United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
RESEARCH PROJECT
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
Immediate Office
NUTRIENT CONTROL DESIGN MANUAL
IMPACT STATEMENT
The Nutrient Control Design Manual will present an
extensive state-of-the-technology review of the
engineering design and operation of nitrogen and
phosphorous control technologies and techniques applied
at municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This
manual will present up to date technical guidance on the
selection, design and operation these technologies to a
wide range of technical professionals involved in the
regulation and control of nutrients discharged from
WWTPs. Other current nutrient control issues such as
emerging and innovative technologies and nutrient
recovery and reuse will also be presented. EPA is
responsible for developing technical guidance and
informing wastewater professionals on the most effective
and cost-efficient methods for improving nutrient removal at WWTPs.
BACKGROUND:
In 2007, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a new program, the Aging Water Infrastructure (AWI)
Research Program, to evaluate and rehabilitate the nation's aging water infrastructure. As a part of this initiative, the
Office of Research and Development (ORD) is publishing updated design guidance for technologies that remove
phosphorous and nitrogen from domestic wastewater. The harmful effects of eutrophication due to excessive nitrogen
and phosphorus concentrations in aquatic and marine environments have been well documented. Algae and
phytoplankton growth can be accelerated by high concentrations of phosphorous and nitrogen. Other aquatic life can be
affected by these sudden "blooms" of algae and phytoplankton which use up the nutrients in the water. As the bacteria,
which decompose the algae and phytoplankton when they die off, start to consume large amounts of dissolved oxygen,
aquatic life in the area can be harmed or will die due to hypoxia or anoxia. These extreme eutrophic conditions can lead
to "dead zones," which can support only minimal aquatic life.
DESCRIPTION:
ORD's National Risk Management Research Laboratory has funded this research project in support of its AWI Research
Program. This project will provide updated engineering design guidance for the treatment of nitrogen and phosphorus at
municipal wastewater treatment plants to regional and state permit writers, municipal wastewater treatment plant
staff, and engineering design consultants. This project will develop an updated engineering design manual based on
technology innovations that have been developed and applied over the past 20 years. A state-of-the-technology review
report for nutrient control systems at WWTPs, which was developed to support the updated manual, was released in
January 2009 (EPA/600/R-09/012). The updated manual will be published in the autumn of 2009.
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
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The Nutrient Control Design Manual will present an extensive state-of-the-technology review of the engineering design
and operation of nitrogen and phosphorous control technologies and techniques applied at WWTPs. This manual will
present up to date technical guidance on the selection, design and operation these technologies to a wide range of
technical professionals involved in the regulation and control of nutrients discharged from WWTPs. Other current
nutrient control issues such as emerging and innovative technologies and nutrient recovery and reuse will also be
presented. EPA is responsible for developing technical guidance and informing wastewater professionals on the most
effective and cost-efficient methods for improving nutrient removal at WWTPs.
EPA GOAL: Goal #2 - Clean & Safe Water, Objective 2.1.1- Water Safe to Drink
ORD MULTI YEAR PLAN: Water Quality (WQ), Long Term Goal - WQ-3 Source Control
RESEARCH PARTNERS :
Collaborators: EPA Office of Water/Office of Wastewater Management; EPA Regions 1, 5, 10
Contractors: The Camdus Group, Inc.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS:
It is expected that engineering design professionals and regulators will apply this technical guidance to increase the
effectiveness of nutrient removal at WWTPs across the nation, which will result in significant reductions in nitrogen and
phosphorus levels in receiving waters. These reductions will result in measurable water quality improvements and
healthier aquatic and marine ecosystems.
OUTPUTS:
The completed Nutrient Control Design Manual will present updated nitrogen and phosphorous removal design
guidance and discuss emerging and innovative technologies and techniques for use by municipal WWTPs. Current and
expected project outputs include:
• Nutrient Control Design Manual: State of the Technology Review Report (January 2009). U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. (EPA/600/R-09/012).
• Revised Nutrient Control Design Manual, February 2010
RESOURCES:
Aging Water Infrastructure Research Program: http://www.epa.gov/awi/
EPA (2009). Nutrient Control Design Manual - State of Technology Review Report (EPA/600/R-09/012).
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r09012/600r09012.pdf
CONTACTS:
Dan Murray, Principal Investigator - (513) 569-7522 ormurray.dan@epa.gov
Steven Doub, Media Relations - (513) 569-7503 ordoub.steven@epa.gov
Michelle Latham, Communications - (513) 569-7601 or latham.michelle@epa.gov
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Water Supply and Water Resources Division
www.epa.gov/nrmrl
EPA/600/F-09/036
October 2009
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