United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Robert S. Kerr Environmental
Research Laboratory
Ada OK 74820
Research and Development
EPA-600/S2-83-077  Nov. 1983
Project  Summary
The  Fate  of Organic Pollutants in
a   Wastewater   Land   Treatment
System  Using  Lagoon Impound-
ment  and Spray  Irrigation

Y. A. Demirjian, T.R. Westman, and R.R. Rediske
  Michigan's Muskegon County Waste-
water Management System (MCWMS)
is one of the largest facilities of its kind,
treating on the average of 125 thousand
cubic meters of wastewater by extended
aeration, lagoon  impoundment, and
spray  irrigation. Over 70% of the
influent originates from industrial
sources including several  organic
chemical manufacturers. This  study
was undertaken to determine the fate of
the organic compounds within the
treatment system. The influent, which
is  comprised of  about 150 organic
chemicals at low jug/I  to low mg/l
concentrations, enters the system and is
treated, initially, in the biological cells.
Over 90% of the total organic compounds
are removed from the water at this stage
by volatilization, sedimentation into
sludge and biological breakdown. Com-
pounds preferentially settling in the
sludge are 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine, 2-
chloroaniline, alkyl benzenes and 2,4'-
diamino-3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl at aver-
age concentrations ranging from 26 to
44 mg/kg.  These compounds are
resistant to biodegradation. A few
biodegradable compounds like  phen-
anthrene and naphthalene are also
found  in the sludge at less than 1
mg/kg, due possibly to their affinity to
the oils and greases commonly found in
the sludge. The water treated in this
manner enters two storage  lagoons
(344 hectare each). Impoundment for
approximately five months helps to
further  remove  organics  by further
volatilization, sedimentation, biological
breakdown and photodecomposition.
The organic compounds surviving after
this treatment are in most cases less
than 1 % of their influent concentrations.
The compounds 2,2'-dichloroazoben-
zene and diethoxychlorobenzene, how-
ever, do not readily volatilize, are not
biodegradable, and do not accumulate
in the sludge, thus appearing to elude
treatment during the initial two steps of
aeration and lagoon impoundment.
Spray irrigation of the lagoon impounded
water, however, removes virtually all
remaining organic matter. The draintiles
which collect the soil percolated water
show only sporadic low concentrations
(1 yug/l) of chloroform, 1,2-dichloroe-
thane and phthalate esters. In addition,
after eight years of irrigation, the soils
are almost free of organic compounds
except for 2,2'-dichloroazobenzene
and phthalates detected in some fields.
The analysis of corn samples did not
detect any uptake of man-made organics.
  The discharges, except for occasional
(//g/l)  levels of some organics, have
been clean.  Isolated incidences are
apparently due to lagoon seepage, which
also contributes to the discharge.
Minimzation at the industrial source has
kept the levels of contamination in the
lagoon seepage under control.

  This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Robert S. Kerr Environmental
Research Laboratory. Ada, OK, to
announce key findings of the research
project that is fully documented in a
separate report of the same title (see
Project Report ordering information at
back).

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Introduction

  When Muskegon County, Michigan,
initially  proposed  land irrigation treat-
ment  of its  wastewater,  the  idea was
relatively new and untested. There was
skepticism as to the effectiveness of the
treatment, not to  mention  the  fear of
unknown hazards. Now, after many years
of operation, it is clear that the system is
quite effective.  The  impact on  the
environment, to say the least, has been
very positive. The lakes and the rivers are
many orders of magnitude cleaner than in
the past.  All  wastewater  used to  be
discharged directly or indirectly  to river
and lake systems in the county with little
or no treatment. Now, after collection, the
wastewater  is treated by aeration in the
biological cells and impoundment before
being used  as water for  agricultural
irrigation.  The soil acts as an excellent
adsorbing  medium, while the nutrient
value is reclaimed by the crops in one of
the largest  farming operations in the
country.  In addition  to high  quality
wastewater treatment, the crops provide
a substantial source of revenue, thereby
reducing the ultimate cost to the users.
(The user fee at the time of the report was
25.4 cents per 1000 gallons).
  The  United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the Michigan
Department  of Natural Resources, the
County of  Muskegon and academic
institutions (among them, University of
Michigan and Michigan State University)
have examined the fate of the conventional
parameters such as nutrients and trace
metals in this land treatment and without
exception  found it very  effective.  The
socioeconomic impact was also found to
be very favorable. Within the last decade,
considerable attention has been drawn to
the toxic organic waste and its effect on
the  environment. This has created
renewed  interest in the Muskegon
system. The Robert S. Kerr Environmental
Research Laboratory, in 1977, conducted
a preliminary survey of toxic pollutants in
the system and identified 56 chemicals,
including priority pollutants  in the
influent to the treatment works. This was
not surprising, since over  70% of  the
influent is comprised of wastewater from
pulp and  paper, chemical,  and  general
manufacturing operations in the county.
This information  prompted the  present
investigation of the fate of these and
other organic chemicals in the Muskegon
system. The principal objectives of this
study are:
 1) The qualitative and  quantitative
    identification of the organic chemicals
    in the  influent to the system.
 2) Elucidation of the treatment perform-
   ance at all the intermediate treatment
   points in  the system, including the
   seasonal variations.
 3) Determine the  ultimate fate  of the
   organic chemicals in the system and
   define any  potential environmental
   impact.
 4) Suggest improvements in the  design
   and operation of the land treatment
   and identify the need to minimize
   certain organic  compounds by  pre-
   treatment at the source.
  This study, as expected, has been
 instrumental in the  local industrial
 regulatory programs and in the manage-
 ment of the treatment system. This report
 undoubtedly could be an excellent guide
 to other land treatment facilities.

 Facility and Operations
  The  Muskegon County  Wastewater
 Management System employs extended
aeration,  lagoon impoundment and spray
 irrigation  to treat  an  average of  125
thousand cubic meters (TCM)of municipal
 and  industrial wastewater. The system
 operates  as a regional treatment facility,
 serving 13 municipalities and  over 23
 major industries including nine chemical-
 related industries.  Over  70%  of the
 influent can be attributed to industrial
discharge. The system is  located on
 11,000 acres (4,455 hectares) of  sandy,
 unproductive land in the northeast corner
 of Muskegon County. The wastewater is
 collected by six pumping  stations  and
 delivered to a central  pumping station
 with a maximum capacity of 212 cubic
 meters per minute. The combined waste-
 water is pumped through 17.2 kilometers
 of reinforced concrete  pipe  to the
 wastewater system.
  The design features of the system are
 illustrated in Figure 1. Initial treatment of
 the wastewater is provided by two of the
 three extended aeration biological cells.
 Each cell has a surface area of eight acres
 (3.24 hectares) and a holding capacity of
 159  TCM. The cells contain  12 floating
 aerators  and  6  stationary platform
 mixers. The holding time in the two cells
 is roughly 2.5 days. After  aeration, the
 treated  wastewater  passes down a
 concrete  spillway to the  two storage
 lagoons,  344  hectares each,  with a
 combined storage capacity of 19.3  million
 cubic meters. The lagoons are encircled
 by dikes  4.6 meters high and 61  meters
 wide at  the  base.  A border strip  122
 meters wide from the top of the  dike is
 lined with 20 cm of compacted clay, with
 remaining bottom area left as native soil.
 The treated water from the aeration cell is
 stored in these lagoons for approximately
5  months. The water seeping through
lagoon walls is intercepted by a ditch
system  surrounding  the lagoons.  This
water, if  necessary,  could be pumped
back into  the storage lagoons or, if the
National Pollutants Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) water quality criteria are
met, it may be discharged to the receiving
streams.  During irrigation months, the
water from the lagoon with the highest
water quality is discharged into an outlet
lagoon with  about 6 hectares of surface
area and 4 meters in depth. Approximately
2,300 hectare of land is irrigated using
this  water by  54 center-pivot irrigation
rigs at an application rate of 6-10 cm per
week. The rigs move  in a circular  path
making one  revolution in  one to seven
days. Most of the  land is  Rubicon,
Roscommon, and AuGres  sand and the
remaining is Granby, a loamy sand, and
Nester-Tonkey clays. The irrigation fields
are drained  by  an elaborate network  of
perforated nylon-socked tiles and a series
of collection  ditches.  The  drainage
network consists of  114  kilometers  of
draintile, 31  kilometers of drain pipe and
16 kilometers of ditches. This system acts
to protect  the groundwater table, direct
water flow and to recollect the renovated
water, thus  preventing water logging  of
the land. Over 300 monitoring wells have
been installed to ensure that the ground-
water quality is being maintained. Corn
grown on the irrigation fields serves as a
source of revenue and also removes the
nutrients.  In spite of  the  unproductive
nature of the  soil,  with the help  of
irrigation over 43 hectoliters per hectare
corn is produced annually.
  The collected water from the draintiles
is discharged to the north  via an outfall
(SW05) to Mosquito Creek. Water from
the fields  on the southern part  of the
project  is discharged to  Black Creek
(SW34). The project has operated since
May 1973.

Experimental Features and
Results
  The study period lasted from December
1979 through November 1981. The first
year of the study was designed to provide
intensive  data concerning treatment
performance to identify any potential
problem areas and to verify the quality of
the data  through a  rigorous QC/QA
program. During the  second year along
with treatment performance, attention
was  focused on soil accumulation and
lagoon seepage. Water samples were
collected from various treatment points in
the system  monthly during December
1979 through April 1980, then biweekly

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                                                                      Moorland
                                                                      Rd
      Maple
      Island
      Rd.
 •   •*  Drainage Ditches
-*.	Main Drain Pipes
	Interception Ditches

   ±   Pumping Stations

        Influent Pipe
Figure  1,   Sampling locations.


during May 1980 through  November
1980 and then monthly the  rest of the
time. The water samples were either 2
week composites or 4 point composites.
From the aeration cell and lagoon sludge,
grab samples  were acquired quarterly.
The  soil  and corn samples were com-
posites collected annually.  All  of the
sample collection methods were standard
methods designed to protect the integrity
of the samples. The analytical procedures
applied were  standard EPA methods
backed by extensive daily quality control.
Most analyses  were performed by gas
chromatographic/mass  spectrometric
methods. Analysis of 1,2-dichloroethane
for the  lagoon seepage study was
performed using gas chromatography
with Hall detector. Analysis of 1 -chloroa-
niline,  3,3'-dichlorobenzidine  and 2,4'-
diamino-3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl  in the
lagoon seepage wells was done by HPLC
with an electrical conductivity detector.
Complete details of the experimental
conditions can be found in the full report.
  The results of the treatment perform-
ance are summarized in Table 1. Out of
150 or so organic compounds detected in
the influent, 28 priority pollutants and 33
additional organic compounds were over
1 //g/l on the average. Benzene, chloro-
form, 1,2-dichloroethane, tetrachloroe-
thylene, 2-chloroaniline, 2,4'-diamino-
3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl, dimethyldisulfide,
2-propanol  and thiobismethane were
present in the influent in the range of 100
//g/l to 1000 /ug/l.  Only toluene and
acetone exceeded this range. Most  of
these pollutants  are  traced back  to
various  industrial sources. Analysis  of
the influent serves as a check along with
industrial monitoring which is performed
independent of this study. Many volatile
priority pollutants like benzene, chloro-
form, 1,2-dichloroethane, tetrachloroe-
thylene, toluene, and 1,1,1-trichloroe-
thane originate from chemical manu-
facturing,  paint manufacturing or from
general manufacturing. The sulfides are
predominantly from the pulp and paper
industry. Other compounds can be traced
to chemical industries. The influent
composition may vary at any given  time
depending  upon factors such  as batch
dumping, sanitary uses, etc.
  The spillway concentrations listed in
Table 1 reflect the extent of treatment in
the biological  cells over the period of
about 2.5 days. The areation in these cells
is effective in volatilizing many organics.
Other processes operative at this stage of
the treatment are breakdown by bacterial
metabolism and sedimentation into the
sludge. As can be seen in Table 1, many
compounds are removed from the water
to nondetectable or near nondetectable
levels. Priority pollutants surviving  over
10 /ug/l average levels are benzene (11
/ug/l), chloroform (86 /ug/l),  1,2-dichlo-
roethane (164/ug/l),  methylene chloride
(31  /ug/l), tetrachloroethylene (31 /yg/l)
and toluene (34 /ug/l). Most of these are
removed by over 90%. Methylene chloride
and 1,2-dichloroethane, however, are
removed  by 28% and 78% respectively.
Among the additional organic compounds
1,258 /ug/l of acetone, 92  /ug/l of 2-
chloroaniline,  52  fjg/\ of  2,4'-diamino-
3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl, 19  /ug/l of  alkyl
substituted benzenes,  18  /ug/l of 2,2'-
dichloroazobenzene, 50/ug/l of dimethyl
disulfide, 589 /ug/l of 2-propanol and 30
/ug/l  of thiobismethane survive  this
phase of treatment on the average of over
10  /ug/l.  Acetone,  2,4'-diamino-3,3'-
dichlorobiphenyl, 2,2-dichloroazobenzene
and 2-propanol are among the compounds
with average removal of less than 60% of
their  influent  concentrations. The com-
pounds that  elude  the aeration  cell
treatment are either water soluble,
relatively nonvolatile or noncompatible to
bacterial consumption. Table 2 provides a
list  of compounds found in the aeration
cell II sludge. Appearance of compounds
such  as 2-chloroaniline, 3,3'-dichloro-
benzidme and  2,4'-diamino-3,3'-dichlo-
robiphenyl is probably due to their
resistance to biodegradation. Alkyl
substituted benzenes probably originate
from  linear alkyl benzene sulfonate
detergents. These compounds, in addition
to their low biodegradability, have lower
water solubility. Naphthalene, phenan-
threne and related compounds are biode-
gradable. Presence of these compounds
in the sludge  may be attributed to their
affinity to oils and greases common to the
sludge.

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Table 1 . Treatment Performance During




Additional Organic Compounds
Acetanilide
Acetovanillone
Acetone
Alkyl substituted benzenes
Aniline
Atrazine**
2-Chloroaniline
Cresol
2.4'-Diammo-3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl
2,2 '-Dichloroazobenzene
Diethoxychlorobenzene
Dnsopropoxychlorobenzene
Dimethoxybenzene
3,4-Dimethoxyphenol
Dimethylbenzaldehyde
Dimethyldisullide
Dimethylnaphthalenes
2-Ethoxypropane
Ethylanilme
Isopropylidene dioxyphenol
2-Methoxyphenol
Methyl aniline
Methyl naphthalenes
Naphthol
N, N-Dimethylaniline
2-Propanol
Simazine**
Benzene
Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
Bromodichloromethane
Butyl benzyl phthalate
Chlorobenzene
2-Chlorophenol
Chloroform
4-Chloro-3-methylphenol
1 ,2-Dichlorobenzene
1 ,4-Dichlorobenzene
3,3'- Dichlorobenzidtne
1, 1 -Dichloroethane
1 ,2-Dichloroethane
2,4-Dichlorophenol
2,4-Dimethylphenol
Dimethyl phthalate
Ethyl benzene
Fluoranthene
Methylene chloride
Naphthalene
Phenol
Tetrachloroethylene
Toluene
Trans- 1 ,2-dichloroethylene
1,1,1 - Trichloroethane
Trichloroethylene
2,4,6-Tnchlorophenol
Vinyl chloride
Substituted benzoic acids
Substituted benzaldehyde
Thiobismethane
Tributyl phosphate
Trimethylnaphthalenes
Vanillin
1980-81

Average
Influent
Concentra-
tion (vq/1)
5
16
2,664
53
24

567
10
118
38
21
4
1
6
2
180
14
3
2
8
40
37
8
1
5
842

153
23
2
1
23
2
747
3
4
1
23
3
73O
2
1
4
14
18
43
4
5
361
1.964
6
93
36
2
1
1
2
171
30
11
6


A verage
Spillway
Concentra-
tion (ug/l)
< 1
1
1.258
19
1

92
1
52
18
10
1
< 1
2
< 1
50
4

1
4
3
13
2

1
589

11
9


< 1
< 1
86

< 1

6
< 1
164
< 1


< 1
< 1
31
< 1

31
34
< 1
9
2
1


1
30
12
5
< 1


Average
Outlet
Concentra-
tion (ug/l)



1.0


1.7


4.7
0.3
0.1







1.0




<0.1*



2.6




2.6





1.8


<0.1*




0.1*
0.8
0.1

0.5
0.1*
<0.1



0.1
0.8

<0.1*

Average
Outfall
SW05
Concentra-
tion luq/l)



0.1*

02
1.2



















0.2

20




0.4





06





0.6*


0.4









<0.1*



Average
Outfall
SW34
Concentra-
tion (ug/l)




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Table 2.    Average Concentration of Organic Chemicals in CellIISludge fag/Kg) for 1980and 1981

                    	A verage
Priority Pollutants
Butyl benzyl phthalate
Benzo(a)anthracene
Bis(ethylhexyl)phthalate
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
1,2-Dichlorobenzene
Di-n-butyl phthalate
3.3'-Dichlorobenzidine
Fluoranthene
Fluorene
Naphthalene
Phenanthrene
Phenol
Pyrene
Toluene

Additional Organic Compounds

2 - Chloroaniline
Cresol
2.2'-Dichloroazobenzene
Diethoxychlorobenzene
Dimethyl naphthalenes
2,4'-Diamino-3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl
Methyl naphthalenes
Substituted alkyl benzenes
Trimethyl naphthalenes
Tributyl phosphate
                                                                          280
                                                                           60
                                                                         4,200
                                                                          200
                                                                          320
                                                                          340
                                                                        44.000
                                                                          230
                                                                          140
                                                                          580
                                                                          810
                                                                          240
                                                                          200
                                                                          730
                                                                        26,600
                                                                         1,100
                                                                         1,400
                                                                         4,000
                                                                         9,400
                                                                        35.0OO
                                                                         2,600
                                                                        40,000
                                                                         7,300
                                                                          800
  The wastewater treated in the aeration
cell enters the storage  lagoons via the
spillway. Long-term impoundment in the
lagoons is very effective  in further
treating the organic compounds through
waste stabilization  action. Processes
similar to the aeration cell, i.e. volatiliza-
tion, sedimentation and biodegradation
are also active here. In  addition, due to
the large surface area photodecomposition
is greatly facilitated. The tremendous
volume of lagoon system also provides a
large buffer capacity to adsorb any short-
term shock load that  may pass through
the extended aeration treatment.  About
20 organic compounds  are  detected in
the storage lagoon Their concentrations
are dependent upon  two  main factors,
which are the loadings  and  the season
During winter months due to slower rate
evaporation due to colder weather and ice
cover,  the  volatiles tend  to remain at
higher  concentrations. However, only
chloroform and 1,2-dichloroethane were
near 50 //g/l  in 1980 and acetone and
2-chloroaniline at that level in 1981. Other
compounds  are near their detection
limit.
  The  system  is designed  to prevent
lagoon  seepage from migrating off the
project  by two  interception ditches
surrounding the north,  east, and south
boundaries and purge wells along the
west boundary. Monitoring of the lagoon
seepage wells on the western side has
discovered  5 /ug/l of 1,2-dichloroethane
                                         and migration  is suspected. Continued
                                         operation  of the purge  wells should
                                         restrict the  migration; however, future
                                         plans  include the construction of an
                                         interception  ditch in this area. Analysis
                                         of the wells situated between the two
                                         storage  lagoons  indicates that vertical
                                         contamination does not proceed to the 68
                                         feet level. The north interception ditch is
                                         mixed with groundwater  and dram tile
                                         effluent to  form the north discharge
                                         (SW05) to  Mosquito Creek South  inter-
                                         ception  ditch (or discharge to HH&G
                                         Drain) represents a direct discharge of
                                         groundwater and  lagoon  seepage  to
                                         Black Creek. A consistent 4 to  6 //g/l of
                                         1,2-dichloroethane was  found in the
                                         south ditch along with concentrations of
                                         2-chloroanilme that varied from 86/ug/lto
                                         1 fjg/\ in 1980. In the north ditch during
                                         1981, the levels of 2-chloroamline
                                         dropped from 28//g/l to<1 /ug/l by May.
                                         Monitoring of groundwater wells beyond
                                         the interception ditch indicates that the
                                         ditch is acting as an effective barrier since
                                         no contamination has been detected.
                                           Water is  drawn  from  the  storage
                                         lagoons  into the  outlet lagoon before
                                         irrigation.  Table  1  shows the average
                                         concentrations of organic compounds in
                                         the outlet lagoon. Compounds appearing
                                         above  1  //g/l are bis(2-ethylhexyl)phth-
                                         alate 2.6 /ug/l, chloroform 2.6//g/l, 1,2-
                                         dichloroethane 1.8/yg/l, alkyl substituted
                                         benzenes 1.0//g/l,  2-chloroaniline  1.7
                                         /ug/l, 2,2'-dichloroazobenzene  4.7 //g/l
and isopropylidinedioxyphenol 1.0 //g/l.
Most compounds are treated better than
99%. Of the priority pollutants, chloroforrq
and 1,2-dichloroethane are the only two
compounds of concern since phthalates
with their widespread use are analytically
questionable. The county  has placed
limits on the discharge of chloroform and
1,2-dichloroethane  among other com-
pounds.  As mentioned earlier, the
irrigation  water  drains through the soil
and is then collected by drain tiles. Many
organic compounds are adsorbed by the
soil where they  are  subject to bacterial
action or evaporation  Very few  com-
pounds  actually remain in  soil. Soil
analyses at various points in the system
indicated  that  besides questionable
phthalates, 2,2'-dichloroazobenzene,
xylene, benzyl alcohol,  phenyl ethanone,
N-phenylanilme,  ethenyl benzene, aro-
chlor 1016,  phenol, benzaldehyde, tri-
chloroethylene, toluene, 1,1,1 -trichloro-
ethane,  phenylacetic acid, simazine,
atrazine, vanillin, and in an isolated case
1,2-dichloroethane were detected at
levels 1  //g/kg-600 /ug/kg, not  more
than six of these being present in a single
sample.  Atrazine  and  simazine are
introduced in the soil  by  means  of the
herbicides  used  in the farming and are
detected  in  the soil  in  the growing
season. The drain tile water analyses
showed only sporadic presence of low 1 -
4//g/l levels of chloroform, 1,2-dichlo-
roethaneazobenzene, atrazine, simazine,
etc., none of which were persistent.
  The outfall discharge data is also listed
in Table  1.  In the north outfall (SW05)
only compounds  above 1  /ug/l average
concentration are bis(2-ethylhexyl) phth-
alate 2 /ug/l  and 2-chloroaniline 1.0
/ug/l.  In the south outfall (SW34) only
bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate is above  1
/ug/l  level  (2.0 //g/l).  The presence of
phthalate, as discussed earlier, may be
the plastic lining in the ditches and drain
tiles.
  The results of the  overall  study show
that  Muskegon  County  Wastewater
Management System is very effective in
treating  a  variety  of chemicals and
industrial  wastes by utilizing  extended
aeration, lagoon impoundment, and
spray irrigation. From almost 150 organic
compounds identified  in the /ug/l to
mg/l  range, over 90% are removed m the
first stage of the treatment, the extended
aeration  in the biological  cells. Lagoon
impoundment further removes the organic
compounds and  prior to irrigation, over
99%  of the organic  concentration is
removed  by either sedimentation, volati-
lization, biodegradation, or photodecom-
position.  The water  percolated through

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the soil profile and collected as drain tile
effluent  is  virtually  free of  organic
Compounds. The outfalls for the most part
do not contain organic compound. Except
for  small quantities of certain organic
compounds  previously mentioned, the
soil has not accumulated organic com-
pounds. Two chemicals, 2-chloroaniline
and  1,2-dichloroethane have  been de-
tected in some lagoon seepage wells. The
levels have significantly declined during
the study period and in recent samples
average 2  /ug/l. None of the priority
pollutants were detected m  the  corn
sample.
  The feasibility of  sludge application  is
also investigated as part of this study. The
results of this study are being  reported
separately.


Recommendations
  The County has  identified two areas
from the study that  require management
changes to maintain the integrity of the
treatment  works  and  decrease  the
possibility of environmental discharge of
chemicals.  These  areas are lagoon
seepage and sludge concentration. The
lagoon seepage question is two-fold; first,
as it relates to the interception ditches,
and second, the northwest corner of the
storage lagoons.
  In February 1981, the County issued
management guidelines,  limiting  the
discharge  of organic  chemicals to the
system by industrial users. Utilizing the
extensive data base of industrial loadings
and treatment performance data collected
by the County laboratory during the study
period,  limits  were  established for
chemicals that persist by concentrating in
the sludge or that survive treatment and
thus have a potential for discharge to the
environment. The limits became effective
January  31, 1982 and should insure
future operation without lagoon seepage
or sludge disposal questions being raised.
In addition,  if monitoring indicates any
significant trends  which suggest that
present limits need to  be revised or new
compounds  need to be controlled, the
necessary action will be taken by the
County through  the powers outlined  in
the Amendments to Exhibit  D (County
Wastewater Ordinance).
   Lagoon seepage in the northwest
corner of the storage lagoon system will
be examined  in  the 201  Facilities
Expansion Plan  hydrogeological study.
When the groundwater dynamics of this
area are defined, management strategies
will be developed to control or contain any
migration  from  the storage lagoons.  In
examination of the sludge accumulation
question,  results of lysimeter sludge
application studies indicate that the
organic chemicals in the sludge will not
leach through the soil column  and that
they will undergo some biodegradation. A
25-acre field pilot study is being proposed
for spring of 1982. If results are favorable,
the sludge may be land applied on a larger
scale. In  order  to prevent any future
questions from arising concerning sludge
management, chemicals accumulating in
the sludge will be limited as part of the
industrial effluent guidelines. These
limits are  again subject to the results of
future monitoring programs by the
County. The studies that were undertaken
at Muskegon will help the understanding
of the behavior of many of the man-made
organics at treatment facilities employing
extended aeration, lagoon impoundment
and spray irrigation. Other than volatiliza-
tion, the two major removal mechanisms
include detoxification by bacteria and
photo-oxidation by solar radiation. The
mechanism of bacterial action should be
investigated further with  a goal of
isolating the working bacteria.
  Although the research described in this
article has been funded wholly or in part by
the United States Environmental Protection
Agency through cooperative agreement
number  R806873  to the Muskegon
County Wastewater Management System
and Department of Public Works, it has
not been subjected to the  Agency's
required peer and  policy review and
therefore does not necessarily reflect the
views  of the Agency  and no official
endorsement should be inferred.
   Y. A. Demirjian, Ph.D.. T. R. Westman andR, R. Rediske (since left the Muskegon
     County Wastewater Management System) are with the Muskegon County
     Wastewater Management System, 8301 White Road, Muskegon, Ml 49442.
   Bert E. Bledsoe is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
   The complete report, entitled "The Fate of Organic Pollutants in a Wastewater
     Land Treatment System Using Lagoon Impoundment and Spray Irrigation,"
     (Order No. PB 83-259 853; Cost: $25.00, subject to change) will be available
     only from:
          National Technical Information Service
          5285 Port Royal Road
          Springfield. VA22161
          Telephone: 703-487-4650
   The EPA Project Officer can be  contacted at:
          Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory
          U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
          Ada, OK 74820
                                                                              J
                                                                           . S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1983/759-102/0804

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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
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