OMAHA
COUNCIL
BLUFFS
f
FOR
BETTER
5 .
7" f r r"7^~7 ' ~~ ' 1
TREATMENT
MV ROI ENTAL PROTECTK', AGEN<
JANUARY, 1971
r-x
-------
THE CASE FOR BETTER WASTEWATER TREATMENT
BY
John M. Rademacher, Regional Director
Carl V. Blomgren, Director, Office of Technical Support
Carl M. Walter, Supervisory Sanitary Engineer
MISSOURI BASIN REGION
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY ADMINISTRATION
INTRODUCTION .
Following the passage of_the Water Quality Act of 1965, the question
of the Federal position for mandatory minimum, of secondary treatment or
its equivalent has been a dominant issue in many parts of this country.
A specific challenge was issued by the State of Iowa to the Secretary of
the Interior on the setting of secondary treatment plus disinfection
requirements as part of the water quality standards for that State's
cities, towns and industries on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
Essentially the issue was the Federal government's prevention and
enhancement policy as contrasted with the generally followed policy of
certain states which required a demonstration of proof of damage, either
existing or potential, before treatment would be required. The challenge
centered on the application of the Federal policy to the muddy Lower
Missouri River, in particular, and all interstate streams in general.
The point generally made by the proponents of this philosophy
was that no dissolved oxygen problems exist in the Missouri River except
during periods of high runoff when tremendous organic and bacterial loads
were washed from the agricultural and metropolitan landscapes into the
feeder streams. During these periods, low D.O's were in fact measured
in substantial stretches of the main stem between Kansas City and St. Louis.
Credit for the consistently high bacterial loads at all water supply
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Page 2
intakes was also given to these sources by State and local officials.
The fact, that no detailed investigation had been made on the Lower
Missouri River since 1951-52 to confirm these contentions did not appear
to be an important consideration for the supporters of these views. And
complicating the question further is the fact that these early surveys
were done prior to the closure of Gavins Point Dam at Yankton, South
Dakota in August, 1955 at which time the Lower Missouri became essentially
an hydrologically controlled system.
Faced with a dearth of information on the actual water quality
character of the Lower Missouri and with the definite evidence of
consistently high bacterial densities at water intakes which were in
violation of all generally accepted standards for this parameter, _!/ the
Federal Water Quality Administration Missouri Basin Regional Office
instituted field investigations of the Lower Missouri in 1968 to develop
a solid technical base from which to make reasonable judgments.
The standard parameters of water quality were measured in the stream
during this initial effort, which covered eight days of dry weather
flows and two days of wet weather flows during the fall of 1968 and
on seven days of steady state flow during January, 1969. The evaluation
of these collected data demonstrated general degradation of the River
downstream from all metropolitan and major industrial sources. On the
basis of a mass analysis of bacteria, the argument for secondary
treatment, plus bacterial control on the river was supported.
JL/ Missouri River Public Water Supplies Association-Records-Surveillance
Network
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Page 3
The preliminary report, its findings, conclusions and recommendations
formed the basic part of the Federal position at the Water Quality
Standards Setting Conference held in Council Bluffs, Iowa on April 15
and 16, 1969.27
It is important to note that the dissolved oxygen level as a
significant concern was clearly demonstrated to be unimportant during
dry weather flow conditions in the river.
What the investigations and the Conference did show was the need for
further specific investigations into the bacterial and dissolved organic
content of the River and the sources of the contributory loads. To this
end Commissioner D. D. Dominick in August, 1969 directed these necessary
investigations to be made through the combined, efforts of the Missouri
Basin Regional Office and the National Field Investigations Center and
Advanced Waste Treatment Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Uniqueness of Approach
From the outset, the field investigations were unique, not only for
the type and variety of parameters measured and evaluated but also for the
first time in a reach of river 500 miles long, field sampling for such
pollution indicators as virus, salmonella and coprostanols (fecal sterols)
• - ' i • • ' ' '
were made routinely.
Major problems in logistics were faced and overcome. Viral samples
were large (up to 100. gallons—850 pounds each) and had to be transported
overnight to Dr. Gerald Berg in the Adyanced Waste Treatment Laboratory in
Proceedings, Conference to Consider Establishment of Water Quality
Standards for the Missouri River Basin Interstate Waters-State of Iowa
April 15-16, 1969 Council Bluffs, Iowa.
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Page 4
Cincinnati, Ohio. Both air and truck transport were used. Similarly,
samples for coprostanol were shipped to Dr. Robert Bunch, also at the
Advanced Waste Treatment Laboratory under equally rigid time constraints.
Field crews from the National Field Investigations Center and the Regional
technical support group and laboratory at Kansas City, Missouri, collected
and measured the total coliform, fecal coliform, fecal streptococci,
and Salmonella in the field. Also, the biologists set out periphyton
slides and evaluated the communities of attached organisms of the river
below each metropolitan area. Regrowth studies were also performed in the
laboratory using river water to estimate the influence of nutrients
discharged from primary treated waste sources on the bacterial character
of the River.
Fish tainting investigations were made with caged live catfish placed
downstream from all significant metropolitan, industrial and tributary
waste sources. An expert taste panel at Oregon State University was used
to analyze these fish samples.
Another significant factor evaluated was the coprostanol level in
the River, from the waste sources and at. water supply intakes. This
biodegradable indicator of fecal contributions from man and higher animals
appears to have unparalleled significance as it relates to the whole host
of other, though unmeasured, dissolved biodegradable organics which are
discharged from untreated or partially treated municipal and industrial
waste sources. It also confirms the importance of fecal coliform as a
key index to municipal and certain industrial waste sources during steady
state flow conditions.
The final report on these investigations including the 1969-70 surveys
is currently being prepared and should be available soon. A summary
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Page 5
statement of findings, conclusions, and recommendations on the water
quality investigations was made to the State of Nebraska water quality
hearing held in Lincoln, Nebraska, on August 28, 1970. What follows is
a distillation of that statement.
STATEMENT
The material presented is based on the detailed analysis of the data
collected during investigations made of the Missouri River and its
tributaries by the FWQA over the past two years and represents new approaches
to pollution evaluation. The specific topics discussed include (1) bacterial
investigation; (2) fecal sterol investigations; (3) pathogen isolations;
(A) biological investigations including the ^periphyton and fish flesh
tainting studies; and, (5) goals to be achieved by secondary treatment.
Table I summarizes the fecal coliform and fecal streptococci data.
The data for the River are presented graphically in Figure 1 to demonstrate
the observed profile of fecal coliform densities. It is significant to
note that all the observed river mean densities, except the control
station above Sioux City, are in excess of the 2,000 organisms per 100 ml
limit recognized by the FWQA and the State of Nebraska as the maximum
criteria for domestic water supply use.
The fecal streptococci data provide insight to the predominant origin
of wastes in the outfalls. The ratios between fecal coliform and fecal
streptococci suggest whether the wastes are of human or animal origin
and the fecal streptococci typing confirmed these findings. Origin data
are shown in Table I.
It must be emphasized that these Fall 1969 studies were conducted
during dry periods when there was no significant rainfall runoff. The
river flows at that time were between 50 and 100 percent above normal
due to the abnormally high releases from the main stem reservoirs. Even
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Page 6
with this large volume of uncontaminated dilution water the measured
fecal cqliform densities were in excess of the recognized FWQA criteria.
Fecal colifona organisms are not harmful in themselves and do not
pose a significant health hazard. They do, however, indicate the presence
of relatively recent fecal contamination, with a high probability of
pathogens being present. Under non-polluted conditions, the natural die-
off will result in a reduction of approximately 99 percent within two days
in the summer and 80 percent to 90 percent in winter. When inadequately
treated wastes are present in the receiving water, there is a source of
basic food material (organic carbon and nitrogen) which will result in
persistence, less than 50 percent die-off in 24 hours, or regrowth, a
ten-fold increase in 24 hours. Table II shows the results of bacterial
survival tests on selected waste effluents. These data show clearly the
availability of nutrients to support bacterial growth.
Table III shows the bacterial quality of the Missouri River at the
major water intakes and serves to emphasize the existence of a potential
hazard.
Conclusive evidence of the presence of recent fecal pollution at the
major municipal water intakes was obtained through the isolation of fecal
sterols. In general, sterols are a group of solid cyclic alcohols found
in plant and animal tissues. Certain sterols such as coprostanol are
unique in that they are found only in the feces of man and higher animals.
The isolation of coprostanol in water -provides positive proof of the
presence of excreta.
Table IV shows the field data for the coprostanol studies and the
fecal coliform densities isolated from the same samples. These data are
shown graphically in Figure 2. The important factors are (1) there is an
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Page 7
increase in coprostanol concentrations below each major metropolitan area
with waste discharges; (2) the coprostanol which is readily biodegradable
persists in the river at all water treatment plant intakes showing con-
clusively the presence of recent fecal pollution; (3) the presence of
fecal sterols combined with the observed densities of fecal coliforms
leave no doubt as to the water supply hazard that exists, and (4) the
contributions from sources other than municipal and industrial were minor.
The tributaries — the Boyer, Platte, Kansas — had little effect during
steady state flow conditions. Also, the graphic similarity of the
coprostanol and fecal coliform curves provides an excellent correlation
as to common source.
•
Figure 3 more vividly shows the increase in coprostanol concentration.
The diameter of the circles is proportional to mean concentration, graphi-
cally portraying the accumulation of fecal pollution in the Missouri River.
The validity of the fecal coliform and fecal sterol data was confirmed
by the actual isolation of pathogens. Waste effluent samples and river
samples were analyzed for enteric virus and Salmonella. Table III shows
the Salmonella in serotypes isolated at the water intakes. These organisms
were also isolated in the waste effluents and the survival studies indicated
the availability of nutrients for these organisms to persist or regrow.
Even more important, enteric virus were isolated from waste outfalls
and in the river. The virus data are shown in Table V and are graphically
pictured in Figure 4. The presence of virus and Salmonella in an area,
demonstrated by other means to have been subjected to recent fecal
pollution, confirms the existence of a significant hazard to those using
the water as a source of municipal supply. The dedication of a few
underpaid men and a tremendous amount of good luck have prevented the
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Page 8
occurrence of water borne epidemics. How critical this might be was
pointed out by Mr. Walter Lyons, Director, Bureau of Sanitary Engineering,
Pennsylvania Department of Health, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in a recent
paper in which he cited an authority on the possibility that half of the
40,000 annual cases of infectious hepatitis might be due to water borne
viruses which have passed present disinfection procedures.^/
Specialized biological investigations, in addition to the virus and
bacteriological studies, were conducted. The purpose of these investiga-
tions was to determine the effects of waste discharges on the composition
and abundance of attached growth (periphyton) and on the flavor and
palatability of fish flesh.
The attached organisms are the primary producers in flowing waters.
The composition of the communities of these organisms is primarily
determined by the rate of flow, the temperature, the turbidity, the
amounts of organic materials, toxic materials and inorganic nutrients
present in the water. When other conditions are favorable, flowing waters
that receive inorganic nutrients support large numbers of attached algae.
If water conditions restrict the populations of green algae and diatoms,
the pollution tolerant blue-green algae increase in number. When organic
materials are discharged to a stream in abundance, consumer organisms
such as protozoa and bacterial slimes become the predominant attached
organisms. Farther downstream the organic materials decompose and
release inorganic nutrients that become available for increased algal
_3/ "Water and Health - Are We Concerned Enough?", Walter A. Lyons, Journal
of the Sanitary Engineering Division, Proceedings of the American
Society of Civil Engineers, October, 1970.
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Page 9
growths.
In general, the periphyton investigation substantiated the impact of
waste effluents on the river despite the generally inhospitable swift
currents and heavy abrasive silt load. Immediately downstream from each
major metropolitan area there was a change in community composition either
to pollution tolerant or to reduced number of organisms. The field crews
observed chunks of meat, fat and clumps of blood in the river and odor of
sewage was present. The specific findings were:
1. Sioux City, Iowa (River Mile (R.M.) 732.1 Missouri River 1.9
miles downstream from Big Sioux River confluence, Iowa side of
river.) Attached organisms were reduced in number by waste-
waters possibly of a toxic nature.
2. Council Bluffs, Iowa (R.M. 613.5 Missouri River 0.5 mile
downstream from Council Bluffs sewage treatment plant effluent,
Iowa side of river.) Water at this station was polluted by
inadequately treated organic wastes that were discharged to the
river. These wastes supported the growth of bacterial slimes in
this area of the river.
3. Downstream from Omaha and Council Bluffs. Water was polluted
for approximately 30 miles (R.M.. 608 to R.M. 580) by inadequately
treated organic wastes as indicated by the presence of bacterial
slimes as far downstream as R.M. 580.
4. In the vicinity of Kansas City, Missouri, water was polluted
for about 15 miles (R.M. 362 to R.M. 347) by wastes toxic to
some attached growths.
. 5. The Kansas River and Blue River contained waters polluted by
organic and toxic materials.
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Page 10
The fish flesh tainting studies were conducted by exposing caged
channel catfish to the waters of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers upstream
and downstream from all known significant waste discharges. These catfish
were obtained from commercial rearing ponds for this test. After four
days exposure time, the fish were removed, dressed, quick frozen and
submitted to a food-flavor test panel. The results of this investigation
were:
1. Fish held in the Missouri River in a one mile reach downstream
from slaughterhouses and industrial waste discharges at Sioux
City, Iowa, had an unacceptable flavor. Pieces of meat scraps
and fat littered the water surface and collected on the baskets
containing the fish.
2. Downstream from the Council Bluffs and Twin Cities sewage
discharges, caged fish acquired unacceptable flavor.
3. Downstream from the Omaha sewage treatment plant discharge, fish
acquired the most unacceptable flavor of any tested in the study.
Wastes from the Omaha sewage treatment plant caused an unacceptable
off-flavor in fish for 2.5 miles of river along the Nebraska
shore. The discharge of inadequately treated wastes from the
Omaha sewage treatment plant produced slimes in the river that
collected on the cages, another indication of the severity of
pollution in this area.
4. Test fish placed in the Missouri River downstream from the
confluence of the Platte River to Kansas City, Kansas, had
acceptable flavors.
5. Wastes in runoff from the Fairfax dump at Kansas City, Kansas,
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Page 11
caused fish to have an unacceptable flavor.
6. Fish placed in the Kansas River acquired an unacceptable flavor.
7. Wastes in the Kansas River and from the Kansas City, Kansas,
and Kansas City, Missouri, sewage treatment plants discharge
combined to cause an unacceptable off-flavor in caged fish for
2.5 miles along the south shore of the Missouri River.
8. Slime growths stimulated by wastes from Corn Products Company
plant covered baskets placed 1000 feet downstream from the
.outfall and suffocated the test fish.
9. Fish placed along the north shore of the river downstream from
the North Kansas City, Missouri sewage treatment plant (Rock
Creek) acquired an unacceptable flavor.
10. Fish placed in the Big Blue River and immediately downstream
from its confluence with the Missouri River died within 24 hours
indicating that these waters were toxic. Fish placed farther
downstream in the Missouri River (one-half mile) possessed an
unacceptable flavor.
11. The Old Blue River and Sugar Creek waters were toxic to fish.
Caustic wastes in Sugar Creek dissolved the meat leaving only
skin and bones in the basket. Fish in the Missouri River down-
stream from Sugar Creek acquired even more of an unacceptable
flavor than fish at the. next upstream station.
12. Wastes discharged to the Missouri River and its tributaries from
the Kansas City area not only caused an unacceptable flavor in
test fish for 22 miles, but were toxic to fish.
13. Of the 440 mile reach of the Missouri River studied, flavors
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Page 12
were found in fish flesh placed at locations bracketing a total
of 26 miles of river, all of which were cpnfined to metropolitan
areas.
The presence of unacceptable flavors in fish flesh from caged fish
bracketing 26 miles of river, all confined to metropolitan areas, is a
significant indication of the existence of a problem and of the presence
of taste and odor-producing compounds in the water.
In summary, we believe the data collected during our field surveys
of the Missouri River demonstrate conditions of pollution. Wastes dis-
charged by the major communities using only minimal treatment, i.e.,
primary, cause measurable increases in bacterial indicator organisms,
virus and fecal sterols. These wastes also cause water quality degradation
as reflected by the structure of the periphyton communities and the
tainting of fish flesh. Each measured pollutional characteristic or
observed effect is attributable to constituents that can be removed from
the waste waters by properly operated secondary treatment facilities with
bacterial control.
Concentrations of the primary nutrients—carbon, nitrogen and
phosphorus—can be reduced 90 percent, 50 percent and 30 percent,
respectively, by secondary treatment.4/ Over 90 percent of the coliform
indicator organisms can be physically removed along with a high percentage
of the virus. Secondary treatment plant effluent can be disinfected more
k_l Statement of Dr. David G. Stephan, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Research
and Development, Federal Water Pollution Control Agency, U.S. Depart-
ment of Interior, Washington, D.C. Volume I - Proceedings from the
Conference in the matter of pollution of the interstate waters of the
Potomac River (Washington, D.C.)—District of Columbia—Maryland—
Virginia. Page 487, Conference date April 2-4, 1969.
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Page 13
effectively and economically. The fecal sterols are biodegradable and
would be reduced substantially by secondary treatment as would the other
dissolved organics known or suspected to be part of the waste load though
not specifically measured. In addition, certain phenols that affect
drinking water and other industrial chemicals that are picked up and
accumulated in the tissues of fish are normally removed in secondary
treatment.
Secondary treatment with bacterial control is necessary to comply
with established water quality standards for the Missouri River and to
safequard the water supply for some 3,000,000 people using it as a
drinking water source.
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TABLE-I
SUMMARY OF BACTERIOLOGICAL DATA
Date
of
Survey
mmmm
9/08-12
9/08-12
9/08-12
9/08-12
9/08-12
9/08-12
9/08-12
9/08-12
9/08-12
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
11/03-07
Mo. R
RM
•••
736.0
734.0
731.2
729.0
717.4
669.2
664.0
635.1
626.2
626.2
615.2
615.1
614.0
613.6
611.5
611.2
601.5
601.3
596.5
594.8
591.2
562.3
559.7
542.0
462.4
Station
Description
Mo. R. above B. Sioux
Big Sioux River
Floyd River
Sioux City STP
Iowa Beef Processors
Mo. R. below S.C. STP
Soldier River
Boyer River
Omaha WW Intake
Omaha WW Intake
Quaker Oats Eff.
Pacific Fruit
Council Bluffs STP
Twin Cities Plaza STP
Omaha Primary Eff.
Monroe St. Sewer
Bellvue STP
M. R. at Bellvue
Big Papillion Cr .
Platte River
Plattsmouth STP
Nebraska City STP
Below Nebraska City
Station
No.
••••
M-52
BS-51
F-50.5
SC-49
IBP-48.5
M-48
S-45
B-43
M-42
M-42
M-212
M-211
CB-40B
TC-210
OM-40A
OM-208
M-206
M-38
PA-213
P-37
M-201
M-200
M-34
S
Nishnabotna River 1 N-199
1
B
Nodaway River 1 N-196
MEAN 1 MEAN
FECAL 1 FECAL
COLIFORMJ STREP .
NO. /100ML
^mmtmmm
85
120
3,700
32X106
2X106
6,900
2,100
5,500
3,500
1,950
2,400
2,400
12X106
3X106
6X106
3X106
4X106
15,000
2X106
645
5X106
7X106
18,200
700
1,840
1601
48J
2,200
5X106
4X106
3,800
790
2,900
700
2,500
2,400
1,200
1X106
.13X106
8X106
10X106
.78X106
10,000
.73X106
721
.59X106
6X106
12,200
840
3,250
FC/FS
••
0.5 1
2.5 1
1.7
6.4
0.5
1.8
2.7
1.9
5.0
0.8
1.0
2.0
12.0
23.1
0.8
0.3
5.1
1.5
2.7
0.9
8.5
1.2
1.5
0.85
Character-
istic of
Probable
Source Type
mmmmmm
Domestic
Animal
Domestic
Domestic
Mix
Animal
Domestic
Domestic
0.571
Eff
•i
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
-------
TABLE-I (Continued)
SUMMARY OF BACTERIOLOGICAL DATA
Date
of
Survey
••••
11/03-07
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/18-22
9/25-29
9/25-29
9/25-29
9/25-29
9/25-29
9/25-29
9/25-29
9/25-29
9/25-29
9/25-29
9/25-29
Mo. R.
RM
•••
452.3
452.3
452.3
452.3
452.3
446.4
446.4
445.6
440.3
421.2
395.6
391.2
372.2
370.5
370.5
367.19
365.0
370.5
362.7
358.1
356.9
356.9
345.5
339.5
293.4
Station
Description
mmmmmmmmm
St. Joseph WW Intake
St. Joseph WW Intake
Black Snake Creek
Charles St. Sewer
Mitchell St. Sewer
St. Joseph STP
Brown's Ditch
St. Joseph Ind. STP
Missouri River
Atchison STP
Leavenworth STP
Platte River
Line Creek
K.C. , Mo. WW Intake
K.C. , Mo. WW Intake
K.C. , Mo. WS STP
Corn Prod. Intl. Eff.
Howe 11 St. Sewer
N.K.C. STP Eff.
Big Blue River
Independence, Mo. STP
Blue River STP
Mo. R., Missouri City
Little Blue River
Mo. R., Waver ly, Mo.
Station
No.
•••
M-28
M-28
SJ-3
SJ-5
SJ-9
SJ-15
SJ-17
SJ-18
M-27
A-25.5
L-24.5
P-23.5
M-101
M-23
M-23
K-19-B
M-105A
M-105B
M-106
BR-1
M-108
M-19
M-18
M-109
M-15
MEAN
FECAL
COLIFORM
N07100ML
••••
6,500
4,300
2X106
3X106
2X106
4X106
170,000
7X106
7,800
2X106
4X106
420
10,300
3,800
3,800
1X106
1,700
2,600
.3X106
.99X106
2X106
3X106
9,000
4,200
8,700
MEAN
FECAL
STREP.
NO/100ML
•••1
3,200
4,300
.96X106
1X106
.79X106
2X106
52,000
37X106
8,800
.25X106
.27X106
550
2,800
2,400
4,600
IX 106
17,000
30,000
15.7X106
.16X106
1X106
.58X106
54,000
2,900
12,000
FC/FS
••
2.0
1.0
2.1
3.0
2.5
2.0
3.3
0.2
0.9
8.0
14.8
0.8
3.6
1.6
0.8
1.0
0.1
0.09
0.2
6.2
2.0
5.2
0.2
1.5
0.7
Character-
istic of
Probable
Source Type
•••••
Domestic
Mix
Mix
Animal
Domestic
Domestic
Mix
Animal
An ima 1
Animal
Domestic
Mix
Domestic
Eff
M
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
15
-------
MF FECAL COLIFORM DENSITY
100.000
1969 MISSOURI RIVER SURVEYS
FWQA-K.C.,MO.
MAXIMUM VALUE
GEOMETRIC MEAN
-o MINIMUM VALUE
/ MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIII1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII11IK
/UPPER LIMIT - NEBRASKA WATER\
QUALITY STANDARD )
SAMPLING DATES
& AVERAGE FLOW(cfs)
AT END STATIONS
RIVER MILES
FIG. 1
16
-------
NOTE!
STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED DURING DRY PERIODS..
THEREFORE...
LITTLE RUNOFF!
RIVER FLOW WAS 50%-100% ABOVE NORMAL DUE TO
/ HOWEVER J
RESERVOIR RELEASES
.EVEN WITH THIS UNCONTAMINATED DILUTION
THE FECAL CONFORM LEVEL STILL EXCEEDED CRITERIA!
-------
FECAL COLI FORM C"0"0""
FECAL CONTAMINATION/
NATURAL DIE-OFF , _„. A MM_
UNDER NON-POLLUTED HP 90% IN 2 DAYS
CONDITIONS ^^
00
PERSISTENCE
INADEQUATELY * '" OIE~°"
TREATED WASTE "'*""•*
WATERS PROVIDE In ^ or
FOOD! ^ x REGROWTH
(10-FOLD REPRODUCTION)
-------
TABLE-II
BACTERIAL NUTRIENTS IN PRIMARY EFFLUENTS
Sewage I Sample I I Organism I Response
Treatment Plant! Number I Temperature | Fecal Coliform | S. Typhinurium
Sioux City
Council Bluffs
Omaha
St. Joseph
S. St. Joseph
Industrial
Persistence - Population surviving 24 hours is greater than 50%
Regrowth - 10 fold increase in population in 24 hours
Temperature - Incubation temperature related to water temperature
SC-49A
CB-40B
OH-40A
SJ-15
SJ-18
44.5°C
15°C
20°C
20°C
25°C
Persistence
Persistence
Regrowth
Regrowth
Regrowth
Regrowth
Persistence
Regrowth
Regrowth
Regrowth
19
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TABLE-III
BACTERIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF MISSOURI RIVER AT WATER INTAKES
Total I Fecal I Fecal I Ratio I Salmonella
Water Intake IColiform Icoliform (streptococcus IFC/FS I Isolated
Omaha
St. Joseph
Kansas City
32,000
88,000
89,000
2,700
5,300
3,800
1,300
3,700
3,300
2.1
1.4
1.2
Bacteriological Limits for Public Water Supplies*
S. Anatum
S. Derby
S. Montevideo
S. Newport
S. Give
S. Infantis
S. Poona
Total Coliforms**
Fecal Coliforms
10,000 per 100 ml (Monthly Arithmetic Avg.)
2,000 per 100 ml (Monthly Arithmetic Avg.)
* Water Quality Criteria, FWPCA (April 1, 1968)
** Total coliforms may be related if fecal coliforms do not exceed
their limit of 2,000 per 100 ml.
*** Serotypes determined by Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Georgia
20
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COPROSTANOL (FECAL STEROL)
FOUND ONLY ZJV FECES
OF
MAN
&
HIGHER ANIMALS
THEREFORE...
ISOLATED COPROSTANOL
PROVES PRESENCE OF EXCRETA
-------
TABLE -IV
OBSERVED COPROSTANOL CONCENTRATIONS AND FECAL COLIFORM DENSITIES
II II Mean 1 Mean Fecal
Sampling lstation| Station | River | Coprostanol | Coliform Densities
Area
Sioux City
Area
(Jan. 20
thru
Mar. 24,
1970)
Omaha Area
(Jun. 27
thru
Mar. 31,
1970)
St. Joseph
Area
(Feb. 4
thru
May 5,
1970)
Kansas
City Area
(Feb. 11
thru
May 13,
1970)
Number
M-52
SC-49
M-48
B-43
M-42
M-42
CB-40-B
OM-40-A
M-38
M-205
P-37
M-34
M-28
M-28
SJ-15
SJ-18
M-27
A-25.5
L-24.5
M-23
M-23
K-22
M-103
M-104
M-107-B
M-19
M-18
M-15
Description 1
Mo. R. above Mouth of
Big Sioux R.
Sioux City STP Effluent
Mo. R. Sioux City Mixing
Zone
Boyer R. at 1-29 Highway
Bridge above Omaha
Mo. R. at Omaha Water-
works Intake
Mo. R. at Omaha Water-
works Intake
Council Bluffs STP Eff.
Omaha-Mo. R. STP Eff.
Mo. R. at Be llevue -Omaha
Area Mixing Station
Papillion Cr. at CRB 1.0
Mile below US-73
Platte R. at US-73 Bridge
Junction
Mo. R. at Nebraska City
Mo. R. at St. Joseph
Waterworks Intake
Mo. R. at St. Joseph
Waterworks Intake
St. Joseph Municipal
STP Eff.
S. St. Joseph Industrial
STP Eff.
Mo. R. at St. Joseph Area
Mixing Station
Atchison STP Eff.
Leavenworth STP Eff.
Mo. R. at K.C. Waterworks
Intake
Mo. R. at K. C. Water-
works Intake
Kansas R. at Central Ave .
Bridge in K. C., Kansas
K. C. , Kansas
STP Eff.
K.C., Mo.Westside STP Eff
Big Blue R. at Mouth
K. C. , Mo. Blue River
STP Eff.
Mo. R. at Missouri City
Power Plant Mixing Zone
Mo. R. at Waverly
Mile 1
736.0
729.0
717.4
631.1
626.2
626.2
614.0
611.5
601.7
596.6
594.8
559.7
452.3
452.3
446.4
445.6
440.3
421.0
395.6
370.5
370.5
367.4
367.20
367.19
358.0
358.0
345.4
293.0
Cone. >ug/l 1
6
709
101
62
20
21
797
312
72
210
16
70
33
33
436
508
49
424
491
56
82
'77
535
290
95
381
87
Organisms/100 ml
•••••••1
140
19 x 106
1.3 x 104
3,500
770
1,000
2.9 x 106
1.9 x 106
4,200
3.8 x 105
540
3,800
2,100
1 , 800
4.2 x 106
11 x 106
2,800
2.8 x 106
5.7 x 106
3,150
5,500
4,200
13 x 106
0.9 x 106
8,300
2.7 x 106
6,100
70 1 4,000
22
-------
MEAN FECAL COLIFORM
per 100 ML
H*
<* §
FIG. 2
I i
I
I
I
MEAN COPROSTANOL
(wG/Liter)
MEAN COPROSTANOL
ŁaG/Liter)
N)
s
o
I
T
i
T
I
SIOUX CITY STP
BOYER RIVER
/.
OMAHA STP
COUNCIL BLUFFS STP
XT^
PAPILLION CREEK
PLATTE RIVER
ST. JOSEPH STP
SOUTH ST. JOSEPH STP
* / •
ATCHISON STP
AS RIVER LEAVEHWORTH STP
tn
m
CO
K.C..KS.STP-
oo
BLUE RIVER
WEST K.C.MO. STP
K.C. MO. BLUE R. STP
CO
fio
oret
D>
23
-------
,0(6)
(56)
GOPROSTANOL
CONCENTRATION
AT WATER INTAKES
(JAN.-MARCH, 1970)
(33)
ST. JOSEPH
FIG. 3
24
-------
RECOVERY OF VIRUS & SALMONELLA
O NO VIRUS RECOVERED
O VIRUS RECOVERED
NO SALMONELLA RECOVERED
SALMONELLA RECOVERED
FIG. 4
25
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TABLE-V
VIRUS SAMPLING RESULTS
Sample
Station | Description
•••
M-52A Missouri River
Thacker Marina
Sioux City
SC-49 Sioux City STP
M-48A Missouri River downstream
from Sioux City
OM-40A Omaha STP
C-B-40B Council Bluffs STP
OM-208 Omaha
Monroe St. Bypass
TC-210 Twin Cities STP
M-38 Missouri River - Bellvue, Nebr.
M-28 Missouri River at
St. Joseph Water Intake
SJ-15 St. Joseph STP
SJ-18 St. Joseph Industrial
effluent
M-27 Missouri River Palermo Landing
A-25.5 Atchison, Kansas STP
L-24.5 Leavenworth, Kansas STP
1 Sample 1 Virus Recov*
| Date 1 gFUJL-
H^HI^^IHHH
11/12/69
11/12/69
11/12/69
10/16/69
10/23/69
10/23/69
10/23/69
10/28/69
1/20/70
1/20/70
1/20/70
1/20/70
9/18/69
9/18/69
^fmmmm^^mmmm
0
41/Liter
1
222/Liter
286/Liter
201/Liter
7/Liter
4
19
44/Liter
67
1
9.5/Liter
8/Liter
*PFU - Plaque Forming Unit - May be one virus or a clump of virus.
26
-------
PERIPHYTON INVESTIGATION
THIS INVESTIGATION SUBSTANTIATES THE IMPACT OF WASTE EFFLUENTS ON
THE RIVER
N>
DOWNSTREAM FROM EACH MAJOR METRO AREA
THERE WAS...
Change in composition
to pollution tolerent
i;
Reduction of organisms
-------
00
FISH TAINTING TEST
RESULTS
SIOUX CITY
DOWNSTREAM FROM
SLAUGHTER HOUSES
& INDUSTRIAL WASTES
UNACCEPTABLE FLAVOR
COUNCIL BLUFFS
& TWIN CITIES STP
UNACCEPTABLE FLAVOR
OMAHA STP
MOST UNACCEPTABLE FLAVOR
DOWNSTREAM OF CONFLUENCE
OF PLATTE RIVER TO K.C..KS.
ACCEPTABLE FLAVOR
UNACCEPTABLE FLAVOR
FAIRFAX DUMP(K.C)
UNACCEPTABLE FLAVOR
KANSAS RIVER
DOWNSTREAM OF K.C..KS. & K.C.. MO. STP
UNACCEPTABLE FLAVOR
-------
Page 29
In a letter dated July 22, 1970 to Congressman John A. Blatnik,
Chairman of the House Subcommittee of the Committee on Government
Operations, Mr. David Howells, Director of the Water Resources Research
Institute, University of North Carolina, stated in part,5/
"While water borne disease outbreaks have been comparatively
infrequent in this country, we still experience them and there is
no basis for complacency. Our conventional water treatment technology
is not nearly as good as is often implied. In general, it does not
"remove dissolved organics and inorganics to say nothing of its.
questionable effectiveness for the removel of virus. There is a
strong parallel between a citizen consuming dissolved materials
of unknown toxicity over a prolonged period of time and the much-
cited oyster concentrating dilute amounts of toxic materials from
its aquatic environment until debilitating levels are reached. •
This is a vast submerged iceberg of potential peril to the public
health. The fact that our epidemiological techniques are inadequate
to define the problem is no indication that it does not exist.
Nothing can be done about cumulative hazards of this type once
demonstrated, except to take steps to. prevent similar damage to the
previously unexposed population."
The investigations define in large part the size of that iceberg
Mr. Howells describes. The long held concepts of what is pollution, what
are the limitations of water treatment^ systems must come in for drastic
revision.
_5/ Letter dated July 22, 1970 from Mr. David Howells, to Congressman
John A. Blatnik.
-------
Page
30
Multiple barriers are needed to protect the health and welfare of
the downstream water users. The Public Health Service in its statement
to the Water Quality Standards Conference in Council Bluffs, Iowa -
propounded the need for secondary treatment and necessary bacterial control
on the Lower Missouri River as a minimum.6/ Dr. Graham Walton, Mr. Edwin
Geldreich, and Mr. T. A. Ferris left.no doubt on this point. Their
common position with the Federal Water Quality Administration and the
Secretary of the Interior is not only supported but has been demonstrated
by subsequent investigations.
- Who can ignore a 15 fold increase in dissolved organics in terms
of concentration as you progress downstream?
Who can ignore positive virus cultures from waste sources in the
river downstream and at the water intakes at Omaha and St.
Joseph when none are found upstream from Sioux City, Iowa?
!
Who can ignore the positive Salmonella samples found in the waste
sources, in the river downstream and at the water intakes at
Omaha, St. Joseph, Kansas City, and in the river at Waverly,
Missouri when none were found upstream from Sioux City in the
Missouri River?
Who can ignore the fact that the conditions of steady state in
the Lower Missouri^- "occur 70-85 percent of the time and that
during this time up to 85 percent of the bacterial and organic
loads are from specific municipal and industrial sources?
Proceedings, Conference to Consider Establishment of Water Quality
Standards for the Missouri River Basin Interstate Waters - State of
Iowa, April 15-16, 1969 Council Bluffs, Iowa. pp. 295-302
-------
Page 31
The Regional and National Field Investigations Center field teams
backed by highly skilled experts in virology, bacteriology, biology,
organic chemistry, etc., have effectively challenged the long held
dependence upon single or simple quality parameters such as Dissolved
Oxygen. If quality degradation can be demonstrated as it has on a
difficult river like the turbulent muddy Missouri, then there is no
question similar effects can be shown with relative ease on any other
river in the country. Let there be no mistake - the viability of the
Federal (and for many states) requirement for secondary treatment with
bacterial control has been demonstrated.
EPILOGUE
The situation on the Missouri River with respect to this issue is
almost academic at this point. The State of Missouri has advanced its
mandatory secondary treatment requirement for all cities and towns on the
Missouri and Mississippi Rivers from 1982 to December 31, 1975. The
Secretary of the Interior approved this change. It is important to note
that St. Charles, Missouri on the Mississippi River above the Alton Lock
and Dam will have tertiary treatment by 1972 and the State has called
for a similar schedule for secondary for cities and towns above that point.
The State of Nebraska has submitted to the Federal Water Quality
Administration a schedule of December 31, 1975 for secondary treatment
and any additionally needed bacterial control on the Missouri River at its
October 9, 1970 Water Pollution Control Council Meeting. The City of Omaha has
already hired engineers to design the needed facilities.
Council Bluffs, Iowa has already committed itself to similar treat-
ment to meet the December 31, 1973 deadline set by Secretary Hickel.
-------
Page 32
Sioux City, Iowa has hired engineers to design the needed secondary
system and subsequently has also been cited by the State of Iowa to
proceed based upon the data supplied by the Federal Water Quality
Administration and confirmed in a visit by state field technicians after
the Federal data receipt.
In November, 1970 Commissioner Dominick met with the Governor of Iowa
and a tentative resolution of the differences was achieved. All cities on
the Missouri River will be required to put in secondary treatment with
bacterial control.
Kansas City, Kansas has committed itself to secondary treatment by
December 31, 1975 and the Kansas Board of Health is in substantial
agreement on necessary modifications to its water quality standards to
be fully approvable. A mandatory December 31,1975 outside date for
completion of secondary treatment or its equivalent plus needed bacterial
control is included.
The causes and effects are made up of many parts in analyzing these
actions individually and collectively but there is no question the strength
of the Federal position grew with each increment of data collected and
analyzed in the hallmark Missouri River investigations. Rediscovery of
the wheel is sometimes necessary to free it from the rut of locked-in
concepts.
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