University:
Boston University
Course:
CAS EE 250 | The Fate of Nations: Climate, Resources, and Institutions
Academic year:

2022
Views:

434

Pages:

18
Author:

Turner Knight

Wastewater Discharge and Impaired Waters Site Parameters ● Database Parameters: (8 facilities from this search) - Category 5 waterbody impairment (in need of a TMDL) - Search DMR database: “Facilities contributing to a waterbody impairment” ● Other factors: (3 EJ communities from 8 facilities) - EJ communities: Minority, Income, English Isolation Three facilities in EJ communities, and contributing to water body impairment (Category 5): 1.) 2.) 3.) New Bedford Wastewater Treatment Facility Adams Wastewater Treatment Plant Westfield Wastewater Treatment Plant TMDL Status ● Difficult to find updated/recent TMDL Status reports ● Reports found on MassDEP site ● Information found for three EJ sites: - New Bedford/Acushnet River: TMDL report on Pathogens (2009) and draft TMDL on Nitrogen (May 2016), no TMDL on Phosphorous. (N and P listed as potentially contributing to impairment.) - Adams/Hoosic River: No TMDL reports found - Westfield/Westfield River: No TMDL found Municipality: Adams Impaired Water Body: Hoosic River From 2016 DMR: Cause(s) of Impairment: FLOW ALTERATION(S), HABITAT ALTERATIONS, PATHOGENS, TEMPERATURE, TOTAL TOXICS Facility pollutant(s) potentially contributing to impairment: Coliform, fecal general; Copper Municipality: New Bedford Impaired Water Body: Acushnet River From 2016 DMR: Cause(s) of Impairment: CAUSE UNKNOWN - IMPAIRED BIOTA, NUTRIENTS, ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/OXYGEN DEPLETION, OTHER CAUSE, PATHOGENS, POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBS) Facility pollutant(s) potentially contributing to impairment: BOD, carbonaceous, 05 day, 20 C; Coliform, fecal general; Enterococci: group D, MF trans, M-E, EIA; Phosphorus; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen Municipality: Westfield Impaired Water Body: Westfield River From 2016 DMR: Cause(s) of Impairment: ALGAL GROWTH, CAUSE UNKNOWN - IMPAIRED BIOTA, TASTE, COLOR AND ODOR, TURBIDITY Facility pollutant(s) potentially contributing to impairment: Ammonia as N; Inorganic Nitrogen; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen From 2016 DMR: Cause(s) of Impairment: ALGAL GROWTH, CAUSE UNKNOWN - IMPAIRED BIOTA, MERCURY, NUISANCE EXOTIC SPECIES, NUTRIENTS, ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/OXYGEN DEPLETION, PESTICIDES, TURBIDITY Facility pollutant(s) potentially contributing to impairment: Ammonia as N; BOD, 5-day, 20 deg. C; Nitrogen; Phosphate, total (as PO4); Phosphorus From DMR: Cause(s) of Impairment: ALGAL GROWTH, NOXIOUS AQUATIC PLANTS, NUISANCE EXOTIC SPECIES, NUTRIENTS, ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/OXYGEN DEPLETION, OTHER CAUSE, TASTE, COLOR AND ODOR, TEMPERATURE, TRASH Facility pollutant(s) potentially contributing to impairment: Nitrogen; Phosphorus From 2016 DMR: Cause(s) of Impairment: ALGAL GROWTH, NOXIOUS AQUATIC PLANTS, NUISANCE EXOTIC SPECIES, NUTRIENTS, ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/OXYGEN DEPLETION, PATHOGENS, TASTE, COLOR AND ODOR, TRASH Facility pollutant(s) potentially contributing to impairment: Ammonia as N; BOD, 5-day, 20 deg. C; Coliform, fecal general; Nitrogen; Phosphate, total (as PO4); Phosphorus From 2016 DMR: Cause(s) of Impairment: CAUSE UNKNOWN - IMPAIRED BIOTA, NUTRIENTS, TURBIDITY Facility pollutant(s) potentially contributing to impairment: Ammonia as N; Nitrogen; Phosphate, total (as PO4); Phosphorus Discussion, Recommendations, and Future Considerations ● ● ● ● - Some facilities found in EJ areas had load exceedances for multiple years or parts of the year Difficulties finding information regarding the prioritization of TMDL developments Flags for expired permits to target facilities and if data is collected after the permit expires, indicate that the new permit was not added to the site Possible future work: Assess impaired water bodies by use and proximity to populated areas Is there a way we can we help develop comprehensive watershed plans? How can we follow up on TMDL development progress for identified sites? How can we look into control measures for a TMDL? How can we help create educational materials on water quality for the public? Are there different research parameters for a different end goal we can look into?