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. ------- 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 2 ------- 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- 3 ------- 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 4 ------- 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. 5 ------- Join the fight 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 POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS ------- |