Grantee Research Project Results
2017 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: Mattingly, Justin , 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: University of Maryland - College Park , Virginia Tech , University of Buffalo , The Water Research Foundataion , United States Geological Survey , Hazen and Sawyer , District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) , Water Research Foundation
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, 2016 through October 31,2017
Project Amount: $750,000
RFA: Human and Ecological Health Impacts Associated with Water Reuse and Conservation Practices (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Human Health
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 their impact on ecological and human health in a large ecologically sensitive watershed that is critical for human health. 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 prioritize actions taken to manage contaminant sources and implement water reuse and management practices to better determine 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:
For the first phase of this project, water samples were collected and analyzed for nutrients and EDCs hotspots in the Potomac Watershed to inform site selections of monthly sampling for year 2 activities (July 2017 – June 2018). The results from this first phase show that nitrogen (N) hotspots of the Potomac River were the sub-watersheds with larger percentages (>23%) of cropland land use (e.g., Conococheague Creek, and Monocacy River), and N concentrations at these hotspots were highest during the summer low-flow period. These N hotspots were further supported by a positive correlation between N concentrations and watershed cropland percentages, as well as nitrate isotopic tracers showing that soil N (derived from fertilizers) was the most likely N sourcein the Potomac River. Hotspots of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) were sub-watersheds with larger percentages of cropland land use (Antietam Creek), wetland (Piscataway Creek and Mattawoman Creek), or ranch (Catoctin Creek MD). The peak time periods of these hotspots were also summer low flow period.
Mean estrogen levels in the Potomac watershed (exclusively estrone and estrone-3S) were low (under detectable – 0.78 ng/L) and relatively evenly distributed, and their values were only correlated with developed land use (agricultural and urban combined), suggesting multiple sources. Non-estrogenic EDCs (mainly pesticides) were much higher (under detectable - 307 ng/L) and their hotspots were agricultural and suburban land use sub-watersheds (Catoctin Creek MD, Catoctin Creek VA and Occoquan River). These hotspots of pesticides were further supported by positive correlation between their concentrations and watershed agricultural land use percentages. Different from TDN, estrogen and pesticides and hotspots of estrogenic activity (evaluated using in vitro bioluminescent yeast estrogen assay, BLYES) were those sub-watersheds with large percentages of ranchland (e.g., Opequon Creek, Shenandoah River, and Catoctin Creek VA), and estrogenic activity was positively correlated with watershed ranchland percentage. Moreover, estrogenic activity increased with increasing water temperature, SRP and pesticides, but not with increasing estrogen or TDN.
The objectives of the second year included two parts: a) Use paired watershed studies to evaluate impacts and outcomes of current reclamation, reuse, harvesting, and management strategies on source controls of pollutants, and b) focused study on the impact of planned potable reuse.
To date, sample site selections have been completed as well as on-site checking for each site, lab work training for new members, and task assignments to each member of the group. Twenty-four sites were chosen for intensive monthly sampling to parse out the effects of reclamation, reuse, harvesting, and management practices on EDC and nutrient source contributions. Site selections were based on the results of a spatial survey for hot spots in the first year. For example, all our sites were in the sub-watersheds of Monocacy, the Occoquan, the Seneca, the Broad, the Rock, and the Anacostia that were the hotspots of nutrients or EDCs.
Sample collection has begun with field sampling and in situ measurements and analyses of estrogen and pesticides. Preliminary data of first quarter showed that 1) inputs of WWTP effect had apparent effect on water quality parameters (water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and conductivity) and, 2) agricultural BMPs can consistently reduce estrogen level in restored stream water.
Future Activities:
In the subsequent reporting year, the project team will continue field sampling, chemical analysis and data analysis during the spring season. During this time, the impact of various management strategies for nutrients and EDCs will be evaluated included agricultural best management practices, stormwater management practices, and planned potable reuse.
References:
Stefani McGregor 2017. Improving Water Reuse for a Healthier Potomac Watershed. Presented at the Joint Chesapeake Water Environment Association and Chesapeake AWWA Water Reuse Committee Fall Seminar, Edgewater, MD, November 9.
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,Progress 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.