Sleuthing for Sewage Leaks & Other Illicit Discharges VWMC Conference 2015 Laurel Williamson Stormwater & Watershed Planner
Outline 1. Basics of Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination (IDDE) 2. Training collaboration: central ShenanandoahValley 3. New bacteria monitoring guide for volunteer groups: Safe Waters, Healthy guide
What is an Illicit Discharge? A discharge to the storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of storm water (minus a few exceptions).
What is an Illicit Discharge? A dry weather discharge to the storm sewer system that contains pollutants except: i. discharges pursuant to a NPDES permit and ii. discharges resulting from fire fighting activities (40 CFR 122.26)
Regulatory Context Minimum Control Measure #3 for MS4 localities Requirements: Develop procedures for illicit discharge detection & elimination (IDDE) Map stormwater network and outfalls Ordinance/legal mechanisms Public reporting of illicit discharges Report investigations & findings in annual reports
Sources of Illicit Discharges Illegal dumping practices (95%) Broken sanitary sewer line (81%) Cross-connections (71%) Connection of floor drains to storm sewer (62%) Sanitary sewer overflows (52%) Inflow / infiltration (48%) Straight pipe sewer discharge (38%) Failing septic systems (33%) Improper RV waste disposal (33%) Pump station failure (14%)
Sanitary Sewer Cross Connections Image credit: Amick and Burgess (2000)
Sewer Pipe Leakage
Sewer Pipe Leaks
Laundry Washwater Laundry water directly connected to storm drain system
Commercial Car Washing Wash water drains directly to the stormdrain system Raleigh, NC
Floor Drains Directly connected to stormdrain system Photo credit: Regional Water Quality Control Board
Mop Water Dumping
Paint wash Washing out brushes and buckets on the ground or into storm drains
Chemical and oil leaks/dumping
Concrete washout Washing out concrete truck without proper containment
Dry Weather Outfall Screening Looking at and testing flow from pipes, not in-stream At least 48 hours after precipitation (runoff-producing rain event) During period of low groundwater (fall is best)
Outfall Sampling vs. Stream Sampling Outfall Sampling: Many sampling sites Only test when there is flow Walk along stream reaches Concentrated pollutants Stream Sampling: Return to same sites to track trends Diluted pollutants
Visual Indicators for Flowing Outfalls Is there flow? Odor Color Transparency Floatables Deposits/Stains Abnormal Vegetation
Indicator Monitoring Parameter Ammonia (NH 3 ) Detergents (surfactants) Optical Brighteners Potassium Fluoride Conductivity Bacteria Indicator of: Sewage, septage Washwater, sewage, septage, industrial waste Washwater, sewage, septage Sewage, septage, industrial waste Tap water, washwater, sewage Industrial waste, washwater Sewage, septage
Single Parameter Screening Detergents (methylene blue active substances, MBAS) Best single parameter to detect illicit discharges Analysis conducted in controlled lab setting Ammonia Concentrations >0.2 mg/l is potential indicator of sewage Analysis in field using portable spectrophotometer
Flow Chart Method 4 Parameters Surfactants >0.25 mg/l Adapt these thresholds to your community Yes No Ammonia/ Potassium ratio >1.0 Fluoride >0.25 mg/l Yes No No Yes Possible Wastewater Possible Washwater Likely Groundwater Likely Tap Or Irrigation Water From Brown et al (2004)
Simple, Low-Cost Equipment Comparative colorimetric methods (apparent color, detergents) Simple probes (ph, conductivity, potassium) Spectrophotometric (fluoride, ammonia) Some good for field testing, some best in lab
Detergents/Surfactants Kit (colorimetric) Detergents (MBAS) by Chemetrics
Spectrophotometers Fluoride by Hanna Instruments Ammonia by Milwaukee or Lamotte
Simple Probes/Meters Conductivity/pH/Temperature Potassium by Horiba
Bacteria Testing Quanti-Tray by IDEXX Petrifilm plates by 3M
IDDE Guidance Manual Joint EPA-funded project between CWP and University of Alabama 8 Program Components Desktop Methods Field and Lab Protocols Model Ordinance Technical Appendices Download at www.cwp.org
Regional Collaboration - 2014 Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission IDDE assistance a common need among small & new MS4s Funding from Virginia Environmental Endowment v
1-Day IDDE Clinic Classroom: Intro, Indicator Monitoring, Field Procedures Field: Outfall Screening, Portable Test Kits Lab: Lab Test Kits
Follow-Up Technical Assistance Waynesboro Augusta County Staunton Harrisonburg
Field Guide & Procedures Common Pollution Problems Illicit Discharge Characteristics Odor Color Turbidity Floatables Written Procedures Available online as template: http://www.cspdc.org
Field Guide: Illicit Discharge Characteristics
Field Guide: Discharge vs. Natural Conditions
Safe Waters, Healthy Waters: A Guide for Citizen Groups on Bacteria Monitoring in Local Waterways Section 1: Background on Bacteria in Urban Waters Section 2: Approaches to Bacteria Monitoring Section 3: Narrowing Down Potential Sources Section 4: Sharing Your Findings & Taking Action Case Studies
Purpose of Guide Volunteer groups can help state and local agencies fill gaps Use more specific bacterial indicators Monitor where agencies are not Monitor when agencies are not Identify recreational waters with high bacteria; identify sources Funded by Ittleson Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/07/pollution_advisories_and_rip_c.html
Contents Sampling and Analysis Plan Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) How to take a sample Different bacterial analysis methods Survey of outfalls & potential hotspots Bracket sampling & supplemental sampling Track down methods Sharing data with localities & the public Strategies to reduce bacterial pollution
Case Studies 5 case studies, different scales Surfrider Foundation (national) Hudson Riverkeeper (regional) Rivanna River StreamWatch (local, Virginia) Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (local, Georgia) Reedy Creek Coalition/Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (local, Virginia) coming soon Source: StreamWatch Source: StreamWatch Source: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
Upcoming CWP Activities Release of Safe Waters, Healthy Waters guide February 2016 Webcast on guide Early 2016 Bacteria & illicit discharge detection workshop for volunteer monitoring groups in Virginia Summer 2016 (seeking funding) Laurel Williamson (Charlottesville, VA) lw@cwp.org (410) 461-8323 ext. 3215