating such confidence limits using both a normal model and a nonparametric model. Examples are presented to illustrate the usefulness of an estimated c.d.f. and associated confidence limits in assessing whether an observed number of standard violations is the result of natural variability or represents real degradation in water quality.     

Microbiological Monitoring of Marine Recreational Waters in Southern California

An inventory was conducted to assess the number, type, spatial distribution, and costs of microbiological monitoring programs in southern California marine waters from Point Conception to the US/Mexico International Border. The location of each sampling site was determined using global positioning system (GPS), and estimates of geographic coverage were determined using geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Twenty-one programs conducted 87,007 tests annually at 576 sites in the study area. The largest number of sites was sampled in Orange County, whereas the largest number of analyses was performed in Los Angeles County because monitoring programs in this area focused on daily monitoring. Fifteen of the 21 programs were managed by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitted sewage effluent dischargers who sampled both offshore and shoreline waters and typically tested for three indicator bacteria (total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus). Their combined efforts comprised 82% of all of the microbiological indicator analyses conducted on an annual basis. Five of the remaining monitoring organizations were public health agencies, which typically focus their efforts on testing only total coliforms. Laboratory methodology also varied considerably, with NPDES permittees predominantly utilizing membrane filtration while public health agencies generally used multiple tube fermentation or premanufactured test kits. Nearly three quarters of all the effort expended in southern California occurred along the shoreline as opposed to offshore locations. Two thirds of this shoreline effort was focused on high-use sandy beaches and in proximity to perennial freshwater outlets (storm drains and creeks). Most sampling occurred at a set of fixed sites that were revisited frequently, but only represented about 7% of the total shoreline. We estimated that roughly $3 million is spent annually on monitoring bathing water quality in southern California, exceeding that spent in any other part of the country.