Robert A. Taft Water Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio OCTOBER 1969 CHEMICAL MEASUREMENT (W68-38) A discussion of selection of suitable parameters for use in water pollution control. Rather than at- tempt to select parameters which measure pollution per se, a preferable approach is to define a specific water use and establish the quality characteristics necessary to provide an acceptable water resource. The criteria of the National Technical Advisory . Committee on Water Quality serves to identify the parameters. A table sets forth the frequency of parameter usage based on the water quality stand- ards of 43 states and the District of Columbia. Quality requirements for public water supply, in- dustrial, agricultural and aquatic life uses are dis- cussed individually. Ballinger, D. G., "A Review of Chemical Measurements in Water Pollution Control," Water <& Sewage Works, Ref- erence Number, R38-R42. 1968. CONTROL OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS (W68-42) A modular treatment process consisting of high- rate activated sludge, nitrification, and denitrifica- tion is described. Results of continuous flow studies show that conventional biological treatment com- bined with specific chemical additives can remove efficiently chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus from wastewater. This investigation was a logical combination of previously reported processes for biological denitrifi- cation and phosphorus control by chemical addi- tives. Management of sludge systems, pilot plant op- eration, analytical procedures and results, and eco- nomic considerations are discussed. Barth, E. F.. Brenner, R. C. and Lewis, R. K.. "Chemical Biological Control of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Waste water Effluent." Journal Water Pollution Control Federa- tion, 40, No. 12. 2040-2054. 1968. IDENTIFYING OIL AND ASPHALT POLLUTANTS (W69-5) To determine the chemical nature of the heavy petroleum products involved in the 1967 Lake Michigan oil spill, a procedure for the characteriza- tion and identification of the oily, tarlike materials was needed. Samples from beach water were ana- lyzed by infrared spectrophotometry. The unknown spectra could not be matched with the known spec- tra, since autoxidation caused changes in the un- known specimen. By comparative ratios of infrared absorbances, the identity of the critical unknown samples was established. Even though asphalt and heavy residual oil have similar infrared spectra, there is a sharp distinction. Samples from seven petroleum companies were tested, using this new method for rapid characterization. Kawahara, F. K., "Identification and Differentiation of Heavy Residual Oil and Asphalt Pollutants in Surface Waters hy Comparative Ratios of Infrared Absorbances," Environmental Science & Technology, 3, No. 2, 150-153, 1969, WASTEWATER TREATMENT BY RADIATION (W69-7) The rationale for considering radiation as a wastewater treatment technique is discussed. This paper defines four principal applications of radiation to water pollution control: 1. Sludge beneficiation (improved sludge handling and water removal). 2. Total destruction of organics. 3. Disinfection (bacterial reduction). 4. Selective removal of refractories or spe- cific compounds. Ballantine, D. S., Miller, L. A„ Bishop, D. F., and Rohr- man, F. A., "The Practicality of Using Atomic Radiation for Wastewater Treatment," Journal Water Pollution Con- trol Federation, 41, No. 3, Part 1. 445-458, 1969. ULTIMATE DISPOSAL (W69-11) Advanced waste treatment processes include methods for removing pollutants such as nutrients, suspended matter, dissolved organics, and salts from waste water and concentrating them in a waste stream. Devising the most economical proc- ess for the disposal of the concentrated pollutants is the responsibility of the Ultimate Disposal Re- search Activities of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration in Cincinnati. Pollutants that are removed from waste waters must be treated so that they will not interfere with the intended use of the environment. The elements of polluting substances may be placed in the air, either on or under the land, and in the oceans. Preliminary conversion to innocuous or nonextractable forms is necessary. Organic substances may be oxidized to carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen by dry incinera- tion, wet oxidation at high temperature and pres- sure, or by soil organisms. Water-soluble salts must be locked up or diluted in the ocean. Other ele- ments should be recovered for chemical values or ------- converted to insoluble precipitates which can be buried or sunk. Dean, R. B., "Ultimate Disposal of Advanced Waste Treat- ment Residues," TAPPl, 52, No. 3, 457-461, 1969. POLLUTION TOLERANCE OF ALGAE (W69 12) From information on pollution-tolerant algae compiled from reports from 165 authors, the genera and species most often referred to as significant fall into a relatively stable series. Diatoms, pig- mented flagellates, green, and blue-green algae are all well represented among the pollution-tolerant genera and species. In some genera, a single species is far more significant than all others as a pollution- tolerant form. In other genera, only a slight differ- ence distinguishes the pollution-tolerance of two or more species. Algal genus and species pollution in- dices are presented for use in rating water samples with high organic pollution. Palmer, C. M., "A Composite Rating of Algae Tolerating Organic Pollution," Journal of Phycology, 5, No. 1, 78-82, 1969. ODOR IN RAW WATER (W69-13) Odorous materials in raw water present prob- lems in meeting requirements for quality water. These problems are now met by scanty subjective odor tests and very empirical jar treatment tests. The objective of the water supply industry must be to apply sound scientific knowledge and method- ology to guide its operations the way other manu- facturing industries do. To accomplish these objectives, we need im- proved odor test methods, both for quality and for intensity. Even more, we need systematic ana- lytical methodology to tell us what compounds cause the odor problem and what chemical prop- erties provide a means for solving the problem. Identification of pollutants will, in many cases, pro- vide the ammunition to prevent recurrence. In other cases, this identification will make it possible to select odor treatment methods more wisely and to discover bases for new treatment methods. Rosen, A. A., "Influence of Raw Water Characteristics on Meeting Requirements for Quality Water — Odorous Ma- terials," Proceedings oj the I 1th Sanitary Engineering Con- ference, University of Illinois, Urhana, Illinois, 59-69, 1969. ZINC AND THE FATHEAD MINNOW (W69-15) A continuous-flow bioassay was conducted for 10 months to determine the chronic effect of zinc on fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas Rafin- esque). Fish production, as based or survival, growth, and reproduction, was investigated. Repro- duction by the test fish was almost totally inhibited at zinc concentrations that had no effect on survival, growth, or maturation of these same fish. At these same concentrations there was also no effect on survival of control eggs and fry. The number of eggs produced per female in the low zinc concentra- tion (0.18 mg/I) was only 17 percent of the eggs produced in the control (0.03 mg/1 of zinc). Ap- plication factors based on these data and the 96- hour median tolerance limit (9.2 mg 1) are dis- cussed. Brungs. W. A., "Chronic Toxicity of Zinc to the Fathead Minnow, Pimephales promelas Rafinesque," Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 98, No. 2, 272-279, April 1969. 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 ROBERT A. TAFT WATER RESEARCH CENTER 4676 COLUMBIA PARKWAY CINCINNATI, OHIO 45226 OFFICIAL BUSINESS POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ------- |