U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
&jCo
Research and Development
Cincinnati Water Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio
MAY 1968
SALMONELLA-COLIFORM STUDIES
To ascertain whether there is any level of total
and fecal coliform densities below which the prob-
ability of isolating salmonellae, a pathogenic bac-
teria, would be negligible, a comparison of coliform
data with salmonellae data gathered in stream
surveys throughout the United States has been
made. Since one of the premises for using coliform
as an indicator organism is that it is presumably
indicative of the probable presence of pathogenic
organisms, any relationship between numbers of
coliform and isolation of pathogens would be val-
uable in determining permissible bacteriological
water quality standards. A comparison of Salmon-
ella typhimurium and fecal coliform survival time
conducted under laboratory conditions is also pre-
sented. A summary of data shows little apparent
correlation between levels of total or fecal coliform
and the isolation of Salmonella. Some observations
are made as to why this may be so, and the im-
plications of using only coliform densities to de-
scribe bacteriological acceptability for recreational
and fishing uses are discussed.
Gallagher, T. P. and Spino, D. F., "The Significance of
Numbers of Coliform Bacteria as an Indicator of Enteric
Pathogens," Water Research, 2, 169-175, February 1968.
(Reprints may be obtained from the Southeast Water
Laboratory, Athens, Georgia 30601).
PILOT PLANT STUDY-BOD
The areal oxygen demand of bottom sediments
taken from the Merrimack River in Massachusetts
was determined by a small pilot plant. The value
of the benthic rate constant k, was obtained, and
the effect of sediment depth on k, was studied. Only
the upper 15 cm of sediment had any significant
effect on the areal oxygen demand.
Oldaker, W. H., Burgum, A. A., and Pahren, H. R.,
Report on Pollution of the Merrimack River and Certain
Tributaries. Part IV. Pilot Plant Study of Benthal Oxy-
gen Demand, FWPCA Publication, Merrimack River
Project — Northeast Region. August 1966. 14 pp.
CATALYTIC OXIDATION
Hydrogen peroxide catalytic oxidation of or-
ganic residuals in municipal waste waters involves
a free radical ( OH) oxidation and is effective only
in a 3 to 5 pH range. Both ferric and ferrous salts
are efficient catalysts, but the ferric system requires
elevated temperature. Oxidation efficiencies of ap-
proximately 60% are achieved for stoichiometric
charges of hydrogen peroxide to chemical oxygen
demand (COD) of the waste water. The oxidation
process preferentially attacks alkyl benzene sul-
fonate with 98% removal, and oxidizes from 30 to
65% of the total organic carbon to carbon dioxide.
It also reduces the COD of water from carbon treat-
ment systems by 50 to 65% of the initial COD.
Autoxidation occurs in the oxidation process, but
with average chain lengths of less than six oxidation
events per initiation event. A more economical
source of free radical ( OH) without a restricted
pH range is needed for practical application.
Bishop, D. F., Stern, G., Fleischman, M., and Marshall,
L. S., "Hydrogen Peroxide Catalytic Oxidation of Refrac-
tory Organics in Municipal Waste Waters," I&EC Process
Design and Development, 7, 110-117, January 1968.
POTATO PROCESSING WASTES
This report outlines the operation of and results
from a pilot plant used to treat potato wastes from
January 1 to June 1, 1967.
Primary clarifier effluent was fed to the first of
two small lagoons in series. The first lagoon was
operated as a complete mixed anaerobic unit and
the second lagoon was aerated with a small surface
aerator. Hydraulic loadings were varied to give
detention times of 8.8, 5.0, and 2.4 days in each
lagoon.
Preliminary conclusions drawn from the infor-
mation gathered during this period include:
1. The BOD in potato wastes can be reduced
by greater than 90% by primary clarification plus
anaerobic-aerobic lagoons in series.

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2.	Mixing of the contents of the anaerobic la-
goon is necessary for proper operation of the anaer-
obic-aerobic system.
3.	Covering the anaerobic lagoon will reduce
the temperature drop and help control odors.
4.	Secondary clarification for removal of sus-
pended solids will be required following the aerobic
lagoon.
5.	Foaming may cause operational difficulties
in full-scale aerobic lagoons, but can be controlled
by proper design.
6.	Preliminary cost estimates show that a com-
bination of anaerobic-aerobic lagoons may result in
a lower cost than either anaerobic or aerobic treat-
ment separately.
Potato Processing Wastes: Progress Report on Pilot-Plant
Studies of Secondary Treatment, U.S. Department of the
Interior, FWPCA. Northwest Region, Pacific Northwest
Water Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon, January 1968. (This
report may be obtained from the Pacific Northwest Water
Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon 97330).
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
Chemical analysis is used by both industrial and
control agency chemists to combat water pollution.
The control agency chemist has the more difficult
analytical problem because he knows relatively little
about the industrial processes involved and must
operate in public areas. An enforcement case re-
quires that the responsible compounds at the site of
water use impairment be identified. Quantitative
analyses along the polluted body of water establish
responsibility and assess the degree of damage.
Most of the resources of chemical analysis are
drawn on to assemble the data needed to accom-
plish pollution abatement. Even more sophisticated
methods will be called upon as the problems of the
environment inevitably receive more attention.
Rosen, A. A., "Chemical Analysis — A Weapon Against
Water Pollution," Analytical Chemistry, 39:12, 26A-33A,
October 1967.
ODOROUS COMPOUND FROM STREPTOMYCETE
An earthy-smelling substance extracted several
years ago from Streptomyces griseoluteus remained
unidentified until this study in which it was com-
pared to an authentic sample of geosmin and found
to be identical on the basis of odor quality, thres-
hold odor concentration, gas chromatography re-
tention times and infrared and nuclear magnetic
resonance spectra. It is suggested that the earthy
odor of Streptomyces metabolites is the result of the
general occurrence of this specific compound.
Rosen, A. A., Safferman, R. S., Mashni, C. I., and Ro-
mano, A. H., "Identity of Odorous Substance Produced
by Streptomyces griseoluteus," Applied Microbiology, 16,
178-179, January 1968.
LIQUID WASTE DISPOSAL
The operation and performance of a municipal
ridge and furrow liquid waste disposal system in
use since 1959 was monitored for a year and a half.
One hundred and fifty thousand gallons a day of
trickling filter effluent are disposed into the soil via
four 1-acre basins. A heavy stand of grass left un-
harvested over the winter apparently contributes
to successful operation. The changes in infiltration
rates and quality of the infiltrate with season and
under various loading and operating conditions are
examined, as are companion field and indoor lysi-
meter studies comparing various design and opera-
tional factors that may influence infiltration pro-
tection of ground water.
Bendixen. T. W., Hill. R. D., Schwartz, W. A., and Ro-
beck, G. G., "Ridge and Furrow Liquid Waste Disposal
in a Northern Latitude," Journal of the Sanitary Engi-
neering Division, ASCE, 94.-SA1, 147-157, February 1968.
STORM WATER POLLUTION
Survival of a fecal coliform (Escherichia coli)
and a fecal streptococcus (Streptococcus faecalis
var. liquifaciens) was studied through several years
at shaded and exposed outdoor soil plots. Death
rates for both organisms were calculated for the
different seasons at both sites. The 90% reduction
times for the fecal coliform ranged from 3.3 days
in summer to 13.4 days in autumn. For fecal strep-
tococcus, 90% reduction times were from 2.7 days
in summer to 20.1 days in winter. During summer,
the fecal coliform survived slightly longer than the
fecal streptococcus; during autumn, survival was the
same; and in spring and winter the fecal strepto-
coccus survived much longer than the fecal coli-
form. Both organisms were isolated from storm-
water runoff collected below a sampling site when
counts were sufficiently high in soil. Isolation was
more frequent during prolonged rains, lasting up to
10 days, than during short rain storms. There was
evidence of aftergrowth of nonfecal coliforms in the
soil as a result of temperature and rainfall varia-
tions. Such aftergrowth may contribute to varia-
tions in bacterial count of storm-water runoff which
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have no relation to the sanitary history of the
drainage area.
Van Donsel, D. J., Geldreich. E. E., and Clarke, N. A.,
"Seasonal Variations in Survival of Indicator Bacteria in
Soil and Their Contribution to Storm-water Pollution,"
Applied Microbiology, 15:6, 1362-1370, November 1967.
MECHANICAL OR DIFFUSED AIR-PUMPING
This article compares two methods of artificially
destratifying lakes and reservoirs. Both methods,
mechanical- and diffused-air-pumping broke up the
thermal stratification patterns in the study lakes
successfully and improved water quality. In both
cases, DO was added to the water and sulfides
reduced iron and manganese were oxidized. Al-
though some nitrogen and phosphorus was trans-
ported to the surface layers during mixing, excessive
algal growths did not develop in either case. In both
cases, actually, some environmental factor or fac-
tors changed during mixing causing algal popula-
tions to decline. Populations of blue-green algae
declined more than green algal populations. In
neither case were the declines permanent; the algal
numbers increased again after mixing stopped.
Symons. J. M., Irwin, W. H., Robinson, E. L.. and Robeck,
G. G.. "Impoundment Destratification for Raw Water
Quality Control Using Either Mechanical or Diffused Air
Pumping," Journal American Water Works Association,
59, Part 1, 1268-1291. October 1967.
NITROGENOUS AND PHOSPHATIC COMPOUNDS IN SOILS
Literature on the reaction, nature, fate, and be-
havior of nitrogenous and phosphatic compounds in
soils and geologic strata has been reviewed in rela-
tion to the use of soil and geologic strata as a media
for municipal and industrial disposal. The report
consists of four sections:
Nature and properties of soils — Principles of
soil science are discussed in terms of soil forming
processes; the physico-chemical, mineralogical, and
biological properties; and their interrelationships.
Chemical character of sewage — The quantita-
tive and qualitative aspects of nitrogen and phos-
phorus in both raw sewage and treated effluent are
indicated.
Behavior of nitrogen in soils — The mobility of
inorganic and organic nitrogen in soils is discussed,
as well as the reaction mechanisms by which inor-
ganic forms can be removed from percolating solu-
tions and fixed; the factors affecting fixation, subse-
quent release, and degradation are also discussed.
Behavior of phosphorus in soils — The immobile
nature of phosphorus in soils compared to nitrogen
and the generally high phosphorus fixation power of
soil are discussed; seven factors affecting the fixation
of phosphorus by soils are discussed. The fixation
mechanisms for both inorganic and organic forms
of phosphorus are treated in detail. A glossary of
soil science terms is included.
Bailey, G. W., Role of Soils and Sediment in Water Pol-
lution Control. Part I. Reactions of Nitrogenous and
Phosphatic Compounds With Soils and Geologic Strata,
U.S. Department of the Interior, FWPCA, Southeast
Water Laboratory, March 1968, 90 pp. (This report may
lie obtained from the Southeast Water Laboratory, Athens,
Georgia 30601).
DIGITAL COMPUTER - PRELIMINARY DESIGN PROGRAM
A digital computer program has been developed
which computes the performance versus cost rela-
tionships for a conventional wastewater treatment
plant. Processes included in the plant are prelimi-
nary treatment, primary settling, aerator, final
settler, sludge thickener, digester, sludge elutriation,
vacuum filtration, sludge incineration, and final
chlorination. A stream vector consisting of volume
flow, water temperature, and the concentration of
11 basic water contaminants is used in calculating
the cost and performance of each process. The com-
puted effluent stream vector from upstream proc-
esses is used as the influent stream vector for down-
stream processes. Three secondary streams from the
sludge thickener, sludge wash, and vacuum filtra-
tion are directed back to the head end of the plant
and the recycle system is solved by iteration. The
results of various cost studies made with the pro-
gram are included in the report.
Smith, R., Preliminary Design and Simulation of Con-
ventional Wastewater Renovation Systems Using the Digi-
tal Computer, FWPCA Publication WP-20-9, March 1968,
132 pp.
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
One of the most challenging areas of the total
eutrophication problem is the need to better under-
stand the environmental requirements of blue-green
algae. The FWPCA and the University of Wash-
ington co-sponsored a two-day symposium on this
subject September 23-24, 1966. This publication
is a compilation of research papers presented there,
as well as summaries of discussion sessions following
each paper and a general discussion on the subject
of nutrient measurement and nuisance control. Re-
search papers included are: "Why Study Blue-
Green Algae," W. T. Edmondson; "Problems in the
Laboratory Culture of Planktonic Blue-Green Al-
gae," W. R. Eberly; "Aspects of the Nitrogen Nutri-
tion of Some Naturally Occurring Populations of
Blue-Green Algae," V. A. (Dugdale) Billaud; "En-
vironmental Requirements of Thermophilic Blue-
Green Algae," R. W. Castenholz; "Growth Require-
ments of Blue-Green Algae as Deduced from Their
Natural Distribution," W. C. Vinyard; "Recent Ad-
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varices in the Physiology of Blue-Green Algae," O.
Holm-Hansen; and "Discussion," G. P. Fitzgerald.
.¦Environmental Ilrquiremenls oj Blue-Grrrn Algae, Pro
cwdings of a Symposium, September 23-24, 1966, U.S.
Department of the Interior, FWPCA, Northwest Region,
Pacific Northwest Water Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon,
October 1967, tlO iip. (This report may be obtained from
the Pacific Northwest Water Laboratory, Corvallis, Ore-
gon 97330).
ELECTRODIALYSIS
A pilot-scale electrodialysis stack has been oper-
ated on diatomaceous earth filtered and activated
carbon treated municipal secondary effluent. Soon
after operation was begun serious membrane foul-
ing occurred. The fouling materials were removed
quite effectively by shutting down the stack for
periods of a day or more. The fouling rate is re-
lated to feed turbidity, but a precise correlation does
not exist. There is evidence that growth of micro-
organisms on the membranes also could affect the
fouling rate. Permanent damage to the membranes
from fouling has been slight with an increase in
membrane resistance of only about 5% during more
than 1,400 hr of operation, much of which was un-
der severe fouling conditions. Current efficiency
has not declined noticeably during this time.
Operating with concentrated waste of about 9.5%
of the product has resulted in periodic minor scaling
by calcium carbonate. This is not considered a
serious problem.
Assuming feed turbidity of less than 0.1 JTU
can be maintained, the membrane fouling rate is low
enough that operation of electrodialysis becomes
practical without the use of auxiliary means for
fouling prevention. Using operating conditions sim-
ilar to those in the pilot stack the estimated total
cost of operation is 16,0^1,000 gal. (4.2^/cu m) for
a 10 mgd (37,850 cu m/day) plant By increasing
the rate through the stacks it should be possible to
reduce the cost to 11.9?/1,000 gal. (3.14^/cu m).
Brunner, C. A., "Pilot-Plant Experiences in Denrineraliza-
tion of Secondary Effluent Using Electrodialysis," Journal
Water Pollution Control Federation, 39, Part 2, Rl-
RJ5, October 1967.
AERATED LAGOON STUDY
This report presents the data collected and the
conclusions drawn from a six-week period of samp-
ling of an aerated lagoon used to treat wastes from
the frozen pea processing plant of Kelley-Farquhar
located at Ferndale, Washington.
Eleven hour composite samples were collected
one day per week from July 6 to August 17, 1967,
of the influent to the 5.6 million gal. aerated lagoon,
effluent from the lagoon and effluent from a 135,000-
gal, polishing pond.
Conclusions drawn from the sampling program
include:
1.	Water use per 1,000 lb. of peas processed
averaged 3,500 gal. Suspended solids, BOD, and
COD contributions to the waste stream per 1,000
lb, of peas averaged 10, 24, and 41 lb., respectively.
2.	Reductions in total BOD and COD across
the aerated lagoon averaged 76 and 59%, respec-
tively. Dissolved BOD was reduced by 95% and
dissolved COD by 82%.
3.	Inorganic nutrients were not reduced ap-
preciably by the aerated lagoon.
4.	The polishing pond readily filled with solids
and ceased to function as a removal device. Sus-
pended solids increased from 340 to 580 mg I
across the aerated lagoon and the average reduction
by the polishing pond was 10%.
5.	Current operation of the aerated lagoon
results in foaming problems during the first week
or two of operation and the growth of filamentous
ftoc which causes a highly bulked sludge (SVI
1000).
6.	When all four aerators are in operation, the
reduction in organies across the complete-mixed
lagoon can be predicted using available formula-
tions. Necessary constants were obtained from this
study.
Evaluation of Kflley, Farquhur <6 Co.'s Aerated Lagoon in
Ferndale, Washington, U.S. Department of the Interior,
FWPCA, Northwest Region, Pacific Northwest Water
Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon, March 1968. (This re-
port may be obtained from the Pacific Northwest Water
Laboratory, Corvallis. Oregon 97330).
SALMONELLA IN MICHIGAN WATERS
A salmonella survey was undertaken as part of
the continuing program of cooperation between the
United States Federal Water Pollution Control Ad-
ministration and the Michigan Water Resources
Commission. The purpose of the study was to gather
additional basic bacteriological data regarding the
quality of certain Michigan waters. Samples were
collected at selected locations via a modified Moore
gauze pad technique from the stream effluents of
waste treatment plants on the Huron and Raisin
Rivers, public bathing waters on Lake Erie in the
vicinity of the mouth of the Raisin River, from the
intake and stream discharge waters of paper re-
processing plants, and sugar beet processing estab-
lishments located on the Raisin and Saginaw Rivers,
respectively. The survey spanned a one-year period
from January to December 1966. A total of 57
samples were collected and examined by an elevated
temperature technique. Forty-four percent of the
samples yielded one or more salmonella serotypes.
The following 23 salmonella serotypes were isolated
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during the survey: S. anatum, S. bredeney, S. cu-
bana, S. derby, S. eimsbuettel, S. give, S. heidel-
berg, S. infantis, S. java, S. manhattan, S. minne-
sota, S. montevideo, S. muenchen, S. new bruns-
wick, S. newport, S. oranienburg, S. san diego, S. st.
paul, S. tennessee, S. thompson, S. typhi murium,
S. typhi murium var. Copenhagen, Sal. 6,7:-l,5
(monophasic).
Clemente, J. and Christensen, R. G., "Results of a Recent
Salmonella Survey of Some Michigan Waters Flowing
Into Lake Huron and Lake Erie," Proceedings, Tenth
Conference on Great Lakes Research, 1-11, 1967.
COMBINED AND SEPARATE SEWER DISCHARGES
This paper gives the results of a study con-
ducted during 1965 by the Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration (formerly a Division of the
U.S. Public Health Service) Detroit River-Lake
Erie project, with the cooperation of the Michigan
Department of Public Health and the Michigan
Water Resources Commission. The purpose of the
study was to determine and compare the chemical
and physical qualities of the effluents discharged
from combined and separate storm sewers.
The studies were conducted on the Allen Creek
Drain, a separate sewer system of Ann Arbor, Mich-
igan, and the Conners Creek combined sewer sys-
tem of Detroit, Michigan.
Burm, R. J., Krawczyk, D. F., and Harlow, G. L.,
"Chemical and Physical Comparison of Combined and
Separate Sewer Discharges," Journal Water Pollution
Control Federation, 40, 112-126, January 1968. (No re-
prints are available.)
OTHER AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS
Office of Information, Ohio Basin Region, FWPCA, Ed-
ucational Films Announcement
U.S. Department of the Interior, 1968 Listings of Con-
servation Films
Office of Information, Ohio Basin Region, FWPCA, Cur-
rent List of Water Publications (Robert A. Taft Sanitary
Engineering Center) 1965-1968
U.S. Department of the Interior, A List of Publications
on Conservation and Related Department of the Interior
Subjects
THE WATER RESOURCES SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION CENTER
Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall es-
tablished a Water Resources Scientific Information
Center (WRSIC) to be the first unit in a Natural
Resources Scientific Information Center for the
Department and the Federal Council for Science
and Technology designated WRSIC as the Federal-
wide Water Resources Information Center. The
Center is under the general supervision of the
Science Adviser to the Secretary and management
responsibility for Center operations is placed in the
Office of Water Resources Research. Initial appro-
priation for the Center was one-half million dollars
for Fiscal Year 1968.
Objectives of WRSIC are: to serve as a focal
point for water resources scientific information ac-
tivities, to initiate efforts to coordinate and supple-
ment existing scientific information services, to pro-
vide for such water resource scientific and technical
information services as can be best accomplished on
a nationwide level in cooperation with participating
agencies, and to insure the prompt flow of scientific
and technical information from both participating
agency systems and WRSIC to interested agencies
and individuals.
WRSIC is now implementing these basic objec-
tives, by identifying, coordinating, and supplement-
ing existing information sources and services to-
wards the development of a common information
base-in machine readable form.
To obtain input for this information base,
WRSIC is executing centers of technical compe-
tence agreements, with Federal and non Federal or-
ganizations having technical subject area compe-
tence, to acquire selectivity from the world's sci-
entific and technical literature and process into a
WRSIC standard format, including bibliographical
citation, abstract, and index terms, those items
within their specific subject area. As subject cov-
erage expands, this information base will be manip-
ulatable to provide output in a variety of forms.
First output occurred in January in the form
of an abstract bulletin (Selected Water Resources
Abstracts), which is published monthly. The initial
input for this bulletin was provided by the Bureau
of Reclamation, whose Denver Office is serving as
an operations facility for WRSIC. The bulletin is
a current awareness service. A selected dissemina-
tion of information system (SDI) will serve same
2,000 user groups and individual notices will be sent
to those groups having established information pro-
files.
During this initial trial period, recipients are
limited to those selected from Federal agencies,
Water Resources Research Institutes, contractors,
or grantees with whom service agreements have been
negotiated. Other formats planned include stand-
ard ones such as topical bibliographies, permuted
title indexes, critical reviews, and others.
WRSIC services should be useful to water re-
source personnel in at least two major ways: (1)
assist research workers and others to keep abreast
of developments in their subject fields more effec-
tively and efficiently; and (2) help keep wasteful
and undesirable duplication of effort in the water
resources research, development, and management
fields to a minimum.
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WATER RESEARCH is issued by the Information Office, Ohio Basin Region, Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration, Cincinnati, Ohio. Summaries are based on technical research publications by the
staff of the Research and Development Program. Reprints of the complete articles may be obtained by writ-
ing Chief, Office of Information, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, 4676 Columbia Parkway,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
CINCINNATI WATER RESEARCH LABORATORY
4676 COLUMBIA PARKWAY
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45226
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