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    TREATMENT
        MV ROI ENTAL PROTECTK', AGEN<
           JANUARY, 1971
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                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




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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

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             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

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       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!

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        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)

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                                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

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                            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

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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

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               ,0(6)
         (56)
                    GOPROSTANOL
                    CONCENTRATION
                    AT WATER INTAKES
                     (JAN.-MARCH, 1970)
                             (33)


                       ST. JOSEPH
FIG. 3
                    24

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                                     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

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          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

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                                                                 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.

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                                                                 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

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                                                               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.

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                                                      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.

-------