WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN SMALL COMMUNITIES

Transcription

1 WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN SMALL COMMUNITIES Jourdan River Watershed Presenter: Ms. Bailey Rainey Advisors: Dr. Veera Gnaneswar Gude, Ph.D. Dr. Dennis Truax, Ph.D. Dr. James Martin, Ph.D. Mississippi Water Resources Conference Tuesday, April 5, 2016

2 OVERVIEW Project goal: identify small, decentralized communities in the Jourdan River watershed area to assess the current wastewater treatment and management practices and their impacts on the receiving water bodies Preliminary evaluation of water quality issues in the Jourdan River watershed Project objectives and research approach Broader impacts of the project

3 JOURDAN RIVER WATERSHED Priority watershed Designated based on Integrity of water quality data TMDL data Degree of impairment Source: MDEQ Citizen s Guide to Water Quality in the Coastal Streams Basin

4 WATER QUALITY IN THE JOURDAN RIVER WATERSHED Poor water quality related to increase in urban development Lawn fertilizer runoff during intense rainfall Agricultural runoff Point source contamination from failing septic systems

5 ON-SITE TREATMENT UNITS WITHIN THE GULF REGION Map County No. of On-Site Treatment Units Estimated Failing Units Percentage of Units Failing Estimated Flow from Failing Units (MGD) George % Hancock % Harrison % Jackson % Pearl River % Stone % Source: Mississippi Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan: Section 2

6 WHY ARE THEY FAILING? Unsuitable soil Operation time period exceeds design life Improper maintenance Source:

7 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Untreated, or improperly treated, sewage is being discharged into groundwater and streams. Water quality issues Health issues Hypoxia in the Gulf Source:

8 WHAT CAN BE DONE? Replacement of existing failing systems Implementation of alternative septic systems Aerobic treatment systems Sand filter systems

9 CONVENTIONAL SEPTIC SYSTEM with Absorption Field Typical treatment levels BOD 5 = 10 mg/l TSS = 10 mg/l Fecal coliforms = usually less than 200 per 100mL Doesn t allow for nitrogen removal without additional treatment Cost System and installation: $1,500 - $4,000 Operation and maintenance: $250 - $550 per year Source:

10 AEROBIC TREATMENT SYSTEMS Provide a higher level of treatment than conventional system Require more routine maintenance Source:

11 SAND FILTER SYSTEMS Intermittent Sand Filters Typical treatment levels BOD 5 = 95% removal TSS = 85% removal Nitrification of 80%+ of the applied ammonia Recirculating Sand Filters Typical treatment levels BOD 5 = 95% removal TSS = 95% removal Almost complete nitrification is achieved Denitrification has also been shown to occur Depending on modifications in design and operation, 50% or more of the applied nitrogen can be removed.

12 SAND FILTER SYSTEMS Intermittent Sand Filters Recirculating Sand Filters After initial costs, yearly cost = $150 + Power After initial costs, yearly cost = $300 + Power Source: Source:

13 PROJECT OBJECTIVES 1. Compilation and evaluation of current wastewater treatment practices for decentralized communities in the coastal region of Mississippi, especially in the Jourdan River watershed 2. Effluent quality data assessment for the representative sites to evaluate the effectiveness of current on-site wastewater treatment and management systems 3. Assessment and development of a framework for cumulative potential impacts of the incorporation of the alternative on-site wastewater treatment and nutrient removal technologies

14 BROADER IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT Identification of nutrient management and reuse opportunities Identification water pollution problems Development of alternative wastewater management strategies

15 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank MWRRI for funding this project. We would like to thank USGS for their continued cooperation.

16 REFERENCES e.pdf?openelement

17 WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN SMALL COMMUNITIES Jourdan River Watershed Bailey Rainey