Protecting Utah s Water Resources Nutrient Issues
Nutrient Issues Questions What are they? Why are they important? Nationally Locally What are the impact on my community Costs Timing
What are Nutrients? Chemical elements/compounds needed by organisms to survive, grow, and reproduce. Carbon 25-40% dry weight found in everything natural fixation decomposition Nitrogen 1-5% dry weight found in proteins nitrate (NO 3- ) ammonium (NH 4+ ) natural fixation decomposition Phosphorus 0.1-1% dry weight found in lipids, DNA phosphate (PO 3-4 ) mineral weathering decomposition Measured ratio of C:N:P can indicate organisms needs (106:16:1) Slide courtesy Dr. Michelle A. Baker - USU
Where are Most of the Nutrients? Nitrogen Phosphorus Atmosphere 79.6% 0.000005% Lithosphere 20.4% 7.3% Soils 0.006% 61.1% Ocean (dissolved) 0.002% 30.5% Terrestrial biomass 0.00007% 0.032% Ocean biomass 0.00001% 0.99% data from Schlesinger 1997 Key point: Most are NOT biologically available Slide courtesy Dr. Michelle A. Baker - USU
Nutrients of Concern Nitrogen & Phosphorus
Green Lawns - OK!
Green Lakes NO WAY!
Impacted waters A National Issue Fisheries Recreation Drinking Water Supply
Impacts of Decaying Plant and Algal Matter on Dissolved Oxygen Algal growth stimulated by Nitrogen/Phosphorus High DO during day Dead algae falls to bottom Low DO (Hypoxia) Decaying matter depletes dissolved oxygen near bottom of water body
Numeric Standards State by State National Trends
Numeric Standards
States in 1998
States in 2008
But That Won t Apply in Utah
Utah Standards Standards for Ammonia ph Dependent for Fisheries Pollution Indicators BOD 5 Nitrate as N 4 Total Phosphorus as P 0.05 Investigations should be conducted to develop more information where these pollution indicator levels are exceeded. Total Phosphorus as P indicator for lakes and reservoirs shall be 0.025.
Montana Criteria
Utah Permits EAST CANYON CREEK WRF Current Permit Issued April 30,2007 Parameter Max Monthly Max Weekly Max Daily Yearly Total 90-day Mean CBOD 12 17 Ammonia Spring 7.3 13.3 Summer 4.3 10.7 Fall 12.0 20.5 Winter 8.2 15.1 Total Phosphorus Summer 0.1 Yearly 1492
Utah s Puzzle
DWQ State Study Last year through the engineering firm CH 2 M Hill DWQ begin evaluating the economic impacts of establishing state-wide discharge standards for nitrogen and phosphorus. In partnership with existing facilities, costs estimates were developed for implementing nutrient removal at differing levels
Basis of State Study Four Effluent Scenarios Total Phosphorus Only Total Phosphorus & Total Nitrogen 1.0 ppm 1.0 ppm & 20 ppm 0.1 ppm 0.1 ppm & 10 ppm
Utah s 30 Mechanical Plants
Results Statewide of the Study Four Effluent Scenarios 30 Mechanical Plants Costs Total Phosphorus Only Total Phosphorus & Total Nitrogen 1.0 ppm 1.0 ppm & 20 ppm Capital 23.7 M 139.7 M O&M 4.5 M / year 4.7 M / year Rate $ 1.19 / month $ 2.99 / month
Results Statewide of the Study Four Effluent Scenarios 30 Mechanical Plants Costs Total Phosphorus Only Total Phosphorus & Total Nitrogen 0.1 ppm 0.1 ppm & 10 ppm Capital 818.1 M 1,040.1 M O&M 4.8 M 5.0 M Rate $ 11.08 / month $ 13.58 / month
So What Could this Mean to? Salt Lake County
2008 303(d) Report to Congress
2008 303(d) Report to Congress Watershed Assessment Assessment Beneficial Beneficial Management Unit Unit Use Use Stream Unit Name Name Class Support Pollutant Miles Jordan River/ Utah Lake Jordan River-1 Jordan River from Farmington Bay upstream contiguous with the Davis County line. 3B NS Dissolved Oxygen 7.6 Jordan River/ Utah Lake Jordan River-2 Jordan River from Davis County line upstream to North Temple Street. 3B NS Dissolved Oxygen 4.46 Jordan River/ Utah Lake Jordan River-3 Jordan River from North Temple to 2100 S 2B NS Dissolved Oxygen 4.2 Jordan River/ Utah Lake Jordan River-3 Jordan River from North Temple to 2100 S 3B NS Total Phosphorus 4.2
Salt Lake City Magna Central Valley South Valley Jordan Basin
Four Effluent Scenarios Salt Lake County Plants (4) 4 plants currently operating 1 under construction Central Valley WRF South Valley WRF Salt Lake City WRF Jordan Basin WRF Magna WID - 75 MGD - 58 MGD - 56 MGD - 15 MGD - 6.6 MGD 210 MGD
Four Effluent Scenarios Salt Lake County Plants (4) Phosphorus = 1 mg/l Reduce Phosphorus Load by 1.42 tons per day Reduce Nitrogen Load by 0 tons per day Capital Costs $6.40 M Additional Annual O&M Costs $1.05 M Increase Cost per ERU $0.38 per month ($1.99)
Four Effluent Scenarios Salt Lake County Plants (4) Phosphorus = 1 mg/l, Nitrogen = 20 mg/l Reduce Phosphorus Load by 1.42 tons per day Reduce Nitrogen Load by 4.14 tons per day Capital Costs $56.42 M Additional Annual O&M Costs $1.58 M Increase Cost per ERU $1.48 per month ($2.99)
Four Effluent Scenarios Salt Lake County Plants (4) Phosphorus = 0.1 mg/l Reduce Phosphorus Load by 1.99 tons per day Reduce Nitrogen Load by 0 tons per day Capital Costs $296.44 M Additional Annual O&M Costs $5.70 M Increase Cost per ERU $7.16 per month ($11.08)
Four Effluent Scenarios Salt Lake County Plants (4) Phosphorus = 0.1 mg/l, Nitrogen = 10 mg/l Reduce Phosphorus Load by 1.99 tons per day Reduce Nitrogen Load by 10.41tons per day Capital Costs $380.89 M Additional Annual O&M Costs $7.15 M Increase Cost per ERU $9.16 per month ($13.58)
Questions?