Grantee Research Project Results
Innovative Water Technologies for Lagoon Wastewater Systems in Small Communities
EPA Grant Number: R840469Title: Innovative Water Technologies for Lagoon Wastewater Systems in Small Communities
Investigators: Jarvie-Eggart, Michelle , Becker, Jennifer G , Handler, Robert , Brooks, Colin N , Datta, Rupali , Minakata, Daisuke , Oommen, Thomas , Techtmann, Stephen
Current Investigators: Jarvie-Eggart, Michelle , Becker, Jennifer G , Brooks, Colin N , Datta, Rupali , Handler, Robert , Minakata, Daisuke , Oommen, Thomas , Techtmann, Stephen
Institution: Michigan Technological University
EPA Project Officer: Ludwig-Monty, Sarah
Project Period: November 1, 2022 through October 31, 2026
Project Amount: $998,295
RFA: Innovative Water Technologies for Lagoon Wastewater Systems in Small Communities Request for Applications (RFA) (2022) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water Quality , Water
Objective:
The aim is to assist a small community with a population less than 10,000 to improve nutrient removal of ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus from the wastewater treatment lagoons using innovative technologies. The northwestern Michigan community lies in a humid continental climate, where the mean temperature range is 17.0 to 64.9 degrees F (NOAA 2021) and the average seasonal snowfall is approximately 200 in/yr (Keweenaw County 2021); representing climate extremes found across the U.S.
Approach:
The project team will demonstrate a floating treatment wetland (FTW) system deployed in a lagoon in northern Michigan. The nutrients will be monitored by physical tests, the biological community (bacteria) population composition and growth in the pond and associated with the FTW will be monitored by next generation sequencing and hyperspectral in-situ and remote sensing, and the removal fate of nutrients and dissolved organics investigated by sunlight experiments. BioWin modeling will be completed along with life cycle cost and environmental assessments to evaluate technical, economic, and environmental system performance.
Expected Results:
The system is expected to lower nutrient levels from those currently in the lagoon used in this study and lower the risk to aquatic life from discharge to natural waterways. The comprehensive capital and operational costs of the proposed system will be evaluated and compared to conventional lagoon treatment systems to illustrate the potential for cost-competitive nutrient removal. Environmental life cycle assessment work will illustrate any potential environmental tradeoffs inherent in the proposed system and point towards areas of future research and development to further improve the environmental performance of the system. The pilot system will be packaged for transferability, including complete documentation and training recommendations for small, rural, and tribal communities.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
water pollution reduction, transport, effluentProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.