A pilot study: Trace organic contaminants from on-site wastewater treatment systems along Skaneateles Lake in New York

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1 A pilot study: Trace organic contaminants from on-site wastewater treatment systems along Skaneateles Lake in New York Presented by Lloyd R. Wilson,

2 2 Study Objectives Examine the potential for the discharge of organic contaminants from enhanced on-site wastewater treatment systems Septic effluent Examine the potential for discharges of organic contaminants from enhanced onsite wastewater treatment units (ETUs) to be found in nearby water resources Drinking water, near-shore lake water and lake proper

3 3 Sampling program Four of 19 shoreline dwellings with enhanced treatment units (ETUs) Sampled ETU, tap water and near shore lake water Seven sampling events (3 in 2012 and 4 in 2013) One time sampling event off-shore (September 2013)

4 4 Selected Enhanced Treatment units and Sampling Points A Monitoring Well DB B Septic Tank Textile/Peat Filter Dosing Chamber Dispersal Field C Septic Tank Textile Biofilter Discharge Pump Bottomless Sand Basin Filter Settling Chamber DB D Septic Tank Aerobic Treatment Unit Dispersal Field Monitoring Well DB Septic Tank Peat Filter Dosing Chamber Dispersal Field

5 Skaneateles Lake 5

6 Location of Skaneateles Lake 6

7 7 Microbial Monitored Examined: Total coliform, E. coli and Enterococi Not the focus of this talk but quickly TC positive in 3 of 4 taps Near shore lake water higher than tap In one case the septic effluent was less than lake water In one case septic effluent similar to lake water In two cases the septic effluent greater than lake water

8 8 Chemicals Monitored Examined: PPCP pharmaceuticals and personal care products PFAS perfluoroalkyl surfactants PBDE polybrominated diphenyl ethers PCB polychlorinated biphenyls

9 9 PPCPS - pharmaceuticals and personal care products Pharmaceuticals Antibiotics SULFAMETHOXAZOLE, TRIMETHOPRIN Antimicrobials TRICLOSAN, TRICLOCARBAN Antihypertensive ATENOLOL Antiseizure CARBAMAZEPIN Analgesics IBUPROFEN Hormones ESTRATRIENES (ETO, ETE, and ETD) Personal Care Products Bisphenol A Oxybenzone (UV-filter in sun tan lotions) Caffeine

10 10 Other Organic Components PFAS perfluoroalkyl surfactants TEXTILE STAIN and SOIL REPELLENTS PBDE polybrominated diphenyl ethers FLAME RETARDANTS PCB polychlorinated biphenyls DIELECTRIC AND COOLANT FLUIDS (TRANSFORMERS, CAPACITORS, etc.)

11 Presence of PPCPs 11

12 Presence of PFAS, PBDE and PCB 12

13 13 Concentrations of Select Analytes (ng/l) Analyte Tap Water Lake Water Septic effluent Frequency Range Frequency Range Frequency Range PFOA 23/27 ND / / SMX 2/27 ND /28 ND /28 ND-37,700 BPA 4/27 ND-421 9/28 ND-763 8/28 ND Caffeine 3/27 ND /28 ND /28 ND Estratrien-one (ETO) 0/27-0/28-1/28 ND-11.3

14 14 Concentrations of Selected PCB and PBDE congeners (ng/l) Analyte Tap Water Lake Water Septic effluent Frequency Median Frequency Median Frequency Median PCB-44 22/ / / PBDE-47 22/ / /28 3.8

15 15 Strength and Weaknesses Weakness- Sampled at different points of ETU. Did not measure input into ETU. Strength-Fairly large sample size. Weakness-Can not attribute what we found in lake water directly to the effluent from the specific systems we tested Strength- Results were consistent over the 7 sampling events spanning two years. Strength- Results were consistent with literature; first to look at PFOA and PBDE.

16 16 Conclusions Septic effluents from advanced OWTSs are a likely source of very low level of organic contaminants including PPCPs and PFASs in Skaneateles Lake. The concentrations of PPCPs and PFASs in tap and lake water were very low, and similar to those reported elsewhere in the USA (Post et al., 2013). There are currently no federal regulations limiting the levels of these chemicals in drinking water. They are below NYS Unspecified Organic Contaminant Level of 50 ppb. The median concentration of PFOS and PFBS in tap and lake water were 2 to 5 orders of magnitude below the suggested health advisory level.

17 17 Additional Information Bikram Subedi, Neculai Codru, David M. Dziewulski, Lloyd R. Wilson, Jingchuan Xue, Sehun Yun, Ellen Brau-Howland, Christine Minihane, Kurunthachalam Kannan (2015). A pilot study on the assessment of trace organic contaminants including pharmaceuticals and personal care products from on-site wastewater treatment systems along Skaneateles Lake in New York State, USA. Water Research Vol 72. pp

18 18 Acknowledgments Messrs. Richard Abott and Eric Murdock of the Syracuse Water Department Messr John Strepelis, NYS DOH Regional Office Environmental Health Specialist Network (EHS-NET) cooperative agreement number 5ue2eh from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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