ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACENCY
OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT
REPORT ON
WATER QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN
TORRINGTON,WYOMING-TO-BAYARD,NEBRASKA
NATIONAL FIELD INVESTIGATIONS CENTER-DENVER
DENVER.COLORADO
AND
REGION VII KANSAS CITY.MO.
APRIL 1972
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT
Report on
WATER QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
NORTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN
TORRINGTON, WYOMING-TO-BAYARD, NEBRASKA
National Field Investigations Center-Denver
Denver, Colorado
and
Region VII
Kansas City, Missouri
April 1972
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Description Page
GLOSSARY OF TERMS v
I INTRODUCTION 1
A. Background 1
B. 1972 Water Quality Investigations 2
II SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 5
III RECOMMENDATIONS 8
IV STUDY AREA 11
A. Description 11
B. Sources of Pollution 12
V WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS 14
A. Nebraska Water Quality Standards 14
B. Wyoming Water Quality Standards 15
VI STREAM SURVEY 16
VII WASTE SOURCE EVALUATION 23
A. Industrial Sources 23
Great Western Sugar Company
Mill at Scottsbluff 23
Great Western Sugar Company
Mill at Gerlng 26
Great Western Sugar Company
Mill at Mitchell 28
Great Western Sugar Company
Mill at Bayard 28
Holly Sugar Corporation
Mill at Torrington 31
B. Municipal Sources 33
VIII WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT NEEDS 35
A. Low Flow Conditions 35
B. Control of Industrial Discharges 35
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Section
Description
Page
REFERENCES
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
APPENDICES
37
ii
iii
iv
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No.
Title
Follows Page
Location Map Inside
Water Quality Investigations Back Cover
Flow Balance, North Platte River 20
January 5-15, 1972
Great Western Sugar Co. 25
Waste Treatment Lagoons & Sampling
Locations, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Great Western Sugar Co. 27
Waste Treatment Lagoons & Sampling
Locations, Gering, Nebraska
Great Western Sugar Co. 30
Waste Treatment Lagoons & Sampling
Locations, Mitchell, Nebraska
Great Western Sugar Co. 30
Waste Treatment Lagoons & Sampling
Locations, Bayard, Nebraska
ii
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LIST OF FIGURES (continued)
Figure No. Title Follows Page
Holly Sugar Corporation 32
Waste Treatment Lagoons &
Sampling Locations, Torrington, Wyoming
LIST OF TABLES
Table No. Title Page
1 Stream Survey Locations 17
2 Wastewater Discharges 18
3 Summary of Stream Conditions 19
January 5-15, 1972
4 Stream Survey Bacteriological 20
Characteristics
January 5-15, 1972
5 Operational Characteristics 24
Sugar Beet Mills
6 Summary of Waste Characteristics 25
Great Western Sugar Company
Scottsbluff„ Nebraska
7 Summary of Waste Characteristics 27
Great Western Sugar Company
Gering, Nebraska
8 Summary of Waste Characteristics 29
Great Western Sugar Company
Mitchell, Nebraska
9 Summary of Waste Characteristics 30
Great Western Sugar Company
Bayard, Nebraska
iii
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LIST OF TABLES (continued)
Table No. Title
10 Summary of Condenser Water
Characteristics
Holly Sugar Corporation
11 Summary of Effluent Characteristics
Municipal Waste Lagoons
Page
32
34
APPENDICES
Appendix Title
A Pollution Abatement Measures
B Nebraska Water Quality Standards
C Wyoming Water Quality Standards
D Methods of Analysis
E Sugar Beet Refining Process
Page
A-l
B-l
C-l
D-l
E-l
iv
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
BOD - Biochemical Oxygen Demand, 5-Day
COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand
DO - Dissolved Oxygen
NH.N - Ammonia Nitrogen
N03-N02-N - Nitrate Nitrite Nitrogen
P - Phosphorous
TOG - Total Organic Carbon
TSS - Total Suspended Solids
VSS - Volatile Suspended Solids
cfs - flow rate given in cubic feet per second
gpm - flow rate given in gallons per minute
mgd - flow rate given in million gallons per day
mg/1 - concentration given in milligrams per liter
BM - river mileage
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I. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND
In November 1960 a water quality survey conducted on the North
Platte River between Torrington, Wyoming, and Morrlll, Nebraska, Indi-
cated that substantial interstate pollution of the river was occurring. A
Conference on Pollution of the Interstate Waters of the North Platte
River, Wyoming-Nebraska, was held in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, September 12,
1961, to consider pollution resulting from the wastes discharged from the
Holly Sugar Corporation plant at Torrington, Wyoming, and from the four
plants of the Great Western Sugar Company at Mitchell, Scottsbluff, Gering,
and Bayard, Nebraska.
The Conference recommended that various water quality and waste source
surveys be conducted during the 1961-62 and 1962-63 sugar beet processing
2 3
seasons. ' The Conference was reconvened on March 21, 1962, and again
on November 20, 1963, in order to evaluate the results of the surveys.
During the period between the first and third sessions various waste
treatment and control improvements were accomplished by municipalities
and Industries. In particular, Holly Sugar Corporation eliminated all
waste discharges, except flume and condenser water, and provided fine
screening for the flume water discharge. The Great Western Sugar Company
at Scottsbluff ponded its entire waste discharge during the 1962-63 sea-
son. Levels of BOD and suspended solids were substantially reduced.
Depressions of DO were minor, but bacterial counts remained high. By
1965, waste treatment and control facilities were installed at the other
mills in compliance with the Conference recommendations. All municipal
sources, with the exception of that of Bayard, Nebraska, were in com-
pliance by the end of 1968.
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In December 1970 a water quality and waste source survey of the ten-
mile reach of the North Platte River between Torrington, Wyoming, and
Henry, Nebraska, produced evidence that inadequate waste treatment by the
Holly Sugar Corporation was still creating interstate pollution of the
river. Consequently, a 180-day notice was issued on June 15, 1971, giving
Holly Sugar Corporation until December 23, 1971 to abate the pollution.
A public hearing concerning the 180-day notice was held in Scotts-
bluff, Nebraska, on July 21, 1971, in order to consider the standards
4
violations and means of achieving pollution abatement. The Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA), Region VII, made recommendations [Appendix
A] to the Holly Sugar Company concerning their waste discharge. Holly
Sugar has complied with most of these recommendations.
B. 1972 WATER QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
EPA, Region VII, requested the EPA National Field Investigations
Center-Denver to conduct water quality investigations in the North Platte
River. A study was made during the 1971-72 sugar beet campaign, specifi-
cally January 5-15, 1972, with the following four objectives:
1) determine compliance with water quality standards es-
tablished for the North Platte River;
2) determine the effects of waste sources from sugar beet
mills on water quality of the North Platte River;
3) determine if proposed water pollution control measures
are adequate to protect the specified water uses of the
North Platte River; and
4) determine if any enforcement actions are necessary.
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The North Platte River was surveyed from upstream of Torrington, Wy-
oming (KM 209.3) to downstream from Bayard, Nebraska (RM 152.1). Bacterio-
logical analyses were performed on water samples from selected stations
to determine whether or not standards were being violated. Investigations
were conducted at both the Great Western Sugar Company and Holly Sugar
Corporation mills in order to evaluate water pollution control practices
and determine the waste loads discharged. Bacteriological analyses were
performed on both the sugar mill discharges and the effluents from the
municipal wastewater treatment plants at Terrytown, Gering, and Scottsbluff
to Identify sources of bacterial contamination.
The cooperation of personnel from the following State, county, city,
and Federal agencies and industries in supplying information and assist-
ance for the water quality investigations is gratefully acknowledged.
Nebraska Department of Water Resources
Nebraska Game Commission
Nebraska Department of Environmental Control
Wyoming State Engineer's Office
Wyoming Department of Health and Social Services
City of Scottsbluff
City of Gering
City of Terrytown
Scottsbluff County Engineer's Office
U.S. Geological Survey, Cheyenne, Wyoming
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U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Torrington, Wyoming
Great Weatem Sugar Company
Holly Sugar Corporation
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II. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Water quality investigations in the North Platte River Basin
(Torrington, Wyoming, to Bayard, Nebraska) were conducted during January
1972. These included an evaluation of the waste sources that could affect
water quality. Industrial wastes discharged from the Holly Sugar Corpora-
tion mill at Torrington, and the Great Western Sugar Company mills at
Scottsbluff, Mitchell, Gering, and Bayard, Nebraska, were characterized.
Bacteriological analyses were made on the effluents from mills and the
municipal wastewater treatment facilities at Terrytown, Scottsbluff, and
Gering, Nebraska, in order to identify sources of bacterial contamination.
Bacterial densities in that reach of the North Platte River down-
stream from RM 209.3 (Torrington) to upstream of RM 172.9 (Terrytown) were
below established limits for coliforms; the maximum geometric averages*
for total and fecal coliform densities observed in this section were
790/100 ml and <74/100 ml, respectively. At every river station downstream
from the Terrytown waste treatment plant, the total and fecal coliform
densities were above the Nebraska Water Quality Standards limit
(10,000/100 ml and 2,000/100 ml, respectively). The maximum total coli-
form densities were 750,000/100 ml and 75,000/100 ml, respectively. These
densities were found at Station 7 (RM 172.3) downstream from the Gering
Great Western sugar beet mill.
The greatest sources of bacterial contamination were the effluents
from the Gering and Scottsbluff Great Western sugar plants. The Terry-
* All bacterial densities will be geometric averages unless otherwise
specified.
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6
town municipal waste treatment plant discharged a small volume of poorly
disinfected effluent.
The only discharge from the Holly Sugar Corporation was condenser
water; all other wastes were re-cycled or impounded. This effluent had a
five-day BOD of less than 0.5 Ib per ton of beets processed. Contamination
by other waste waters caused the TSS load to exceed 0.5 Ib per ton of beets
processed. An effluent containing 0.5 Ib each of BOD and TSS per ton of
beets processed is achievable with installation of the best practicable
control technology currently available for the sugar beet Industry.
The discharge from the Bayard mill caused violations of the DO
criterion in Stuckenholz Drain. No violations of water quality criteria
for the North Platte River were documented as a result of the discharge from
the Mitchell mill. The present treatment system relies on seepage to the
near surface ground water formation as a substitute for secondary treatment
as required by the State of Nebraska's water quality standards.
The DO, pH, and temperature of the North Platte River, within the
reach studied, were within acceptable levels. The DO concentration in
Stuckenholz Drain, downstream from the Great Western Sugar Company mill
at Bayard, was 3.2 mg/1, in violation of the criterion (5.0 mg/1). The
DO value upstream of the discharge was 11 mg/1. The Great Western mill
was discharging about 6,900 Ib BOD per day to Stuckenholz Drain during the
survey.
The four Great Western Sugar Company plants failed to meet the
Nebraska Water Quality Standards which require that industrial wastes
shall receive a degree of treatment equivalent to secondary or shall
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receive control consistent with waste characteristics, uses and quality
of receiving waters. For the sugar beet processing mills, the treatment
or control must result in effluent containing no greater than 0.5 Ib each
of BOD and TSS per ton of beets processed.
The amounts of BOD and TSS discharged, per ton of sugar beets per
day, were as follows:
Ib/ton sugar beets sliced
Sugar Mill BOD TSS
Holly Sugar 0.27 0.84
Great Western
Mitchell 0.48 0.71
Scottsbluff 2.69 0.30
Gering 7.01 0.80
Bayard 2.94 0.48
An examination of historical low-flow conditions (1951-1970) during
the sugar beet processing season (Oct. 1-Feb. 1) indicated that minimum
stream flows are sufficient to maintain acceptable water quality when ade-
quate treatment, as defined herein, is provided for all waste sources.
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8
III. RECOMMENDATIONS
1. It ia recom&ended that abatement measures to be undertaken at
Great Western Sugar Company plants at Mitchell, Gerlng, Scottsbluff,
and Bayard, Nebraska, include the following requirements:
(a) The Company may elect to provide completely closed
transport water systems with discharge of condenser
water only or may elect to treat transport waters
prior to discharge. In either case, separated con-
denser waters discharged to the North Platte River
shall not exceed the following:
24-Hour Composite Any Grab Sample
(mg/1) (mg/1)
BOD 30 SO
TSS 30 SO
COD 54 90
(b) If treated transport waters are to be discharged,
the total BOD, TSS, and COD loads contained in
all discharges shall not exceed 0.5 Ibs, 0.5 Ibs,
and 0.9 Ibs, respectively, per ton of beeta pro-
cessed. In no case shall the discharges from speci-
fic plants exceed the following:
BOD & TSS COD
Scottsbluff
Gering
Mitchell
Bayard
(Ibs/day)
1,635
1,100
1,075
1,085
(Ib8/d,
2,950
2,000
1,940
1,950
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(c) No toxic or hazardous material, as designated under the
provisions of Section 12 of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act, or known to be hazardous or toxic, except
with the approval of the Regional Administrator (EPA)
or his designee, shall be discharged.
(d) Organisms Isolated in the fecal colifonn test, contained
in the wastewaters reaching the North Platte River shall
not exceed 2,000 organisms per 100 ml.
(e) There shall not be a discharge of ammonia that may cause
toxic or hazardous conditions or accelerate eutro-
phication in the receiving water, except with the approval
of the Regional Administrator (EPA) or his designee.
(f) Waste water shall be equalized prior to discharge In
order to minimize slug loads to the receiving waters.
(g) Discharges of all wastewaters subsequent to the actual
beet processing campaign shall meet the effluent limitations
and requirements described in Item 1, paragraphs (a), (c),
(d), (e), and (f).
2. The necessary abatement measures required to meet the criteria
specified in Item 1 shall be in operation at the Great Western Sugar
Company mills in Scottsbluff, Gering, Mitchell, and Bayard, Nebraska,
prior to startup of the 1972-73 beet processing season.
3. It is recommended that appropriate abatement proceedings be ini-
tiated in order to require adequate disinfection of municipal wastewater
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10
discharges and to prohibit the disposal of sludge along the periphery of
the North Platte River by the City of Terrytown, Nebraska.
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11
IV. STUDY AREA
A. DESCRIPTION
The North Platte River, originating in Colorado, flows northward into
Central Wyoming and then follows a southeastward course to join the South
Platte River at North Platte, Nebraska, forming the Platte River. During
the summer months the North Platte River is regulated by a large number
of reservoirs, in Colorado and Wyoming, that keep the river flow at high
levels during the irrigation season.
The section of the North Platte River investigated lies in three
counties, Goshen County, Wyoming, and Scottsbluff and Morrlll Counties,
Nebraska [Figure 1, inside back cover], the major portion being in
Scottsbluff County. The North Platte River Valley is predominantly farm-
land irrigated by the Bureau of Reclamation North Platte Project and
private irrigation systems. The valley Is approximately 20 miles wide
with ranges of hills — parallel to the river, averaging 600-700 feet in
height to the south and 300-400 feet on the north.
The main source of groundwater is the annual rainfall of approximately
14 inches. Most of the precipitation occurs from evening thundershowers
during April through July. The daily mean temperature from April through
September is 63.9°?; and from October through March is 34.9°F. Pre-
dominant winds are from the northwest.
The elevation at the Wyoming-Nebraska state line is 4,025 ft and at
Bayard, Nebraska, 3,760 ft; the river gradient is seven ft/mile. The
approximate drainage area between Torrington and Bayard is 8,500 square
miles. The annual mean flow of the North Platte River at the Wyoming-
Nebraska state line is about 350,000 acre-ft.
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12
Scottsbluff, Nebraska, is the largest community in the valley, having
a population of approximately 15,000. Gering, Nebraska, a twin city to
Scottsbluff, and Torrington, Wyoming, each have populations of about 5,000.
All other communities have populations of 2,000 or less.
The population vithin the survey area remained essentially constant
from 1940 through 1960. The past decade has shown an Increase of about
7.8 percent in the population of all communities except Torrington and
Bayard, which have continued to remained constant.
Agriculture is the predominant economic base in the valley. Sugar
beets, corn, wheat, sorghum, alfalfa, oats, and potatoes are the leading
crops. Cattle, sheep, hogs, and chickens make up the livestock population.
The agricultural related Industries consist of feedlots, sugar beet pro-
cessing, and meat packing.
B. SOURCES OF POLLUTION
Within the study area, the North Platte River receives discharges
from municipal and Industrial wastes, irrigation return flows, feedlots,
and rural runoff. The magnitude of Industrial and municipal wastes is
known, while that of the other wastes is not known.
In 1961 there were 14 known sources of industrial wastes discharging
to the North Platte River study area. The major contributors were the
five sugar beet plants. They discharged a total waste load with a BOD
population equivalent (P.E.) of about 1.5 million. [The P.E. of an
Industrial effluent is computed by dividing its total dally weight of BOD
in pounds by 0.17 Ib, the dally per capita BOD of domestic wastewaters.]
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13
The remaining nine industries discharged a total waste load with a P.E.
of 43,000.
The 1967 Nebraska implementation plan required five industries,
excluding the Great Western mills, either to provide a private treat-
ment facility or connect to a municipal treatment system by January 1, 1972.
All communities in the study area have waste treatment systems. In
Nebraska, Terrytown operates an extended aeration plant. The city of
Melbeta uses a clarifier followed by sand filtration, and McGrew uses septic
tanks. The remaining communities employ lagoons for treatment. Discharges
from the lagoons are controlled in order to allow maximum dilution with
the receiving streams during maximum river flows. Industrial wastes at
Gering are collected separately from domestic wastes and are discharged
to three anaerobic lagoons, operated in parallel, for oil and grease separa-
tion. The oils and grease are burned in these lagoons. The lagoon efflu-
ents flow to three mechanically aerated lagoons, operated in parallel, and
then finally Into a polishing lagoon. Domestic wastes are discharged to a
waste lagoon and then discharged to the same polishing lagoon. The effluent
from the polishing lagoon is discharged to the North Platte River.
Inasmuch as the North Platte Valley supports an important agricul-
tural economy, much of the valley Is irrigated. The return flows from the
irrigated areas can contain substantial loads of salt, nutrients, pesticides,
and oxygen demanding materials. The effects of irrigation return flows on
water conditions were not determined by this survey.
A number of feedlots containing cattle and/or other animals for meat
production were scattered throughout the valley. The runoff and drainage
from these feedlots also were not determined in this study.
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14
V. WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
A. NEBRASKA WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
The North Platte River has been designated by Nebraska as Class C,
suitable for agricultural uses including irrigation and livestock watering,
partial body contact sports, growth and propagation of aquatic life, semi-
aquatic life, wildlife, and industrial use. Water quality standards have
been established to protect the above uses. [These standards are shown
in Appendix B.]
The specific standards applicable to this survey include:
1. Bacteria - Co11form group and fecal collform organisms shall
not exceed a geometric mean of 10,000/100 ml total or 2,000/100
ml fecal coliform bacteria. No more than 20 percent of samples
shall exceed 20,000/100 ml total or 4,000/100 ml fecal coliform
bacteria.
2. Suspended, Colloidal or Settleable Solids - None from waste-
water sources which will permit objectionable deposition or
be deleterious for the designated uses. In no case shall
turbidity caused by wastewater impart more than a 10 percent
increase in turbidity to the receiving water.
3. Temperature -
Trout Streams - Allowable change 5°F, maximum limit 65*F.
Warm Water Streams - Allowable change 5*F May through October;
10°F November through April. Maximum limit 90°F; maximum
rate of change limited to 2°F per hour.
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15
4. Dissolved Oxygen - Oxygen consuming wastes shall not lower
the dissolved oxygen in receiving stream lower than 5 mg/1
in warm water stream and 6 mg/1 in a trout stream.
5. pH - The hydrogen ion concentrations expressed as pH shall
be maintained between 6.5 and 9.0 with a maximum total change
of 1.0 pH unit from the value in the receiving stream.
Municipal wastes are required by Nebraska to receive secondary treat-
ment with a minimum of 85 percent removal of the five-day BOD and TSS.
Industrial wastes are required to receive an equivalent degree of treatment
or control consistent with waste characteristics, uses and quality of the
receiving waters.
For the sugar beet processing industries, adequate treatment or
control is that which will result in an effluent containing not more
than 0.5 Ib each of BOD and TSS per ton of beets processed. These
effluent levels can be obtained through the Installation of best prac-
ticable treatment technology currently available for the sugar beet
processing industry.
B. WYOMING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
[Water Quality Standards applicable to the North Platte River are
enclosed in Appendix C.]
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16
VI. STREAM SURVEY
A stream survey was conducted from January 9 to 15, 1972. Fourteen
stream sampling stations were established in the North Platte River
between Torrington, Wyoming (RM-209.3), and Bayard, Nebraska (RM-152.1).
[Figure 1 and Table 1]. Flow data were obtained at USGS gaging stations.
Supplemental flow data were obtained for the major creeks and drains
discharging to the North Platte River. There were eight effluent out-
falls sampled [Table 2].
Daily grab samples of water were taken from the 14 stream stations
for bacteriological, DO, and turbidity analyses [Appendix D - Methods of
Analysis]. Field measurements for pH, temperature, and conductivity
were also made at all locations [Table 3]. [The supplemental flow data
for groundwater accretion and the major creeks and drains discharging
into the North Platte River between Torrington and Bayard are shown in
Figure 2.]
A 1970 survey of the North Platte River downstream from Torrington,
Wyoming (RM-209.3), indicated that the Nebraska Water Quality Standards
for bacteria were violated at Henry, Nebraska (RM-199.0). An 180-day
notice under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act was issued to the
Holly Sugar Company for violation of the Nebraska Water Quality Standards.
Results of the 1972 stream survey indicated that the bacterial densities
[Table 4] were well within the Nebraska criteria from Henry (RM 199) to
upstream of the Terrytown municipal treatment plant discharge (RM 173).
From RM-172.9 (Station 6) to downstream from Bayard (RM-152.1 - Station 14)
the bacterial criteria were violated. The Terrytown waste treatment
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TABLE 1
STREAM SURVEY LOCATIONS
Station
Designation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Description/Location
North Platte River, Torrlngton, Wyoming,
upstream of Holly discharge.
North Platte River, Henry, Nebraska.
North Platte River, Mitchell, Nebraska,
upstream of Great Western discharge.
North Platte River downstream from Great
Western (Mitchell) discharge.
North Platte River upstream of Scottsbluff,
Nebraska. (Highway 29 and 92 Bridge)
North Platte River downstream from Terrytown
Nebraska, STP discharge.
North Platte River downstream from Great
Western at Gerlng discharge.
Winter Creek discharge into North Platte
River.
North Platte River downstream from Winter
Creek and Great Western at Scottsbluff.
North Platte River downstream from all dis-
charges in the Scottsbluff and Gerlng areas.
Nine Mile Drain discharge into North Platte
River.
North Platte River at Bayard, Nebraska
Stuckenholz Drain downstream from Bayard
River
Mileage
209.3
199.0
184.0
183.5
177.3
172.9
171.4
170.4
170.1
168.2
160.6
154.6
155.1/0.2
Great Western Sugar mill discharge.
14 North Platte River downstream from Bayard, 152.1
Nebraska.
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18
TABLE 2
WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
Station
Designation
A
B
Description/Location
Holly Sugar Corporation discharge pipe.
Great Western discharge at Mitchell,
River
Mileage
208.8
183.8
Nebraska.
C Terrytown, Nebraska, waste treatment 173
facility effluent.
D Great Western discharge at Gering, 171.9
Nebraska.
E Gering, Nebraska, waste treatment facility 171.3
effluent.
F Great Western discharge at Scottsbluff, 170.5
Nebraska.
G Scottsbluff, Nebraska, waste treatment 169.8
facility effluent.
H Great Western discharge at Bayard, Nebraska. 155.1/0.8
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TABLE 3
SUMMARY OF STREAM CONDITIONS
January 5-15, 1972
Sample
Station
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
(River
Mile)
(209.3)
(199.0)
(184.0)
(183.5)
(177.3)
(172.9)
(171.4)
(170.4)
(170.1)
(168.2)
(160.6)
(154.6)
(155.1)
(152.1)
Flow pH
CFS S.U.
7.9
281.4 8.0
544.4 7.9
8.0
8.1
8.1
7.8
38.7 7.9
7.8
7.8
90.4 7.9
7.9
21.1 7.5
7.9
Temperature
°C
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
4
3
2
4
1
2
1
Conductivity
limbos/cm
846
832
882
918
818
911
1,085
911
986
976
945
993
1.210
1,020
Dissolved
Oxygen
ag/1
10.6
10.8
10.9
10.7
11.0
11.2
11.2
10.3
9.7
9.5
10.6
10.4
3.2
9.5
Turbidity
JTU
3.2
5.7
15
14
15
15
18
12
18
18
16
21
76
19
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TABLE 4
STREAK SURVEY BACTERIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
January S-1S, 1972
Sample
Station
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
River
Mileage
209.3
199.0
184.0
183. 5
177.3
172.9
171.4
170.4
170.1
168.2
160.6
154.6
155.1
152. 1
geora
avg.
110
190
510
790
500
18,000
750,000
160
26,000
150.000
320
46.000
11,000
24,000
Total Colifona*
Range
36-610
110-500
140-2,100
180-3.500
120-3.300
300-49.000
290,000-3.000,000
20-2,000
7,200-38.000
32.000-370,000
90-2,100
14.000-170.000
2,700-36.000
6,900-55.000
Z in excess
of 20,000**
0
0
0
0
0
71
100
0
86
100
0
100
57
71
geom
avR.
<22
<13
<62
<74
<61
950
75.000
<31
3.100
15.000
140
2.600
340
3.800
Fecal Collform*
range
<4-320
<4-60
4-190
16-160
<10-180
50-4.200
17.000-180,000
< 4-210
900-6,200
5.800-50,000
20-900
500-16.000
90-700
1.500-6,900
Z in excess
of 4.000**
0
0
0
0
0
14
100
0
57
100
0
43
0
43
Fecal
geots
avg.
810
3.700
3,200
>70.000
17 .000
13.000
>610,000
5,000
> 310, 000
310,000
13.000
> 39 ,000
>6, 800,000
> 66, 000
* Per 100 ml
** Allowable excess-20Z
Streptococcus*
Range
240-7.000
2.200-4.400
1,800-6,000
S.000->1.000,000
3,800-72.000
4.900-67,000
81.000-6.400,000
1,800-37.000
58.000-1.700.000
58.000-930.000
3.300-37.000
13.000->1,000,000
>1,000,000->15,000,OOC
11,000-M.OOO.OOO
NJ
o
-------
950-
900-
850
800-
750-
700-
650-
600-
550-
500-
450-
400"
350'
300-
250'
200-
1SO
4 SUGAR BEET MILL DISCHARGE
210 205 200 tfS III IIS 110 t7S
RIVER MILEAGE
170 165 110 ISS ISO
Figure 2 Flow Balance, North Plalte River
January 5-15, 1972
-------
21
plant was not providing adequate disinfection (fecal coliform densities,
520,000/100 ml) at the time of the survey and was responsible for the
violation occurring at Station 6.
Effects of the discharge from the Great Western mill at Gering
(RH-171.9) were measured at Station 7 (RM-171.4), in the south channel
of the North Platte River. (The river channel, upstream of the Gering
Great Western mill discharge, splits into two channels — a north channel
and one to the south, and is then re-formed downstream from the Gering
municipal treatment lagoon discharge. Both the Great Western mill at
Gering and the Gering municipal treatment plant discharge into the south
channel.) The total and fecal coliform densities in this reach of the
river were at least 75 and more than 37 times the criteria, respectively.
Downstream (RM-170.1 - Station 9) from the discharge of the Great
Western mill, Scottsbluff (KM 170.5), and from the mouth of Winter Creek
(RM-170.4), the total and fecal coliform densities were 26,000/100 ml
and 3,100/100 ml, respectively. Violations of the Nebraska Standards
were occurring. The Winter Creek flow was of good bacterial quality
(160/100 ml, total coliforms, and < 31/100 ml, fecal coliforms) and
would tend to have a diluting effect on the North Platte River. The
waste effluent from the Scottsbluff Great Western mill had a fecal coli-
form density of 86,000/100 ml, and, thus, was responsible for the violations
observed.
At RM-168.2 (Station 10) the total and fecal coliform densities
increased about five times the values reported at Station 9. Station 10
shows the effects of all waste discharges in the Gering-Scottsbluff area.
-------
22
The bacterial contamination at this point was caused primarily by dis-
charges from the Great Western mills at Gerlng and Scottsbluff. The
municipal waste discharges from these two cities were considered minor
contributors.
The North Platte River at Bayard (RM-154.6 - Station 12) had total
and fecal coliform densities of 46,000/100 ml and 2,600/100 ml, respec-
tively. The high counts at Bayard were attributed to residual contamina-
tion carried downstream from the Scottsbluff-Gering area and possible run-
off from feedlots located near the area, at Minatare (RM-164.5).
In the Stuckenholz Drain, downstream from the Great Western discharge
(BM-155.1/0.8), the total coliform density was 11,000/100 ml, but the
fecal coliform one was only 340/100 ml. The inflow from Stuckenholz Drain
did not contribute to the bacterial contamination of the North Platte
River, but tended, Instead, to have a dilution effect. At Station 14,
although the bacterial densities had decreased, they still exceeded the
criteria.
The DO levels were within the criteria of 5 mg/1 for warm water
streams at all locations on the North Platte River [Table 3]. Data
supplied by the Great Western mill at Bayard Indicate that the DO level
at the Great Western water supply intake, from the Stuckenholz Drain,
ranged from 10.6-11 mg/1 for the months of December 1971, and January
1972. The DO level at Station 13 (RM-155.1/0.2), approximately 0.6 miles
downstream from the waste discharge, was 3.2 mg/1. At the time of the
survey the mill was discharging 6,900 Ib BOD per day which depressed the
DO to levels below the Standards.
-------
23
VII. WASTE SOURCE EVALUATION
A. INDUSTRIAL SOURCES
Five sugar beet processing mills were evaluated In order to determine
both the effectiveness of waste treatment practices and the quality of the
waste effluents. Data were collected in the following ways: in-plant
surveys; contacts with state water pollution control authorities; and
company representatives. Grab samples of condenser water were taken from
the seal tanks inside the Great Western mills. Five 24-hour composite
samples of the treatment lagoon influent and effluent were collected
using automatic sampling devices (SERCO). Samples were composited on an
equal volume basis and analyzed for BOD, COD, TOC, TSS, VSS, turbidity,
metals, and nutrients. The condenser wastewater from the Holly Sugar plant
was sampled similarly.
The Great Western Sugar Company plants at Scottsbluff and Gering,
Nebraska, and the Holly Sugar Corporation plant at Torrington, Wyoming,
are Steffen houses, whereas the Great Western Sugar Company mills at
Mitchell and Bayard are straight houses [Appendix E], [The operational
characteristics of these plants are listed In Table 5.]
Great Western Sugar Company Mill at Scottsbluff
Wastewater Influent to the lagoons averaged 7.4 mgd. Lime mud was
discharged Into a 10-acre pond with no surface discharge; all other wastes
were discharged into three lagoons operated in series, situated over sand
and gravel beds. The surface areas of the three lagoons were 30, 20, and
40 acres, respectively [Figure 3]. Average liquid depth in the lagoons
ranged from 12-18 in. A channel was provided for bypassing the lagoons.
[The characteristics of the condenser and process wastes are shown in
Table 6.]
-------
TABLE S
Plant
Holly Sugar
Torrington,*
Wyoming
Great Western
Scottsbluff,*
Nebraska
No. of
Employees
250
440
OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
SUGAR BEET MILLS
Tons Sugar Beets/day
Rated Actual
Capacity Production
3,000
3,275
3,000
3,700
Gering,*
Nebraska
Mitchell,*
Nebraska
Bayard,**
Nebraska
330
320
330
2,210
2,150
2,175
2,210
2,320
2,340
* Wastes discharged to North Platte River
** Wastes discharged to Stuckenholz Drain
Source & Quantity
of
Water Supply
North Platte River
5 ogd
Winter Creek
8.1 mgd
Winter Creek
7.9 ogd
Dry Spotted Tail
Creek 7.1 mgd
Stuckenholz Drain
7.2 agd
Type of Treatment
Clarification and recycling of
both transport water and
general plant wastes; excess
conveyed to lagoons, no dis-
charge. Condenser water dis-
charged without treatment. Lit
slurry separately impounded.
Condenser and general plant wastes
transport water conveyed to
lagoons prior to discharge.
Line sludge separately impounded.
S
as Scottsbluff
Same as Scottsbluff, except lime
slurry discharged to lagoons
Same as Mitchell
to
-------
TABLE 6 25
SUMMARY OF WASTE CHARACTERISTICS
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR COMPANY
SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA
Parameter
Flow (mgd)
pH range (S.U.)
Temperature range (*C)
Conductivity range
(vmhos/cm)
Turbidity (JTU)
Dissolved Oxygen
(mg/1)
Ortho P, (mg/1)
NH3 as N, (mg/1)
N03-N02 as N (mg/1)
COD (mg/1)
BOD (mg/1)
BOD (Ib/day)
BOD (Ib/ton beets)
TOG (mg/1)
TSS (mg/1)
TSS (Ib/day)
TSS (Ib/ton beets)
VSS (mg/1)
Fecal Coliform
geom. avg/100 ml
range/100 ml
Condenser
Water
-
8.2-8.7
32-42
850-900
13
2.8
0.10
3.74
3.23
59
19
-
-
9
30
-
-
5
-
Lagoon
Influent
7.4*
8.3-8.7
31-33
900-1,100
180
-
0.21
6.02
2.58
1,010
720
-
-
340
781
-
-
167
-
Fecal Streptococcus
geom. avg x 10/100 ml -
range x 106/100 ml -
System
Effluent
2.4
6.9-7.5
0.0-1.5
1,250-1,300
130
-
0.17
6.83
0.07
670
500
9,984
2.69
125
56
1,111
0.30
22
86,000
14,000-340,000
> 18
4.6-> 100
* This flow is an approximation based on information provided in the
Refuse Act permit application.
-------
(•EAT WESTEIN
LEGEND
SAMPLE POINT
C: CONOCNSEI WATEI
T: TIANSPOIT WATER
1,000
SCALE IN FEET
m
Figire 3. Creat Wester* Sif«r €•.
Waste TreatBeil Lag«»is A S««pli«g Laealieis.
Sr«tlsbl.ff, Nebraska
-------
26
Flow data provided by the Great Western Sugar Company In the Refuse
Act Permit application for this mill indicates 7.4 mgd wastewater leave
the plant (i.e. enter the lagoon system). Flow measurements of the
discharge from the lagoons showed 2.4 mgd during the survey. The dif-
ference of 5.0 mgd is attributed to seepage from the lagoons. The ef-
fluent contained an average of 2.69 Ib BOD and 0.28 Ib TSS per ton of
beets processed. Approximately 10,000 Ib of BOD were discharged daily
during the survey. The waste loads discharged would Increase if the
excessive seepage was eliminated, e.g. the ponds were sealed to limit
the loss to one-fourth inch per day.
Great Western Sugar Company Mill at Gering
General plant wastes, condenser water, and flume waters, are routed
to a screening station and then to lagoons located about 1,400 feet north-
east of the plant [Figure 4]. These lagoons, constructed in 1969, consist
of four legs, each about 800 ft long by 50 ft wide by 4 ft deep. The
estimated detention time was eight hours. [Characteristics of the process
wastes and condenser water are shown in Table 7.]
The Gering mill discharged 15,500 Ib (7.0 Ib/ton) BOD and 1,759 Ib
TSS (0.8 Ib/ton) daily. Based on current production capacity, the waste
loads should be reduced to 1,100 Ib/day each of BOD and TSS. Information
provided in the Refuse Act Permit application shows that 7.4 mgd of waste-
water leave the mill. Flow measurements during January showed that an
average of 6.3 mgd was discharged to the river.
-------
TABLE 7
SUMMARY OF WASTE CHARACTERISTICS
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR COMPANY
GERING, NEBRASKA
27
Parameter
Plow (mgd)
pH range (S.U.)
Temperature range (*C)
Conductivity range
(jimhos/cm)
Turbidity (JTD)
Dissolved Oxygen
(mg/1)
Ortho P, (mg/1)
NH3 as N, (iog/1)
N03-N02 as N (mg/1)
COD (mg/1)
BOD (mg/1)
BOD (Ib/day)
BOD (Ib/ton beets)
TOC (mg/1)
TSS (mg/1)
TSS (Ib/day)
TSS (Ib/ton beets)
VSS (mg/1)
Pecal Coliform
geom. avg/100 ml
range/100 ml
Condenser
Water
-
7.5-8.7
40-48
850-900
10
2.5
0.13
11.22
2.76
61
27
-
-
9.8
24
-
-
6
•*
Lagoon
Influent
7.4*
8.2-8.7
31-34
900-950
194
-
0.21
8.97
0.05
1,130
806
-
-
496
1,018
-
-
265
™*
Pecal Streptococcus
geom. avg x 106/100 ml -
range x 106/100 ml -
System
Effluent
&. 9
0.65-> 100
* This flow is an approximation based on information provided in
the Refuse Act permit application.
-------
-N-
SETTLIN6 BASINS
LEGEND
A SAMPLE POINT
C: CONDENSER WATER
T: TRANSPORT WATER
GREAT WESTERN
1,000
J
SCALE IN FEET
Figure 4 Great Western Sugar Co.
Waste Treatment Lagoons & Sampling Locations.
Cering, Nebraska
-------
28
Great Western Sugar Company Mill at Mitchell
A 27-ln. sever conveys the entire plant wastes 4,500 feet to a lift
station and to a series of lagoons with a surface area of about 85 acres
[Figure 5]. The discharge from the lagoon flows in an open drain approxi-
mately 2,700 feet before reaching the North Platte River at KM 183.8.
[The characteristics of the condenser and process wastes are shown in
Table 8.]
The influent flow to the lagoon system was measured at 8.6 mgd; the
effluent flow measured 0.65 mgd. Direct discharge from the system does
not normally begin until late in the campaign. During the survey the
Mitchell effluent contained 0.48 Ib BOD and 0.71 Ib TSS per ton of beets
processed but it should be understood that these waste loads would be
significantly greater if the high seepage was eliminated. The effects
of this percolation on the groundwater was not ascertained but is con-
sidered to have a detrimental effect. Complaints regarding damage to
well water supplies were made by a local resident.
Great Western Sugar Company Mill at Bayard
Corrugated metal plates and Intermediate dikes separate the 160-acre
treatment lagoon into four cells, operated in series [Figure 6]. The upper
cell, which collects the majority of settleable solids, contains a series
of parallel channels formed by dredging. Average liquid depth in the
lagoons ranged from 8 to 12 in., with a maximum depth of 2 to 3 ft.
Odor problems have been associated with the lagoons, and to mask the
odors about 3-5 Ib per day of Nalco 671 are added. The effluent from the
lagoon is discharged to the Stuckenholz Drain and travels about 0.8 mile
-------
TABLE 8
SUMMARY OF WASTE CHARACTERISTICS
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR COMPANY
Mitchell, Nebraska
29
Condenser
Parameter Water
Flow (mgd)
pH range (S.U.)
Temperature range (*C)
Conductivity range
(ymhos/cm)
Turbidity (JTU)
Dissolved Oxygen
(mg/1)
Ortho P, (mg/1)
NH3 as N (mg/1)
N03-N02 as N (mg/1)
COD (mg/1)
BOD (mg/1)
BOD (Ib/day)
BOD (Ib/ton beets)
TOC (mg/1)
TSS (mg/1)
TSS (Ib/day)
TSS (Ib/ton beets)
VSS (mg/1)
Fecal Collform
geom. avg/100 ml
range/ 100 ml
Fecal Streptococcus
geom. avg z 106
range x 10 6/ 100 ml
-
8.1-8.8
34-48
750-850
7.2
1.8
0.21
8.12
2.56
79
38
-
-
9
22
-
-
9
—
-
Lagoon
Influent
8.6
8.7-9.4
21-30
800-900
240
-
1.31
4.09
2.27
1,270
840
-
-
400
3,762
-
-
344
-
-
System
Effluent
0.65
6.6-7.5
0.0-6.0
1,050-1,400
70
-
0.11
1.82
0.45
381
206
1,110
0.48
63
306
1,649
0.71
64
390
130-900
7.3
0.6-76
-------
TABLE *
SUMMARY OF WASTE CHARACTERISTICS
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR COMPANY
BAYARD, NEBRASKA
30
Parameter
Flow (mgd)
pH range (S.U.)
Temperature range (*C)
Conductivity range
(ymhos/cm)
Turbidity (JTU)
Dissolved Oxygen
Ortho F, (mg/1)
NH3 as N (mg/1)
N03-N02 as N (mg/1)
COD (mg/1)
BOD (mg/1)
BOD (Ib/day)
BOD (Ib/ton beets)
TOG (mg/1)
TSS (mg/1)
TSS (Ib/day)
TSS (Ib/ton beets)
VSS (mg/1)
Fecal Coliform
geom avg/100 ml
range /100 ml
Condenser
Water
-
8.4-8.6
37.5-47
950-1,600
7.0
1.8
0.20
10.0
1.67
66
16
-
-
11
20
-
-
6
-
Lagoon
Influent
6.7
8.2-9.4
21.5-30.5
850-1,600
260
-
1.43
3.55
1.12
1,290
964
-
-
425
2,460
-
-
433
-
Fecal Streptococcus
geom. avg z 10°/100 ml -
range z 10&/100 ml -
System
Effluent
1.3
6.8-7.3
0.0-2.5
600-2,700
120
-
0.98
1.85
0.80
767
620
6,877
2.94
170
102
1,132
0.48
73
1,200
660-3,900
> 50
2.1-330
-------
GREAT WESTERN
[c"A
PARSHALL FLUME
SETTLING BASINS
N
NORTH PLATTE RIVER
LEGEND
A SAMPLE POINT
C: CONDENSE! WATER
T: TRANSPORT WATER
1,
J
SCALE IN FEET
-^^^••••^^"-
Figure 5 Creat Western Sugar Co.
Waste Treatment Lagoons & Sampling Locations.
-------
fill AT It IT 111
LEGEND
SAIPLE POINT
C: COIIEISEI WATEI
f: TIAISPIIT WATEI
1JI0
ATE II FEET
HIT! PLATTE IIVEI
Figvrc 6 Creal Weslera S«g«r Co.
Waste TfealMCBl L«K*«BK A Sanpliag Locations.
Bayard, Nebraska
-------
31
to the North Platte River. [The characteristics of the condenser water
and process wastes are listed in Table 9.]
Seepage from the Bayard lagoon system was also excessive (approxi-
mately 5.4 mgd or 1 1/4 inch/day). The BOD load discharged was 6,800 Ib
(2.94 Ib per day per ton of beets processed); the TSS load amounted to
0.48 Ib per ton of beets processed and meets current criteria. Based on
current production capacity, the BOD waste load should be reduced to
1,100 Ib/day.
Holly Sugar Corporation Mill at Torrington
During the survey, the only waste discharged from the plant was
untreated condenser water. [Waste characteristics are listed in Table 10.]
Process waters were re-cycled and reused. Excess process water was dis-
charged to the lagoons for holding and treatment, with no discharge to
the North Platte River [Figure 7].
As a result of the 1970 study, the EPA demonstrated that the Holly
Sugar Corporation was polluting the North Platte River. Among the recom-
mendations made at the 180-day hearing held at Scottsbluff, Nebraska,
was that, for the 1971-72 sugar beet campaign, all condenser water was
to be discharged to the North Platte River without limits. By the start
of the 1972-73 campaign, however, the condenser effluent discharged to
the North Platte River will be restricted to a maximum daily average of
30 mg/1 BOD and TSS, with no grab sample to exceed 50 mg/1. All waste-
water discharged, except cooling waters, will be effectively disinfected.
The Torrington mill had a BOD of 0.27 Ib per ton beets in the effluent
and a TSS concentration of 0.84 Ib per ton beets.
-------
TABLE 10
32
SUMMARY OF CONDENSER WATER CHARACTERISTICS
HOLLY SUGAR CORPORATION
Flow (mgd)
pH range (S.U.)
Temperature range (°C)
Conductivity range (umhos/cm)
Turbidity (JTU)
DO (mg/1)
Ortho P, (mg/1)
NH3 as N (mg/1)
N03-N02 as N (mg/1)
COD (mg/1)
BOD (mg/1)
BOD (Ib/day)
BOD (Ib/ton beets)
TOG (mg/1)
TSS (mg/1)
TSS (Ib/day)
TSS (Ib/ton beets)
VSS (mg/1)
Fecal Coliform
geom avg/100 ml
range/100 ml
Fecal Streptococcus
geom avg/100 ml
range/100 ml
3.3
7.7-8.5
16.5-34
750-900
20
5.2
0.15
1.75
1.10
83
29
800
0.27
16
91
2,512
0.84
48
< 160
< 4-1,300
2,200
140-67,000
-------
LEGEND
A SAMPLE POINT
C: CONDENSER WATER
B: BACTERIOLOGICAL
OXIDATION
EVAPORATION
STEFFEN WASTES
EXCESS CLARIFIER EFFLUENT
STORAGE POND
PULP SILO
UNDER-
DRAINAGE
CLARIFIER
DRAINAGE
EXCESS CLARIFIER EFFLUENT
SCALE: 1" =
Figure 7 Holly Sugar Corporation, \Vaslc Treatment Lagoons & Sampling Locations.
Torrington, Wyoming
-------
33
B. MUNICIPAL SOURCES
In conjunction with the stream survey on the North Platte River,
effluents from the Scottsbluff, Gering, and Terrytown (Nebraska) municipal
waste treatment facilities were sampled in order to define sources of
bacterial contamination. These were the only municipal facilities dis-
charging to the river during the survey period. Because bacteriological
parameters were being evaluated in the analysis of the river, these
parameters were made relative to the municipal facilities. [The effluent
characteristics are listed in Table 11.]
Visual examination of the river area at Terrytovn revealed that the
sludge from the extended aeration plant was being discharged along the
banks of the North Platte River. This sludge discharge violates the
Nebraska Standard, both the category of suspended, colloidal, or settleable
solids and the aesthetic considerations category.
-------
TABLE 11
SUMMARY OF EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
MUNICIPAL WASTE LAGOONS
34
Parameter
Flow (ngd)
pH (S.U.)
Temperature (°C)
Conductivity
(limbos/cm)
Fecal Coliform
geom avg/100 ml
range/100 ml
Terry town
0.2
7.4
11.5
2,065
520,000
10,000-1,900,000
Scottsbluff
*
7.5
0.0
2,500
47,000
8,000-140,000
Gering
0.6
8.1
1.0
2,685
3,800
800-9,500
Fecal Streptoccoccus
geom avg/100 ml 310,000
range/100 ml 39,000-780,000
92,000
33,000-410,000
9,200
4,800-23,000
* Flow was estimated to be 5-6 gpm. Waste was being stored in lagoons
for discharge into the North Platte River during maximum flow conditions,
-------
35
VIII. WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT NEEDS
A. LOW FLOW CONDITIONS
The annual processing of sugar beets is usually conducted from
October 1 through February 1. Because low flows normally prevail during
part of this period, an examination of the records was made for the period
of 1951-1970.
The USGS maintains three gaging stations on the North Platte River
in the reach studied. These are located at Henry, Mitchell, and Minatare,
Nebraska. The 10-year, 7-day low flows for these stations are tabulated
below.
10-Year. 7-Day Low Flows (efs)
Entire Water Year
October 1-February 1
Henry
90
125
Mitchell
70
280
Minatare
35
490
Examination of the records Indicates that, the low flows during the
sugar beet campaign do not approach conditions, if adequate waste treat-
ment is achieved, that require special consideration.
B. CONTROL OF INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES
The attainment of an effluent containing 0.5 Ib each of BOD and TSS
is possible through the installation of the best practicable treatment
technology currently available to the sugar beet industry. Suggested
methods for attaining these effluent concentrations are as follows:
1) Separate impoundment of all lime mud and flume mud waste;
-------
36
2) Installation of a closed flume water transport system with
continuous solids removal;
3) Complete removal and disposal of the settleable solids from
the closed flume water transport circuit;
4) Complete reuse of pulp press and transport wastes;
5) Recovery or reuse of all Steffen filtrates;
6) Separate impoundment or reuse of strong general plant wastes
(e.g. acid and caustic boilouts, line cleaning solutions, etc.);
7) Retention and disposal of flumed residual ash waste;
8) Water conservation and maximum reuse in all plant operations.
In addition, all lagoons; mud ponds, etc. need to be constructed in
accordance with best engineering practices, e.g. sealing of ponds to
avoid excessive seepage; proper sloping of dikes; compaction of dikes
during construction, etc. Regular maintenance of these systems is
necessary.
-------
37
REFERENCES
1. Joe K. Neel, U. S. Public Health Service, Region VI; "Biological
Effects of Wastes Discharged to the North Platte River in the
Torrington, Wyoming to Bridgeport, Nebraska Reach, November 1960-
November 1961", Water Supply and Pollution Control Program, Kansas
City, Missouri.
2. Public Health Service (Regions VI and VIII), Wyoming Department of
Public Health, Nebraska Department of Health; "Report of Survey,
North Platte River, Torrington, Wyoming-Bridgeport, Nebraska,
November 30-December 6, 1962".
3. A. D. Sidio, and F. W. Kittrell. "Report on North Platte River
Survey, Wyoming-Nebraska, September and November 1961", U. S.
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service,
Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center. Cincinnati, Ohio.
February 1962.
4. Transcript of Proceedings, Public Hearing regarding 180-day notice
to the Holly Sugar Company of violation of State and Federal Water
Quality Standards for the Interstate Waters of the North Platte
River, Scottabluff, Nebraska. July 21, 1971.
5. State-of-Art. Sugarbeet Processing Waste Treatment. Beet Sugar
Development Foundation, Fort Collins, Colorado, for the Water
Quality Office, EPA, April, 1971.
-------
Appendix A - Pollution Abatement Measures
Recommended by EPA, Region VII,
for the Holly Sugar Corporation
mill, Torrington, Wyoming
Appendix B - Nebraska Water Quality Standards
Appendix C - Wyoming Water Quality Standards
Appendix D - Methods of Analysis
Appendix E - Sugar Beet Refining Process
-------
Appendix A
Pollution Abatement Measures Recommended
by EPA, Region VII, for the
Holly Sugar Corporation Mill,
Torrington, Wyoming
-------
A-l
APPENDIX A
POLLUTION ABATEMENT MEASURES RECOMMENDED
BY EPA, REGION VII, FOR THE
HOLLY SUGAR CORPORATION MILL,
TORRINGTON, WYOMING
EPA, Region VII, recommended the following pollution abatement steps
be taken by Holly Sugar Corporation:
1. Interim system prior to startup of the 1971-72 sugar beet
campaign•
A. Separate condenser and transport systems.
B. Install a closed loop system for recycle of transport
waters. Any waters discharged from this system to the
North Platte River should not exceed daily average
effluent concentrations of 30 mg/1 BOD, and suspended
solids, with no grab sample to exceed 50 mg/1.
C. Interim provisions will allow separated condenser waters
to be discharged directly to the North Platte River.
2. Complete system by start of 1972-73 sugar beet campaign.
A. Transport waters recycled via clarifier system. Solids
recovered from clarifier should be dewatered and disposed
of in a manner which will not create odor problems. Any
supernatant from sludge dewaterlng should be returned to
recycle system or treated to effluent concentrations not
to exceed a daily average of 30 mg/1 BOD, and suspended
solids, with no grab sample to exceed 50 mg/1 if discharged.
Any buildup (i.e. excess water) water generated in the
transport water recycle system, as well as contents of the
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system at the end of the campaign, should receive whatever
treatment is necessary to produce an effluent concentration
not to exceed a daily average of 30 mg/1 BOD. and suspended
solids with no grab sample to exceed 50 mg/1 prior to dis-
charge to the North Platte River.
B. Condenser water recycle via cooling device. Any discharge
from this system to the North Platte should not exceed a
daily average effluent concentration of 10 mg/1 BOD5 and
suspended solids with no grab sample to exceed 20 mg/1.
C. Any wastewater discharge from the system, with the exception
of uncontamlnated cooling waters, should be effectively
disinfected to assure compliance with applicable water
quality standards.
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Appendix B
Nebraska Water
Quality Standards
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APPENDIX B B~1
NEBRASKA WATER QUALITY CRITERIA
APPLICABLE TO THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER
General Criteria
All surface waters shall meet general aesthetic standards and
shall be capable of supporting desirable diversified aquatic life.
These waters shall be free of substances attributable to discharges
or wastes having materials that will form objectionable deposits,
floating debris, oil scum and other matter producing objectionable
color, odor, taste or turbidity - materials including radionuclides,
in concentration or combinations which are toxic or which produce
undesirable physiological responses in human, fish or other animal
life or plants and substances and conditions or combinations there-
of in concentrations which produce undesirable aquatic life.
Specific Criteria
1. Coliform Group Organisms. Coliform group and fecal coliform
organisms shall not exceed a geometric mean of 10,000 total
coliform organisms or 2,000 fecal coliform organisms per 100
milliliters. No more than 20 percent of samples shall exceed
20,000 total or 4,000 fecal coliform bacteria.
2. Dissolved Oxygen. Shall not be lower than 5 mg/1 in warm
waters and 6 mg/1 in trout waters.
3. Hydrogen Ion. Hydrogen ion concentrations as expressed as pH
shall be maintained between 6.5 and 9.0 with a maximum total
change of 1.0 pH unit from the value in the receiving stream.
4. Temperature.
Trout Waters - allowable change 5°
- maximum limit 65° F.
Warm Water Waters - allowable change 5°_F May thru October
- allowable change 10
- maximum limit 90° F
- allowable change 10° F November thru April
- maximum rate of change limited to 2° per hr
Total Dissolved Solids. A point source discharge shall not in-
crease the total dissolved solids concentration of a receiving
water by more than 20%, this value shall not exceed 100 mg/1,
and in no case shall the coi_ai dissolved solids of a. sciectm
exceed 1500 mg/1
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B-2
Data regarding specific conductivity will be considered in lieu
of IDS data. A point source discharge shall not increase the
conductivity of the recovery water by more than 20%, this value
shall not exceed 150 micromhos/centimeter, and in no case shall
the conductivity of the receiving waters exceed 2250 micromhos/
centimeter at 25° C.
For irrigation use the SAR value and conductivity shall not be
greater than a C3-S2 class irrigation water as shown in Figure 25
of Agricultural Handbook 60.
6. Residue, Oil and Floating Substances. No residue attributable
to waste water or visible film of oil or globules of grease shall
be present.
Emulsified oil and grease shall be less than 15 mg/1.
7. Aesthetic Considerations. No evidence of matter that creates
nuisance conditions or is offensive to the senses of sight,
touch, smell, or taste, including color.
8. Taste and Odor Producing Substances. Concentration of sub-
stances shall be less than that amount which would degrade the
water quality for the designated use. Phenols concentration
shall not exceed 0.001 mg/1. Shall not contain concentrations
of substances which will render any undesirable taste to fish,
flesh, or in any other way make such fish flesh inedible.
9. Suspended, Colloidal, or Settleable Solids. None from waste
water sources which will permit objectionable deposition or
be deleterious for the designated uses. In no case shall
turbidity caused by waste water impart more than a 107« increase
in turbidity to the receiving water.
10. Toxic and Deleterious Substances. None alone or in combina-
tion with other substances or wastes in concentration of such
nature so as to render the receiving water unsafe or unsuit-
able for the designated use. Raw water shall be of such
quality that after treatment by coagulation, filtration, sedi-
mentation, the water will meet Public Health Drinking Water
Standards. Radiological Limits shall be in accordance with
the Radiological Health Regulations, State of Nebraska, 1st
edition 1966, and as amended in its latest edition.
Plus ammonia nitrogen concentrations shall not exceed 1.4 mg/1
in trout streams nor exceed 3.5 mg/1 in warm water streams
where the pH in these streams does not exceed a pH value of
8.3. If the pH of a stream exceeds 8.3, the undissociated am-
monium hydroxide as nitrogen shall not exceed one-tenth mg/1
in trout streams not exceed 0.25 mg/1 in warm water streams.
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B-3
For irrigation use, the boron concentration shall not exceed
0.75 mg/1.
For toxic materials not specified, bioassay methods acceptable
to Nebraska Water Pollution Control Council.
Date of Compliance for Pollution Abatement
All municipal wastes shall receive at least secondary treatment
plus such additional treatment as is required to maintain Water Quality
Criteria, as set forth in these Standards. All other wastes shall
receive an equivalent degree of treatment or control consistent with
waste characteristics, uses and quality of receiving waters.
The date for compliance with the requirements of these Standards
for all domestic and Industrial wastes which discharge into intrastate
and interstate waters of the State, except for those waste sources dis-
charging directly into the Missouri River, shall be January 1, 1972,
with earlier compliance where necessary. The date for compliance with
these Standards for all domestic and industrial wastes discharging
directly into the Missouri River shall be December 31, 1975, with earlier
compliance where necessary. All proposed construction of waste treatment
facilities in the Interim periods prior to the dates of compliance shall
provide treatment consistent with the policies and objectives of these
Standards.
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Appendix C
Wyoming Water
Quality Standards
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APPENDIX C C
WYOMING WATER QUALITY CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER
1. Settleable Solids. Essentially free from substances of other
than natural origin that will settle to form sludge, bank or
bottom deposits.
2. Floating Solids. Essentially free from floating debris, oil,
grease, scum, and other floating materials of other than
natural origin in amounts sufficient to be unsightly.
3. Taste, Odor, Color. Essentially free from substances of other
than natural origin which produce taste, odor, or color that
would:
a. of themselves or in combination, impart an unpalatable
or off-flavor in fish flesh
b. visibly alter the natural color of the water, or
impart color to skin, clothing, vessels or structures
c. produce detectable odor at the site of use
d. directly or through interaction among themselves,
or with chemicals used in the existing water treat-
ment process, result in concentrations that will
impart undesirable taste or odor to the finished
water.
4. Toxic. Free from toxic, corrosive, or other deleterious sub-
stances of other than natural origin in concentrations or com-
binations which are toxic to human, animal, plant or aquatic
life. This standard is not intended to interfere with the use
of approved fish toxicants under the supervision of the Wyoming
Game and Fish Commission for fish management purposes.
5. Radioactive. Radioactive materials of other than natural origin
shall not be present in any amount which reflects failure in
any case to apply all controls which are physically and economic-
ally feasible. In no case shall such materials exceed the limits
established in the 1962 Public Health Service Drinking Water
Standards or 1/30 (168 hour value) of the values for radioactive
substances specified in the National Bureau of Standards Hand-
book 69.
6. Turbidity. Turbidity of other than natural origin shall not
impart more than a 15 turbidity unit increase to the water
when the turbidity of the receiving water is 150 units or less,
or more than a 107. increase when the water turbidity is over
150 turbiditv units.
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7. Dissolved Oxygen. Wastes of other than natural origin shall
not be discharged in amounts which will result in dissolved
oxygen content of less than 6 ppm at any time.
8. Temperature. For streams where natural temperatures do not
exceed 70° F, wastes of other than natural origin shall not
be discharged in amounts which will result in an increase of
more than 2° F over existing temperatures.
For streams where natural temperatures exceed 70° F, wastes
of other than natural origin shall not be discharged in amounts
which will result in an increase of more than 4° F over exist-
ing temperatures.
Maximum allowable temperatures will be established for indi-
vidual streams as data becomes available. As an interim
policy, the maximum allowable stream temperatures will be the
maximum daily stream temperatures plus the allowable rise;
provided that this temperature is not lethal to existing fish
life, which is considered to be 78° F in the case of cold water
fish.
9. pH. Wastes of other than natural origin shall not affect the
pH of the receiving water beyond the following limits:
a. North Platte River & Interstate Canals: Range be-
tween 7.5 and 8.5.
b. Horse Creek: Range for pH shall be 6.5 to 8.5.
10. Coliform Bacteria. During the recreation season (May 1 through
September 30), wastes or substances of other than natural
origin shall not be discharged into waters designated as having
limited body contact use which will cause organisms of the fecal
coliform group to exceed the .following limits.
While sample data is accumulated no individual samples shall
exceed the 95% confidence limit of the historical average; pro-
vided that in no case will the geometric mean of the last five
consecutive samples exceed 2000 per 100 ml. (Most Probable
Number), which ever is the least.
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Appendix D
Methods of Analysis
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D-l
APPENDIX D
METHODS OF ANALYSIS
Bacteriological analyses for total and fecal collform, and for
streptococcus were performed, according to the method prescribed in the
13th Edition, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastevater,
1971.* using the membrane filter technique. To prevent contamination, all
samples were collected in sterlized bottles.
The BOD and DO tests were determined, according to the method pre-
scribed in the 13th Edition, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water
and Wastewater, 1971,* using the azide modification of the Winkler method.
All other laboratory analyses and field measurements used were con-
ducted in accordance with Methods for Chemical Analyses of Water and
Wastes, July 1971.**
* M.J. Taras, A. E. Greenberg, R. D. Hoak, and M. C. Rand, Standard
Methods for the Examination of Water and Wasteuater, 13th Ed.,
Amer. Public Health Assn. New York, N. Y. 1971.
** Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes, Environmental
Protection Agency, National Environmental Research Center, Analytical
Quality Control Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1971.
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Appendix E
Sugar Beet Refining Process
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APPENDIX E
SUGAR BEET REFINING PROCESS
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
Raw sugar beets, with 15-16 percent sugar content, are delivered to
factories by either railroad car or truck. The beets are removed from
storage piles or directly from incoming vehicles, placed into the wet
hoppers of the beet flumes, and conveyed via a continuous stream of water
Into the factory. Beet chips and tailings, stones, and miscellaneous
debris are removed in the flume line.
The beets are a) separated from the flume water, b) enter a beet
wheel and are elevated to the beet washing tank, c) pass over a roller-
spray table; and are d) then ready for slicing. The washed beets are
sliced into thin strips or cossettes, and conveyed to the diffuser where
the sugar is removed from them under a counter-current flow of hot water.
After the diffusion process using osmosis, or the passage of sugar through
the porous membrane of the cossettes to the water, the sugar impregnated
liquor, called row juice^ is sent to the purification operation. Exhausted
cossettes are transferred to the pulp dryer or wet pulp silo to be used as
livestock feed.
In the purification process row juice is limed and carbonated and
then clarified. Non-sugars and undesirable sugars are absorbed into the
precipitated calcium carbonate. A second carbonation removes the last
traces of lime, producing a purified liquor, called thin juice. Sludges
from the thickener-clarifier and second carbonation are filtered and sent
to waste. This waste is known as lime mud or lime mud slurry.
The thin juice is concentrated from 15-20 percent sugar solids to
55-70 percent solids by passing through multi-effect evaporators under
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high pressure steam. This thick juice is mixed with melted sugar, heated
and fettered, and becomes standard liquor. It moves on to the white pan
to be boiled and crystallized to a high concentration of sugar, called
"white massecuite". The massecuite is mixed, centrifuged, granulated for
drying, and then packaged or stored. The remaining crystallization and
separation operations involve treatment and recovery of additional sugar
from the middle and low-grade syrups and massecuite to make molasses.
The molasses is then further refined in a Steffen process. This
process, found only in a Steffen house factory, employs a two-stage lime
precipitation of sugar from the molasses, giving hot and cold saccharate
cakes off the filters. A mixture of the cold and hot saccharate sludges
is returned as the liming agent in the first carbonatlon stage of raw
juice purification.
The concentrated Steffen filtrate process (CSF) is a procedure for
concentrating the filtrate essentially from the hot saccharate filter
cake. The Steffen filtrate is concentrated by removing water, and then
shipped to the Johnstown (Colorado) MSG plant, for the extraction of
monosodium glutamate, an edible flavor enhancer.
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR COMPANIES
The Scottsbluff and Gering mills are Steffen houses, while the
Mitchell and Bayard installations are straight houses. Molasses from the
Mitchell plant is shipped to the Scottsbluff mill and the molasses from
Bayard is transported to the Gering plant. The majority of the CSF is
prepared at the Gering mill, with the Scottsbluff plant preparing smaller
quantities.
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There is little process water reuse at the four plants except for
the return of pulp press and pulp transport vasterB to the diffusers.
Because of their antiquated nature and the old equipment in use, the
plants generate more steam and condensates than may ever be used profitably.
Consequently, relatively large volumes of excess condensates are con-
tinuously discharged.
All four plants have pulp driers. Dried pulp is sold as cattle feed.
Excess molasses, originating from the straight-house operations, is added
to the driers to give a final feed product having 25-35 percent molasses
by dry weight.
Sanitary sewage at all four plants is directed to lagoon systems.
Sanitary wastes from the Scottsbluff mill will be diverted to the city
treatment plant during 1972. Similar provisions are planned for the
other three factories. Inorganic ash and unburned carbon, resulting from
coal and coke burning, are conveyed by flume to separate ash ponds. Some
water is lost by percolation, but in each case there is overflow to the
general pond system, with some ashes in the overflow. Ashes are reclaimed
by State and local highway departments.
The Steffen houses at Scottsbluff and Gerlng require considerably
more lime than do the straight-house operations at Mitchell and Bayard.
The limestone, used for various sugar recovery operations, is released as
waste lime mud. The lime mud is diverted to separate holding ponds at
Scottsbluff and Gering and is discharged to the general treatment lagoon
systems at Mitchell and Bayard.
The Scottsbluff plant commenced its campaign October 7, 1971, and
the other three plants started October 8. All plants ceased operations
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the latter part of January. The plants operated continuously with no
off days during the campaign. During an interim campaign period each
plant retains 25-30 persons for maintenance and construction.
HOLLY SUGAR CORPORATION
The Holly Sugar mill at Torrington, Wyoming, is a Steffen house. It
produces 175 tons of Steffen molasses per day. The campaign period lasts
120 days and requires 3 shifts, 7 days a week. The interim campaign work
force is 70 people.
Eighty percent of the process water is reused. The remaining 20 per-
cent is sent to the lagoons for treatment, but is not discharged to the
North Platte River. All of the condensate water is reused, while all of
the condenser water is discharged to the river without reuse or recovery.
All sanitary waste is discharged to the lime ponds, but will soon be sent
to the Torrington municipal waste treatment plant.
At the present time, there is no pulp drier, but one will be built
within the next two years. The underflow from the pulp silo goes to the
mud ponds.
The Torrington plant is unique in that the beet unloading system is
done on a dry basis. Therefore, screens remove some of the soil before
the beets enter the process system. Some of the beet tops are broken off
in the screening process, and are sold for feed and filling.
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