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Advanced Concepts Research Initiative
Citation:
ROWNEY, A. C. AND T. OCONNOR. Advanced Concepts Research Initiative. Presented at EPA SCIENCE FORUM, WASHINGTON, DC, May 19 - 22, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
to present information
Description:
This initiative is investigating various approaches to controlling and treating wet-weather flow (WWF) discharges in the urban watershed. WWF, including combined sewer overflow (CSO), sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) and stormwater discharges are leading causes of receiving water quality impairment. Pollution constituents in WWF include visible matter, pathogens, oxygen demanding materials, solids, nutrients, known toxicants, and emerging contaminants. National estimates project costs for pollution abatement in the hundreds of billions of dollars using traditional infrastructure. Municipalities therefore need innovative designs and alternative infrastructure mechanisms to reduce high costs of treatment and control. Aging urban centers and suburbs have limited space to implement stormwater controls. Design of sewer and conveyance systems is still evolving and this initiative seeks to provide decision makers cost-effective information by developing innovative urban technologies and assisting municipalities and utilities in the selection of appropriate technologies to control urban discharges, especially those caused by WWF or failing infrastructure. Many municipalities are subject to Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) on solids, nutrients and microbial indicators. While existing stormwater best management practices (BMPs) may be capable of reducing solids to receiving waters, benefits of installing BMPs for other TMDLs are not proven. A more active approach to stormwater management using proven concepts for routing, storage and treatment developed for sanitary systems and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) subject to intense WWF may be warranted for municipalities subject to TMDLs. Disinfection enhancement to treat storm generated flows at WWTPs may require a better understanding of the microbiological survival mechanisms rather than solely an increase in disinfecting agents. Disinfection often only effectively inactivates free floating or surface microorganisms due to the short residence times, and, depending on the degree of upstream treatment, may not be effective if microorganisms are protected by larger solids or colony forming units. Municipalities also need alternatives to control the high costs of wastewater treatment. Implementation of grey water systems requires a knowledge base of treatment rates and cost effectiveness. This presentation will be comprised of preliminary findings from literature searches, desktop analysis, and modeling. Final reporting from this initiative is scheduled for 2009.