Water Quality Management - Essay Example

Water Quality Management Introduction This paper encompasses a detailed examination of water quality management. More specifically, the paperincludes an inventory of the wastewater pollutants generated by my entire household over the period of a week. The second part of the assignment will use the inventory to investigate the possibility of managing some of the wastes on-site. This may involve the use of holding tanks, aerated wastewater treatment plants, irrigation systems, and wetlands, composting toilets or any other technology. This second section will focus on aerated wastewater. The delivery of safe drinking-water requires actions to be taken throughout the water cycle from the catchment to the point of consumption. The focus of any programm designed to deliver safe drinking-water should therefore be the effective management and operation of water sources, treatment plants and distribution systems (whether piped or manual). This will demand action by water suppliers, environmental protection agencies and health bodies. (Ongley) An assessment of the water supply system to determine whether the water supply chain (from source through treatment to the point of consumption) as a whole can deliver water that meets the health based targets. - Identification and operational monitoring of the control measures in the drinking-water supply that are of particular importance in securing drinkingwater safety. - Preparation of management plans documenting the system assessment and monitoring plans and describing actions to be taken in normal operating and incident conditions, including upgrading documentation and communication. . A system of independent surveillance that verifies that the above are operating properly. The establishment of health-based water quality targets would typically be led by the health sector taking into account local health burdens. (Ongley) Pollutants are substances that enter an environment in amounts that disturb the natural balance of the system, resulting in adverse impacts on that system or on public health. Some Typical Pollutants Include: - Diseasecausing gents or organisms (viruses, bacteria, parasites) - Organic Materials The decomposition of these substances depletes the oxygen in water, creating conditions harmful to the environment and public health. - Excessive nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) - Toxic compounds For example, nitrate in drinking water that is used to make formula for infants may cause bluebaby syndrome (methemoglobinemia). - Livestock can also suffer health impacts from drinking water high in nitrate. Nitrate is a compound (NO3 that contains nitrogen and three oxygens that can come from the decomposition of organic material in waste. It is found in some fertilizers. Improperly managed, these pollutants can enter our water supplies, resulting in water quality degradation. Pollutants also have adverse aesthetic, social, and economic impacts, such as causing a community's workforce to be indisposed by illness. Illness can then affect a family's earning ability and social well being. Pollutants can also affect property values. Some may create odor and other nuisancerelated conditions. Most homes in rural and many suburban areas depend upon a septic system for treatment and disposal of their household wastewater. In these areas, the value of land is often directly related to its ability to accommodate a properly functioning onsite wastewater treatment system. Onsite wastewater system use has such significant impacts on water resources, property value, public health and environmental quality that considerations for their use should be integrated into community and county land use planning. Zoning ordinances should reflect wastewater management plans including the potential for the use of onsite systems and the density of these systems that is acceptable. Some areas have been considered not developable because the soil and site conditions are not suitable for the installation and use of conventional onsite systems. In such areas, the limitations on the use of the conventional systems have acted as a de facto form of zoning. Zoning may need to be updated as alternative technologies become acceptable under changing regulations. Land not previously suitable for development may become suitable using alternative systems. Ground water recharge areas and drinking water resources must be protected under the 1996 amendments of the Safe Drinking Water Act. To accomplish this protection, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Drinking Water requires water purveyors to conduct source water assessments. An assessment includes conducting an inventory of potential sources of contamination in a source water area and determining the susceptibility of the water supply to those sources. This information is used to develop plans to protect water quality in the area. These plans may recommend limiting th These plans may recommend limiting the use of onsite systems or improving the performance and management of onsite systems within the area. (Ongley) Part One: Inventory Outdoor Inventory: Automobile Wastes Oil drips, spills and leaks are cleaned up. Greasy car parts and vehicle liquid wastes are out of reach of storm water runoff. Oils drips, spills and leaks are not cleaned up. Car parts are left on unpaved areas outside. Used oil, antifreeze, washer fluid and other wastes are dumped down the storm sewer, in a ditch, or on the ground. Car Washing Cars and trucks are washed at car washes or spray booths. Cars and trucks are washed on the lawn or gravel drive. Cars and trucks are washed on driveways, streets or other paved surfaces. Driveways, Sidewalks, and Parking Areas All driveways and sidewalks are gravel or another porous material such as bricks. Some of the driveways and/or sidewalks are gravel or another porous material. Driveways and sidewalks are asphalt, concrete or other nonporous material. Roof Drainage from Downspouts Downspouts are directed to lawn or vegetation. Some of the downspouts are directed to lawn or vegetation and others are directed to paved surfaces. Downspouts are directed to hard paved surfaces, or downspouts are directly connected to storm drains. Condition of Storm Drains (if within sight) Drains are clear of trash, leaves, etc., and/or the storm drain is stenciled. Trash and leaves are in the curb near the drain. Drains are covered with trash and leaves. Landscaping Most of the yard is planted with native plants that are drought tolerant and absorb rain. Most of the yard is in turf grass. There are areas of exposed bare soil. Handling and Use of Outdoor Chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, cleaners, etc.) Spills are cleaned up, especially on paved surfaces. Minimum amounts of chemicals are applied according to instructions. Application is delayed to avoid rain. Applications are not delayed to avoid rain. Spills are not cleaned up. Products are used in higher amounts than recommended by the label. Pet and Animal Waste 1 Pet wastes are flushed down the toilet; buried away from gardens, wells, ditches or where children play; or wrapped and placed in the garbage for disposal. Wastes are left to decompose on grass or soil, and scattered over a wide area. Wastes are left on paved surfaces, concentrated in a pen or yard area, or dumped down storm drains or in ditches. (Earth Partnership for Schools University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum & myfairlakes). Water pollution can be defined as "any biological, chemical, or physical change in water quality that has a harmful effect on living organisms or makes water unsuitable for desired uses." In the United States, approximately 44% of lakes, 37% of rives, and 32% of estuaries are unsafe for recreation due to toxic water pollutants. Such pollutants fall into three main categories: 1) biological, such as bacteria or viruses; 2) chemical, including heavy metals, nutrients, pesticides, and wastes; 3) physical, such as sediment, radioactive material, and heat. Biological Pollutants Each year, about 1.5 million Americans become ill as a result of bacterial contamination in drinking water. Other examples of biological pollutants include viruses, protozoa, and parasitic worms. These infectious agents enter the environment from human and animal wastes, and they cause a variety of serious diseases. The United States Environmental Protection Agency uses the number of coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters of a water sample in order to determine the severity of biological pollution in water. The EPA recommends that drinking water contain zero colonies per 100 milliliters, and that swimming water contain no more than 200 colonies per 100 milliliters. Chemical Pollutants Heavy metals represent a common type of chemical pollution in water. They can be found naturally in bedrock and sediment or they may be introduced into water from industrial sources and household chemicals. Heavy metals harm humans through direct ingestion of contaminated water or through accumulation in the tissues of other organisms that are eaten by humans. The following are some common heavy metals found in water: Mercury (Hg): Enters the environment through the leaching of soil due to acid rain, coal burning, or industrial, household, and mining wastes. Causes damage to nervous system, kidneys, and vision. Lead (Pb): Sources include paint, mining wastes, incinerator ash, water from lead pipes and solder, and automobile exhaust. Causes damage to kidneys, nervous system, learning ability, ability to synthesize protein, and nerve and red blood cells. Cadmium (Cd): Sources include electroplating, mining, and plastic industries, as well as sewage. Causes kidney disease. Arsenic (As): Enters the environment through herbicides, wood preservatives, and mining industry. Causes damage to skin, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and liver. May also cause cancer. Aluminum (Al): Enters the environment through leaching due to acid deposition. Causes anemia and loss of bone strength, and may also contribute to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Nutrients constitute a second category of chemical water pollutants. Sources of nitrogen and phosphorus, two common plant nutrients, include animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and sewage. When these nutrients enter a body of water in large quantities, they cause eutrophication. Because eutrophication significantly lowers the levels of dissolved oxygen in water, many species of fish can no longer survive. In addition, consuming water that contains excess levels of nitrates may reduce the bloodstream's oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to a number of undesirable health effects for humans. Oil, another chemical pollutant, is introduced into aquatic environments through leaks from oil tankers or dumping down storm drains. Each year, humans discharge approximately three to six million metric tons of oil into the ocean. In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled eleven million gallons of oil into Alaskan waters. Over 300,000 birds and 2,500 otters were killed, and the total environmental damage amounted to a cost of over fifteen billion dollars. Another type of chemical water pollutant is radioactive waste. Examples include radioactive isotopes of iodine, radon, uranium, cesium, and thorium. These chemicals enter aquatic ecosystems through discharge from nuclear power plants, processing of uranium and other ores, nuclear weapons production, and natural sources. The harmful effects of radioactive waste when ingested through drinking water include genetic mutations, miscarriages, birth defects, and certain cancers. Physical Pollutants Sediment, solid fragments of inorganic or organic material that do not dissolve in water, represents the most significant source of water pollution, physical or otherwise. Sources of sediment include erosion, deforestation, and agricultural and hydroelectric projects. Sediment chokes and fills lakes, reservoirs, harbors, and other aquatic environments, reducing photosynthesis and disrupting aquatic food webs. Sediment may also carry pesticides, bacteria, and other harmful substances, and it can destroy the feeding and spawning grounds of fish. Heat is another physical water pollutant. Excessive heat in water results when large quantities of water are used for cooling of electric power plants. Each year, almost half of the water withdrawn in the United States is used for such cooling. Thermal pollution in water lowers dissolved oxygen levels and makes aquatic species more susceptible to disease, parasites, and toxic chemicals. Thermal shock occurs when an organism adapted to a certain temperature range is suddenly exposed to a temperature outside of that range. Thermal pollution results in death for many aquatic species. (Thinkquest Team "Fish," March 2005, Disclaimer and copyright information) Part Two: Reducing water usage will lessen the likelihood of problems such as overloading.. Overloading may result in wastewater backing up into your house, contamination of your yard with improperly treated effluent, and effluent from your system entering a nearby river, creek or dam. Conservative water use around the house will reduce the amount of wastewater that is produced and needs to be treated. Your s also unable to cope with large volumes of water such as several showers or loads of washing over a short period of time. You should try to avoid these 'shock loads' by ensuring water use is spread more evenly throughout the day and week. here are a few warning signs that signal there are troubles ith your Reducing water usage Reducing ater usage will lessen the likelihood of problems such as overloading with your AWTS. Overloading may result in wastewater backing up into your house, contamination of your yard with improperly treated effluent, and effluent from your system entering a nearby river, creek or dam. Conservative water use around the house will reduce the amount of wastewater that is produced and needs to be treated. Your AWTS is also unable to cope with large volumes of water such as several showers or loads of washing over a short period of time. You should try to avoid these 'shock loads' by ensuring water use is spread more evenly throughout the day and week. There are a few warning signs that signal there are troubles with your AWTS. Ensure that these problems are attended to immediately to protect your health and the environment. Look out for the following warning signs: - Water that drains too slowly. - Drain pipes that gurgle or make noises when air bubbles are forced back through the system. - Sewage smells, this indicates a serious problem. - Water backing up into your sink, which may indicate that your system is already failing. - Wastewater pooling over the land application area. - Black coloured effluent in the aerated tank. - Excess noise from the blower or pumping equipment. - Poor vegetation growth in irrigated area. Odour problems from a vent on the AWTS can be a result of slow or inadequate breakdown of solids. Call a technician to service the system. _ Help protect your health and the environment Poorly maintained AWTS are a serious source of water pollution and may present health risks, cause odours and attract vermin and insects. By looking after your treatment system you can do your part in helping to protect the environment . Ensure that these problems are attended to immediately to protect your health and the environment. Look out for the following warning signs: - Water that drains too slowly. - Drain pipes that gurgle or make noises when air bubbles are forced back through the system. - Sewage smells, this indicates a serious problem. - Water backing up into your sink, which may indicate that your system is already failing. - Wastewater pooling over the land application area. - Black coloured effluent in the aerated tank. - Excess noise from the blower or pumping equipment. - Poor vegetation growth in irrigated area. Odour problems from a vent on the AERATED WASTEWATER can be a result of slow or inadequate breakdown of solids. Call a technician to service the system. _ Help protect your health and the environment Poorly maintained AERATED WASTEWATER are a serious source of water pollution and may present health risks, cause odours and attract vermin and insects. By looking after your treatment system you can do your part in helping to protect the environment and the health of you and your family. This evaluation included the review of existing sewerage flows and future projections based upon anticipated population growth and build out statistics per the current master planning documents. It was determined that a wastewater treatment facility capable of treating 1.8MGD was required. Discharge limits for the facilities were established on a preliminary basis in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Conservation. Feasibility analysis of the cost of wastewater treatment at the Monterey and Fort Ord treatment plants combined with advanced wastewater treatment compared with aquaculture wastewater treatment combined with advanced water treatment. The reclaimed water would be treated to domestic water quality for injection into the Seaside aquifer. Engineering services included analysis of alternative treatment methods; determine capital improvement costs; develop operating and maintenance costs; analyze reliability; and compare the present worth of each system. Evaluation and design of 27" replacement sewer. Engineering services included field inspection; cost effective analysis; report preparation; final design and specifications; permit processing and cost estimating. This project started with the field evaluation and surveying of an existing under-capacity sewer. Alternatives which included replacement, pumping and storage were considered. The replacement alternative was the most cost-effective solution. The project included the crossing of U.S. 101 and threading the pipe through areas severely congested with existing utilities. Developed twenty-year master plans and capital improvement budgets for the wastewater collection and treatment systems for a rapidly growing city of 7,500 persons. Included evaluation of existing facilities and development of a schedule of necessary repairs as well as upgrades to accommodate further growth. Worked with City staff to develop recommended impact fees to distribute the cost of new capital improvements to new growth. Based on information developed in the master planning process, prepared Report of Waste Discharge and additional follow up documentation for the 22-acre treatment lagoon system. Reports included a hydrologic evaluation of the existing monitoring well system, and further analysis of treatment alternatives, in response to requests by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. This 32 block project involved the replacement of active 4" and 6" sewer lines with new 8" sewer lines; removal and replacement of the surface area and alley approaches. Extensive work was required to coordinate with local residents and businesses in the area regarding interruptions of service and access. A detailed phasing and scheduling plan was prepared to minimize inconvenience and disruption. Television inspection was used to locate existing laterals and new cleanouts were installed at the property lines. Extensive coordination was also required with PG&E and Pacific Bell regarding underground gas and aerial utilities. This coordination for the relocation was not only horizontally, but vertically to accommodate the 2 foot thick design section. Four miles of 21" diameter cast iron force main through the valley floor of the developed area and along the main public road into Yosemite Valley. The project included the undergrounding of a 4,000-volt electric transmission line and renovation of an existing pump station to increase its capacity while providing continuous sanitary sewer service to the Park. Engineering services included preliminary comparison of the various alternates including evaluation of rehabilitating an existing 20" clay pipe gravity line, replacement of the line along the same alignment and a new alignment; preliminary and final design including plans and specifications; services also included construction observation, work on environmental considerations, obtaining approval from the National Park Service, and liaison with other interested groups. A two-mile long trunk sewer line under existing streets and Interstate Highways 80 and 780. This project was requested to relieve existing sewers that lacked capacity to service the growing Glen Cove area of Vallejo. The project included crossings under I-80 and I-780. Engineering services included preliminary design; plans, specifications, and cost estimates; designs surveys and "As Built" surveys. The project required extensive coordination with existing utilities and the design of several flow-splitting structures and the integration of existing sewer lines with excess capacity to minimize total project costs. The project will provide a connection for the Pasatiempo/Rolling Woods area of Santa Cruz County and more specifically the Graham Hill Estates Project to the Santa Cruz Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. The pipeline was sized to serve 1,100 residential units although the first phase is limited to 60 units. A section of the pipeline will siphon under the San Lorenzo River, and was recently installed by directional drilling to avoid impacts to the riparian corridor. The project was coordinated with the City of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works. Permits from the Corps of Engineers (404 Permit) and the Department of Fish and Game were not required because the project will not affect the environment of the San Lorenzo River. Design off a modification to the Paradise Pump Station to increase the capacity from 7 MGD to 12 MGD. This modification also included providing a 750 KW standby generator, a hydropneumatic surge control system, variable frequency drives, telemetry, and a new pump control system. The existing pump station has a very small wet well that could not be enlarged and the pump station could not be bypassed to taken out of service during construction. Engineering services included preliminary design, plans, specifications, cost estimate, construction services and inspection. Approximately 3 miles of trunk sewer and a major 1.06 million gallon sewage pump station. Engineering services included improvement plans, construction staking and assessment district engineering. Expansion of existing pump station and force main. The design allowed for the gradual phasing-out of two existing pup stations to be replaced by a single 8-foot diameter dry pit package pump station containing two 60-horsepower pumps, each capable of delivering 540 gpm at 180 feet TDH. The design included the modification of a nearby existing pump station to serve as a wet well for the Smith & Loveless package station, 4,700 feet of force main, and an emergency standby power supply. In addition to the pump station design, a Design Report was prepared which analyzed the merits and costs of various design alternatives. C+D provided a hydraulic analysis of the impacts of the additional flow on 7,600 feet of existing downstream gravity sewer and made specific recommendations as to where additional capacity would be required. Recommendations were made as to how the new pumping station could be phased into operations to coincide with the gradual increase in population in the East Monterey area. A 100,000 GPD wastewater reclamation plant for the 1,700 acre, 400 residential unit Carmel Valley Ranch resort. The treatment plant was designed to meet California Water Reclamation Criteria (Title 22) for non-restricted impounds and golf course irrigation. The treatment process chain includes screening, grounding, aerated equalization and grit removal, rotating biological contactors, clarification, coagulant addition, dual media filtration and chlorine disinfection. Engineering services included predesign planning analysis to evaluate feasibility of meeting specific plan Use Permit requirements, design report to meet Title 22 requirements and to obtain the waste discharge permit, preparation of plans and specifications for the reclamation plan. Construction management/resident engineering, consulting for system start-up, consulting and maintaining of plant operations. Analysis of the existing Salinas Utility Services Wastewater Treatment Plant system to resolve operating problems, upgrade the system and prepare a wastewater discharge application. Existing oxidation pond did not meet discharge requirements and was operating under a Cease and Desist Order. Engineering services included a report addressing the necessary steps to remove Cease and Desist Order, design the system to provide service for a total of 1,065 homes while meeting the nitrate standards. Work included the final design of a 300,000 GPD Sequencing Batch Reactor. Services included field investigations, review of existing plans and reports, review of treatment plant loading and flows, report with recommendations for upgrade, obtain the removal of the Cease and Desist Order, permit application, design of new facility, cost estimates, construction management, and aid in start up of new facility. An 800,000 gallon per day wastewater reclamation and golf course irrigation project. The project involved upgrading the existing Ora Loma Treatment Plant to meet Title 22 requirements for irrigation of the City of Hayward's Sky West Golf Course and reclaimed wastewater. The project included a chlorine contact chamber meeting Pomona criteria, two pump stations, 7,000 feet of force main, well pump replacement, and wind speed and direction controls on existing irrigation pumps for public safety. Engineering services included preliminary design report; plans and specifications; shop drawing review during construction; and operations and maintenance manual. The design of this project was complicated by the need to retrofit the existing golf course irrigation system with wind monitoring equipment that limits irrigation to night periods of favorable wind and wet weather conditions. : - Works Cited Ongley, E.D., 1997. Matching Water Quality Programs to Management Needs in Developing Countries: The Challenge of Program Modernization Water Pollution Control 7:4, 43-48. Read More