Grantee Research Project Results
2016 Progress Report: Improving Water Reuse for a Much Healthier Potomac Watershed
EPA Grant Number: R835825Title: Improving Water Reuse for a Much Healthier Potomac Watershed
Investigators: Olabode, Lola , Kaushal, Sujay S , Aga, Diana S. , Godrej, Adil , Rosenfeldt, Erik , Iwanowicz, Luke , Duan, Shuiwang , Murthy, Sudhir
Current Investigators: Olabode, Lola , Olabode, Lola , Aga, Diana S. , Kaushal, Sujay S , Duan, Shuiwang , Godrej, Adil , Iwanowicz, Luke , Rosenfeldt, Erik , Murthy, Sudhir
Institution: Water Research Foundation , Virginia Tech , University of Buffalo , District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) , United States Geological Survey , Hazen and Sawyer , University of Maryland - College Park
Current Institution: Water Research Foundation , University of Maryland - College Park , Virginia Tech , University of Buffalo , United States Geological Survey , Hazen and Sawyer , District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water)
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: November 1, 2015 through November 1, 2018 (Extended to November 1, 2020)
Project Period Covered by this Report: November 1, 2015 through October 31,2016
Project Amount: $750,000
RFA: Human and Ecological Health Impacts Associated with Water Reuse and Conservation Practices (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health , Water
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to elucidate the impact of advanced wastewater reclamation, large scale stormwater harvesting and reuse, and focused agricultural stormwater best management practices on impact to ecological and human health in a large watershed that is critical for human health and ecologically sensitive. The novel approach undertaken in this research combines a suite of state-of-the-art techniques to actively identify contaminant hot spots (EDCs and related biological activity, nutrients), assess the impact of those hot spots on human and ecological health endpoints (including drinking water sources and sensitive ecological areas), and quantify the impact of reuse and management solutions on these endpoints. Further, this project will compare the findings from both planned and unplanned reuse systems in order to quantify relative impacts between the two types of systems. This approach will ultimately provide a tool for decision makers to assign a priority order to managing sources at locations and implementing water reuse and management practices based on where funds and other resources can be best used, are most needed, and are most likely to achieve success. Specifically, this project will (1) use multiple analytical, biological activity, isotopic, and fluorescence tracers to identify and track spatial and temporal variability in "hot spots" of contaminant sources at a large watershed scale, (2) use case studies to examine impacts of advanced wastewater reclamation, stormwater reuse, and agricultural best management practices on source controls of contaminants, and (3) utilize a sustainable approach to quantitatively analyze the costs, impact, and benefits of the reuse and management strategies for achieving human and ecological health improvement.
Progress Summary:
The objective of this project for the first year is to find hotspots of nutrients and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs – mainly estrogen) in the Potomac River Watershed. The primary task of the second quarter was to continue the previous field sampling, chemical analysis, and data analysis. The project team focused primarily on tributaries of the Potomac River for hotspot identification. Grab water samples were collected from November 30 – December 2, 2016, during medium flow conditions with cooler temperatures. A difference from previous samplings is that there was leaf litter, which may affect biogeochemical transformations of EDCs, organic matter, and nutrients in streams and rivers. We also conducted in situ measurements on water temperature, conductivity, and pH. For EDC analyses, the team still focused on of EDC enzymatic activity and estrogenic chemicals, including 20 chemicals that we listed in the previous quarterly report. The volume of river water sampled was increased from 500 mL to 1,000 mL due to the low levels of EDCs in most rivers and streams. The method for other EDC chemicals is currently being developed and will be included in future sampling. Nutrient and basic chemical analyses are similar: nitrate, nitrite, total dissolved nitrogen, phosphate, dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, UV absorbance and fluorescence scans, major cations and trace elements. Results of nitrate isotopic composition (15N and 18O) of the August samples have come out, which can be used for source tracking. Preliminary data showed difference in hotspots of EDCs from that of nitrogen or phosphorus. Essentially, Potomac EDCs hotspots were primarily the agricultural watersheds with large area of ranch land, while nitrogen and phosphorus hotspots were primarily the agricultural watersheds with large area of croplands. Soil nitrogen and phosphorus (derived from fertilizers) were most likely sources of the nitrate and phosphate in the Potomac River.
Future Activities:
In the subsequent year, the project team will continue field sampling, chemical analysis and data analysis during the winter season. A few changes or improvements may be included in the subsequent reporting period:
- Other EDCs chemicals (in addition to estrogenic chemicals) may be analyzed.
- Volume of water collected for EDC analysis will be kept at 500 mL to make the method consistent.
- The figures for data reporting may be changed for better visual effect. Maps will be used to show hotspots of EDCs or nutrients, rather than using plots with river distance.
- Nitrogen and carbon isotopic concentrations of particulate organic matter will be analyzed to examine possible sources of particulate organic nitrogen.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 18 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Hot-spot analysis, contaminant source tracking, emerging contaminants, watershedProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.