Nutrient Removal Case Study and Research
These sessions were recorded at the 2022 NOWRA Mega-Conference.
These sessions were recorded at the 2022 NOWRA Mega-Conference.
Description: Presentation #1: Owasco Lake located in Cayuga County is one of the New York Finger Lakes and encompasses an area of approximately 6,660 acres.The lake serves as the primary source of drinking water for the City of Auburn and the Town of Owasco.The lake is also a popular spot for fishing and recreational activities.Owasco Lake is on the NYS impaired waterbodies list due to high bacteria counts along the north shore and a recent surge of blue-green algae blooms (cyanobacteria) which are fueled by non-point source nutrient pollution from runoff, wildlife, agriculture, and lakefront septic systems. Historically the algal blooms have been limited to nearshore areas.However, in 2020, although the overall phosphorus loading seemingly decreased, data has shown an increase of cyanobacteria in open water.Coastal Wastewater Solutions, LLC was contracted by The Nature Conservancy to provide a review of the current state of phosphorus removal and loading associated with septic systems and develop and implement phosphorus and nitrogen reducing septic system demonstration program to assist in the advancement of these initiatives.
Presentation #2: Incomplete treatment of wastewater is a source of anthropogenic nitrogen pollution that has adverse effects on water bodies, aquatic life, and public health. In addition, freshwater resources continue to become overstressed by growing human needs, prompting some communities to utilize seawater for toilet flushing instead of potable water. This research investigates constraints and solutions towards construction of robust and sustainable onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) with biological nitrogen removal for systems that use salt water for toilet flushing. Keeping sustainability in mind, a laboratory scale OWTS was designed to make use of passive treatment options, meaning limited to no inputs of energy and chemicals. The system treated domestic wastewater with added salts to bring the salinity to 1.5% and 3.0% to mimic different OWTS seawater flushing scenarios. No salt added wastewater was used as a control. Trickling columns achieved 76% conversion of ammonia to oxidized nitrogen (NOx) under non-saline conditions and 72% conversion at 1.5% and 3.0% salinity. Microcosms were constructed to evaluate different industrial and agricultural waste stream electron donors for denitrification at 3.0% salinity with freshwater controls. Electron donors used were sulfur pellets, sugar cane bagasse, banana stem, and pine chips, with pine chips and banana stem showing the best nitrogen removal rates. Results show biological nitrogen removal as a viable sustainable option.
Credits - 1.5 hour/continuing education unit
Questions - While taking the class, for Technical Support call (888) 705-6002 (8 am - 8 pm EST) or email support@blueskyelearn.com.
