Wastewater Flashcards
Knowledge of state laws related to wastewater treatment and disposal
What is SWQCB? - 1963
State water Quality control board (1963), ensures that all californians have access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water. The regulation of the state’s drinking water is primarily the responsibility of the State Water Board.
SWQCB established by the Dickey Water Pollution Act of 1949: The Dickey Act established nine Regional Water Pollution Control Boards located in each of the major California watersheds.
The State Water Resources Control
Board was established in 1967 by the
Legislature.
1967 Regional WQCB stands for and purpose
There are nine regional Water Quality Control Boards Statewide originally established in the Dickey Water Pollution
Control Act of 1949.
Regional boundaries are based on watersheds and water quality requirements are based on the unique differences in climate, topography, geology and hydrology for each watershed. Each Regional Board makes critical water quality decisions for its region, including setting standards, issuing waste discharge requirements, determining compliance with those requirements, and taking appropriate enforcement actions.
Region 7 — Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board
Imperial, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego counties.
Region 8 — Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino counties.
1969 How was the
Porter-cologne water quality act born
1969 The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act is clean water act of California that expanded the enforcement authority of the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 Regional Water Quality Control Boards. The act provided for the California Environmental Protection Agency to create the local boards and better protect water rights and water quality.
To preserve & enhance all beneficial uses of the state’s waters. Recognized as one of the nation’s strongest pieces of anti-pollution legislation.
What is the purpose of Porter-cologue water quality act?
The Porter-Cologne Act is the principal law governing water quality in California. It establishes a comprehensive program to protect water quality and the beneficial uses of water. Unlike the Clean Water Act, Porter-Cologne applies to both surface water and ground water.
The act uses the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for point source discharges and waste discharge requirements (WDRs) in order to keep people from degrading the water quality of the State.
The policy states:
The quality of all waters of the State shall be protected. All activities and factors affecting the quality of water will be regulated in order to attain the highest water quality within reason.
The State must be prepared to exercise its fullest power and jurisdiction in order to protect the quality of water in the State from degradation.
Uniform Plumbing code
https://epubs.iapmo.org/2022/CPC/
Plumbing codes also protect residents from uncertain building practices that might put residents in harm’s way. Today, plumbers must also abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when installing plumbing systems in public buildings.
Provides minimum requirements and standards to protect public health, safety, and welfare. Provides standards for the installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, use, and maintenance of plumbing systems.
1972 What is NPDES
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/coloradoriver/water_issues/programs/npdes/
As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. In most cases, the NPDES permit program is administered by authorized states. Since its introduction in 1972, the NPDES permit program is responsible for significant improvements to our Nation’s water quality.
California has been authorized to implement the NPDES program and each Regional Water Board implements the NPDES program to regulate point source discharge of wastewater to surface waters of the Region so that the highest quality and beneficial uses of these waters are protected and enhances. Regulation is by issuance of NPDES permits which are updated every five years. Each permit contains effluent limitations which ensure the protection of the receiving waters.
SWPPP - 1990
https://siderah2o.com/california-stormwater-swppp/#:~:text=The%20SWPPP%20is%20a%20document,under%20California’s%20Industrial%20General%20Permit.
The Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan is a document unique to your site that identifies all of the industrial operations conducted on your facility and identifies pollution control practices that will implement and minimize pollutants from reaching Stormwater runoff. A SWPPP is required under California’s Industrial General Permit.
What are constituents of wastewater?
Component parts within the wastewater. May refer to the following:
Water (99.8%)
Solids(0.2%)
-Nitrates
-Coliform bacteria
-Fecal coliform bacteria
-Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
-Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
-Fats, Grease, Oils
-Foaming agents
-Biologcial Oxygen Demand
-Dissolved Oxygen
-Pharmaceuticals
Nitrate in wastewater
(Constituents)
Nitrates are formed during secondary treatment often from ammonia nitrification process. Also seen reduced further in the methanol, reverse osmosis, Electrodialysis, Oxidation pond, and land treatment.
Coliform bacteria (nonfecal)
(Constituents)
Rod-shaped Gram negative bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae
Live in soil, aquatic environment, and on vegetation
Ferment Lactose, producing an acid and a gas
Optimal temperature for lactose fermentation is 37 C (98.6 F)
Form Pink Colonies
EX: Citrobacter
Enterobacter
Hafnia
Klebsiella
Escherichia
Fecel coliform bacteria
(Constituents)
Facultative anaerobes Gram negative bacteria that originate from the intestine of warm-blooded animals
Live in the intestine of the warm-blooded animals
Indicate the presence of the pathogenic microorganisms in food and water
Optimal temperature for lactose fermentation is 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 F)
Develop Dark Blue Colonies
EX: E. coli
Total dissolved solids in wastewater
(Constituents)
SOLIDS CONTENT, effects corrosivity of water.
The total solid content should be less than 500 mg/l; however, this is based on the industrial uses of public water supplies and not on public health factors. Higher concentrations cause physiological effects and make drinking water less palatable. Dissolved solids, such
as calcium, bicarbonates, magnesium, sodium, sulfates, and chlorides, cause scaling in plumbing above 200 mg/l. The TDS can be reduced by distillation,reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, evaporation,
ion exchange, and, in some cases, chemical precipitation. Water with more than 1000 mg/l of dissolved solids is classified as ‘‘saline,’’ irrespective of the nature of the minerals present.
The USGS classifies water with
-less than 1000 mg/l as fresh
-1000 to 3000 as slightly saline
-3000 to 10,000 as moderately saline
-10,000 to 35,000 as very saline
- more than 35,000 as briny.
Total suspended solids (TSS) in wastewater
(Constituents)
TSS is the most common measure of the amount of solids, both organic and inorganic, in wastewater effluent. Raw wastewater has a TSS typically ranging from 155 to 330 mg/L, with 250 mg/L being typical concentration. After going through primary treatment in a septic tank, a typical TSS value is less than 65 mg/L.
**KIMURA - A visible suspension which can be removed by sedimentation of filtration. Usually settles within 1 hour by gravity - 75 % organic & 25 % inorganic in composition.
Fats, grease, and oils
(Constituents)
*- Can cause an explosion or a fire within the treatment plant.
FLOATS on water
Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) comes from meat fats in food scraps, cooking oil, shortening, lard, butter and margarine, gravy, and food products such as mayonnaise, salad dressings, and sour cream. FOG poured down kitchen drains accumulates inside sewer pipes.
Foaming Agents in wastewater
(Constituents)
Secondary drinking water regulations: Foaming agents Aesthetic 0.5 mg/l
or
Foaming in activated sludge process is a common operational problem in many wastewater treatment plants. The foam can occur in aeration tank, secondary clarifier, as well as in anaerobic digester. Foam in WWTP is normally sticky, viscous and brown in color. It floats and accumulates on top of the tanks, and can take up a large fraction of solids inventory and reactor volume, thus decreasing the effluent quality and control of sludge retention time (SRT). The foam can also overflow onto walkways and surrounding areas, posting severe difficulties and risk to operation and environment.
Biological Oxygen Demand in wastewater
(Constituents)
Biological oxygen demand (BOD) is a measure of the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria and other microorganisms while they decompose organic matter under aerobic conditions at a specified temperature. BOD is used to gauge the short-term impact wastewater effluents will have on the oxygen levels of receiving water. The higher the BOD value, the greater the amount of organic matter or “food” decomposition available for oxygen-consuming bacteria.
Dissolved oxygen in wasterwater
provided in the secondary treament to aerobic microorganism to degrade organic and some inorganic compounds
Pharmaceuticals
With septic systems, pharmaceutical compounds leach directly into ground water. With municipal sewage, the compounds make their way to sewage treatment facilities that are not equipped to degrade medicinal substances. (viruses are not eliminated)
What are some pathogens found in wastewater?
(Bacterial)
Coliform
Vibrio
Shigella
(Protozoa)
Giardia
Cryptospirosus
(Virus)
Hepatitis
Norovirus
Protozoas in Wastewater - Provide growth and control details of the three major organisms
Cryptospirosus/ Cryptosporidium - “Day Care Disease”
Several outbreaks of Crypto have been traced to swallowing contaminated water while swimming. Crypto Can STAY ALIVE IN CHLORINATED aquatics venues (for example, swimming pools and water parks) and in salt water (like the ocean) for several days.
Symptoms - (WATERY DIARRHEA, vomiting, fever, ab cramps, weight loss)
Incubation - (6-22 days)
CONTROL - A temperature of greater than 73 °C (163.4 F) will cause instantaneous inactivation. important for milk pasteurization
Giardia - “Hiker’s Disease/ Day Care Disease”
Cysts can survive for 2 to 3 months in water temperatures of less than 10/ C (50 F), and at 21/ C (69.8 F), cysts have remained viable for almost one month. Cysts are killed in 10 minutes at a water temperature of 54/ C (129.2 F). Raising the water temperature to boiling immediately kills cysts.
Symptoms - (Greasy loose pale stools, fatigue, chronic diarrhea, ab cramps, weight loss)
Incubation - (6-22 days)
CONTROL - Giardia can be killed & inactivated using 2-5% Lysol or, a 1% chlorine bleach solution. Here is a list of common environmental areas & surfaces to clean: 1. Pet’s hind end – bathing pets every day (or at least their hind end) will reduce the risk of re-infection.
Viruses in Wastewater - Provide growth and control details of the three major organisms
Hepatitis A/D - “Infectious foodborne”
Depending on conditions, HAV can be stable in the environment for months. The virus is relatively stable at low pH levels, moderate temperatures, and frozen temperatures, but can be inactivated by high temperature (185°F [85°C] or higher), formalin, and chlorine.
Incubation - (15 - 30 Days)
Symptoms - (early on set of headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, develops into jaundice, light colored stool, dark colored urine, liver necrosis)
Control - Bleach kills hep A. Always mix bleach with water Most cleaning products don’t kill hep A To check if a different product kills hep A, read the label.
In contaminated food, HAV is killed when exposed to temperatures of >185 degrees F (>85 degrees C) for 1 minute .
Norovirus - “Winter vomit Bug/ Norwalk Virus”
Noroviruses are relatively resistant to heat and can survive temperatures from freezing to as high as 145°F. Norovirus can stay on objects and surfaces and still infect people for days or weeks. Norovirus can survive some disinfectants, making it hard to get rid of.
Incubation - (24-36 hours)
Symptoms - (possible fever, headache, nausea, ab cramps, diarrhea, loss of appetite)
CONTROL - Boiling can be used as a pathogen reduction method that should kill all pathogens. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for 1 minute. Moderately resistant to chlorination
Bacteria in wastewater - Provide growth and control details of the three major organisms
Coliform
Vary found in soils and water, others Transimitted into water through warm blooded animals’ stool.
“E.coli coliforms”
Incubation (1-8 days)
Symptoms (fever, vomiting, abcramps, bloody stool, advanced kidney failure, and death)
CONTROL Processes such as disinfection, filtration, and chlorination are commonly used to eliminate or reduce the presence of coliform bacteria. Advanced technologies, including ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and membrane filtration, are also employed for enhanced treatment efficacy
Shingella - “Bacillary Desentery”
Temperature range: 10-40°C (50-104°F). Optimum Temperature: 37°C (98.6°F) pH range: Organisms do not survive below pH 4.5.
Incubation (24-48 hours)
Symptoms (basic fever, vomit, diarrhea, ab cramps)
CONTROL Boil for up to 1-3 minutes, If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol (check the product label to be sure). Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is effective in killing Shigella germs.
Vibrio - “Cholera “
Thrive in warm water with moderate salinity
Incubation (2 hours - 3 days)
Symptoms (rice watery stool, dehydration.. different species…)
CONTROL The bacteria are highly susceptible to pH, cooking, and freezing and can be killed by common disinfectants such as bleach or alcohol.
Publicly Owned - wastewater treatment processes (POTW)
List the treatment phases.
Preliminary - Bar screens, grit chambers,
Primary - Digestion, Sedimentation
Secondary - trickling filter, activated sludge, aeration, clarifiers
Tertiary - Filteration and Disinfection (chlorine, ultraviolet, ozone)
Other wastewater treatment Process
“Commercial/ Industrial/ Agriculture”
Packaged Treatment Plants
https://www.pollutioncontrolsystem.com/Uploads/files/Packages/PlantBrochure_20160430.pdf
Aerobics wastewater treatment
Treatment Steps: Comminution, screening, diffused aeration (air injection), clarification (seperated sludge), sludge recirculation (bottom), sludge digestion (bottom), tertiary filter, and Disinfection, finally discharged.
