Trihalomethane (THM) precursors are a significant problem in the San Joaquin River (SJR) watershed, an important source of drinking water for >20 million people. Trihalomethane precursors diminish drinking water quality and are formed during natural decomposition of organic matter in aquatic systems. This study sought to identify sources of chlorine-reactive dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the SJR watershed and to determine if wetlands were more important sources of THM precursors than nearby rivers and agricultural drains. The effects of biodegradation on DOC quality and quantity were investigated and analyzed across drainage type. Results show wetland drainage contained comparable bromide concentrations and organic carbon aromaticity but contained more than two times the average DOC concentrations found in agricultural drains and rivers. Wetland DOC did not have an increased propensity to form THMs when compared with the other drainage types, despite significantly higher wetland formation potentials. The higher formation potentials measured in wetland drainages were attributed to higher DOC concentrations; the positive correlation found between DOC and trihalomethane formation potentials (THMFPs) and the significantly higher wetland DOC concentrations suggest that increased wetland restoration could result in increased THMFPs in the SJR watershed. Wetland THM precursors were more resistant to biodegradation than THM precursors from agricultural and river samples. Results suggest that THM precursors in the SJR were from algae and were biodegraded.
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An electronics company in the northeast United States had been using granular reactivated carbon to treat 500-1000
gallons per minute (gpm) of groundwater for volatile organic compound (VOC) removal. With this process, regenerated
carbon backwash water showed pH elevation above 9.0, a level unacceptable for direct discharge to the publicly owned
treatment works (POTW). This resulted in the need for a backwash water holding tank and restricted permissible
backwashing...
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Near-shore construction projects can take forever. Design, environmental studies, permitting, building, and unforeseen circumstances, create a labyrinth worthy of any Minotaur.
In Washington State, the permit process alone for an overwater structure, such as a dock, deck, bridge, or building, can take upwards of two years. The Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend, Wash., received the permits to rebuild a derelict oil terminal in less than half that time by employing an approach...
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THE city of St. Petersburg, Florida, after dodging Hurricane Charley's direct hit, received fringe winds from Hurricanes Francis and Jeanne in a period of two weeks. While still in the recovery process, the storm debris is estimated to be 25,000 tons of vegetation — 10,000 tons from Francis and Jeanne adding another 15,000 tons from wind gusts of 72 miles per hour as the storm exited Florida's west coast after crossing the state. This is half the annual tonnage normally recycled...
The Santa Ana River (SAR), CA and adjacent wetlands have been identified as potential sources of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) to the surf zone at Huntington Beach, CA. A suite of fecal steroids, including coprostanol (COP), epicoprostanol (eCOP), cholesterol (CHOE), cholestanol (CHOA), R cholestanone (aONE), â-cholestanone (bONE), â-sitosterol (bSIT), stigmasterol (STIG), stigmastanol (STAN), and campesterol (CAM), were used as chemical markers to examine whether sewage was a significant source of...
Background:
The 2.5 MLD Airey’s Inlet Water Treatment Plant is conventional alum coagulation, sludge blanket clarification, filtration WTP. It sources raw water from the 514 ML Painkalac Dam situated in the Angahook State Park This raw water is soft and high in colour and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). After heavy rainfalls, colour and DOC content are known to further increase along with a spike in turbidity. In response to these events, the plant operators are required to increase alum dosage to >80 mg/Land...
The 5 MGD Olga WTP in Lee County, Ft Myers, treats water from the Caloosahatchee River where TOC and color levels range from 15-25mg/L and 80-350 Pt Co Units respectively. This surface water presents many treatment challenges and treatment costs are high with alum doses in excess of 200mg/L required during times of the year to provide an adequate treated water quality.
As part of Lee County’s treatment plant reservoir and plant improvements for the Olga Water Treatment Plant (WTP), Parsons has been contracted to...
Increasing environmental concern over the last decade regarding pollution of water has led to significant revisions in environmental regulations. One pollutant in particular – methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether (MTBE) – has been responsible for significant litigation in the USA after several reported incidents of groundwater contamination caused by leaking gasoline Underground Storage Tanks. Subsequent revisions to California state legislation has seen the phase-out of MTBE, and a tightening of construction and operationa...
The maps in this atlas depict the waters within each state that do not meet state water quality standards. States listed these waters in their most recent submission to EPA, generally in 1998, as required by section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. This provision of the Clean Water Act requires a “Total Maximum Daily Load” or TMDL for each listed water. There are more than 20,000 such waters identified nationally, comprising more than 300,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 5 million acres of lakes. The...
Environmental Signals 2000 is the first of a series of regular indicator reports on the European environment to come from the Agency. Published annually, these reports will provide policy makers, experts and the general public with the very latest assessments of the EU’s environment. The reports will fill the five-year gaps between the EEA’s main state of the environment reports such as Environment in the European Union at the turn of the century published last year (the next is due in 2003/2004).
Environmental...
Due to the complexity of chlorine chemistry, the activity and forms of chlorine is not well understood. Its reactions are not always `predictable` and are somewhat unique. This memo is intended to provide some simple insight of the most common forms of chlorine that we at Osmonics® encounter.
The most basic form of chlorine is Chlorine Gas (Cl2). This is usually the cheapest form of chlorination, yet somewhat complicated. Therefore, it is usually used only in large installations (municipal water supplies, etc.)....
Imagine being in charge of a chemical company. One day a fire breaks out, and an employee, designated as a first responder, is killed fighting the blaze. Then OSHA investigators discover that the man died primarily because both his training and his equipment were inadequate. This scenario is why CPL 2-2.59A should put anyone who runs a HAZMAT facility into a state of introspection. These employers need to ask themselves: `When was the last time that our Emergency Response Plan was brought up to date? Do our...
Many of the Environmental Protection Agency`s (EPA`s) methods used to monitor air, water and soil for environmental contaminants prescribe step-by-step details on how the chemical analysis must be conducted and prohibit any deviations or variations. The EPA has recognized that monitoring equipment and technology have improved tremendously over the last few years; that environmental media do not always act the same way for each analysis; and that the matrix may affect the analysis and results. The EPA has been...
A pilot study for delineating wellhead protection areas was undertaken in Cacapava, Brazil, which integrated three-dimensional capture zone modelling with available groundwater and contaminant-source databases, using a four-step process. A contaminant source inventory was developed and each source was ranked based on its potential impact. Next, the thickness of the unsaturated zone and the surficial soil characteristics were used to define regions of higher and lower groundwater vulnerability based on travel time...
Introduction
Even if you’re an expert in reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology, you may be overlooking some applications using often neglected cousins of RO: nanofiltration (NF) and ultrafiltration (UF).
Although virtually identical in looks to RO membranes, NF and UF membranes serve distinctly different separation functions. Dramatic levels of resource recovery, efficiency improvement and pollution prevention are compelling incentives for the industry to continue to use NF and UF.
Membrane separation...
Introduction Sustainability or `sustainable development` has become a term which is frequently applied to land use and social planning and resource issues. Sustainability is a concept which draws attention to development practices which can degrade natural ecosystems and deplete natural resources. If development is defined broadly to include any cultural activity, then sustainable development may be defined as any practice that meets the needs of the present population without compromising the ability of future...
The main advantage of ex situ treatment is that it generally requires shorter time periods, and there is more certainty about the uniformity of treatment because of the ability to monitor and continuously mix the groundwater. However, ex situ treatment requires pumping of groundwater, leading to increased costs and engineering for equipment, possible permitting, and material handling.
Bioremediation techniques are destruction techniques directed toward stimulating the microorganisms to grow and use the contaminant...
` In order to determine the impacts of a particular discharge on ambient water quality, it is usually necessary to model the diffusion and dispersion of the discharge in the relevant water body. The approach applies both to new discharges and to upgrading of existing sources. This note provides guidance on models that may be applicable in the context of typical Bank projects.`
Introduction
Mathematical models can be used to predict changes in ambient water quality due to changes in discharges of wastewater. In...
ABSTRACT
Phytoremediation uses plants to cleanup contaminated soil and groundwater, taking advantage of plants` natural abilities to take up, accumulate, and/or degrade constituents of their soil and water environments. Results of research and development into ph ytoremediation processes and techniques report it to be applicable to a broad range of contaminants including numerous metals and radionuclides, various organic compounds (such as chlorinated solvents, BTEX, PCBs, PAHs, pesticides/insecticides, explosives...
The proliferation of bottled beverages worldwide and an increased awareness of consumer health issues have beverage bottlers rethinking how to keep their liquids safe for consumption. One problem they face is the need to deliver a product that is free of bacteria, to provide extended shelf life and product quality.
Ozone has quickly become the disinfectant of choice among water bottlers worldwide. Although ozone was `discovered` in the mid-19th century, it is only during the last several decades that its...
The control of microbial growth in systems for producing United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Purified Water is of critical importance to pharmaceutical manufacturers. It is also of critical importance to the United States Pharmacopeial Convention Inc. (USP) organization, as evidenced by the sheer number of pages dedicated to the control of micro-organisms in the proposed USP 23 General Information chapter 1231 `Water For Pharmaceutical Purposes` (1).
If a water purification system is designed, operated, and maintaine...
Abstract This paper presents data on the source of PCDDs/PCDFs in cement plant stack emissions, demonstrating that these emissions are not necessarily all created by the process. The data potentially demonstrates that some of the PCDDs/PCDFs in the emissions are pre-existing dioxins and furans that are vaporized out of the kiln raw feed. This calls into question the assumption that PCDD/PCDF emissions can be decreased below a certain point. The EPA has acknowledged resuspended PCDD/PCDF emissions, such as from...
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