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FEDERAL WATER QUALITY ADMINISTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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Research and Development
Robert A. Taft Water Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
WINTER 1970


STEROID HORMONES AS WATER POLLUTANTS (W70-3)
Knowledge of the fate of steroids normally
present in domestic wastewater is rather meager.
The authors sought a better understanding of
steroid biodegradation. The data obtained showed
that the susceptibility of the natural and synthetic
ovulation-inhibiting steroids varied as to the rate
of oxidation by the microorganisms of activated
sludge. The synthetic estrogen and progestin com-
ponents of oral contraceptives exhibited greater
overall resistance to microbial degradation than
the natural hormones.
Tabak. H. H. and Bunch, R. L., "Steroid Hormones as
Water Pollutants. I. Metabolism of Natural and Synthetic
Ovulation-inhibiting Hormones by Microorganisms of
Activated Sludge and Primary Settled Sewage," Volume
II of Developments in Industrial Microbiology, Chapter
35. 367-376. 1970.
LAKES-RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION (W70-4)
The authors discuss the sources of lake problems
and methods of protecting lakes from eutrophy and
its consequences. Methods of nutrient reduction
are examined.
Natural processes tend to destroy lakes and
man's actions tend to accelerate this destruction.
Destruction may result from erosion of the natural
dam or sill that controls the lake's minimum level.
Erosion contributes materials that settle in qui-
escent waters to eventually fill the lake basin. Poor
land practices can increase erosion, thus increasing
the rate of sedimentation. While water is retained
in the lake basin, biota convert dissolved nutrients
to settleable organic solids, and a portion of these
is incorporated in the bottom sediments. Nutrient
additions can increase biological productivity, and
thus sedimentation. The factors contributing to a
lake's aging and eventual death, in unison and as
a composite, are discussed.
Keup, L. E. and Mackenthun, K. M., "Lakes—Restoration
and Preservation," Proceedings of Florida's Environmental
Engineering Conference on Water Pollution Control,
Florida Engineering and Industrial Experiment Station,
Gainesville, 24. No. 3, 94-101. Bulletin No. 135. 1970.
SINGLE-STAGE LIME CLARIFICATION (W70-5)
This study was undertaken to produce suitable
clarified water from secondary effluent for an ad-
vanced waste treatment system which includes
granular activated carbon treatment and electro-
dialysis. The clarifier was operated at various pH
values to ascertain also the effects upon those con-
stituents normally present in secondary effluent.
Results showed that a lime clarification system
can be an effective and economical tool for the
clarification of relatively hard wastewaters. Water
of high clarity, however, is obtainable only during
optimal operation of the biological oxidation
process. The system also removed large amounts
of phosphate, a major nutrient that supports algal
life. The economics of the system are comparable
with other forms of clarification.
Berg. E. L.. Brunner, C. A., and Williams. R. T., "Single-
Stage Lime Clarification of Secondary Effluent," Water
and Wastes Engineering, 7. No. 3. 42-46. 1970.
LAS TOXICITY TO MINNOWS (W70-6)
The primary objective of this paper was to deter-
mine the chronic toxicity of LAS to the fathead
minnow using "laboratory fish production index"
as the measure of effect. The results of this study
indicate that lethality of LAS to newly hatched
fry was the most critical factor found within the
precision of the testing methods. An experimental
concentration of 0.63 mg/1 LAS was determined
as the maximum acceptable concentration. The
application factor for LAS for this species and water
lies between 0.63/4.35 and 1.2/4.35 or approxi-
mately 14 and 28 percent of the 96-hr TL„, value.
A LAS concentration between 14 and 28 percent of
the 96-hr TL,„ value concentration, determined with
the species of concern may estimate the maximum
acceptable concentration for long-term exposure of
these species. This application factor for LAS is
the largest of any toxicant studied at the Newtown,
Ohio, Fish Toxicology Laboratory.
Pickering. Q. H. and Thatcher, T. O., "The Chronic
Toxicity of Linear Alkylate Sulfonate (LAS) to Pirnphales
promelas, Rafinesque." Journal Water Pollution Control
Federation, 42. No. 2, Part 1, 243-254. 1970.

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CONTROLLED-DEPTH, VOLUMETRIC BOTTOM SAMPLER
(W70-7)
The shallow-water grab-type sampler described
is designed to sample to a constant predetermined
depth in any type of bottom (except solid rock or
large rubble) over the entire area encompassed by
the jaws. Closed ends and screened relief openings
prevent blowout on placing or washout during
closure. As the jaws are strongly constructed and
worked by hand, obstructions between them can
often be worked out and the number of "dry hauls"
greatly reduced.
If some obstacle prevents complete closure (as
determined by the position of the handles), the
sample may be released and another grab taken
nearby without raising the sampler to the surface
for "resetting." Samples have been taken from
running streams, quiet ponds, and ocean surf; from
boats, through the ice, and while wading; and in
mud, sand and coarse packed gravel. Completely
illustrated with working drawings.
Jackson, H. W., "A Controlled-Depth, Volumetric Bottom
Sampler," The Progressive Fish-Culturist, 32, No. 2. 113-
115 (14 plates), April 1970.
LIQUID WASTE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL (W70-8)
The functions of the depth «to ground water is
to assure good biological treatment and good hy-
draulics in a soil system. Adequate draining of the
unsaturated zone and of the biologically active zone
at the surface is necessary to ensure an optimal
retention time for biological treatment, and to avoid
restricting reaeration of the active zone. A mini-
mum critical depth of unsaturated zone exists,
somewhere between 2 ft (0.6 m) and 4 ft (1.2 m),
such that treatment capacity is depressed in
shallower systems. An optimum depth should be at
least 5 ft (1.5 m). Hydraulic longevity also is re-
stricted in shallower systems, probably because
limited reaeration permits more rapid accumulation
of soil-pore clogging materials.
The authors discuss biological treatment in cold
weather. The adverse effects of cold-weather oper-
ations can be overcome by achieving biological
maturity in the system prior to the onset of the
cold season. The use of a medium with adequate
adsorptive capacity is another effective way of com-
batting loss of treatment in cold weather.
Cultivation of vegetation on the surface of the
soil system to extend hydraulic longevity is also
considered.
Schwartz, W. A. and Bendixen, T. W., "Soil Systems for
Liquid Waste Treatment and Disposal: Environmental
Factors." Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, 42.
No, 4. 624-630, 1970.
STREAM MONITORING PARAMETERS (W70-9)
A report on the author's participation in a panel
discussion on stream monitoring parameters as
applied to Florida streams. Automatic • versus
manual stations, economic impact on recreation,
and a discussion of waste treatment standards are
included.
Kittrell. F. W., "Stream Monitoring—Physical and Chemi-
cal Parameters," Proceedings of Florida's Environmental
Engineering Conference on Water Pollution Control,
Florida Engineering and Industrial Experiment Station,
Gainesville, 24, No. 3. 44-50, Bulletin No. 135, 1970.
ISOLATION OF PHENOLS FROM CARBON CHLOROFORM
EXTRACTS (W70-11)
A procedure is presented for efficient isolation
of many phenols from carbon chloroform extracts
(CCE) prior to chromatographic identification.
The phenols, as weak acids, are isolated by a Florisil
column cleanup of the CCE. Techniques for
evaporation and preparation of the extract are
given. Application of the method to grab samples
as well as qualitative and quantitative determina-
tions are discussed. Recovery data and relative
retention times for a gas-liquid chromatographic
separation are reported.
Eichelberger, J. W., Dressman, R. C., and Longbottom,
J. E., "Separation of Phenolic Compounds from Carbon
Chloroform Extract for Individual Chromatographic Identi-
fication and Measurement," Environmental Science &
Technology. 4, No. 7, 576-578, 1970.
WATER QUALITY EFFECTS OF LEACHING FROM
SUBMERGED SOILS (W70-12)
To implement the proposed impoundment of
the Northeast Cape Fear River in Dulpin County,
North Carolina, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
asked the Federal Water Quality Administration to
investigate the leaching of undesirable materials
into the impounded waters. Since the impound
ment will inundate an area with rich organic soils,
the possibility of leaching is high, and this research
is important to the future of the whole project.
The authors discuss materials, experimental designs
and chemical methods. Analyses were made for
color, iron, manganese, phosphorus, and nitrogen.
Keup. L. E., McKee, G. D., Raabe, E. W„ and Warner,
R. W., "Water Quality Effects of Leaching From Sub-
merged Soils," Journal American Water Works Association,
62, No. 6, 391-396, 1970.
MIXED LIQUOR SOLIDS SEPARATION BY FLOTATION
(W70-13)
The first full-scale application of dissolved air
flotation for mixed liquor solids separation has been
incorporated at a new 1.0 mgd Water Pollution Con-
trol Facility in Prince William County, Virginia.
The results of a field investigation at this facility
are reported herein. The data indicate that con-
ventional design criteria do not fully characterize

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flotation performance, and a new parameter, de-
veloped from a theoretical relationship derived by
Howe, is offered as a rational design and operational
guideline. Flotation performance is analyzed in
terms of float detention time and process design.
Cost-quality comparisons of mixed liquor solids
separation by flotation and gravity sedimentation
are presented.
Mulbarger, M. C. and Huffman, D. D., "Mixed Liquor
Solids Separation by Flotation," Journal of the Sanitary
Engineering Division, Proceedings of the American Society
of Civil Engineers, 96, No. SA4, 861-871, August 1970.
BIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS IN WATER SUPPLIES (W70-14)
Although none of the organisms found in sur-
face waters may be injurious to health, domestic
water .supplies must be free of such organisms, since
they, or their by-products, may interfere with
filtration and cause customer complaints. Thp
authors have compiled various reports and surveys
and their results will be of interest to all concerned
with water quality.
Mackenthun, K. M. and Keup, L. E., "Biological Problems
Encountered in Water Supplies," Journal American Water-
works Association. 62. No. 8, 520-526, 1970.
KLAMATH RIVER STUDY (W70-16)
In 1964, the Federal Water Quality Administra-
tion (FWQA) initiated the Klamath Basin Study
to determine the effects on water quality of agri-
cultural wastes in irrigation return water on the
Klamath and Lost Rivers, in Oregon. As part of
this study, macroinvertebrates were collected at
monthly intervals to determine the effects of irriga-
tion return water and pollution from the city of
Klamath Falls on the aquatic life.
Mason, W. T. Jr., Anderson, J. B., Kreis, R. D., and
Johnson. W. C., "Artificial Substrate Sampling Macro-
invertebrates in a Polluted Reach of the Klamath River.
Oregon," Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, 42.
No. 8. Part 2, R315-R328, 1970.
WATER RESEARCH is issued by the Information Office, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal
Water Quality Administration, Cincinnati, Ohio. 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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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
FEDERAL WATER QUALITY ADMINISTRATION
ROBERT A. TAFT WATER RESEARCH CENTER
4676 COLUMBIA PARKWAY
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45226
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