Robert A. Taft Water Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
MAY 197C
Research and Development
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY ADMINISTRATE
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INT
ARTIFICIAL DESTRATIFICATION IN IMPOUNDMENT*
(W69-16)
Recently, much attention has been given to the
influence of thermal stratification on water quality
in reservoirs and the possible improvement of reser-
voir water quality by artificial destratification. Dur-
ing the past several years, the authors have inves-
tigated water quality in three northern Kentucky
fishing lakes to determine the effectiveness of con-
trolling water quality by artificial destratification.
The purpose of this paper is to show the phyto-
plankton populations that existed during destrati-
fication. Enumerations of plankters were made of
total and generic groups existing before and after
mixing. These data were compared to physical and
chemical data collected at the same time, to de-
termine if the plankton populations were modified
by chemical and physical conditions. Finally, the
results of both years' studies were compared to de-
termine any similarities or differences.
Robinson, E. L., Irwin, W. H., and Symons, J. M., "Influ-
ence of Artificial Destratification on Plankton Populations
in Impoundments," Transactions of the Kentucky Academy
of Science, 29, Nos. 1-2, 1-8, 1968.
FECAL STREPTOCOCCI IN STREAM POLLUTION (W69-17)
Occurrence of fecal streptococci is used increas-
ingly as one bacteriological measurement of stream
pollution. Yet the true sanitary significance of
fecal streptococci has been confused somewhat by
controversies concerning procedures for quantita-
tion, definition of the group, and differing concepts
as to their occurrence in the water environment
and in warm-blooded animal fecal discharges.
Renewed interest in the streptococcal group as
a pollution indicator followed application of the
KF Streptococcus agar used with a pour plate pro-
cedure giving the bacteriologist a choice of direct
enumeration methods.
With the development of KF Streptococcus agar
for fecal streptococcus determinations, a long-term
research program was initiated to evaluate this bac-
terial indicator system in stream pollution studies.
Geldreich, E. E. and Kenner, B. A., "Concepts of Fecal
Streptococci in Stream Pollution," Journal Water Pollution
Control Federation, 41, No. 8, Part 2, R336-R352, 1969.
COLLOIDS IN TREATMENT PROCESSES (W69-18)
A discussion of the colloidal matter derived from
the microbial organisms which remains in effluents
from biological treatment plants. This biological
treatment usually is called secondary treatment
because many large plants precede it by primary
settling and skimming. The microorganisms may
be used in a homogeneous aerated reactor, as in the
activated sludge process, or they may be attached
to surfaces in a heterogeneous reactor called a
trickling or biological filter. A trickling filter has
large pores (2-5 cm.), and removes particulate mat-
ter by adsorption rather than by straining. Most
experimental work has been done with activated
sludge; however, the effluents from trickling filters
are qualitatively similar. Flocculants, bacteria,
slimes, and application of filtration, electrodialysis
and other separation processes are discussed.
Dean, R. B., "Colloids Complicate Treatment Processes,"
Environmental Science & Technology, 3, No. 9, 820-824.
1969.
SULFIDE DETECTOR (W69-19)
The presence of sulfides is a positive indication
of poor water quality; the compounds affect water
uses by their objectionable odor, by their toxicity to
aquatic life, and by corrosion of metal and concrete
structures.
The toxicity of hydrogen sulfide to aquatic life
has been reported at widely ranging values.
Corrosion of metallic and concrete structures by
sulfides is important and costly. Oxidation of sul-
fides produces sulfuric acid that will attack concrete.
Sulfide is one of the very few naturally occurring
ions that reacts chemically with silver. The result-
ing silver sulfide, Ag2S, is the only naturally occur-
ring black inorganic silver compound.
The silver-sulfide reaction also occurs in the
aquatic environment. Results of placing 10-cent
pieces (an alloy of 90-percent silver and 10-per-
cent copper) in the Pigeon River in North Carolina
and Tennessee are reported.
Keup, L. E. and Ballinger, D. G., "A Ten-Cent Sulfide De-
tector," Journal Water Pollution Control Federation. 41.
No. 8, Part 1, 1533-1535, 1969.

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TRACE METALS IN WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES
(W69-21)
A five-year summary of the FWQA's Water
Quality Surveillance Program. Highlights of the
report:
a.	Information on changes in water quality at
key points in river systems, as it relates to
the implementation of water quality stan-
dards.
b.	Basic data on chemical, physical and bio-
logical water quality which may be used to
establish water quality baselines and deter-
mine trends.
c.	Data which are useful in the development
and operation of comprehensive water re-
source management programs.
Adequate water quality surveillance is essential
in order to quickly identify compliance with water
quality standards, to document violations for cor-
rective actions and to identify new pollution trends,
sources and types before problems develop.
In general, sampling points are in the vicinity of:
a.	people and/or animal concentrations;
b.	industrial activity including agricultural and
heat emission sources;
c.	recreational use areas;
d.	state and national boundaries; and
e.	potential problem areas.
Some 50 sampling stations were established
when the program started, October X, 1957. The
number has now grown to over 130.
Kopp, J. F. and Kroner, R. C., "Trace Metals in Waters of
the United States—A Five Year Summary of Trace Metals
in Rivers and Lakes of the United States (Oct. 1, 1962-
Sept. 30, 1967)," FWPCA, U.S. Department of the In-
terior, Cincinnati, Ohio.
PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL (W69-22)
This report concerns the addition of sodium
aluminate directly on the filter media through the
dosing siphon. The precipitation of insoluble alum-
inum phosphate, therefore, takes place on the filter
media surface. This is analogous to processes for
phosphorus removal in activated sludge plants
which dose the aeration sludge directly with soluble
metallic compounds.
Because of the difficulties in making a realistic
scale model of a trickling filter, this investigation
was carried out on one of the full-scale trickling
filters of the Fairborn, Ohio, wastewater treatment
plant.
The objectives of the study were to determine
the efficiency of phosphorus removal by this meth-
od, to observe any changes in the biological film,
and to note any physical effects such as ponding
or excessive sloughing of the filter.
Barth, E. F„ Jackson, B. N., Lewis, R. F., and Brenner,
R. C., "Phosphorus Removal From Wastewater by Direct
Dosing of Aluminate to a Trickling Filter," Journal Water
Pollution Control Federation, 41, No. 11, Part 1, 1932-1942,
1969.
DIAGNOSES OF MORTALITY OF FISH (W69-23)
Catfish, lctalurus nebidosus (Le Sueur), were
exposed to various concentrations of technical
grade parathion dissolved in water for time periods
of up to 30 days. Analyses of the blood revealed
that the concentration of parathion In the blood
and in the water is closely related, and can be used
to predict death due to acute toxicity. Several
methods of chemical analyses, including infrared
spectra, demonstrate that the material is unaltered
parathion and not paraoxon. The presence of un-
altered parathion in the blood suggests that the
metabolism of parathion in cold-blooded verte-
brates, such as fish, should be studied further to
determine if there is a significant accumulation in
such animals.
Mount, D. I. and Boyle, H. W., "Parathion—Use of Blood
Concentration to Diagnose Mortality of Fish," Environ-
mental Science & Technology, 3, No. 11, 1183-1185, 1969.
ULTIMATE DISPOSAL OF WASTEWATER (W69-24)
Not until 1967 was a formal program of ultimate
disposal established, and recognition given to the
fact that different wastes required different types
of ultimate disposal.
A careful examination of the environment shows
seven possibilities for disposal. These are, in order:
outer space, atmosphere, freshwater, saltwater, land
surface, underground, reuse.
Disposal in outer space is repeatedly mentioned
and not always facetiously in this day of lunar ex-
ploration. The author contends that this is by far.
the most expensive and least efficient method of
ultimate disposal. If we could shoot wastes into
the sun, they would presumably be burned up, and
even highly toxic radioactive wastes would be safe
against the background of radioactivity in the sun.
Even here it is hard to conceive of a waste that
could not be taken care of at lower cost in some
other way.
The author continues in this vein to illustrate
the importance and difficulty of ultimate disposal,
then suggests more immediate solutions by describ-
ing successful disposal methods by various indus-
tries. Water reuse is emphasized.
Dean, R. B„ "Ultimate Disposal of Waste Water: A Philo-
sophical View," Chemical Engineering Progress Sympos-
ium Series, 65, No. 97, 1-4, 1969.
ALGAL RECORDS FOR STABILIZATION PONDS (W69-25)
Algal identifications have been recorded from
376 samples collected from three Indiana sewage
stabilization ponds during a period from May 1962
to August 1968. Although certain genera were
found frequently in all three ponds, each pond had
a distinctive algal flora. Green algae were invari-
ably the most abundant of the algal groups present.
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However, flagellates were also prominent. Of a total
of 64 genera of the most significant and abundant
algae there were 29 green algae, 19 flagellates, 10
blue-green algae, and 6 diatoms. Some genera were
limited to the summer season, while others were
most prominent in spring and fall or in the winter.
The pollution-tolerant algae Euglena and Nitzschia
were abundant and persistent in all three ponds.
Palmer, C. M., "Algal Records for Three Indiana Sewage
Stabilization Ponds," Proceedings of the Indiana Academy
of Science for 1968, 78. 139-145, 1969.
PRESSURE FILTRATION (W69-27)
A pressure filtration system can be an effective
tool for the clarification of wastewaters. With good
quality secondary effluent and low suspended solids,
the process can compete favorably with other
methods such as conventional flocculation, sedimen-
tation, and filtration or diatomaceous earth filtra-
tion. Until wastewater character is better under-
stood, however, this type of filtration may encount- .
er the problems of variable polyelectrolyte dosages,
mudballing, poor product quality, or unusually
short runs. Any of these conditions, which can
result in an uneconomical percentage of product
water necessary for backwash, makes it difficult
for this process to compete with those that produce
water for less than 8 cents per 1000 gal.
Berg, E. L. and Brunner, C. A., "Pressure Filtration of
Secondary Treatment Plant Effluent," Water and Wastes
Engineering, 6, No. 10, 54-58, 1969.
LIME CLARIFICATION, RECOVERY AND REUSE (W69-28)
CHARACTERIZATION OF (LPP-2) BLUE-GREEN VIRUSES
(W69-29)
Viruses infecting the blue-green alga Plecto-
nema boryanum are common constituents of waste
stabilization ponds distributed throughout the
United States. Although all the viruses isolated on
Plectonema have the same host range and require-
ment for Mg-'+ as the archetype LPP-1, a number
of new isolates are not neutralized by LPP-1 anti-
serum.
The authors show that the isolates not neutral-
ized by LPP-1 antiserum are all members of a sec-
ond serologically distinguishable class, termed
LPP-2. Several members of this class were exam-
ined in the electron microscope and found to be
morphologically similar to LPP-1.
SafTerman, R. S., Morris, M. E.. Sherman. L. A., and
Haselkorn, R., "Serological and Electron Microscopic
Characterization of a New Group of Blue-Green Algal
Viruses (LPP-2)," Virology, 30, No. 4. 775-780. December
1969.
TASTE AND ODOR RESEARCH (W70-2)
Taste, as a specific sensory process, is rarely a
problem m water supply. It is an aspect which has
caused very little concern.
On the other hand, three classes of odors are
discussed:
1.	Sensory methods for the measurement, de-
scription, and recognition of odors.
2.	Chemistry of odorous contaminants in water
—identification and correlation with odor
problems.
3.	Odor treatment research, which makes use
of identification and analyses of specific odor-
ants to guide treatment methods.
New precise methods being developed for iden-
tifying odors are discussed.
Rosen, A. A., et a!., "Committee Report: Research on
Tastes and Odors," Journal American Water Works Asso-
ciation, 62, No. 1, 59-62, 1970.
FWQA
Lime treatment of secondary effluents to re-
move phosphates produces a sludge which can be
recovered and reused for its lime content. Lime
reuse does not affect removal efficiencies and sub-
stantially increases filter cake yield rates.
Secondary effluent characteristics profoundly
affect system performance and lime sludge char-
acteristics. Generally, a sludge produced from a
mineralized, alkaline water with a low magnesium
hydroxide to calcium carbonate ratio will exhibit
superior thickening and dewatering characteristics.
Lime recoveries depend on the wastewater's cal-
cium, alkalinity, and phosphorus concentration, and
the re-carbonation pH.
Mulbarger, M. C., Grossman, E. Ill, Dean, R. B., and
Grant, O. L., "Lime Clarification, Recovery, Reuse, and
Sludge Dewatering Characteristics," Journal Water Pol-
lution Control Federation, 41, No. 12, 2070-2085, 1969.
In April 1970, President Nixon signed the
"Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970," which
changed the name of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration (FWPCA) to the Federal
Water Quality Administration (FWQA).
WATER RESEARCH is issued by the Information Office, Ohio Basin Region, Federal Water Quality
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 writing
Director, Office of Information, Federal Water Quality Administration, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati
Ohio 45226.
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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY 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

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