Researc n. Burlingto TOXICITY REDUCTION EVALUATION PHASE I PROPOSAL CITY OF HENDERSON JANUARY 1995

Transcription

1 Burlingto Researc n h I TOXICITY REDUCTION EVALUATION PHASE I PROPOSAL I ~ 1 I CITY OF HENDERSON JANUARY Burlington Research, Inc. P. 0. BOX 2481 Burlington, NC Telephone

2 i I' t rling Resea to rc n h <,. ".* I - 9 I r ir Burlington Research, Inc. P. 0. BOX 2481 Burlington, NC Telephone

3 h TOXICITY REDUCTION EVALUATION PHASE I PROPOSAL CITY OF HENDERSON JANUARY 1995

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5 TOXICITY REDUCTION EVALUATION PHASE I PROPOSAL CITY OF HENDERSON JANUARY 1995 Prepared for: City of Henderson Highway 39 North Henderson, North Carolina Prepared by: Burlington Research, Inc. 615 Huffman Mill Road Burlington, North Carolina Richard A. Diehl Executive Vice President Vice President, Toxicological & Biological Services Januarv 27, 1995 Date

6 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION PAGE 1.1 Background TRE Overview Phase I Objectives... 2 SECTION 2 METHODOLOGY 2.1 Sample Collection Toxicity Tests Test Organisms Protocols Data Analysis Background and Operations Review Monthly WWTP Final Effluent Toxicity Monitoring Toxicant Source Evaluation... 7 L WWTP Final Effluent Point-source Toxicity Evaluation TRE Activity Log... 8 SECTION 3 RESULTS... 9 SECTION 4 TIMETABLE SECTION 5 COST PROJECTIONS 5.1 Itemized Monthly Expenses Summary of Phase I Expenses SECTION 6 REFERENCES i

7 'bl b SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background The City of Henderson, NPDES Permit NC , operates a 4.14 million gallon per day (MGD) wastewater treatment facility plant (WWTP) which is authorized to discharge to receiving waters of Nutbush Creek in the Roanoke River Basin. The NPDES Permit stipulates that final effluent is required to demonstrate a chronic no observed effect the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 90%. Because WWTP effluent has been unable to consistently meet toxicity compliance, as well as BOD5, ammonia, metals and fecal coliform limits, the City has entered into a Consent Judgement (JOC #88-04) with the state of North Carolina. The City of Henderson has contracted with Burlington Research, Inc. (BRI), specifically, to address effluent toxicity compliance through implementation of a toxicity reduction evaluation (TRE). The goal of the TRE is to bring WWTP final effluent into compliance with the chronic toxicity limit on or before March 1, 1996, the date currently dictated by the amended JOC (Ad n>. 1.2 TRE Overview Representatives of the City and BRI met on November 18, 1994 to discuss a TRE program and those activities specifically designed for the initial months of study. Ensuing sections of this proposal outline BRI's recommendations for Phase I of the TRE which includes a Background 1

8 '7 Review, monitoring of the variability and persistency of fml effluent toxicity, preliminary h toxicity source evaluation, and review of industrial chemical usage with implementation of chemical optimization program. Phase 11 will focus on biological toxicant identification procedures and refractory toxicity assessment; Phase III on implementation of additional toxicity reduction activities if needed. The EPA's "Toxicity Reduction Evaluation Protocol for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants" (1) will serve as a guidance document for the TRE program. 1.3 Phase I Objectives Phase I objectives are designed to encompass characterization of effluent toxicity, a Background Review, preliminary source evaluation, and industrial chemical usage evaluation and optimization. There are six Phase I Objectives, two of which will be ongoing during all phases of the TREi (Objectives One and Two); remaining Objectives are intended to be completed by July 31, 1995, the anticipated date for completion of Phase I: Obiective One: To monitor the variability and persistency of WWTP final effluent toxicity. Characterizing the nature of effluent chronic toxicity in terms of variability and persistency facilitates application of EPA toxicant identification procedures. Regular toxicity monitoring also provides a baseline against which future reductions in toxicity resulting from Phase I activities can be interpreted. Obiective Two: To maintain records of production and operational activities at SIU and WWTP facilities that potentially alter the quality of discharged and treated wastewaters. 2

9 This objective is a key component of the entire TRE. It is important that the City, to the extent h possible, establish a correlation between reductions in WWTP fmal effluent toxicity and SIU/WWTP activities. SIU and WWTP staff will be provided means by which documentation of changes in chemical usage, production closings, and other pertinent events can be recorded. Obiective Three: To review available data and information pertinent to WWTP operations which may directly or indirectly affect the quality of fmal effluent. The presence of toxicants in WWTP wastestreams can sometimes be traced to particular industrial production processes, maintenance activities, chemical usage, and/or other related activities. Toxicity may be attributable, in some part, to WWTP operations. Thorough review of this information and background data such as monthly WWTP MR-1 and pre-treatment reports will assist in, 1) clearly defining additional TRE activities, 2) identifying corrective actions I- which can reduce the overall cost and time frame of the study, and 3) eliminating unnecessary testing. Ob-iective Four: To evaluate point-source discharges for potential contribution of WWTP final emuent refractory toxicity. Discharge from one or more of Henderson s industries is a probable source of the toxicity evident in WWTP fmal effluent. In order to provide focus for Phase I chemical optimization and lend direction to Phase 11 toxicant identification testing, industrial and domestic/commercial point sources will be monitored for toxicity. Obiective Five: To evaluate SIU chemical use and optimize usage so that only compounds with low toxicity, low biomass inhibition, and high rates of biodegradability are used. 3

10 Activities associated with this Objective will identify chemicals used by significant industrial users (SIUs) that are potentially high impact compounds; that is, they are highly toxic, inhibit biological treatment, and/or are slow to biodegrade. SIUs will be directed to eliminate/reduce use of high impact chemicals. Objective Six: To develop a Chemical Inventory Prqgram for the Town. A database program will be established for the City of Henderson that will enable it to effectively 1) manage an inventory of all chemicals used by its industries, and 2) review environmental data for chemicals in current or future use. Additional objectives may be added to Phase I as data becomes available for review. 4

11 ,... L SECTION 2 METHODOLOGY 2.1 Sample Collection City of Henderson staff will collect all samples required for toxicity and chemical analyses; BRI will provide sample containers. Samples will be packed on ice so that they are received within twenty-four hours of collection and at a temperature of 4 C or less. 2.2 Toxicity Tests Test Organisms Because the City of Henderson's NPDES permit requires that toxicity compliance be monitored with the freshwater cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia, this species will be the primary organism used for TRE toxicity monitoring and toxicant characterization/identification procedures. All organisms will be obtained from cultures maintained by BRI staff Protocols All bioassay procedures will be conducted according to NCDEM or EPA procedures. Specific protocols are referenced in subsequent sections Data Analysis Mortality of adult organisms will be noted each day of the test period for monthly WWTP effluent chronic bioassays and LC50 determinations measured at 24, 48, and 96 hours using -Spemnan-Karber or Trimmed Spearman-Karber analysis (2); reproductive and growth data will be analyzed by hypothesis testing (3) and point estimation analysis (4). Evaluation of 5

12 significance will be determined by discreetness of 95% Confidence Limits. 2.3 Background and Operations Review This aspect of Phase I will focus on significant industrial user (SIU) and WWTP operations. For the SIUs, information review will include permits, pre-treatment monitoring reports, chemical usage, and waste assessment reports issued by the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources (NCDEHNR) Office of Waste Reduction (if available). Evaluation of chemical usage will include review of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and requests for daphnid 48-hour acute LC50, sludge inhibition EC50, and biodegradability data for designated chemical products. Information review for the WWTP will include the City Sewer Use Ordinance, WWTP monthly effluent MR-1 reports, reports for bioassays conducted prior to the TRE, chemical usage, and operational practices and data. 2.4 Monthly WWTP Final Effluent Toxicity Monitoring Twenty-four-hour composite effluent samples will be tested monthly for chronic toxicity with Cerioduphnia dubia according to NCDEM protocol for a multiple concentration chronic bioassay (5). Test concentrations of 12.5%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% effluent will be applied. When possible, collections will be made during periods of industrial closings so that any reduction in toxicity might be correlated with the absence of specific SIU wastestreams. 6

13 ~ 2.5 Toxicity Source Evaluation WWTP Final Emuent Chemical-specific analyses will be applied to representative samples of WWTP final effluent as a means of characterizing the nature of probable toxicants. Total residual chlorine, specific conductance and ph will be routinely conducted as part of every bioassay procedure. The chemical analytical program will include inorganic and/or organic compounds based on 1) information obtained during the Background Review, and 2) fmdings of biological toxicant characterizations. Chemical analyses will adhere to EPA and Standard Methods procedures (6 and 7, respectively). In addition to analyses conducted by BRI, data from weekly and monthly NPDES permit testing will be evaluated. Portions of effluent collected for monthly TRE toxicity tests will be used for regular NPDES permit tests whenever feasible. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) analysis will be conducted on each sample used for a bioassay. Whenever possible, SIU pre-treatment chemical analyses also will be conducted on portions of a sample collected for toxicity monitoring Point-source Toxicity Evaluation Three sets of 48-h acute and single concentration chronic bioassays (8 and 9, respectively) will be conducted with untreated SIU wastewaters and wastestreams collected throughout the City's sewer system to identify discharges that are toxic at projected flow contributions to the WWTP. Sources will be designated as potential contributors to WWTP fmal effluent toxicity if the acute 48-h LC50 is less than or equal to the flow contribution, or if results of the single concentration chronic indicate a significant inhibition of Ceriodaphnia reproduction. 7

14 G Industrial and domestic/commercial wastestreams that are identified to be acutely and/or 1 chronically toxic at flow concentrations to the WWTP will be further evaluated through refractory toxicity assessment (RTA) tentatively scheduled for Phase II of the TRE. This procedure involves a bench-scale laboratory study that subjects wastestreams to activated sludge biological treatment and the testing of treated discharge for toxicity (1). RTAs as well as trials of the EPA Chronic Toxicity Characterization Procedure (10) will not be conducted until it is evident that industrial chemical optimization efforts of Phase I have not brought WWTP effluent into toxicity compliance. 2.6 TRE Activity Log Representatives of each SIU will maintain a TRE Date Log in which they will record events of production closings, changes in chemical usage, equipment cleaning, operational problems, and other events which directly affect the quality or volume of discharge delivered to the WWTP. Similarly, the WWTP ORC will keep a Date Log in which he will record operational problems, changes in chemical usage and other events/activities which affect the quality of fmal effluent. Information will be correlated with changes in SIU discharge and WWTP final effluent toxicity. 8

15 Q SECTION 3 1 RESULTS Findings of Phase I TRE activities will be summarized in periodic progress reports and reported in their entirety upon completion. Schedule adjustments and interim recommendations will be included in progress reports. Meetings with City and industry representatives will be held throughout Phase I. The initial meeting with industry representatives will focus on an overview of the City's toxicity problem, design of Phase I of the TRE, and activities in which industrial involvement is needed. Subsequent meetings will entail review of Phase I findings and continued opportunities for dialogue among parties involved in the project. 9

16 c SECTION 4 TIMETABLE Phase I activities, some of which began prior to submission of this proposal, are expected to be completed by August 31,1995 according to the following schedule. Adjustments will be verbally communicated and submitted in writing to the City of Henderson through monthly TRE schedules NOVEMBER Meeting with City Representatives WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Single Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test SIU Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring, Series #1 DECEMBER WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test SIU Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring, Series # JANUARY WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries SIU Wastestream Toxicity and Chemical Monitoring, Series #3 Initiation of Background Review 10

17 (Continued.) FEBRUARY WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Chronic Toxicity Persistency Test with Chemistries, Trial #1 Meeting with City and Industry Representatives Initiation of Industry Chemical Usage Review MARCH WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Chronic Toxicity Persistency Test, with Chemistries, Trial #2 Domestic/Commercial Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring with Chemistries, Series #1 TRE Phase I Progress Report APRIL WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Chronic Toxicity Persistency Test with Chemistries, Trial #3 Domestic/Commercial Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring, Series #2 Initiation of Industrial Chemical Optimization MAY WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Domestic/Commercial Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring, Series #3 11

18 (Continued.) JUNE WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Meeting with City Representatives Chronic Toxicity Persistency Test, Trial #3 JULY WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Meeting with City and Industry Representatives AUGUST WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries 9 TRE Phase I Final Report Completion of Industrial Chemical Optimization, Initial Round Schedule adjustments can be expected through this phase of the TRE as data becomes available for evaluation. 12

19 SECTION 5 1 COST PROJECTIONS The following monthly fees are projections based on scheduled monitoring bioassays, chemical analyses, monthly project management, and reporting fees per this Phase I proposal. Costs associated with adjustments to chemical analyses and biological characterizations will be communicated as changes are implemented. Each Monthly Project Management fee is a projection of the time that the principal project manager (PPM) will apply to this project. Accounting of time includes that directed towards information review, data management, and written and verbal communications with the City of Henderson, and, as necessary, the North Carolina DEM. An invoice will be issued at the end of each month for Project Management, meeting and other non-analytical services. 5.1 Itemized Monthly Expenses NOVEMBER Meeting in Henderson with City Representatives No Charge WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Single Concentration $ Chronic Toxicity Test SIU Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring (7), Series #1 $ 2, Monthly Project Management No Charge TOTAL $ 3,

20 1994 (Continued.) DECEMBER WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test SIU Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring (6), Series #2 $ $ 4, Monthly Project Management TOTAL $ _ $ 5, JANUARY WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries SIU Wastestream Toxicity and Chemical Monitoring (9), Series #3 Phase I Proposal $ 1, $ 6, $ Monthly Project Management TOTAL FEBRUARY WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Chronic Toxicity Persistency Test with Chemistries, Trial #1 Meeting with City and Industry Representatives $ 1, $ $ s i T Monthly Project Management TOTAL $ 1, _ $ 5, A i

21 (Continued.) MARCH WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Chronic Toxicity Persistency Test with Chemistries, Trial #2 Domestic/Commercial Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring with Chemistries (4 stations), Series #1 TRE Phase I Progress Report Monthly Project Management $ 1, $ $ 2, $ 1, $ 1, TOTAL J APRIL WWTP Monthly Effluent C, dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Chronic Toxicity Persistency Test with Chemistries, Trial #3 Domestic/Commercial Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring (4 stations), Series #2 Monthly Project Management $ $ $ 1, $ 1, TOTAL $ 5,

22 (Continued.) MAY WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Domestic/Comercial Wastestream Toxicity Monitoring (4 stations), Series #3 $ $ 1, Monthly Project Management TOTAL $ 1, $ 4, JUNE WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Meeting with City Representatives $ $ Monthly Project Management TOTAL $ 1, $ 3, JULY WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration Chronic Toxicity Test and Chemistries Meeting with City and Industry Representatives $ $ 1, Monthly Project Management TOTAL 16

23 (Continued.) AUGUST WWTP Monthly Effluent C. dubia Multiple Concentration $ Chronic Toxicity Test TRE Phase I Final Report $ 1, Monthly Project Management $ 1, TOTAL $ 4, Schedule and cost adjustments can be expected through this phase of the TRE as data becomes available for evaluation Summary of Phase I Expenses NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST $ 3, , $ 9, ,44 1.OO 8, , , , , , Total projected expenses for proposed testing, reporting, meetings and monthly project management: Plus 10% Contingency Fee $ 53, , TOTAL $ 59, I

24 SECTION 6 REFERENCES Botts, J. A. et al Toxicity Reduction Evaluation Protocol for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants. EPA/600/2-88/062. Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH Hamilton, M.A., R. C. Russo, and R. V. Thurston Trimmed Spearman-Karber method for estimating median lethal concentrations in toxicity bioassays. Environmental Science and Technology 1: ; Correction 12:417 (1978). Weber, C. I. et al Short-Term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Second Edition. EPA/ 600/4-89/00 1. Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati, Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems, and Quality Assurance, Office of Research and Development, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH. J 4. Norberg-King, T An interpolation estimate for chronic toxicity: the ICP approach. National Effluent Toxicity Assessment Center, Technical Report Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Duluth, MN North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Management, Water Quality Section. North Carolina Phase 11 Chronic Whole Effluent toxicity Test Procedure, July North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Management, Raleigh, NC. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes. Revised March U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Pollution Control Federation Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 17th Edition. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC. Weber, C. I. et al Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater and Marine Organisms. Fourth Edition. EPA/600/4-90/027. Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory - Cincinnati, Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems, and Quality Assurance, Office of Research and Development, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH. 18

25 9. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of $ Environmental Management, Water Quality Section. North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure, Revised September North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Management, Water Quality Section, Raleigh, NC. 10. Environmental Protection Agency Toxicity Identification Evaluation: Characterization of Chronically Toxic Effluents, Phase I. EPA/600/6-9 1/005F. Environmental Research Laboratory, Duluth, MN I

26 ? f, \ L V I 9. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Management, Water Quality Section. North Carolina Cerioduphniu Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure, Revised September North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Management, Water Quality Section, Raleigh, NC. 10. Environmental Protection Agency Toxicity Identification Evaluation: Characterization of Chronically Toxic Effluents, Phase I. EPA/600/6-9 1/005F. Environmental Research Laboratory, Duluth, MN. 19