UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
ALASKA WATER LABORATORY
QUARTERLY RESEARCH REPORT
IAHUARY I-M4RCH 31,1
ALASKA WATER LABORATORY
College, Alaska 99701
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ALASKA VILLAGE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT(S)
PROJECT; 16100 GGR
Objectives;
To plan and construct, in one or more Alaskan villages, projects to provide
a central safe water supply and waste disposal facility in conjunction with
community laundry and bathing facilities and a community health education
program to help assure continued beneficial use of the projects.
Work Accomplished Third Quarter FY 1971:
In consultation with regional Native leaders and an Inter-Agency Working
Committee, the community of Emmonak, located in the Yukon delta, was selected
as the initial project site. Similarly, preliminary contacts were established
with Native leaders on the Arctic Slope and with the City Council of Wain-
wright to determine feasibility of a project in Wainwright.
The process of arriving at a contract for facility design and construction
at the initial site has been brought near completion. Scope of work plans
were refined. In response to an invitation for submission of qualifications,
21 prospective bidders responded. Nine companies were judged qualified and
were invited to participate in a Bidders' Conference and to submit proposals.
Six proposals were received and evaluated carefully within the agency and by
members of the Inter-Agency Working Committee. The proposal judged most
appropriate to the situation at Emmonak was reviewed by the City Council of
Emmonak. Additional design information has been obtained in consultation
with this body and approval has been obtained from the Council to negotiate
a contract on that basis. A contract for the first phase (engineering and
design) of the facility at Emmonak can be expected to be finalized soon.
A memorandum of agreement between EPA and the Public Health Service, Depart-
ment of Health, Education and Welfare, called for by the project legislation,
was prepared and sent to Headquarters of both agencies for final approval.
A similar document can soon be expected from the State of Alaska.
The project staff consulted with an advisory body of anthropologists and
public administrators, meeting under the auspices of the National Academy
of Sciences in Washington, D.C. A draft of the recommendations and con-
clusions of that meeting has been made available for review.
In cooperation with PHS Division of Indian Health and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, the staff is attempting to resolve problems arising from mutual
interests in communities being considered for demonstration projects.
Consideration is being given to joint efforts which would maximize the
benefits acruing to the community and avoid duplication of effort on the
part of the agencies involved.
The project is on schedule at the present time, with 75 percent of the work
planned for FY 1971 accomplished. No serious delays can be tolerated at
this point without placing work of FY 1972 in jeopardy, especially in regard
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to transportation and erection of proposed facilities during the first
half of that year.
Two project Newsletters were published and distributed.
Work Plan for the Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
1. Select one or more additional project sites,
2. Negotiate contracts for one or more additional facilities.
3. Prepare a training package for facility operators and managers.
4. Select facility management trainees and initiate training.
5. Review engineering and design plans.
6. Start site preparation.
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COLD CLIMATE RESEARCH
PROJECT: 16100 GK6 - LOW TEMPERATURE DISINFECTION
Objectives:
1. Determine effectiveness of chemical disinfection of low tempera-
ture waste water treatment plants.
2. Develop disinfection design criteria for low temperature system.
3. Demonstrate application of low temperature design criteria.
Work Completed Third Quarter FY 1971:
A chlorination system (using hypochlorite) for treating effluent from
the Eielson Pilot Plant facility was placed in operation during January.
The system, metering pumps in particular, required considerably more mainte-
nance and attention than expected. That, plus limited manpower, contributed
to sporadic operation.
Work Plan Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
No data will be obtained from the Eielson AFB system until late November
because of the high effluent temperatures currently being experienced.
PROJECT: 16100 GGS - APPLICATION OF ADVANCED WASTE TREATMENT IN ALASKA
Objectives:
1. Establish water use patterns for remote location operations and
determine the feasibility of reducing water requirements.
2. Determine the effectiveness of small scale tertiary package plants
and demonstrate their capabilities under remote site operating conditions.
Work Completed Third Quarter FY 1971:
A report on Water Supply and Waste Water Treating and Solid Waste
Disposal at Four North Slope Camps was completed and sent to involved
parties. Two sets of samples were obtained from the Toolik Lake plant.
Even though the Toolik and Deadhorse plants were underloaded (2-5 percent
design) their activated carbon columns had COD removals of less than 60
percent.
Performance specifications for two AWT units were submitted to the
Air Force for proposed installation near the King Salmon Air Force Base.
Work Plan Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
Identify and correct cause of carbon failure in the under-loaded units
on the North Slope.
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PROJECT; 16100 FHC - COLD REGIONS EXTENDED AERATION DESIGN CRITERIA
Objective:
Development of adequate design criteria for application of extended
aeration in Alaska.
Work Completed Third Quarter FY 1971:
Start-up of two parallel extended aeration units (horizontal and upflow
clarifiers) at Eielson A.F.B. has been hindered by failure of a 6-inch pipe
plug seal between the units and by excessive surface turbulence in the hori-
zontal clarifier. These problems were corrected in early January. A biomass
was built up and the units have operated properly through 2 weeks of -50 to
-60°F weather with little icing on the exposed aeration basins.
The extreme cold prevented use of the feed cooling pond which was
designed to cool the raw sewage from 20°C to 10°C +_ C.
All data for 0.1 gpm/ft2 overflow rate, BOD removals over 80 percent,
has been collected and plotted. The detention time has been cut from 24 to
12 hours and overflow rates increased'to 0.5 gpm/ft2. At these higher rates,
the activated sludge is starting to bulk. A constant daily volume of the
MLSS is being wasted.
The cold room reactors have been started up and biokinetic and bulking
data is now being collected.
Work Plan Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
1. Identify and correct the bulking problem at the Eielson A.F.B.
pilot units.
2. Analyze data from cold room reactors.
3. Redesign the feed system so that pumps drawing from the cooling
pond can be primed at -60°F.
4. Complete report on the status of extended aeration in Alaska.
PROJECT: 16100 FHD - DESIGN CRITERIA FOR ALASKA SEWAGE LAGOONS
Objectives:
1. To establish design criteria for the aerated lagoon waste treatment
process in Alaska, and to evaluate parameters and contribution to effluent
quality, power and maintenance costs, and reliability.
2. To demonstrate the feasibility of waste stabilization lagoon
application in Alaska, particularly utilizing winter storage and summer
treatment capabilities.
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Work Completed Third Quarter FY 1971:
A partially exposed air compressor for the 4-cell Eielson A.F.B. aerated
lagoon failed during the late January cold spell. A spare was installed.
Attempts at locating the leakage in this lagoon, using K-injection, have
not been successful. Winter data from this and the Northway lagoon has been
collected and is being incorporated in a report, "Cold Regions Aerated Lagoons."
Both lagoons appear to be "aging," i.e., effluent BOD appears higher each year.
Leakage in the Eielson A.F.B. facultative lagoon has forced its shutdown
until next winter.
Samples were obtained from the Ft. Yukon stabilization pond in late
February. Due to manpower requirements at the Eielson A.F.B. site, we have
not been able to monitor this lagoon as closely as planned.
Uork Plan Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
A. Aerated lagoons:
1. Work up a more detailed design of the Ft. Greely lagoon modifica-
tion so the work may be done by contract.
2. Prepare final aerated lagoon report.
B. Facultative lagoons:
1. Analyze the data obtained from the Ft. Yukon lagoon.
2. Pump down the Eielson A.F.B. pilot lagoon and locate leakage area.
PROJECT: 16100 FHE - DISSOLVED OXYGEN DEPLETION AND ALASKA WATER RESOURCES
Objectives:
A. The role of microorganisms in D.O. depletion at low water temperatures
1. To determine the metabolic activity of the natural population of
microorganisms in subarctic river water in a system which simulates river
conditions as nearly as possible.
2. Assess the role of nutrients in metabolic activity of micro-
organisms at low temperatures.
B. D.O. sampling technique for arctic operation
To determine the method of collectiong and transporting D.O. samples
in BOD bottles which will minimize icing problems and provide the most valid sample.
C. Winter baseline D.O. conditions
1. Establish baseline conditions for waters of the major drainages.
2. Determine the D.O. levels of ground water to establish theoxygen
content of the water that rivers receive under ice cover.
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Work Completed Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
A. The effect of velocity on the rate of D.O. depletion with unpolluted
river water was continued at 0°C. The results thus far indicate that being
in motion significantly decreases the elapsed time to reduce the D.O. from
saturation to 0 mg/1 as compared with the stationary system. The lag phase
is much longer than found when polluted river water was used but the effects
of being in motion were similar with both polluted and unpolluted river water.
B. 1. For the lab phase, equipment to test and evaluate sampling methods
was set up and tested. Data collected during the field sampling schedule
suggest that displacement of air from D.O. bottles under thick ice on rivers
may result in significant errors at low D.O. levels. This lab work is designed
to explore ways of decreasing sampling errors during cold weather.
2. For the field phase, a set of equipment, tools, and techniques
were employed to travel to the desired sample site, cut a hole through the
ice, collect a sample without air entrainment, add reagents, and transport
the samples initially back to the vehicle and then to the Laboratory for
final analysis. The problems in these steps are operation of equipment,
collecting an uncontaminated sample, subsequently keeping the sample from
freezing, and personal safety in air temperatures that have been -40°F or
colder at the time of sampling.
Several additional efforts had to be included in standard procedures
before reliable, valid samples could be returned to the Laboratory for analy-
ses. The most critical was the heated container into which samples could be
placed immediately after collection. These ranged from the heated interior
of vehicles to special small insulated boxes with chemical exothermic heaters
that were used when samples had to be hand carried considerable distances.
A "Jiffy" 6-inch ice auger was used to drill the holes through which
the samples were collected. Numerous modifications were made to the basic
tool to assist starting in cold temperatures and enable working with insulated
heavy gloves that are cumbersome when making small adjustments.
Several sampling techniques were examined to determine the most ac-
curate means of sample collection in severe winter temperatures. To tie these
data with earlier samples, one set utilized the "glug-glug" technique which to
simply water displacement of air in a 250 ml BOD bottle. A second technique
used the Van Doren sampler. The third technique is the same as the first ex-
cept that N£ is used to displace the air in the BOD bottle.
The first and third techniques were continued throughout the study
but the Van Doren bottle technique was discontinued shortly after ice
covered the rivers because it was impossible to collect a sample without
some reaeration taking place. Initially, the contamination can occur when
the cups do not seal completely allowing bubbles to enter the sample.
Secondly, the valves and tubing freeze, thus rendering the sample valueless.
Siphon samplers could not be used because of the tube-freezing problem and
the inability to get the sampler to water that was not aerated by the ice
auger disturbance. At time, the ice depth exceeded 7 feet.
Although field work and laboratory tests on the technique have not
been completed, it appears that the nitrogen displacement technique gives
the most accurate results when sampling dissolved oxygen under severe winter
conditions.
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C. Within the quarter systematic sampling on the Chatanika, Salcha
and Chena rivers. Weekly samples were collected from two stations on
the Chena, while samples were collected alternate weeks from the
Chatanika (two stations) and the Salcha (one station).
Systematic sampling from these three rivers was suspended while
more extensive field trips were active. Utilizing a crew cab truck for
transportation a total of 34 stations on 26 rivers and creeks were
visited. Water samples were collected from 19 with no water available
in 7. Samples were collected along the road system from Fairbanks
virtually to the Canadian border, along the Tok Cutoff, and from Delta
Junction to Valdez. Dissolved oxygen values ranged from less than
1 mg/1 to values in excess of saturation (16.4 mg/1). Ice depth ranged
from as deep as eight feet.
Twelve stations were sampled on the Yukon River. Stations ranged
from Eagle near the Canadian border to Alakanuk near the mouth. All
areas were sampled utilizing a ski-wheel equipped Cessna 180. Dif-
ficulties were encountered in landing. Ice depth ranged from about
three feet near the border to slightly over seven feet near the mouth.
Dissolved oxygen ranged from 10.4 mg/1 to 2.2 mg/1.
. Throughout the systematic sampling set, the sampling stations along
the road system and the Yukon River group, these additional water
parameters were examined: pH, conductivity, and alkalinity. Samples
were collected and frozen for subsequent phosphate and nitrogen form
analyses at the laboratory.
Ground waters from different areas were examined for dissolved
oxygen concentrations. Determinations from several different areas
were made whenever access to ground water sources was available. On a
systematic basis several sources were examined in the upper Chena River
drainage. The dissolved oxygen levels in these waters varied considerably
but as a broad generalization usually were well below saturation with
many determinations near 50% saturation.
Work Plan Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
A. Work on the effect of velocity on the rate of D.O. depletion
will continue until spring breakup conditions make the river water
samples invalid for use.
B. 1. Data collection is to start the week of April 12 with
completion estimated about May 15, 1971. Three sampling methods are
to be tested each by displacing three different gases.
2. Plans include limited field sampling. With the completion
of field work the data will be organized, interpreted, and placed in
report form.
C. Virtually all project efforts will be devoted to data cor-
relation, interpretation and preparation of completion report manu-
script.
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PROJECT: 16100 GHG - BASELINE CONDITIONS OF ARCTIC NORTH SLOPE
Objectives:
To provide baseline water quality information on the Sagavanirktok
River system and the immediate industrial region of the developing oil
field, examining physical-chemical water chemistry, microbiology and
aquatic biology (piscine and benthic organisms) parameters.
Work Completed Third Quarter FY 1971:
Aquatic biological determinations have been completed to the
taxonomic level that time and manpower resources will permit. With
chemical, microbiological and aquatic biological laboratory analyses
completed, data correlation has been initiated and in some limited
areas first rough manuscript has been drafted.
Work Plan Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
Continue efforts to complete the initial draft, and subsequent
revisions to final report form.
PROJECT: 16100 GGT - FATE AND EFFECT OF OIL SPILLS ON ARCTIC RIVERS
Objectives:
Develop an understanding of the rate of movement and ultimate fate of
petroleum spilled on and under the ice of ice covered rivers.
Establish the toxicity of spilled hydrocarbons to the aquatic communi-
ties of ice covered streams.
Work Completed Third Quarter FY 1971:
No activity.
Work Plan Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
Continue work on a master plan to develop a project defining needs
and objectives to establish the fate and effects of oil spills under cold
climates.
PROJECT: 16100 FHB - BACTERIA CONTAMINATION OF ALASKA WATERS
Objectives:
The objectives of this study of the Tanana River, from its confluence
with the Chena River to its confluence with the Yukon River, are as follows:
1. To determine the rate of reduction in numbers of fecal indicator
bacteria.
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2. To determine changes in the chemical parameters which are associated
with domestic wastes.
3. To establish the time required for a water mass to travel from the
mouth of the Chena River to the mouth of the Tanana River.
Work Completed Third Quarter FY 1971:
Final write-up of the results was completed, and in-house critical
review started.
Work Plan Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
Critical review will be completed and the paper prepared in final
form for publication.
PROJECT: 16100 601 - GRAVEL REMOVAL PRACTICES ON ARCTIC NORTH SLOPE AND
WATER QUALITY CHANGES FROM ROAD BUILDING
Objectives:
1. Ascertain the nature and degree of damage that activities associated
with gravel removal and road construction have on the aquatic ecosystem in
sub-Arctic and Arctic Alaska.
2. Develop guidelines to be used by operators and resource managers
to permit orderly removal of gravel and permit road construction without
damage to aquatic life and water quality.
Work Completed Third Quarter FY 1971:
The road Guide was submitted to the Regional Office for approval and
comment; it was returned with suggestions for revisions. This guide is
currently being revised with these suggestions in mind.
Work Plan Fourth Quarter FY 1971:
Complete revision of road construction guidelines; have it printed.
Continue literature review and development of study plan for the
gravel removal project.
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GRANTS AND CONTRACTS
PROJECT 16100 EOM - "Baseline Water Quality Study of the Alaskan Arctic
Estuarine Development," Institute of Marine Science,
University of Alaska, Dr. Patrick J. Kinney.
The majority of effort for this quarter was expended in continued
analysis of the samples that were collected in the physical and chemical
studies, the sedimentation studies, and the limnological and marine biological
studies. Data and results from each of these disciplines were tabulated in
the 8-month report. Preliminary and tentative interpretations were presented
with more correlations to be described with the collection and analysis of
more data.
PROJECT 16100 FWQ - "Investigations of Possible Effects of Crude Oil on
Aquatic Organisms," Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Alaska, Dr. James E. Morrow
Experimental exposure of silver salmon to crude oil has continued this
quarter. The results indicate that contact of oil with air prior to the
experiemental work causes an alteration in the mortality of the exposed fish,
and that the blood parameters were found to be highly variable. Tissues
from these fish have been prepared for histological examination.
PROJECT 16100 FXJ - "North Slope Application of Advanced Waste Treatment
and Partial Water Reuse," Wagley, Inc., William A.D.
Johnson
This grant project was not activated because of the delay in issuing
the Trans-Alaska pipeline permit, which in turn has delayed planned utilization
of the AWT system to be evaluated.
PROJECT 16100 EXH - "Water Pollution Control in Cold Climates—A Symposium,"
Institute of Water Resources, University of Alaska,
Dr. R. Sage Murphy
A 3-month extension of time was granted to the project which will allow
the completion of the manuscript preparation currently underway.
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CONSOLIDATED LABORATORY SERVICES
During this quarter, approximately 3500 analyses were requested on samples
submitted from the Research Branch and the Alaska Operations Office. This
represents a somewhat lower than average workload, but does not reflect
the large backlog of biological samples which will not be completed until
the middle of the fourth quarter.
Projects submitting samples during this quarter include:
1. Waste Treatment Project
2. Dissolved Oxygen Depletion Project
3. Alaska Village Demonstration Project
4. Trans-Alaska Pipeline Survey
5. Bering River Coal Field Survey
6. Mercury Pollution Surveillance Project
Projects
include:
planned for work in the fourth quarter, in addition to the above,
1. Kodiak Harbor Enforcement Project
2. Petersburg Forest Fertilization Effects Project
Development of quality control programs for all chemical analysis is almost
completed, including routine use of quality control charts. The application
of these techniques to microbiology techniques, however, is more complex.
We hope to have developed
near future.
a usable system for total coliforms in the very
Data processing system progress includes completion of data storage systems
and changes in processing formats based upon user suggestions.
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PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Mueller, Chief of Consolidated Laboratory Services, presented a talk
about the Chena River pollution problems to the Fairbanks Chapter, American
Society of Civil Engineers. About 25 persons were in attendance, including
the press.
Mr. Mueller also spoke before the University of Alaska Conservation and Natural
Resources Seminar, held February 22, on "Alaska's Water Resources and Pollu-
tion Problems." About 60 persons attended.
The Alaska Village Demonstration Project staff gave a presentation of the
project at the Public Forum Series sponsored by the Arctic Health Research
Center.
Mr. E. W. Schallock, Aquatic Biologist, attended a meeting of the Interagency
Fish and Wildlife Team on March 2. He presented a brief resume of the objec-
tives of the Low Dissolved Oxygen Project and the Sagavanirktok River Project.
A new report entitled "The Chena River--A Study of a Subarctic Stream,"
(1610—10/70), by Paul Frey, Ernst Mueller and Edward Berry, was published
in January and is now available upon request.
The following papers were published, for limited distribution, under the
Working Paper Series:
1. "Some Chemical and Biological Properties of a Pingo Lake in
East Central Alaska"
2. "Land Related Problems Associated with TAPS Construction and Operation"
3. "Water Quality Management and Ocean Advancement"
4. "Depletion of Oxygen by Microorganisms in Alaskan Rivers at Low
Temperatures"
5. "Design Considerations for Extended Aeration in Alaska"
6. "Water Quality Management Research Needs for Alaska"
7. "Assimilative Capacity of Arctic Rivers"
8. "Alaska Sewage Lagoons"
9. "Arctic Oil and Environmental Considerations"
10. "Monitoring the Sanitary Bacteriological Quality of Potable Water
Supplies"
11. "Current Status - Cold Climate Research - Subprogram 1610"
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PUBLIC RELATIONS
The following Alaska Water Laboratory Reports were requested and mailed
out upon request:
"Biological Waste Treatment in the Far North" - 75 copies
"Effects of Large Scale Forest Fires on Water Quality in
Interior Alaska" - 53 copies
"The Chena River--A Study of a Subarctic Stream - 620
copies
The Laboratory distributed approximately 1800 miscellaneous public informa-
tion pamphlets which were requested.
The film "The Gifts" was shown in Juneau, Douglas, and Petersburg this month.
Over 300 people saw it.
VISITORS
Visitors to the Laboratory during this period included:
Mrs. Connie Franz from the General Services Branch, Northwest Regional
Office, Portland.
Mr. William Clothier from the Research and Development Office, Northwest
Regional Office, Portland.
Three GAO Auditors, from Seattle, who were here for 3 weeks to audit the
Laboratory.
TRAVEL
Mr. Latimer traveled to Portland on January 11, to meet with Regional personnel
He also traveled to Portland twice in March—once to attend a program briefing
meeting with the EPA Administrator, and once to attend the Regional Training
Committee Meeting.
Mr. Mitchell visited the Washington Headquarters office in February to review
qualifications of 21 companies interested in the Alaska Village Demonstration
Project.
Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Reid visited the Headquarters office on March 23-27, to
negotiate with IR&T for contract to build projects at Emmonak, Alaska.
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TRAINING
Mr. Conrad Christiansen attended a Civil Service Course entitled "Technical
Writing," in Anchorage on March 9-11, 1971.
The Laboratory is participating with the Arctic Health Research Center in a
cooperative Laboratory Aid Training Program. Five Native Alaskans, screened
and funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, began a 4-month, full-time
training program. Basic education and laboratory skills are being taught
in theory and in practice.
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