Annual/Termination Reports:

[11/27/2012] [12/04/2013] [12/03/2014] [12/07/2015]

Report Information

Participants

Amador,Jose - URI; Amoozegar, Aziz - NCSU; Buchanan, John - UTK; Heger, Sara - UMN; Lee, Brad - UKY; Lindbo, David - NCSU; Loomis, George - URI; Miles, Randall - UMO; Radcliffe, David - UGA; Safferman, Steven - MSU; Shirmohammadi, Adel - UMD. Farrell-Poe, Kitt - UAZ was not in attendance but did submit a report of project-related activities.

Brief Summary of Minutes

1. Eleven individuals, representing eight Land Grant institutions, attended the NE1045 project meeting including the projects administrative advisor, Adel Shirmohammadi (UMD; see participant list for details). Each representative institution delivered a brief update of NE1045 related activities for the reporting year. Accomplishments of these research and outreach activities are noted in the Accomplishment section of this report.


2. David Radcliffe briefed the group on two UGA OWTS research projects  one a field-scale study addressing denitrification in an OWTS installed in clay soil and the other dealing with nitrogen loading and base flow impacts from OWTS at the watershed-scale. He also reported on OWTS training classes for wastewater practitioners.


3. Steven Safferman (MSU) reported findings on a public-private research study investigating phosphorus removal and recovery from onsite wastewater systems utilizing engineered reactive iron media coated with nano iron to remove and potentially recycle phosphorous. Objectives of the research are to recover phosphorus for use as a slow release nutrient, which has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with mining and transport of virgin material and reduce climate impact and costs associated with large wastewater collection and centralized treatment plant expansion into rural communities. He also reported on a land treatment of food processing wastewater study. He reminded the group that land treatment of food processing wastewater can irrigate crops, provide nutrients, recharge aquifers, reduce energy use, uptake carbon, and save resources. However, when excessive carbon is land applied, metals naturally in soil (manganese, iron, and, ultimately, arsenic) serve as electron acceptors and become mobile when reduced. Column and field studies undertaken at MSU show that monitoring soil oxygen and moisture content can predict metal mobilization. With such data strategic hydraulic and organic loadings and dosing schedules can be established to maximize application without mobilizing metals.


4. Sara Heger (UMN) reported on  a project done in partnership with Colorado School of Mines evaluated wastewater characteristics in homes across the US including basic and contaminants of concern; a project that evaluated the impact of 17 drywell systems where negative impacts were documented; a project that evaluated soil accumulation of phosphorous from 4 different land uses (including OWTS) surrounding a sensitive lake in Minnesota; a project to develop synthetic high strength wastewater in a laboratory setting at bench scale for potential scaling upwards for National Sanitation Foundation testing; developed a simple spreadsheet tool to estimate removal of contaminants following septic system up-grades. Starting in 2013 with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation UMN will be evaluating current condition of ~50 rest stops and truck garages and research wastewater characteristics with the potential for more in-depth research in the future. Ms Heger also reported on practitioner education classes in ND, SD, WY, MN, IL as well as coordinating, planning and organizing the educational program for the annual MN onsite wastewater conference in partnership with the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association. MN reported on small community wastewater management and community education efforts.


5. Aziz Amoozegar and David Lindbo reported on the NCSU activities which included a number of saturated hydraulic conductivity data sets have been collected for assessing the potential relationship of the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity to various soil properties. A number of pedotransfer functions have been considered for estimating soil hydraulic conductivity from more easily determined soil properties, such as texture and bulk density. A new proposal was submitted to, and has received funding from the USDA-NRCS to develop an infiltration index for assessing sites for stormwater management as well as onsite wastewater dispersal systems. The infiltration index considered in this proposal has the potential of being modified to estimate a design loading rate for septic systems using easily determined soil properties.


6. Jose Amador and George Loomis (representing URI and Co-PIs Tom Boving and David Kalen) reported on their climate change impacts to OWTS research project that began in August 2012. Nine intact soil mesocolumns (15 x 150cm) were collected in the field and into which three different soil treatment area options have been installed. The mesocolumns were transported to the lab where they will be dosed with septic tank effluent and advanced treated wastewater collected from the same residence. Water table elevation and temperature will be altered to represent climate change scenarios and effluent from the columns, soil gases, and grass biomass will be collected from the treatment replicates operating under current and predicted climate change scenarios. Descriptive and predictive modeling of these systems will also occur as well as transfer of research results to practitioners through existing education and outreach programs at the New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center at URI.


7. John Buchanan (UTK) reported on Boon Hillenbrands MS thesis research project investigating the need for secondary treatment of residential wastewater that is being dispersed to the soil utilizing a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system, where the summary determination was that secondary treatment does result in a higher quality effluent but that this level of wastewater quality is not needed when applying effluent to a SDI field.


8. The group decided to offer a national decentralized wastewater research symposium in spring of 2014. Main sponsorship would be through Soil Science Society of America and possible co-sponsorships and locations were discussed. David Lindbo (NCSU) and David Radcliffe (UGA) will lead this effort and several agreed to assist (Miles, Amador, Buchanan, Heger, Loomis). Jose Amador addressed group about development of a state of the decentralized wastewater science white paper. The group supported this effort and pledged to provide assistance and review as needed. Sara Heger (UMN) gave a synopsis a proposal that was recently awarded, where UMN will be developing a tool which will allow engineers, regulators, designers, facilitators and informed community members to develop customized community septic system owners guides.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments<br /> <br /> Outputs <br /> <br /> Project Objective 2  Develop new OWTS design criteria for the purposes of climate change adaptation and mitigation <br /> <br /> University of Georgia findings  Approximately 52% of the N from an OWTS installed in clay soil (Cecil series soil from Georgia) would be lost due to denitrification and groundwater N loading for a full-scale OWTS with a density of 5 homes/ha would be 57 kg/ha. OWS Watershed-Scale Study: UGA received a USDA-NIFA grant in October 2011 for a 3-year study of 24 small watersheds (0.78-1.15 square miles) in Gwinnett County, part of metro Atlanta. There are 12 low density (LD, average of 57 OWS per square mile) watersheds and 12 high density (HD, average of 559 OWS per square mile) watersheds. The objective is to determine what effect, if any, OWTS have on stream base flow and water quality. UGA researchers are measuring base flow and collecting water samples for chemical analysis 3 times a year. Base flow was not significantly different between LD and HD watersheds in November 2011 and March 2012, but it was significantly higher in the HD watersheds in July, 2012. Electrical conductivity and chloride concentrations were higher in the HD watersheds on all 3 dates. Nearly all of the nitrogen was in the nitrate (NO3) form. NO3 concentrations were low (0.5  3.0 mg/L) and there were no significant differences in concentrations on the sampling dates, but NO3 yield (mg per second per square mile) was significantly higher in the HD watersheds in July, 2012.<br /> <br /> Michigan State University findings  Phosphorus Removal and Recovery from OWTS<br /> Performance proven during a long-term laboratory test where effluent levels were maintained below 2 mg/L total P for over 350 days by a two column in series system with an empty bed contact time (EBCT) of 6.3 hours. Approximately 70% of the phosphorus that was estimated to be removed based on a mass balance was extracted from the media at the end of the long-term laboratory test. Wastewater effluent with higher pollutant levels resulted in biomass growth within the column causing periodic sloughing that increased effluent total phosphorus levels, although soluble levels remained relatively low. New generation of granular media shows superior performance with an effluent phosphorus level consistently and significantly less than 1 mg/L at an EBCT of 1 hour after 3 months of testing. New circular disc media that is approximately 2.5 cm thick and 12 cm in diameter has an average phosphorus effluent level below 1 mg/L at and EBCT of 3.2. MetaMateria has effectively regenerated the media and demonstrated good performance for up to 6 cycles. Research is ongoing on improved media formulations, regeneration of the media, and modeling approaches. <br /> Land Treatment of Food Processing Wastewater findings - Column and field studies show that monitoring soil oxygen and moisture content can predict Mn, Fe, and As mobilization. With such data strategic hydraulic and organic loadings and dosing schedules can be established to maximize food processing wastewater application without mobilizing metals. <br /> <br /> <br /> UMN research activities - In partnership with Colorado School of Mines, UMN project researchers evaluated wastewater characteristics in homes across the US including basic contaminants and contaminants of concern. Evaluated the impact of 17 cesspool / drywell systems in Rice County, MN. Negative impacts documented. Evaluated soil accumulation of phosphorous from 4 different land uses surrounding a sensitive lake in Minnesota. High levels of phosphorus in soils above OWTS attributed to commercial fertilizer application. Developed synthetic high strength wastewater in a laboratory setting at bench scale for potential scaling upwards for NSF testing. UMN with funding from the Board of Water and Soil Resources developed a simple spreadsheet tool to estimate removal of contaminants following septic system up-grades.<br /> <br /> University of Rhode Island  Project researchers have begun to develop a mechanistic understanding of the role of aeration, soil texture, mesofauna, fungi and bacteria, biomat, and system operational variables on OWTS treatment performance and function, as well as building a better understanding of the relationship between laboratory and field-scale performance of advanced aeration OWTS. Dosing of septic tank effluent and advanced treated wastewater to intact soil mesocolumns containing three different soil treatment area options will begin in December 2012.<br /> <br /> University of Tennessee - Two subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems were installed and monitored at two sites in Tennessee. These locations were residential developments served by a septic tank effluent pump (STEP) collection system, a recirculating media filter (fine gravel media), and SDI dispersal system as a soil treat area. At both locations, SDI plots were established to receive primary treated (septic tank effluent) and secondary treated (recirculating media filter effluent) wastewater. In close proximity to randomly selected SDI emitters, soil samples were extracted. Soil cores were analyzed to determine hydraulic conductivity and pore water samples were analyzed for nitrate, total nitrogen, total carbon, and total phosphorus. Results indicated that the primary-treated sites had lower hydraulic conductivity values, higher nitrate and higher total nitrogen levels than the secondary-treated side and the background soil. Interestingly, the primary treated side had less total carbon and the background phosphorus concentration was twice that of the primary and secondary treated sides. The primary effluent application site showed a decrease in concentration for all constituents with increased depth. Secondary treatment does result in a higher quality effluent but this quality is not needed when applying effluent with a SDI dispersal system.<br /> <br /> <br /> Activities<br /> <br /> Project Objective 4  OWTS Training and Outreach Education<br /> <br /> On August 2, 2012 UGA held OWTS training for 52 county agents and state employees. Invited presentations were made by NE1045 project colleagues John Buchanan (University of Tennessee) and Brad Lee (University of Kentucky). In addition, three one-day trainings were conducted for OWTS installers reaching a total of 57 professionals.<br /> <br /> New MSU continuing education program for onsite wastewater treatment systems (engineers) and evaluators (public health officials) is being developed based on the completed USDA Challenge Grant ECOSEAM project. Included are distant learning modules and in person workshops. <br /> <br /> <br /> UMN delivered training in ND, SD, IA, WI, IL, and WY at the request of states, counties and professional organizations; delivered customized 4-part training to professionals working on tribal land in Minnesota; developed and implemented new higher level design training focused on advanced technology, collection and cluster systems with emphasis on aquifer assessment, nitrogen reduction, and groundwater mounding evaluations for new certifications in Minnesota; developed and implemented customized one-day soils workshops offered across Minnesotas soils regions to meet continuing education requirements of designers and inspectors; developed and fully implemented service provider training to meet new certification requirement; plan and organize educational program for annual conference in partnership with the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association. Communities  With funding support from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority actively worked with 10 communities across Minnesota to evaluate the current situation and evaluation the full range of options, review system design and management plan, and provide construction inspection over sight. With funding support by MN Clean Water Legacy Act to improve septic systems in Douglas County, homeowner and professional education was conducted along with development of new septic system ordinances with risk based management.<br /> <br /> During the reporting period, the URI project team delivered 44 workshops to wastewater practitioners in nine states/territories throughout USDA regions 1&2, reaching a total of about 1075 practitioners. These classes provided continuing education credits needed by those licensed professionals to renew their professional licenses. These classes included in-door and out-door hands-on venues and ranged from half-day to two-day venues with qualifying exams. Courses included new classes on wastewater microbiology for OWTS practitioners and the first ever class offered on designing advanced OWTS for designers in the US Caribbean (PR and USVI). URI provided technical assistance to Old Saybrook, CT in their adoption of and state regulatory approval of advanced OWTS in nitrogen sensitive coastal zone. Coordinating with Vermont OWTS regulators, URI developed two 1-day classes to train VT practitioners on how to site, design, install and service advanced OWTS and bottomless sand filters. Conducted three required classes for Rhode Island and Massachusetts wastewater practitioners to enable them to receive regulatory jurisdiction approval to design and install bottomless sand filters.<br /> <br /> <br /> UAZ conducted a Spring 2012 semester online OWTS Design class for undergraduate (14) and graduate students (3); 6 OWTS classes with 263 practitioner participants total for report period; 2, 2-day OWTS inspection classes reaching 187 practitioner participants; 1, 2-day Soils & Site Evaluation class with 14 professional participants; 1, 1-day Introduction to OWTS Design class with 15 participants; 2, 1-day In-depth Technology-specific classes reaching 47 practitioner attendees; and a Homeowner Education class with 37 homeowners attending.<br /> <br /> <br /> UAZ Collaborations  Kitt Farrell-Poe is a member of newly re-established Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Onsite Wastewater Advisory Committee (OWAC). OWAC meets monthly; its purpose is to assist and counsel ADEQ in selecting and altering courses of action for guiding the Arizona onsite industry in a direction that is most beneficial for the citizens and environment of Arizona and facilitate the implementation of actions taken. Ms Farrell-Poe is an at-large member of the Arizona County Departments of Environmental Health Services Association (ACDEHSA) subcommittee Onsite Technical Advisory Group; she completed changes to States Report of Inspection form (statewide committee met 18 times over 16 months to bring recommended changes to the larger ACDEHSA body); worked with ACDEHSA to incorporate Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT) Glossary of Terms into rule change recommendations; and worked on planning committee for 2012 (bi-annual) Southwest Onsite Wastewater Management conference held in Laughlin, AZ, held in late January 2012. During the reporting period Ms Farrell-Poe was a board member of the Arizona Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association; member of the Pima County Onsite Wastewater Advisory Committee; and was a member of the Project Development Team to develop the Community Septic Systems Owner's Guide with the UMN and helped create the contents of the various modules and more specifically to develop, review, revise, and refine materials gained from the other national development programs and to test the beta version of the CSOG with communities in Arizona.<br />

Publications

Publications<br /> <br /> <br /> Amador, J.A., and J. A. Atoyan. 2012. Structure and composition of leachfield bacterial communities: Role of soil texture, depth and septic tank effluent inputs. Water 4: 737-749.<br /> <br /> <br /> Bradshaw, J., Radcliffe, D. E. (2011). Nitrogen losses in a Piedmont onsite wastewater system. Abstract. SSSA. <br /> a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2011am/webprogram/Paper66641.html<br /> <br /> <br /> Farrell-Poe, K., J. Garrett, and D. Long. 2012. What you should know when youre having your septic system inspected for the Transfer of Ownership Program. UA Extension publication, AZ1554. Tucson, AZ: UA. [http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/water/az1554.pdf]<br /> <br /> <br /> Farrell-Poe, Kitt. 2012. Maintaining your septic tank. In Backyards & Beyond: Rural Living in Arizona. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. 6(1): 18, Winter/Spring.<br /> <br /> <br /> Farrell-Poe, Kitt and Dawn Long. 2012. 10 things REALTORS® should know about septic systems. In Arizona REALTOR® Magazine. May. [http://www.aaronline.com/azr/2012/may/10-things-to-know-about-septic-systems.aspx]<br /> <br /> Lee, B.D. 2012. Septic system maintenance: Care and feeding of your system. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-501.<br /> <br /> Lee, B.D. 2012. Septic system failure and environmental impacts. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-502.<br /> <br /> Lee, B.D. 2012. Septic tanks: the primary treatment device of septic systems. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-503.<br /> <br /> Lee, B.D. and M. Coyne. 2012. Importance of wastewater biological oxygen demand in septic systems. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-504.<br /> <br /> Lee, B.D. and M. Coyne. 2012. Impacts of additives on septic system performance. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-505.<br /> <br /> Lee, B.D. and G. Munshaw. 2012. Turfgrass color: Indicator of septic system performance. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-506.<br /> <br /> Lee, B.D. 2012. Flood conditions and your septic system. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-507. <br /> <br /> McCray, J.E., M. Geza, K.S. Lowe, M.B. Tucholke, A. Wunsch, S. Roberts, J. Drewes, J. Amador, J. Atoyan, D. Kalen, G. Loomis, T.B. Boving, and D. Radcliffe. 2011. Quantitative tools to determine the expected performance of wastewater soil treatment units: Guidance manual, toolkit user's guide and visual graphic tools. Water Intelligence Online 10:1476-1777. <br /> <br /> <br /> Onsite Sewage Treatment Program. 2011. Manual for Septic System Professionals in Minnesota. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN.<br /> <br /> <br /> Radcliffe, D. E., Bradshaw, J. K. (2011). A nitrogen chain model for on-site wastewater systems.Abstract. SSSA. <br /> a-c-.confex.com/crops/2011am/webprogram/Paper64915.html<br /> <br /> <br /> Safferman, S. I., Fernandez-Torres, I, Pfiffner, S. M., Larson, R. A., Mokma, D. L. (2011). Strategy for Land Application of Wastewater using Soil Environment Sensor Monitoring and Microbial Community Analyses. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 137(2) 97-107.<br /> <br /> <br /> Wheeler, D. and S Heger. 2011. Rice County Seepage Pit (Dry Well) Research Summary. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN.<br /> <br /> <br /> Wittwer, Jessica and S. Heger. 2011. Laboratory Manufactured High Strength Waste Study. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN.<br />

Impact Statements

1. Impact Statements 1. Practitioners trained and professional licenses maintained Over the past year, more than 1,000 installers and septic tank pumpers, and 71 environmental health specialists, were trained in 28 classes throughout Georgia. The first homeowners OWTS seminar was held in October in cooperation with the local Extension office. Eighty-five people attended two classes.
2. Nearly 1100 onsite wastewater practitioners attended 44 URI training classes conducted in 9 states/territories in USDA Regions 1 & 2. MA, VT and RI regulatory programs require practitioners to take the URI bottomless sand filter (BSF) training class before designing or installing a BSF. In reporting period 32 wastewater professionals from RI and MA took the class. These classes have enabled licensed practitioners to renew their existing professional licenses and retain their employment. To begin to raise awareness in the industry, a keynote address was delivered to 180 attendees at the 2012 National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association annual conference that spoke about the issues of climate change and the impact on OWTS.
3. 2. Expansion of employment opportunities Twenty-one onsite wastewater professionals took the URI inspector training classes, were tested and passed their exams, and received OWTS Inspector Registrations which are required in order to conduct inspections in several Rhode Island communities having wastewater management programs.
4. Indicators of Impacts Approximately 40% of all onsite wastewater treatment system applications to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management are for advanced OWTS. Use of advanced OWTS that denitrify wastewater are now required in state designated watersheds that are nitrogen sensitive. This has helped protect these watersheds from further degradation.
5. Due to training classes offered by UAZ, 17 students have a general understanding of the sources and characteristics of residential and non-residential wastes; can apply engineering fundamentals to design systems for management and treatment of residential wastewater; and understand the scope and impact of regulations and permitting processes on engineering solutions to treating residential wastewater.
6. 187 Arizona professionals know how to inspect an onsite wastewater treatment system for the ADEQ Transfer of Ownership Inspection Program; 14 practitioners (both regulators and in-the-field professionals) know more about conducting soil and site evaluation for onsite wastewater treatment systems, can use the Arizona code to conduct the evaluations, and became eligible to conduct soil and site evaluations as per Arizona code; 15 practitioners have knowledge to design better septic systems.
7. 47 practitioners have knowledge to design, install, inspect, and service low-pressure distribution systems and/or drip dispersal systems in Arizona; and 24/29 respondents in homeowner exit survey indicated that the presentation was highly valuable, and 19 respondents increased their knowledge from knowing nothing or very little to knowing a lot about managing their residential onsite wastewater treatment systems.
8. Due to publications by UAZ, 31 people have liked the Arizona Association of Realtors® magazine e-article and Citizens of Arizona now have access to succinct information on the Transfer of Ownership Inspection Program.

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Report Information

Participants

Abit, Sergio(sergio.abit@okstate.edu) -OSU; Amador, Jose (caimital@gmail.com) - URI; Amoozegar, Aziz (sscaag@ncsu.edu)- NCSU; Buchanan, John (jbuchan7@utk.edu) - UTK; Cooper, Jennifer (feefs83@gmail.com)- URI; Heger, Sara (sheger@umn.edu)- UMN; Lee, Brad (brad.lee@uky.edu)- UKY; Lindbo, David(david_lindbo@ncsu.edu)-NCSU;
Loomis, George (GLoomis@uri.edu)-URI; Radcliffe, David (dradclif@uga.edu) - UGA.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Design, Assessment, and Management of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: Addressing the Challenges of Climate Change

November 3, 2013
1:00 pm  6:00 pm

Room 13
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel
Tampa, FL

Brief Summary of Meeting Minutes

1. The meeting began at 1:00 pm. Ten individuals, representing seven Land Grant institutions, attended the NE1045 project meeting (see participant list for details). The group welcomed the newest member, Sergio Abit from Oklahoma State University to the NE1045 participant list. Each representative institution delivered a brief update of NE1045 related activities for the reporting year. Accomplishments of these research and outreach activities are noted in the Accomplishment section of this report.

2. David Radcliffe reported on a UGA OWTS watershed research project that is providing some of the first information on the impact of OWTS in suburban streams of the Southeast. Findings are that OWTS provide a beneficial effect in maintaining stream baseflow, but above a threshold density have a detrimental effect of increasing nitrate concentrations in streams. He also reported that twenty-one new Georgia Department of Health employees attended a required Level II soils course and examination, providing them with essential training needed for their professional advancement.

3. Sara Heger reported that UMN is evaluating OWTS and wastewater from rest stops, weigh scales, and truck holding facilities across Minnesota; evaluating OWTS at six adult care facilities; performing field evaluations of a phosphorus removal system on three existing Wisconsin mound systems; and that they have disseminated their Septic System Improvement Estimator spreadsheet. UMN delivered OWTS training in five states in the region; developed and implemented new higher level design training; developed and implemented customized one-day soils workshops offered across Minnesotas soils; developed and fully implemented an onsite wastewater service provider training to meet new certification requirements; and, planned and organized the educational program for the 2012 annual conference in partnership with the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association.

4. John Buchanan from UTK reported on two new projects: the first project is the evaluation of the treatment potential of select pharmaceutical and person care products (P&PCP) by packed-bed recirculating media biofilters (fine gravel media). This project is being funded by a grant from the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center. Buchanan also reported on a new project to better understand the role of quaternary ammonia compounds on the inhibition of nitrification. In addition, Buchanan reported on outreach training that reached over 500 individuals in the southeast U.S. region.

5. Brad Lee from the University of Kentucky briefed the group on a collaborative project between the USDA-NRCS National Soil Survey Center, University of Kentucky, Southern Illinois University and Purdue University. The study involves measurement of in situ saturated hydraulic conductivity within six watersheds across major landscape positions at the soil surface, top of the argillic horizon, within the fragipan (if present) and in the parent material or lower argillic horizon. One of the objectives of this research is to determine the best location for placement of OWTS in these loess soils with fragipans considering projecting wetter soils conditions due to climate change.


6. Jose Amador, George Loomis and Jennifer Cooper from the URI reported on their climate change impacts to OWTS research project. Nine intact soil mesocolumns (15 x 150cm) were collected in the field in October 2012. These mesocolumns were transported to the laboratory, instrumented with three different soil treatment area (drainfield) options, and in February 2013 began receiving doses of septic tank effluent and advanced treated wastewater collected from the same residence. Water table elevation and temperature will be held constant at current climatic conditions for the first 16 months of the study, and then altered to represent climate change scenarios (raise water table by 1 foot and increase temperature by 7 degrees F). Effluent from the columns, soil gases, and grass biomass is being collected from the treatment replicates. Descriptive and predictive modeling of these systems is also occurring as well as transfer of research results to practitioners through existing education and outreach programs at the New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center at URI. In addition, 56 outreach and training classes were conducted, reaching nearly 1,800 practitioners and decision makers during the report period.

7. Sergio Abit from Oklahoma State University reported on a new Cooperative Extension program focused mainly on lectures about soil-based septic system decisions that are specific to Oklahoma and about the fates of OWTS contaminants in soils. The extension program was launched by an online lecture to county extension agents in May 2013 followed by a summer lecture tour around Oklahoma.

8. Aziz Amoozegar from North Carolina State University reported on a research project in which a data set containing more than 700 data points was used to test different pedotransfer functions for estimating soil hydraulic properties, which are critical for determining acceptance of onsite wastewater effluent. The HYDRUS model was used to simulate vertical water flow through 130 different soils. The saturated hydraulic conductivity, porosity and bulk density values of each layer for each simulation were generated from the database that was assembled previously.

9. David Lindbo from North Carolina State University and the President of the Soil Science Society of America, could not attended the NE1045 due to many SSSA meeting duties, but visited briefly to discuss with the group the progress on the national decentralized wastewater research symposium that SSSA will be sponsoring in spring of 2014 in Albuquerque, NM. This conference is a major focus of NE 1045 for 2014. David Radcliffe (UGA) reported that there are about 20 abstracts submittals thus far. SSSA has extended the deadline to December 6, 2013 and is also allowing oral presentations, so submittals are likely to increase. David Lindbo reported that other SSSA conferences have seen a large number of abstract submittals the day before a deadline, and fully expects this will be similar for this conference. George Loomis reported that we have reasonable exhibit and co-sponsor sign-up, and the group discussed how to increase the advertisement. It was suggested that SORA be contacted to help spread the word to regulatory agencies. Loomis agreed to contact Jerry Iwon, the SORA executive director. David Radcliffe will make contact with Soil Moisture Equipment Corporation at the SSSA vendor exhibit area to initiate contact with them. Brad Lee will do the same for Art Machine Shop. Follow up will occur through George Loomis or John Buchanan.

10. The meeting concluded at 5:30 pm.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments (by project objective)<br /> <br /> <br /> Outputs <br /> <br /> <br /> Project Objective 2  Develop new OWTS design criteria for the purposes of climate change adaptation and mitigation <br /> <br /> <br /> University of Georgia findings  Synoptic samples and discharge measurements of 24 watersheds in Metropolitan Atlanta with a range of onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) density were taken under baseflow conditions in November 2011, March 2012, July 2012, and November 2012. Mean baseflow measurements in November 2011, March 2012, and November 2012 were not statistically different between watersheds and showed no relationship with OWTS density within the watershed, but July 2012 measurements were significantly higher in the high density septic systems (HDS) watersheds and increased linearly with increasing OWTS density. Electrical conductivity (EC) and chloride (Cl- ) concentrations increased linearly with increasing OWTS density within the watershed, and NO3- concentrations showed a linear increase with OWTS density above a threshold of about 100 OWTSs per sq.km. Results suggest an increase in baseflow due to the presence of OWTS effluent which may off-set the effects of impervious surfaces and maintain baseflow during drought conditions. Results also indicate a positive correlation between NO3- concentration and OWTS density within the watershed above a density of about 100 OWTSs per sq.km. This study showed that OWTSs have potential positive and negative impacts on the water quality and quantity of urbanizing watersheds of this region.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Minnesota findings  UMN is conducted research evaluating 55 onsite systems and the wastewater from rest stops, weigh scales and truck holding facilities across Minnesota. The findings of this research will assist similar facilities across Minnesota designing and managing systems in the future. The UMN is also doing an evaluation of 6 adult care facilities. These facilities have a challenging waste stream due to high: flows, cleaning compounds and medicines. The Septic System Improvement Estimator project has been disseminated. The spreadsheet and users guide have been presented to professionals across MN and the U.S. This tool will assist in quantifying the positive environmental impact of improving septic systems. A similar tool is currently being developed for milk house wastewater treatment systems. In addition, UMN is performing field evaluation of a phosphorus removal system on 3 existing mound systems in Minnesota to quantify the potential benefit for phosphorus removal.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Tennessee at Knoxville findings  UTK reported on a new project designed to evaluate of the treatment potential of trace organic contaminants by packed-bed recirculating media biofilters. This project is being funded by a grant from the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center. This project focus is on the degradation of select pharmaceutical and person care products (P&PCP) in a fine-gravel media. This treatment method utilizes the media as attachment sites for microorganisms. As wastewater trickles through the media, it becomes aerated (non-saturated flow) and compounds can diffuse in and out of the biofilm. It is thought that the combination of aerobic/anaerobic zones with endogenous respiration (plenty of oxygen, limited organic carbon) will enhance the degradation of trace organic contaminants. The evaluated compounds are two antimicrobials  sulfamethoxazole and triclosan; three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs  ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac; an endocrine disrupter  17±-ethinylestradiol (EE2); and, a plasticizer  bisphenol-A.<br /> <br /> <br /> UTK also reported on a new project to better understand the role of quaternary ammonia compounds on the inhibition of nitrification. Greater emphasis is being placed on denitrification as a means to prevent eutrophic conditions in surface water. However, nitrification must take place in order for denitrification to occur. It is well known that quaternary ammonia compounds (as found in sanitizers) can disrupt the biodegradation of wastewater; however, less is known about the impact of lessor quaternary ammonia concentrations as found in shampoo, detergents, and other personal care products. <br /> <br /> <br /> North Carolina State University findings  A data set containing more than 700 data points was used to test different pedotransfer functions for estimating soil hydraulic properties. The HYDRUS model was used to simulate vertical water flow through 130 different soils composed of a 10-cm thick top and 40-cm thick bottom layers. The saturated hydraulic conductivity, porosity and bulk density values of each layer for each simulation were generated from the database that was assembled previously. The simulations were performed for a 54.8 mm/hour (2 in/hour) rain representing a 5-year storm. For simulations, the soil volume in the model was saturated and then allowed to drain for 15 days before applying the storm. At the termination of simulation, the rainfall amount was partitioned into the amount infiltrating the soil and runoff. A best case, worst case and average condition were simulated to develop an infiltration index (= cumulative infiltration divided by rainfall amount) for each surface and subsurface layer pair. The infiltration index generated by these simulations can be integrated into an appropriate GIS mapping software for developing maps of infiltration for different settings within a county. In addition to theoretical simulations, an experimental study was initiated to assess infiltration and runoff in field soils. A 25.4-cm inside diameter and 50-cm long column, equipped with a 27.5-cm diameter porous plate was constructed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe. The column was tested using bulk soil materials collected from the top and subsurface layers of a soil located at a field site. After packing the column in two layers, the column was saturated and then drained before applying 5 cm of water while applying approximately100 cm of tension to the bottom of the porous plate (to simulate a water table at 130 cm depth). The column will be used to validate the findings of the HYDRUS model.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Rhode Island findings  Replicate (n=3) intact 15 cm diameter X 150 cm long soil mesocosms were collected in the field to evaluate the effectiveness of drainfields with: a conventional septic tank effluent gravity wastewater delivery (pipe-and-stone, P&S); compared to two advanced types of drainfields receiving single pass sand filter effluent - a pressurized shallow narrow drainfield (PSND) and Geomat" (GEO), a variation of a PSND drainfield. Domestic wastewater was added to the top of the nine mesocosms and effluent collected at the bottom of the mesocosms on a weekly basis and analyzed. Water quality renovation functions were determined under current water table and temperature conditions, in anticipation of an experiment to measure OWTS response to a climate change scenario of a 30-cm increase in water table elevation and a 4æC temperature increase. Results under steady state conditions indicate complete removal of fecal coliform bacteria, phosphorus and BOD by all three drainfield systems. Average dissolved oxygen (DO) readings were 2.9mg/L for conventional drainfield effluent and 4.6mg/L for both advanced effluents, showing the expected oxygen uptake with shallow placement of the drainfield infiltrative zone. Effluent pH values maintained a steady state between 3.2  3.7 units for all drainfield technologies. <br /> <br /> <br /> By contrast, removal of total nitrogen inputs was 13.7 (+/- 2.0)% from the P&S system, and only 6.1 (+/- 1.3)% for PSND and 7.6 (+/- 2.4)% for GEO drainfields. The current hypothesis is that low oxygen nitrification is responsible for nitrogen removal as N2O in the PSND and GEO technologies, while denitrification is occurring in the P&S technology with nitrogen loss as N2O and N2 gas. None of the technologies are saturated to the 60% water filled pore space thought to be required for denitrification, however, temporary saturation may occur at the infiltrative area at the time of dosing. This saturation would be more pronounced in the P&S technology due to its twice daily dosing regimen compared to the 48 small daily doses to the PSND and GEO drainfields (following typical design regulations in Rhode Island). Additionally, wastewater may need less than 60% water filled pore space to denitrify, as this value was determined from clean water. This hypothesis will be tested in the coming months. N2O production at the infiltrative surfaces were 180 (+/-70)uL/L and 140 (+/-50)uL/L respectively for PSND and GEO technologies, and 12 (+/-2)uL/L for the P&S technology. N2 gas was not measured at this time, however, the N2O values add further support for the proposed mechanisms, with more N2O production expected from low oxygen nitrification and more N2 production (less N2O) expected from denitrification. A 15N tracer experiment along with N2 analysis will be conducted to elucidate the mechanisms controlling N removal in each technology in the coming months. <br /> <br /> <br /> The conventional OWTS drainfield is outperforming the advanced drainfields with respect to nitrogen removal, but is renovating wastewater equivalently for all other contaminants of concern. The results of this study are expected to facilitate development of future OWTS regulations and planning guidelines, particularly in coastal zones and in the face of a changing climate.<br /> <br /> <br /> A modeling component of this URI climate change project was undertaken by researchers Tom Boving and Ivan Morales with the main objective to numerically simulate the responses of the three different drainfield system options. The purpose of the modeling is to examine the potential mechanisms behind these effects, focusing on physicochemical and biogeochemical processes. The HYDRUS 2D/3D software was used to model pathogen and nutrient transport under different OWTS operating conditions, groundwater table separation distances, and soil temperatures.<br /> <br /> <br /> Moisture sensors were installed to enable monitoring the water content of each column at different depths measured from the infiltrative surface of the drainfield option. Several tracer tests were completed to determine the contaminant transport parameters such as: dispersivity, velocity, and hydraulic retention times. Tracer tests were accomplished prior to biomat formation to elucidate the changes on treatment efficiency. <br /> <br /> <br /> All three mesocosm domains have been conceptualized in HYDRUS 2D/3D to establish initial hydraulic boundary conditions. Internal observation ports were used to compare observed and optimized data. Soil moisture data was used to calibrate the model through the softwares inverse solution function, which allows researchers to obtain soil hydraulic properties from observed data. As a result, the conceptualized model exhibited a very good fit between observed and computed data (R2 = 0.99). Also, water content versus time graphs were plotted to illustrate the graphical fit, indicating that the water content values oscillate which is consistent with wastewater dosing applications to the mesocosms. The difference between observed soil hydraulic properties and those calculated by the model is very small, demonstrating that HYDRUS 2D/3D is a useful modeling tool to predict water and solute transport of our experimental domains under saturated and unsaturated conditions. <br /> <br /> <br /> Michigan State University findings  Phosphorus Removal and Recovery from OWTS. The removal and recovery of phosphorous using an engineered reactive iron media coated with nano iron is being investigated. MetaMateria, LLC, developed the media that was tested, however, other organizations have also manufactured similar materials. The media's surface precipitates phosphorus from onsite generated wastewater in a static column. Performance was evaluated using actual wastewater during a completed long-term laboratory test (approximately 600 days) and another test that has now been ongoing for over 400 days. These tests allow for the determination of the removal mechanism and the development of design criteria. Data showed empty bed contact time (EBCT) is the most important controlling factor and a minimum of 1 hour is necessary to maintain effluent phosphorus below 1 to 2 mg/L over a significant period of time. The removal mechanism is surface complexation (adsorption), governed by equilibrium. Hydraulic loading was not found to be a significant factor. In comparing monolith and granule media forms, granular shows better performance. Media exhausted during these tests will be regenerated and performance evaluated in column studies using actual wastewater. MetaMateria has effectively regenerated the media for up to 6 cycles using synthetic wastewater and in a batch treatment system. The ultimate outcome includes change in action and condition. Removal of phosphorous from onsite generated wastewater helps prevent eutrophication of surface water and growth of toxic algae that may be increasing in severity due to global climate change. Preliminary results indicate the phosphorus can be efficiently and effectively recovered as calcium phosphate and used for fertilizer at a fraction of the cost as producing a fertilizer using phosphate rock. Recovering phosphorus and producing a slow release fertilizer for crop production, as compared to mining virgin material, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Further, there are few sources of phosphorus in the world so local production by recovery from wastewater reduces GHG emissions associated with mining and transport. This research resulted in a Phase 2 NSF grant awarded to MetaMateria Partners, LLC, in partnership with MSU, and is an excellent example of private industry/University cooperation. <br /> <br /> <br /> Land treatment of food processing wastewater can irrigate a crop, provide nutrients, recharge aquifers, reduce energy use, uptake carbon, and save resources. When excessive carbon is land applied, the soil environment becomes anaerobic and metals naturally in soil serve as electron acceptors and become mobile when reduced. Included are manganese, iron, and, ultimately, arsenic. For this objective, major MSU activities included field studies at a MSU test site that included direct soil oxygen and moisture monitoring using remote monitoring techniques and periodic site visits to make visual observations and characterize soil. This field activity complimented previously completed column experiments. Results show that careful control of hydraulic and organic loading values helps prevent metal mobilization. However, with higher levels of oxygen in the soil, an unintended consequence is nitrate release because denitrification does not occur under aerobic conditions. Studies using wastewater pretreatment and cropping strategies are being investigated to reduce nitrate release. The outcome is a change in action and condition in that careful operations and design allow food processors to continue using this technology. Additionally, using onsite application of wastewater, as compared to treatment in a traditional activated sludge process, has a compounding reducing impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Reductions are achieved by not using energy for wastewater aeration, carbon dioxide uptake by the plant grown using the wastewater, and reduced production of industrial nutrients by using the wastewater as irrigation water for a crop commodity. <br /> <br /> <br /> Activities <br /> <br /> <br /> Project Objective 4  OWTS Training and Outreach Education<br /> <br /> <br /> On November 5 - 9, 2012 University of Georgia staff held a Level II soils workshop for 21 new Georgia Department of Health employees, including a test at the end. Approximately 180 professionals and decision makers attended five presentations that summarized the findings of the UGA watershed scale OWTS impacts study at conferences in Portland, OR and Cincinnati, OH. <br /> <br /> <br /> University of Minnesota delivered training in SD, IA, WI, IL, at the request of states, counties and professional organizations. UMN developed and implemented new higher level OWTS design training focused on advanced technology, collection and cluster systems with emphasis on aquifer assessment, nitrogen reduction, and groundwater mounding evaluations for new certifications in Minnesota; developed and implemented customized one-day soils workshops offered across Minnesotas soils regions to meet continuing education requirements of designers and inspectors; and, developed and fully implemented an onsite wastewater service provider training to meet new certification requirements. UMN staff planned and organized the educational program for 2012 annual conference in partnership with the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association; worked with the MN Lake Association to upgrade 15 septic systems with worked completed in 2013; and, commenced work on a NIFA-funded project to develop a customized community septic system owners guide. This tool will assist property owners in understanding how their system works and what is needed for operation.<br /> <br /> <br /> NE1045 members from University of Tennessee at Knoxville and North Carolina State University partnered together to conduct an Installation of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Train-the-Trainer workshop in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on March 13-14, 2013. There were 14 attendees including NE1045 members from University of Kentucky and Oklahoma State University. During the 2013 reporting period, John Buchanan at UTK was an invited speaker at several regional and national onsite wastewater events including educational seminars at the Pumper/Cleaner Expo, the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, the North Carolina Septic Tank Association, and the Tennessee Onsite Wastewater Association. In all, these outreach efforts reached approximately 500 homeowners, maintenance providers, designers, and system installers.<br /> <br /> <br /> Oklahoma State University  OSU reported on a new Cooperative Extension program focused on soil-based OWTS decisions that are specific to Oklahoma and about the fates of OWTS contaminants in soils. The extension program was launched by an online lecture to county extension agents in May 2013 followed by a summer lecture tour around Oklahoma that were attended by 84 participants comprised of personnel from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Certified OWTS Installers, Health Department Sanitarians, sanitarians from the Indian Health Services, representatives from various Native-American Nations and County Extension Educators. In addition, short lectures about various topics related to OWTS ranging from soil-based OWTS decisions, aerobic treatment units and simple maintenance of OWTS were also delivered to members of the Oklahoma Certified Installers Association, the Oklahoma Society of Environmental Health Professionals and homeowners.<br /> <br /> <br /> Michigan State University  A new MSU continuing education program for onsite wastewater treatment systems (engineers) and evaluators (public health officials) is being developed based on the completed USDA Challenge Grant ECOSEAM project. Included are distant learning modules and in person workshops. <br /> <br /> <br /> University of Rhode Island  During the reporting period, the URI project team delivered 56 workshops/ classes in 5 states in the region, reaching a total of nearly 1,800 practitioners, decision makers and students. These classes provided continuing education credits needed by over 1,600 licensed professionals to renew their professional licenses. These classes included in-door and out-door hands-on venues and ranged from half-day to two-day venues with qualifying exams. During the report period, URI scientists have provided direct OWTS technical assistance to: Old Saybrook, CT; Oyster Bay / Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, NY; Peconic Estuary, Long Island, NY; and, Great Bay Watershed Alliance Communities, NH. Coordinating with Vermont DEC OWTS regulators and the Vermont Technical College, URI offered two classes to train VT practitioners on OWTS pumps and controls and high strength wastewater treatment. URI conducted three required classes for Rhode Island and Massachusetts wastewater practitioners to enable them to receive regulatory jurisdiction approval to design and install bottomless sand filters. URI researchers made invited presentations at five conferences about climate change and OWTS reaching 140 board of health officials, regulatory decision makers and coastal resource managers.<br /> <br /> University of Arizona  conducted 5 classes with 155 participants total for the report period (topics included Septic Inspection, Soil and Site Evaluation, OWTS Technologies). Kitt Farrell-Poe is a member of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Onsite Wastewater Advisory Committee (OWAC). OWAC meets monthly; its purpose is to assist and counsel ADEQ in selecting and altering courses of action for guiding the Arizona onsite industry in a direction that is most beneficial for the citizens and environment of Arizona and facilitate the implementation of actions taken. She is an at-large member of the Arizona County Departments of Environmental Health Services Association (ACDEHSA) subcommittee Onsite Technical Advisory Group; continues to work on States Report of Inspection form to incorporate review comments; continues to work with state association of county health departments to incorporate Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT) Glossary of Terms into rule change recommendations; working on planning committee for 2014 (biennial) Southwest Onsite Wastewater Management conference held in Laughlin, AZ, in late January. Ms Farrell-Poe is collaborating with the University of Minnesota on the Community Septic Systems Owner's Guide, serving as a member of the Project Development Team to create the contents of the various modules and more specifically to develop, review, revise, and refine materials gained from the other national development programs and to test the beta version of the CSOG with communities in Arizona.<br />

Publications

Abit, S.M. 2013. Soil-based Septic System Decisions in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Publication PSS-2271.<br /> <br /> Abit, S.M. 2013. Land Buyers' Septic System Guide for Oklahoma. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Publication L-430.<br /> <br /> <br /> Buchanan J.R. (in press) Decentralized Wastewater Treatment. In: Ahuja S. (ed.) Comprehensive Water Quality and Purification, vol. 3, pp. 244-267. United States of America: Elsevier.<br /> <br /> <br /> Cooper, J., G. Loomis, D. Kalen, and J. Amador. (in preparation) Evaluation of Water Quality Renovation by Advanced Soil-Based Wastewater Treatment Systems.<br /> <br /> <br /> Farrell-Poe, Kitt. 2013. What you should know when youre having your septic system inspected for the transfer of ownership program. In Backyards & Beyond: Rural Living in Arizona. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. 7(1): 4-7, Winter.<br /> <br /> <br /> Heger, S. 2013. Septic System Improvement Estimator Users Guide. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN.<br /> <br /> Lee, B.D. G. Munshaw, R.E. Durham, M.V. Mickelbart, T. Powell. 2013. Native plant landscaping of septic systems. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-508.<br /> <br /> Lee, B.D. 2013. How water use impacts septic system performance. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-509. <br /> <br /> Loomis, G. and D. Kalen. 2013. Guidelines for the Design, Use, and Maintenance of Pressurized Drainfields. Prepared for Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Providence, RI. 50 pp. http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/permits/isds/pdfs/pdflds.pdf <br /> <br /> <br /> Morales, I., T. Boving, J.A. Atoyan, and J. A. Amador. (in preparation) Transport of Pathogen Surrogates in Soil Treatment Units: Numerical Modeling. <br /> <br /> <br /> Safferman, S.I., Shirin Saber, L., Helferich, R.L., Schorr, J.R., Sengupta, S., and Revur, R. 2012. (in preparation) Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater using Nano Enhanced Iron Media. <br /> <br /> <br /> Schorr, R.J., Sengupta, S., Revur, R., Helferich, R.L., and Safferman, S. (in press) Phosphorous Removal and Recovery using Nano Technology in Aquananotechnology: Global Prospects, Ed. Reisner, D.E.; Pradeep, T. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.<br />

Impact Statements

1. 1. Impact  OWTS designs The Univ. of Rhode Island research team developed a new pressurized drainfield design guidance document for State of Rhode Island that promotes shallow placement of drainfields (guidance document will also be utilized in Massachusetts, Vermont and possibly some high priority watersheds in New York). These new design guidelines will create greater separation distances from drainfield bases to groundwater tables, result in dispersal of wastewater into more biochemically reactive soils, facilitate subsurface irrigation of residential lawns and landscapes, and, thereby, lessen the impacts of climate change on OWTS.
2. 2. Impact  Practitioners trained and professional licenses maintained The UGA watershed scale OWTS impacts study is providing some of the first information on the impact of OWTS in suburban streams of the Southeast. Twenty-one new Georgia Department of Health employees attended a required Level II soils course and examination, providing them with essential training needed for their professional advancement.
3. 3. Impact  Practitioners trained and professional licenses maintained The UMN, in Minnesota, trained nearly 2,000 professionals to either gain a new license or maintain their existing one. Outside Minnesota an additional 1,000 + professionals have received continuing education offered by the program. Through UTK and NCSU NE 1045 member efforts, fourteen onsite wastewater professionals received intensive training on adult education and on how to deliver effective wastewater training programs in their home communities.
4. 4. Impact  Practitioners trained and professional licenses maintained OSU lectures conducted during the reporting period provided continuing education credits to 76 Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality  certified installers and nearly 80 OK Health Department  certified sanitarians. Day-long short courses also provided training leading to OK DEQ certification for eight new septic system soil profilers. URI trained 1,600 wastewater practitioners in the New England region who need training and continuing education credits to enable them to gain a new onsite wastewater license or retain their existing license.
5. 5. Impact  Practitioners trained and professional licenses maintained Through UAZ efforts, 100 professionals know how to inspect an OWTS for the AZ DEQ Transfer of Ownership Inspection Program; 19 practitioners (both regulators and in-the-field professionals) know more about and are eligible to conduct OWTS soil and site evaluations per Arizona code; 20 practitioners have more knowledge to design, install, inspect, and service media filters in Arizona; 14 practitioners have more knowledge to design, install, inspect, and service drip dispersal systems in Arizona; and, the citizens of Arizona now have more access to succinct information on the Transfer of Ownership (septic) Inspection Program.
6. 6. Impact  Expansion of employment opportunities Through UMN training in both Minnesota and Iowa, new septic professionals have gained over 200 new certifications and/or licenses during the reporting time period. Through URI efforts, 26 onsite wastewater professionals took the URI inspector training classes, were tested and passed their exams, and received OWTS Inspector Registrations which are required in order to conduct inspections in several Rhode Island communities having wastewater management programs.
7. Indicators of Impacts Over a period of five years, the estimated percentage of septic systems in Minnesota that comply with standards improved from an estimated 65 percent of all systems to 79 percent. The estimated percentage of systems that fail to protect groundwater has dropped from 25 percent to 16 percent of systems.
8. Indicators of Impacts URI project staff educate wastewater practitioners about advanced OWTS, helping to raise the knowledge base and proficiency of these wastewater designers. Approximately, 40% of all OWTS applications that these designers submit to the RI Department of Environmental Management are for advanced OWTS. Use of advanced OWTS that denitrify wastewater are now required in state designated watersheds that are nitrogen sensitive. This has helped protect these watersheds from further degradation.

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Report Information

Participants

Abit, Sergio (sergio.abit@okstate.edu)- OSU; Amador, Jose (caimital@gmail.com)-URI; Cooper, Jennifer(feefs83@gmail.com)- URI; Heger, Sara (sheger@umn.edu) -UMN; Loomis, George (GLoomis@uri.edu) - URI; Miles, Randall (MilesR@missouri.edu)- UMO; Radcliffe, David (dradclif@uga.edu)- UGA

Brief Summary of Minutes

1.The meeting began at 1:00 pm.

Seven individuals, representing five Land Grant institutions, attended the NE1045 project meeting (participant list is below). Each representative institution delivered a brief update of NE1045 related activities for the reporting year October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014. Accomplishments of these research and outreach activities are noted in the Accomplishment section of this report.


Name email Institution
Abit, Sergio sergio.abit@okstate.edu OSU
Amador, Jose caimital@gmail.com URI
Cooper, Jennifer feefs83@gmail.com URI
Heger, Sara sheger@umn.edu UMN
Loomis, George GLoomis@uri.edu URI
Miles, Randall MilesR@missouri.edu UMO
Radcliffe, David dradclif@uga.edu UGA


2.Sara Heger (UMN) discussed the 50/50 split between research and teaching of the program in Minnesota and the 4 dedicated staff that work within the program as part of the Water Resource Center. She then discussed activities relating to training professionals including: over 1500 trained within MN and another 500+ trained across the region for both certification and continuing education. As part of this work they are evaluating the current online training opportunities available and how to move forward developing options for online training in Minnesota. They have also offered several new workshops in underserved areas of the state and are developing a new field based troubleshooting class. Several research projects where then discussed which relate to Objective 2 including an Evaluation of Adult Care Facilities and MNDOT rest areas. Other projects discussed included evaluating a new technology for phosphorous removal and another on optimizing septic tank performance and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The last project discussed was the progress on the development of an online tool for the production of O&M manuals for septic systems across the US through a NIFA grant.


3.David Radcliffe reported on a UGA OWTS watershed research project that is providing some of the first information on the impact of OWTS in suburban streams of the Southeast. Findings are that OWTS may provide a beneficial effect in maintaining stream baseflow, but above a threshold density have a detrimental effect of increasing nitrate concentrations in streams. Work with the SWAT model supports the experimental findings. He also reported that thirty-two new Georgia Department of Health employees attended a required Level II soils course and examination, providing them with essential training needed for their professional advancement.


4.Jennifer Cooper and Jose Amador summarized the findings of the University of Rhode Island climate change and OWTS mesocolumn research project (findings reported in subsequent sections). George Loomis stated that 45 outreach and training classes were conducted, reaching nearly 1,200 practitioners and decision makers during the report period.


5.Sergio Abit from Oklahoma State University reported activities that are in connection with Project Objective number 4 which is on Training and Outreach Education. The second year of his extension program yielded three new extension publications, two conference presentations, one peer-reviewed conference proceedings and eight short-term extension classes that provided in-service training credits to extension educators as well as professional continuing education units/credits to licensed installers, soil profilers and sanitarians in Oklahoma. Meetings with regulators has led to a research/monitoring project that was initiated to generate data that may be used update current State regulations that pertains to soil-based OWTS decisions.


6.Randall Miles from the University of Missouri reported the delivery of 12 one-day and two-day onsite wastewater workshops in Missouri, 7 classes done regionally in IA and IL, 2 two-day workshops in NM, and 3 presentations at national onsite wastewater conferences. He reported on some continuing monitoring efforts, conducted on an as needed basis, to assess the long-term performance of long pressure distributed systems associated with a past research project at the Rock Bridge, MO site (an NODP- Phase II project). Miles reported on UMO research investigating the utilization of wastewater dispersal for bio-fuel production in small rural communities in Missouri.


7. The meeting concluded at 5:00 pm.

Accomplishments

Outputs <br /> <br /> <br /> Project Objective 2 – Develop new OWTS design criteria for the purposes of climate change adaptation and mitigation <br /> <br /> <br /> University of Georgia findings – Synoptic samples and discharge measurements of 24 watersheds in Metropolitan Atlanta with a range of onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) density were taken under baseflow conditions in spring, summer, and fall of 2011, 2012, and 2013. Mean baseflow measurements were not statistically different between high density and low density watersheds except in July 2012 when stream flow was at record low levels. NO3- concentrations showed a linear increase with OWTS density above a threshold of about 100 OWTSs per sq.km. Results suggest an increase in baseflow due to the presence of OWTS effluent which may off-set the effects of impervious surfaces and maintain <br /> baseflow during drought conditions. Results also indicate a positive correlation between NO3- concentration and OWTS density within the watershed above a density of about 100 OWTSs per sq.km. Nitrogen isotopes indicate the NO3- may be a combination of OWTS effluent and lawn fertilizers. This study showed that OWTSs have potential positive and negative impacts on the water quality and quantity of urbanizing watersheds of this region.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Minnesota findings – UMN is conducted research evaluating 55 onsite systems and the wastewater from rest stops, weigh scales and truck holding facilities across Minnesota. The findings of this research will assist design and management issues related to similar facilities across Minnesota and the US in the future. The UMN published a report on an evaluation of 6 adult care facilities. These facilities have a challenging waste stream due to high: flows, cleaning compounds and medicines. An estimation tool was developed for milk house wastewater treatment systems. In addition, UMN is performing field evaluation of a phosphorus removal system on 3 existing mound systems in Minnesota to quantify the potential benefit for phosphorus removal. A new grant was received to optimize septic tank performance focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and capturing nutrients.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Rhode Island – The main objective of this study is to quantify the responses of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) to changes in separation distance from water table and in temperature. We will measure effects on water quality functions (BOD5, N, P and bacterial removal) of OWTS and examine the potential mechanisms behind these effects, focusing on physicochemical and biogeochemical processes. We will examine these effects in the soil treatment areas (STAs) of four OWTS STA technologies currently approved for use in Rhode Island: (i) gravity-fed conventional, (ii) pressurized shallow narrow drainfield (PSND) and (iii) GeoMatTM, a proprietary product that enables ultra shallow STA placement. Our overarching hypothesis is that climate change will have a differential effect on the water quality functions of dissimilar STA technologies. We expect hydrologic and temperature changes to act synergistically, reducing effectiveness and area of treatment in the vadose zone through lower O2 solubility (shifting from aerobic to anaerobic), greater microbial O2 use, longer saturation, and higher water table levels. Effects will depend on separation distance from the water table and the soil surface. Conventional systems, with the shortest separation distance from the water table and the longest separation from the soil surface, will be most affected. PSND will be less affected because of greater separation from the water table and are closer to the soil surface than conventional OWTS, with little impact in GeoMatTM systems, which are installed within 15 cm of the soil surface. Examination of the physico-chemical and biogeochemical mechanisms involved will help us understand how these systems may be altered to improve their performance under different climate change scenarios. Findings from this research will enable regulatory agencies to make revisions to regulatory code governing OWTS which will effect changes in system designs that will be protective of human health, water quality and the environment.<br /> <br /> <br /> Experimental Results - URI. During the reporting period we evaluated the water quality functions of two advanced onsite wastewater treatment systems<br /> (OWTS) drainfields – shallow narrow (SND) and Geomat® (GEO) – and a conventional pipe and stone (P&S) drainfield over 12 months using replicated (n = 3) intact soil mesocosms. The SND and GEO mesocosms received effluent from a singlepass sand filter, whereas the P&S received septic tank effluent. Between 97.1 and 100% of BOD5, fecal coliform bacteria and total phosphorus (P) were removed in all drainfield types. Total nitrogen (N) removal averaged 12.0% for P&S, 4.8% for SND, and 5.4% for GEO. A mass balance analysis accounted for 95.1% (SND), 94.1% (GEO) and 87.6% (P&S) of N inputs.<br /> When the whole treatment train (excluding the septic tank) is considered, advanced systems – including sand filter pretreatment and SND or GEO soil-based treatment – removed 99.8–99.9% of BOD5, 100% of fecal coliform bacteria and P, and 26.0 – 27.0% of N. In contrast, the conventional system removed 99.4% of BOD5, 100% of fecal coliform bacteria and P, but only 12.0% of N. All drainfield types performed similarly for most water quality functions despite differences in placement within the soil profile. However, inclusion of the pre-treatment step in advanced system treatment trains results in better N<br /> removal than in conventional treatment systems, despite higher drainfield N removal rates in the latter. Evaluation of the fate and transport of bacteriophage representing human pathogenic virus showed that there were no differences among treatment systems, and no bacteriophage were detected in the drainage water from the mesocosms two week after addition. We used 15N-labeled ammonium chloride to trace the transformations of N in the mesocosms. Our analysis to date suggests that both nitrification and denitrification are active in all mesocosms, and that nitrification may be an important contributor to N2O<br /> production.<br /> <br /> <br /> Modelling Results - URI. The HYDRUS 2D/3D software was used to model pathogen and nutrient transport under different OWTS operating conditions. The main objective of the modeling research is to numerically simulate the responses of three different onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), (i) conventional or pipe and stone, (ii) Pressurized Shallow-Narrow Drainfield (PSND), and (iii) GeoMat™. Measurement of OWTS water quality include BOD5, N, P and bacterial removal, besides others. The purpose of the modeling is to examine the potential mechanisms behind the attenuation of these water quality parameters, focusing on physicochemical and biogeochemical processes. Over the reporting period, we published one paper (Morales et al., 2014) and prepared a second for submission. The first paper describes the effect of soil texture and depth on transport of two septic tank effluent (STE)-borne microbial pathogen surrogates – green fluorescent protein-labeled E. coli (GFPE) and MS-2 coliphage – in soil treatment units. HYDRUS 2D/3D software was used to model the transport of these microbes from the infiltrative surface. The model suggests that the<br /> microbe detachment rates were about two orders of magnitude lower than the corresponding attachment rates. Low or negligible detachment rates indicate quasi-irreversible adsorption of microbes to soil. For the second paper, the HYDRUS 2D/3D software was used to model the impact of variable hydraulic loading rates (HLR), changing precipitation patterns, variable initial bacteria concentrations and other environmental stresses at different depths and soil textures. The results show that an increase of the initial bacteria concentration required greater depth in coarser soils than in fine textured ones to completely remove E.coli. When a biomat layer was included in the transport model, the performance of the OWTS increased by up to 12.02%. Overall, this study shows that bacteria removal is linked to soil properties, as well as operational and environmental conditions. The dependency on temperature and, to a lesser degree, precipitation patterns might impact the performance of OWTS under changing climate conditions.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Tennessee at Knoxville – In many locations, climate change will lead to less separation distance between the soil surface and the groundwater. As a result there will be less aerobic soil available for wastewater treatment. New design criteria are needed to provide additional treatment before effluent is dispersed into the subsurface soil environment. It is often assumed that the soil environment will remove trace organics. Our UTK study is looking at the treatment potential of packed-bed recirculating media biofilters to remove trace organic contaminants before soil dispersal. This project is being funded by a grant from the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center. The focus is on the degradation of select pharmaceutical and person care products (P&PCP) in a fine-gravel media. <br /> <br /> <br /> This treatment method utilizes the media as attachment sites for microorganisms. As wastewater trickles through the media, it becomes aerated (non-saturated flow) and compounds can diffuse in and out of the biofilm. It is thought that the combination of aerobic/anaerobic zones with endogenous respiration (plenty of oxygen, limited organic carbon) will enhance the degradation of trace organic contaminants. Four laboratory-scale media filters have been constructed, three will receive wastewater spiked with the selected organic compound, and the forth will serve as a control for any background trace organics. To minimize sorption to the apparatus, all components are either glass, PTFE-coated, or stainless steel. Each system is hydraulically loaded at 194 L d-1 m-2 (5 gal d-1 ft-2) with domestic wastewater from a STEG community system, and has a recirculation rate of 5:1. The organic loading is approximately 150 mg L-1 COD. At this time our focus is on ibuprofen, triclosan, and diclofenac. The results are mixed, it appears that we can achieve removal, but it is not clear as to the removal mechanism. Additional analyses will be conducted to determine the roles of sorption versus biodegradation of the trace organics.<br /> <br /> <br /> North Carolina State University findings – Modeling efforts of infiltration through one- and two-layered soils with different physical and hydrological properties using HYDRUS with an expanded data base were continued. A series of simulations were performed to assess infiltration and the subsequent runoff for a 53.8-mm/hour (approximately 2-in/hour) rainfall using 135 different soil profiles with varying soil surface and subsurface properties and top layer thickness ranging between 0 and 50 cm. An Infiltration Index, I = Cumulative Infiltration (cm)/Rainfall Amount (53.8 mm), was obtained using the normalized simulated infiltration values. Using the 1970 Wake County (NC) Soil Survey, and 1968 and current USGS elevation information, changes in the infiltration/runoff capacity for the NCSU Centennial Campus (located in Raleigh, NC) was assessed. The topography, I, and land-use of the area for 1968 and 2013 were compared, and a series of maps of the potential discharge (i.e., runoff) were developed for the Centennial Campus under the old (1968) and current (using 2013 data) conditions.<br /> <br /> Laboratory Experiment - NCSU: The laboratory experiment was reinitiated to evaluate the impact of surface soil layer thickness on infiltration and soil water distribution within the profile. In one trial, the topsoil collected from the surface layer of a soil located at the Clayton Field Research Laboratory, NC State University, was packed to a depth of 45 cm in the column (25.4-cm inside diameter and 50-cm long column) equipped with a 27.5-cm diameter porous plate. Three thermal probes were installed at 10, 20, and 30 cm below the soil surface in the column for measuring soil water content. After saturating the column from below, approximately 110 cm of vacuum was applied to the porous plate at the end of the column to simulate a water table at 150 cm below the soil surface. A predetermined quantity of water was uniformly applied to the top of the column to simulate different rainfall intensity. The outflow from the bottom was measured with time and soil water content was monitored continuously at the three depths within the column. In another set of measurements, the column was packed with the subsoil materials and the experiment was repeated as described above. NCSU investigators included: Aziz Amoozegar, Joshua Heitman, David Lindbo, Robert Austin, and Amanda Liesch.<br /> <br /> <br /> Michigan State University (MSU) findings – Phosphorus Removal and Recovery from OWTS. The removal and recovery of phosphorous using an engineered reactive iron media coated with nano iron is being investigated. MetaMateria, LLC, developed the media that was tested. The media's surface precipitates phosphorus from onsite generated wastewater in a static column. Performance was evaluated on wastewater from a cluster system at different empty bed contact times (EBCT). The removal mechanism is surface complexation (adsorption), governed by equilibrium. Data from column studies showed that a minimum of 1 hour is necessary to maintain effluent phosphorus below 1 to 2 mg/L over a significant period of time. With an EBCT of 3 hours, effluent levels lower than 0.5 mg/L are achieved. Media exhaustion in a column with a 3 hour EBCT has taken over 600 days. A 1 gallon per minute pilot-scale unit is currently being tested. The ultimate outcome includes a change in action and condition. Removal of phosphorous from onsite generated wastewater helps prevent eutrophication of surface water and growth of toxic algae that may be increasing in severity due to global climate change. Phosphorus recovery as calcium phosphate can be used for fertilizer at a fraction of the cost as producing a fertilizer using phosphate rock. Further, there are few sources of phosphorus in the world so local production by recovery from wastewater reduces GHG emissions associated with mining and transport. This research was conducted as part of a Phase 2 NSF grant awarded to MetaMateria Partners, LLC, in partnership with MSU, which will continue through February 2015. The project is an excellent example of private industry/University cooperation. <br /> <br /> <br /> MSU findings – Land treatment of food processing wastewater. Wastewater can irrigate a crop, provide nutrients, recharge aquifers, reduce energy use, uptake carbon, and save resources. When excessive carbon is land applied, the soil environment becomes anaerobic and metals naturally in soil serve as electron acceptors and become mobile when reduced. Included are manganese, iron, and, ultimately, arsenic. For this objective, major MSU activities included field studies at a MSU test site that included direct soil oxygen and moisture monitoring using remote monitoring techniques and periodic site visits to make visual observations and characterize soil. This field activity complimented previously completed column experiments. Results show that careful control of hydraulic and organic loading values helps prevent metal mobilization. However, with higher levels of oxygen in the soil, an unintended consequence is nitrate release because denitrification does not occur under aerobic conditions. Studies using cropping strategies and variable irrigation are being investigated to reduce nitrate release. The outcome is a change in action and condition in that careful operations and design allow food processors to continue using this technology. Additionally, using onsite application of wastewater, as compared to treatment in a traditional activated sludge process, has a compounding reducing impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Reductions are achieved by not using energy for wastewater aeration, carbon dioxide uptake by the plant grown using the wastewater, and reduced production of industrial nutrients by using the wastewater as irrigation water for a crop commodity. The project is funded by a very large international food processor. <br /> <br /> <br /> MSU findings – Pretreatment of fast food restaurant wastewater to prevent premature drain field aging. Testing of the Advanced Grease Interceptor (AGIS), developed and manufactured by Sustainable Environmental Technologies, is ongoing. The technology is proven to reduce the impacts of fat, oil, and grease (FOG) in a sewer system originating from fast food restaurants. The current project is examining if AGIS decreases the premature aging of drain fields receiving wastes from fast food restaurants. The AGIS produces enzymes in a modified septic tank and uses a one-time inoculation. Experimentation entails simulated pilot-scale drain fields that have dimensionally correct depths and are instrumented with soil sensors to trace the formation of a biomat. Each receives a different waste so comparisons can be made. Further, LC-MS is being used to directly monitor changes in the FOG. Results show that the AGIS does reduce the molecular weight of FOG and the number of double bonds. This results in the FOG being less cohesive and more biodegradable. The pilot-scale drain fields are demonstrating different behaviors, dependent on the whether AGIS pretreatment was used or not. The ultimate outcome includes a change in action and condition. Successful pretreatment prevents the premature aging of the drain field and all of the expense and energy required to rebuild.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Missouri – Some continuing monitoring of past research projects involving long pressure distributed systems at the Rock Bridge, MO site (an NODP- Phase II project) has been performed, on an as need basis, to assess long-term performance of these systems. <br /> <br /> <br /> Research on the utilization of wastewater dispersal for bio-fuel production in small rural communities in Missouri was conducted using recycled water and nutrients from larger flows, and incorporating drip dispersal, spray, or center pivot irrigation for dispersal. The target stakeholders are smaller rural communities and subdivisions where nearby land could be used for growing grasses for biofuels (mostly Miscanthus). MFAOIL, Inc. already has, or is building, the biofuel processing plants and growing Miscanthus, and plans to sell fuel to production agriculture entities.<br /> <br /> <br /> One of the largest retail gas and convenience stores in the state, BreakTime, is leading the way for Wastewaterlogic, Inc. to serve as either a Level 4 or 5 Responsible Management Entity (depends on the specific situation), providing a prime example of innovative wastewater management for others in the state to follow.<br /> <br /> <br /> Activities <br /> <br /> <br /> Project Objective 4 – OWTS Training and Outreach Education<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Georgia – On October 20 - 24, 2014 UGA staff held a Level II soils workshop for 32 new Georgia Department of Health employees, including a test at the end. Approximately 400 professionals and decision makers attended a keynote presentation at the North Carolina Onsite Conference on October 14, 2014 that summarized the findings of the UGA watershed scale OWTS impacts study. <br /> <br /> <br /> University of Minnesota – During the reporting period the UMN trained over 1,500 septic professionals (onsite wastewater system maintainers, service providers, installers, designers, and inspectors) in Minnesota in over 50 training events and also delivered training in SD, ND, IA, WI, IL, at the request of states, counties and professional organizations. UMN developed and implemented new hands-on OWTS training focused on advanced technology, collection and cluster systems with emphasis on aquifer assessment, nitrogen reduction, and groundwater mounding evaluations for new certifications in Minnesota. UMN staff planned and organized the educational program for 2013 annual conference in partnership with the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association; and continued work on a NIFA-funded project to develop a customized community septic system owner’s guide. This tool will assist property owners in understanding how their system works and what is needed for operation. UMN staff also conducted a survey of available online training for septic professionals and published a report documenting the opportunities, challenges and issues moving forward.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Kentucky – An onsite wastewater treatment system short course was conducted for engineers, architects, and system installers (6 units) in Lexington, KY, on May 21, 2014 (co-instructed by M. Lee, J. Buchanan (UTK), and Wilson). Participants rated the program a 4.8/5.0, and the seminar manual a 4.8/5.0.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Tennessee at Knoxville – J. Buchanan was involved with 15 educational sessions during 2014 and spoke to nearly 1,300 people about septic system installation, operation, and maintenance. The scope of these events ranged from meeting with individuals seeking knowledge about their systems, community-level discussions about high septic system failure rates, state-level meetings with regulators, engineers and soil scientists, to presentations at national/international meetings.<br /> <br /> <br /> North Carolina State University – David Lindbo led the NE1045 conference planning team that successfully planned, coordinated, and delivered a national Onsite Wastewater Research Conference (sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America) in Albuquerque, NM in April 2014; attended by 96 researchers and professionals from throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe). NCSU successfully delivered their twenty-ninth annual NC onsite wastewater conference on Oct. 8-9, 2013.<br /> <br /> <br /> Oklahoma State University – OSU delivered short-term courses about soil-based septic system decisions, aerobic treatment systems, OWTS contaminant fate in the soils as well as a refresher soil science course for environmental professionals. These courses were attended by sanitarians from the Indian Health Services, representatives from various Native-American Nations, County Extension Educators and regulators. These courses were delivered via classroom lectures and online approaches. OSU also handled the Soils Module for two batches of the Soil Profilers Certification program in the State. Three new extension publications about aerobic treatment units, OWTSs permitted in the state of Oklahoma and about system maintenance were prepared and disseminated to various county extension offices. Meetings with officials from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and representatives of the Oklahoma Certified Installers’ Association yielded a collaborative grant proposal to secure money to fund planned efforts to align OWTS certification/training programs in the State, establish an OWTS demonstration facility and organize an inaugural state-wide OWTS conference. An agreement was established with ODEQ to conduct monitoring/research projects to generate data that could be used to update current OWTS policies in the State.<br /> <br /> <br /> Michigan State University – The new MSUE Comprehensive Onsite Wastewater Management Education Program was launched and entailed providing programming to professionals and homeowners. The two professional classes that were offered are “Key Ingredients of a Good Onsite Treatment System” and “Onsite Wastewater Treatment Design and Management”, each taking one 8 hour day. Seven homeowner classes were offered across Michigan and generally lasted 2 hours. <br /> <br /> <br /> University of Rhode Island – The URI project team delivered 8 seminars to academic and professional audiences throughout the U.S. In addition, we helped plan and successfully deliver a national Onsite Wastewater Research Conference (sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America) in Albuquerque, NM in April 2014; attended by 96 researchers and professionals from throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe). In addition, we published 6 abstracts, and 6 peer-reviewed papers are either published or in review. The team also delivered 45 workshops/ classes in 5 states in the region, reaching a total of nearly 1,200 practitioners, decision makers and students. These classes provided continuing education credits needed by over 800 licensed professionals to renew their professional licenses. These classes included in-door and out-door hands-on venues and ranged from half-day to two-day venues with qualifying exams. During the report period, URI scientists have provided direct OWTS technical assistance to: Old Saybrook, CT; Oyster Bay / Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, NY; Peconic Estuary, Long Island, NY; and, Suffolk County health Dept., NY. Coordinating with Vermont DEC OWTS regulators and the Vermont Technical College, URI offered two classes to train VT practitioners on OWTS pumps and controls and high strength wastewater treatment. URI conducted nine required classes which enable Rhode Island and Massachusetts wastewater practitioners to receive regulatory jurisdiction approval to design and install bottomless sand filters. URI researchers made invited presentations at five conferences about climate change and OWTS reaching approximately 235 wastewater practitioners, board of health officials, regulatory decision makers and coastal resource managers.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Arizona – Conducted 8 classes with 297 participants total for the report period (topics included Septic Inspection, Soil and Site Evaluation, Intro to Design, Installation, OWTS Technologies, and Homeowner Education). Kitt Farrell-Poe is a member of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Onsite Wastewater Advisory Committee (OWAC). OWAC meets monthly; its purpose is to assist and counsel ADEQ in selecting and altering courses of action for guiding the Arizona onsite wastewater industry in a direction that is most beneficial for the citizens and environment of Arizona and facilitate the implementation of actions taken. She is an at-large member of the Arizona County Departments of Environmental Health Services Association (ACDEHSA) subcommittee Onsite Technical Advisory Group; continues to work on State’s Report of Inspection form to incorporate review comments; and continues to work with state association of county health departments to incorporate Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT) Glossary of Terms into rule change recommendations. Dr. Farrell-Poe is collaborating with the University of Minnesota on the Community Septic Systems Owner's Guide, serving as a member of the Project Development Team to create the contents of the various modules and more specifically to develop, review, revise, and refine materials gained from the other national development programs and to test the beta version of the CSOG with communities in Arizona. In February 2014, she accepted a new position at the University of Arizona as Department Head for the Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Department. This new role will temporarily reduce her efforts in onsite wastewater education & outreach.<br /> <br /> <br /> NE1045 project colleagues planned, coordinated, and successfully delivered a national Onsite Wastewater Research Conference (sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America) in Albuquerque, NM in April 2014; attended by 96 researchers and professionals from throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe).<br /> <br />

Publications

Abit, S.M. 2014. Aerobic Treatment Systems. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Publication PSS-2275.<br /> <br /> <br /> Abit, S.M. 2014. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Permitted in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Publication PSS-2913.<br /> <br /> <br /> Abit, S.M. 2014. Keep Your Septic System in Working Order. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Publication PSS-2914.<br /> <br /> <br /> Abit, S.M., A. Amoozegar, M. J. Vepraskas, C. P. Niewoehner and E. Dell. 2014. Hydrologic Effects on Subsurface Transport of Surface-Applied Solutes and Bacteria in a Vadose Zone-Shallow Groundwater Continuum. SSSA Onsite Wastewater Conference. April 7-8, 2014. Albuquerque, NM.<br /> <br /> <br /> Amador, J.A. 2014. Infiltration Systems and Nitrate Removal. In: Encyclopedia of Natural Resources, pp. 754-757. Taylor & Francis, New York, NY.<br /> <br /> <br /> Buchanan, J.R. 2014. Decentralized Wastewater Treatment. In: Ahuja, S. (ed.) Comprehensive Water Quality and Purification, vol. 3, pp. 244-267. United States of America: Elsevier.<br /> <br /> <br /> Cooper, J. A., G. W. Loomis, D. V. Kalen, and J. A. Amador. 2015. Evaluation of Water Quality Functions of Conventional and Advanced Soil-Based Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. Journal of Environmental Quality (In revision).<br /> <br /> <br /> Heger, S. 2014. Milk house Improvement Estimator Users Guide. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN.<br /> <br /> <br /> Morales, I., T. B. Boving, J. A. Atoyan, and J. A. Amador. 2014. Transport of pathogen surrogates in soil treatment units: Numerical modeling. Water 6: 818-838.<br /> <br /> <br /> Morales, I., Amador, J.A., Cooper, J., Boving, T.B. Transport of Escherichia coli in a Simulated Soil-based Wastewater Treatment System. (In preparation)<br /> <br /> <br /> Oliver, C.W., D.E. Radcliffe, L.M. Risse, M. Habteselassie, R. Mukundan, and J. Jeong. 2014. Quantifying the contribution of on-site wastewater treatment systems to stream discharge using the SWAT model. J. Environ. Qual. 43:539-548. <br /> <br /> <br /> Oliver, C.W., L.M. Risse, D.E. Radcliffe, M. Habteselassie, and J. Clarke. 2014. Evaluating potential impacts of on-site wastewater treatment systems on the nitrogen load and baseflow in streams of watersheds in Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Trans. ASABE. 57:1121-1128.<br /> <br /> <br /> Richard, J. T., D. A. Potts, and J. A. Amador. 2014. Mechanisms of ammonium transformation and loss in intermittently aerated leachfield soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 43: 2130-2136.<br /> <br /> <br /> Schorr, J.R., S.Sengupta, R.Revur, R. Helferich, S. Safferman. 2014. Phosphorous Removal and Recovery Using Nano Technology, Aquananotechnology: Global Prospects. Editors, D. E. Reisner and T. Pradeep. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group. <br /> <br /> <br /> Sowah, R., H. Zhang, D.E. Radcliffe, E. Bauske, and M. Habteselassie. Evaluating the influence of septic systems and watershed characteristics on stream fecal pollution in suburban watersheds in Georgia, USA. J. Applied Microbiology. In press.<br />

Impact Statements

1. 1. Impact ? OWTS designs UMN provided design recommendations for adult care facilities served by OWTS including installing low flow fixtures, educating staff and clients on proper usage, increasing flow estimates and installing advanced treatment when necessary. UMN provided input on product design standards as part of Minnesota Technical Advisory Panel., and provided design training to over 250 septic professionals on the proper siting and design of OWTS.
2. MSU - Through the Michigan State University Extension Comprehensive Onsite Wastewater Management Education Program, 47 professionals participated in one or two of the design classes.
3. URI delivered 2 training classes on new pressurized drainfield designs that are featured in a guidance document they developed for RI in Nov. 2013, that promotes shallow placement of drainfields (document also used in MA, VT and high priority watersheds in NY). These new design guidelines create greater separation distances from drainfield bases to groundwater tables, which results in dispersal of wastewater into more biochemically reactive soils, facilitates subsurface irrigation of residential lawns and landscapes, and, thereby, lessens the impacts of climate change on OWTS.
4. URI - Approximately, 40 percent of the onsite wastewater treatment system design applications submitted to the Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management (wastewater regulatory agency) during the project period were for advanced wastewater treatment technologies, thereby helping to protect ground and surface waters of the state.
5. 2. Impact ? Practitioners trained and professional licenses maintained The UGA watershed scale OWTS impacts study is providing some of the first information on the impact of OWTS in suburban streams of the Southeast. Thirty-two new Georgia Department of Health employees attended a required Level II soils course and examination, providing them with essential training needed for their professional advancement.
6. The UMN, in Minnesota, trained 1,500 professionals to either gain a new license or maintain their existing one. Outside Minnesota an additional 1,000 + professionals have received continuing education offered by the program.
7. OSU lectures conducted during the reporting period provided continuing education credits to 18 county extension agents, 8 sanitarians from the Indian Health Services and at least 92 Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) ?certified installers. Day-long short courses also provided training leading to ODEQ certification for 14 new septic system soil profilers. The new OWTS publications were the first of their kind that were published by the University.
8. URI trained 800 wastewater practitioners in the New England region enabling them to gain a new wastewater license or retain their existing one.
9. Through the Michigan State University Extension Comprehensive Onsite Wastewater Management Education Program, approximately 33% of the participants used the continuing education credits to maintain a license.
10. The Tennessee Onsite Wastewater Association conducted a continuing education workshop for engineers and soil scientists who design and evaluate onsite wastewater treatment systems. Tennessee requires these professionals obtain professional development hours and this workshop provided 14 hours.
11. Through UAZ efforts, 199 professionals know how to inspect an OWTS for the AZ DEQ Transfer of Ownership Inspection Program; 20 practitioners (both regulators and in-the-field professionals) know more about and are eligible to conduct OWTS soil and site evaluations per Arizona code; 9 practitioners have more knowledge on how to design for high-strength waste using onsite wastewater treatment technologies; 14 practitioners have more knowledge to design, install, inspect, and service mound systems in Arizona.
12. Nineteen practitioners know how to design onsite wastewater treatment and dispersal systems using Arizona regulations; 25 practitioners are more informed about installing onsite wastewater treatment and dispersal systems in Arizona; and 21 homeowners know more about how to manage and care for their onsite wastewater treatment systems (16 participants had a low to medium-low knowledge rating before the presentation and 20 had a high to medium-hi knowledge rating after the presentation).
13. 3. Impact ? Expansion of employment opportunities UMN ? In both Minnesota and Iowa, new septic professionals have gained over 200 new certifications and/or licenses during the reporting time period. OSU ? Day-long short courses provided training leading to ODEQ certification for 14 new OWTS soil profilers.
14. URI - Twenty onsite wastewater professionals took the URI wastewater inspector training classes, were tested and passed their exams, and received OWTS Inspector Registrations which are required in order to conduct inspections in several Rhode Island communities having wastewater management programs. Thirty-five professionals took required classes needed to receive RI and MA regulatory agency permission to design and install bottomless sand filters.
15. UA ? Nineteen OWTS professionals took the UA soil and site evaluation training class, were tested, and passed their exam to be eligible to conduct soil and site evaluations in AZ. Eighty-eight new practitioners took the NAWT Inspection Training & Certification classes, were tested and passed their exam. This makes them eligible to conduct transfer of ownership inspections for the State of Arizona. In addition, another 141 practitioners acquired recertification to maintain their eligibility to conduct transfer of ownership inspections.
16. Indicators of Impacts UMN - There were 4,927 replacement OWTS installed in 2013 (replaced through various local triggers, such as point of sale, land use permits, building permits, conditional use permits, variances, and complaints). The volume of wastewater generated at these 4,927 systems is estimated at over 337 million gallons per year. The number of estimated compliant systems has increased over the past seven years, from 334,500 systems in 2007 to 427,000 systems in 2013; this represents 30 billion gallons of wastewater treated via compliant OWTS.
17. URI project staff educated wastewater practitioners about advanced OWTS, helping to raise the knowledge base and proficiency of these wastewater designers. Approximately, 40% of all OWTS applications that these designers submit to the RI Department of Environmental Management are for advanced OWTS. Use of advanced OWTS that denitrify wastewater are now required in state-designated watersheds that are nitrogen sensitive. This has helped protect these watersheds and groundwater from further degradation.
18. NE1045 project colleagues planned, coordinated, and successfully delivered a national Onsite Wastewater Research Conference (sponsored by the Soil Science Society of America) in Albuquerque, NM in April 2014; attended by 96 researchers and professionals from throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe). Overwhelming support for future national conferences were expressed by participants, and NE1045 members are planning next conference in 2016.

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Report Information

Participants

Buchanan, John -Univ. of Tennessee; Cooper, Jennifer - Univ. of Rhode Island; Gustafson, David - Univ. of Minnesota; Heger, Sara - Univ. Minnesota; Miles, Randall - Univ. Missouri; Safferman, Steven - Michigan State Univ.

Brief Summary of Minutes

1. The meeting began at 1:00 pm. Six individuals, representing five Land Grant institutions, attended the NE1045 project meeting (participant list is below). Each representative institution delivered a brief update of NE1045 related activities for the reporting year October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015. Accomplishments of these research and outreach activities are noted in the Accomplishment section of this report.

Name email Institution
Buchanan, John jbuchan7@utk.edu UT
Cooper, Jennifer feefs83@gmail.com URI
Gustafson, David Gusta002@umn.edu UMN
Heger, Sara sheger@umn.edu UMN
Miles, Randall MilesR@missouri.edu UMO
Safferman, Steven SteveS@msu.edu MSU

2. Sara Heger and David Gustafson from the University of Minnesota discussed the research and outreach education of the program in Minnesota. UMN has completed the field research evaluating 55 onsite systems and the wastewater from rest stops, weigh scales and truck holding facilities across Minnesota. The findings of this research will assist design and management issues related to similar facilities across Minnesota and the US in the future. The UMN has also begun work to on a project to optimize septic tank performance focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and capturing nutrients. This project aims to develop next generation septic systems focusing on nutrient recuperation, bioenergy generation and environmental protection by the implementation of a bio-electrochemical system. UMN published an evaluation of adult foster care and assisted living facilities served with septic systems. Foster homes provide assisted-living services—including nursing and 24/7 care— for individuals requiring special medical and behavioral needs. Wastewater from these homes and the corresponding effects on conventional onsite sewage treatment systems, likely differs from average residential sources but is not fully understood. The UMN is also evaluating the maintenance records of a large sanitary district evaluating how use in the homes impacts the need for maintenance using records of sludge and scum accumulation.

3. Jennifer Cooper summarized the findings of the University of Rhode Island climate change and OWTS mesocolumn research project (findings reported in subsequent sections). She conveyed outreach education information from URI’s New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center reporting that 30 outreach and training classes were conducted, reaching about 690 practitioners and decision makers during the report period.

4. Randall Miles from the University of Missouri reported that he has begun a semi-retirement period at UMO. His role will switch from OWTS and will focus on soils.

5. Steven Safferman from Michigan State University reported on research associated with Objective 2. Specifically, he discussed engineered reactive iron media to uptake and recover phosphorous. The technology is close to being commercialized by the industrial partner. Compared to chemical treatment, less than 25% of greenhouse gas emissions are estimated. He also reported on the enzymatic pretreatment of FOG and the success of simulating the drain field using soil trenches instrumented with moisture sensors. An update was provided on researching the appropriate organic and hydraulic loading associated with the land treatment of food processing waste. The advantages relative to greenhouse gas emissions was discussed. He also discussed progress relative to Objective 4. The MSUE Comprehensive Onsite Wastewater Management Education Program issued 609 CSE credits, 25.8 CEC credits, and educated 408 homeowners.

6. John Buchanan from University of Tennessee provided preliminary results concerning the sorption and degradation in a packed-bed media filter of three pharmaceuticals common found in wastewater. It was found that the ability of packed-bed media filters is similar to conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plants in the removal of triclosan, naproxen, and ibuprofen. Future research will focus on bisphenol-A, diclofenac, and 17?-ethinylestradiol. Buchanan also reported on the Ohio Department of Health’s new rules relative to advanced treatment units. Ohio now requires all advanced treatment system service providers to attend a six-hour course on Operation and Maintenance. Buchanan offered this training seven times during the summer of 2015 to greater than 200 service providers.

7. The meeting concluded at 5:00 pm.

Accomplishments

Outputs <br /> <br /> Project Objective 2 – Develop new OWTS design criteria for the purposes of climate change adaptation and mitigation <br /> <br /> <br /> University of Georgia findings – Our work has been designed to determine what effect OWTS have of stream flow and water quality. Synoptic samples and discharge measurements of 24 watersheds in Metropolitan Atlanta with a range of onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) density were taken under base flow conditions in spring, summer, and fall of 2011, 2012, and 2013. Our findings show that stream base flow increases significantly as a result of discharge to groundwater from OWTS. Consumptive use by OWTS ranged from about 15 to 50%, depending on the year. This was probably related to drought conditions that result in lower return from OWTS to streams. NO3- concentrations showed a linear increase with OWTS density above a threshold of about 100 OWTSs per sq.km. Our study showed that OWTSs have potential positive and negative impacts on the water quality and quantity of urbanizing watersheds of this region.<br /> <br /> <br /> We also served on an expert panel tasked with estimating the percent of the nitrogen (N) load from septic systems that was lost in the flow path from a typical home to third-order streams as part of the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). These losses were referred to as attenuation factors. We developed values for the soil (unsaturated) zone and for the Piedmont and Coastal Plain groundwater zones. For the soil zone, we used the Soil Treatment Unit MODel (STUMOD) to estimate loses due to denitrification for all 12 soil textural classes and then averaged the results over three textural groups. Assuming hydraulic loading at the design rate and a conventional system, the attenuation factors were 16% for sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, and loam soils; 34% for silt loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, and silt soils; and 54% for sandy clay, silty clay, and clay soils. Attenuation factors increased in the more clayey soils due to wetter conditions and more losses due to denitrification. Attenuation factors were also developed for reduced hydraulic loading rates and for systems using advanced N pre-treatment. For the Piedmont groundwater zone, we used data from a recent study in Georgia of small suburban streams with high-density septic systems. Stream base-flow load was estimated using simultaneous measurements of total N concentration and discharge and compared to the estimated groundwater input load, resulting in an attenuation factor of 81%. For the Coastal Plain groundwater zone, literature values of groundwater N concentrations within septic system plumes in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida were used to estimate an attenuation factor of approximately 60% at 100m downgradient from the drainfield. These attenuation factors will be used to estimate the contribution of N to the Chesapeake Bay in the Phase 6 TMDL models.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Minnesota findings – UMN has completed the field research evaluating 55 onsite systems and the wastewater from rest stops, weigh scales and truck holding facilities across Minnesota. The findings of this research will assist design and management issues related to similar facilities across Minnesota and the US in the future. <br /> <br /> <br /> The UMN has begun work to on a project to optimize septic tank performance focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and capturing nutrients. This project aims to develop next generation septic systems focusing on nutrient recuperation, bioenergy generation and environmental protection by the implementation of a bio-electrochemical system. This project proposes to plug a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) into current septic tank systems in order to improve the water quality of septic tanks effluents, to recuperate phosphorus that can be used as fertilizer, to increase the production and collection of biogas for the bioenergy application and to decrease the greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. The experimentation to date has been in the lab and move to the field, and the results obtained will be applied to modify current design of the septic tank systems. The project will evaluate the capital and operational costs of the implementation of such a system and assess the potential benefits. The technology developed during this project could be useful to thousands of rural communities, especially those that do not have access to centralized wastewater treatment facilities.<br /> <br /> <br /> UMN published an evaluation of adult foster care and assisted living facilities served with septic systems. Foster homes provide assisted-living services—including nursing and 24/7 care— for individuals requiring special medical and behavioral needs. Wastewater from these homes and the corresponding effects on conventional onsite sewage treatment systems, likely differs from average residential sources but is not fully understood. Foster homes have reported various issues with their septic system operation and performance, including surface discharge of wastewater and premature system failure. This short-term study evaluated six foster homes and one non-foster system (for comparison). OSTP collected laboratory and field data from April through August 2013. Several issues were observed that likely contribute to decreased septic system performance and operation at the properties. Wastewater characteristics, onsite practices, and septic system attributes varied considerably between sites. Nonetheless, common conclusions can be drawn and remedial actions recommended for improved system performance and stability at all sites. <br /> <br /> <br /> The UMN is also evaluating the maintenance records of a large sanitary district evaluating how use in the homes impacts the need for maintenance using records of sludge and scum accumulation.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Rhode Island – In our soil mesocosm study, the effects of climate change were shown to reduce the ability of soil-based onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) to treat domestic wastewater. Intact soil mesocosms were evaluated over four months under present climate conditions of 20°C and separation between the infiltrative surface and the water tables set at current technology specifications. The columns were warmed with heating cables to 25°C and water tables were elevate 30 cm, replicating expected climate change conditions in the northeastern U.S. Two alternatively designed shallow drainfields (a pressurized shallow narrow drainfield and a pressurized Geomat ®) were tested against a conventional pipe and stone drainfield. The shallow drainfields have timed dosing controls, receive single-pass sand filter effluent, and have shallow placed infiltrative surfaces. The conventional drainfield receives septic tank effluent directly from the septic tank by gravity flow (“social” dosing).<br /> <br /> <br /> No significant difference was observed between scenarios for BOD removal. However, less BOD was released under climate change conditions, indicating quick consumption of organic carbon (C) under elevated temperature.<br /> No fecal coliform bacteria (FCB) was released under the current climate conditions, however, up to 18 CFU FCB/mL (conventional) and up to 20 CFU FCB/mL (shallow narrow) were released under the climate change conditions. This was likely due to decreased attachment to soil particles because of wetter conditions. <br /> <br /> <br /> Total phosphorus (P) removal rates dropped from 100% to 66% (conventional) and 71% (shallow narrow) under the climate change conditions. Reduction and/or dissolution of metals bound to P were thought to contribute to the higher P in output water. <br /> <br /> <br /> Total nitrogen (N) removal increased from 14% to 19% under climate change conditions in the conventional, but dropped from 5.6% to less than 0% in the shallow narrow under the climate change conditions, with additional leaching of N in excess of inputs indicating release of previously held N. The more anoxic conditions under climate change were thought to increase denitrification in the conventional drainfields, while the quicker consumption of already very limited organic C due to the elevated temperature limited heterotrophic denitrification. <br /> The data indicate that all three drainfield types experience some diminished capacity when subjected to climate change conditions. These results may help inform practitioners and regulators in their climate change preparation and mitigation efforts.<br /> <br /> <br /> URI - Modelling Results. The HYDRUS 2D/3D software was used to model pathogen and nutrient transport under different OWTS operating conditions. The main objective of the modeling research is to numerically simulate the responses of three different onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), (i) conventional or pipe and stone, (ii) Pressurized Shallow-Narrow Drainfield (PSND), and (iii) GeoMat™. Measurement of OWTS water quality includes N species concentrations and bacterial removal. The purpose of the modeling is to examine the effect of variable operational and climate conditions on the potential mechanisms behind the attenuation of these water quality parameters, particularly on soil physicochemical and biogeochemical processes. Over the reporting period, we published one research article (Morales et al., 2015) and a second one was submitted for review. <br /> <br /> <br /> For the first manuscript, the HYDRUS 2D/3D software was used to model the impact of variable hydraulic loading rates (HLR), changing precipitation patterns, variable initial bacteria concentrations and other environmental stresses at different depths and soil textures. The results showed that an increase of the initial bacteria concentration required greater depth in coarser soils than in fine textured ones to completely remove E.coli. When a biomat layer was included in the transport model, the performance of the OWTS increased by up to 12.02%. Overall, this study shows that bacteria removal is linked to soil properties, as well as operational and environmental conditions. The dependency on temperature and, to a lesser degree, precipitation patterns might impact the performance of OWTS under changing climate conditions. <br /> <br /> <br /> In our second article, we simulated the fate and transport of nitrogen (N) in all three OWTS drainfields under current and changing climate scenarios, using HYDRUS 2D/3D software to develop an N transport model. Experimental data from the mesocosm-scale study, including soil moisture content, and total N, ammonia (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) concentrations, were used to calibrate the model. The results showed that the modeled N losses occurred mostly as nitrate in water outputs, accounting for more than 82% of N inputs in all drainfields. Losses as N2 were estimated to be 10.4% and 9.7% of total N input concentration for PSND and GeoMat, respectively. The highest N2 losses, 17.6%, were estimated for P&S. Losses as N2 increased to 22%, 37% and 21% under changing climate conditions for Geo, PSND and conventional pipe and stone, respectively. These findings can provide practitioners with guidelines to estimate N removal efficiencies for traditional and advanced OWTS, and predict N loads and spatial distribution for identifying nonpoint sources in a watershed.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Tennessee at Knoxville – In many locations, climate change will lead to less separation distance between the soil surface and the groundwater. As a result there will be less aerobic soil available for wastewater treatment. New design criteria are needed to provide additional treatment before effluent is dispersed into the subsurface soil environment. It is often assumed that the soil environment will remove trace organics. Our UTK study is looking at the treatment potential of packed-bed recirculating media biofilters to remove trace organic contaminants before soil dispersal. This project is being funded by a grant from the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center. The focus is on the degradation of select pharmaceutical and person care products (P&PCP) in a fine-gravel media. <br /> <br /> <br /> A column study was conducted to determine the removal efficiencies of 3 target PPCPs, endocrine disrupting compound triclosan and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen and naproxen, in a small-scale recirculating media filter. Spiked experimental columns with the target PPCPs were compared to one controlled column. Analysis of influent and effluent water samples for the target compounds were conducted using solid-phase extraction (SPE), derivatization, and gas-chromatography mass-spectrophotometry (GC-MS). Removal rates sharply decreased halfway through the study, but only within the experimental columns; ibuprofen decreased by 73%, naproxen by 77%, and triclosan 10%. Decreases were hypothesized to be from changes in microbial abundance, and therefore triclosan was not affected because of anti-bacterial properties. Averaged total project removal of the trace organics were moderately high though; ibuprofen (71.8%), naproxen (78.9%), and triclosan (82.3%). The sorption of the PPCPs onto media biofilm was analyzed through separation, centrifugation, and reconstitution with 200mL acidified water, and then SPE. Total project sorption of the trace organics into the biofilm was determined; triclosan experienced the highest sorption (2.4%), followed by ibuprofen and naproxen (both 0.4%). Therefore, degradation percentages of parent compounds were significant; ibuprofen (71.4%), naproxen (78.5%), and triclosan (79.9%). DNA extraction and qPCR analysis was performed on the media biofilm to identify ammonia oxidizing bacterial population counts, and potentially attributed to PPCP degradation. Non-significant differences of amoA population counts were seen between columns, however differences in column depth were; the top layer showed the highest population counts (2.82x106 – 3.91x106 cells/g media), while the middle and bottom layer showed fewer (4.72x105 – 1.55x106 cells/g media and 8.07x105 – 1.06x106 cells/g media, respectively). Similarities in population counts between columns signifies that AOB are likely not responsible for PPCP degradation. However, this study was able to conclude that RPBMF systems are able to provide comparable removal rates to that of large wastewater treatment facilities.<br /> <br /> <br /> Michigan State University (MSU) findings – Phosphorus Removal and Recovery from OWTS. The removal and recovery of phosphorous using an engineered reactive iron media coated with nano iron is being investigated. MetaMateria, LLC, developed the media that was tested. The media's surface precipitates phosphorus from onsite generated wastewater in a static column. Performance was evaluated on wastewater from a cluster system at different empty bed contact times (EBCT). The removal mechanism is surface complexation (adsorption), governed by equilibrium. Data from column studies showed that a minimum of 1 hour is necessary to maintain effluent phosphorus below 1 mg/L over a significant period of time. With a longer EBCT and lower influent concentrations, effluent levels lower than 0.1 mg/L are possible. Media exhaustion in a column with a 3 hour EBCT has taken over 600 days. Duplicate 1 gallon per minute pilot-scale units were tested over a 60 day period. The initial average total phosphorus concentration of 7.2 mg/L was reduced to 0.3 mg/L using a 1.5 hour EBCT. Less than an estimated third of the capacity was used over this time period. Recovery of the phosphorus and reuse of the media was found feasible by washing in a sodium hydroxide solution. Two hours of soaking resulted in greater than 80% of phosphorus removal from the media. The modeling effort showed that the Langmuir Isotherm provided a very good fit but underestimated the media’s capacity. However, a multiple linear regression model very successfully related the media’s capacity to EBCT, breakthrough, and days of operation. The ultimate outcome includes a change in action and condition. Removal of phosphorous from onsite generated wastewater helps prevent eutrophication of surface water and growth of toxic algae that may be increasing in severity due to global climate change. Phosphorus recovery as calcium phosphate can be used for fertilizer at a fraction of the cost as producing a fertilizer using phosphate rock. Further, there are few sources of phosphorus in the world so local production by recovery from wastewater reduces GHG emissions associated with mining and transport. We estimate that the use of an engineered enhanced media to manage phosphorus produces substantially less than 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions than more traditional techniques. This research was conducted as part of Phase 1 and Phase 2 NSF SBIR and Phase 1 US EPA and USDA SBIRs, awarded to MetaMateria Partners, LLC, in partnership with MSU. The project is an excellent example of private industry/University cooperation. <br /> <br /> <br /> MSU findings – Land treatment of food processing wastewater. Wastewater can irrigate a crop, provide nutrients, recharge aquifers, reduce energy use, uptake carbon, and save resources. When excessive carbon is land applied, the soil environment becomes anaerobic and metals naturally in soil serve as electron acceptors and become mobile when reduced. Included are manganese, iron, and, ultimately, arsenic. For this objective, major MSU activities included field studies at a MSU test site that included direct soil oxygen and moisture monitoring using remote monitoring techniques and periodic site visits to make visual observations and characterize soil. This field activity complimented previously completed column experiments. Results show that careful control of hydraulic and organic loading values helps prevent metal mobilization. However, with higher levels of oxygen in the soil, an unintended consequence is nitrate release because denitrification does not occur under aerobic conditions. Studies using cropping strategies and variable irrigation are being investigated to reduce nitrate release. The outcome is a change in action and condition in that careful operations and design allow food processors to continue using this technology. Additionally, using onsite application of wastewater, as compared to treatment in a traditional activated sludge process, has a compounding reducing impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Reductions are achieved by not using energy for wastewater aeration, carbon dioxide uptake by the plant grown using the wastewater, and reduced production of industrial nutrients by using the wastewater as irrigation water for a crop commodity. The project is funded by a very large international food processor and continues through 2017. <br /> <br /> <br /> MSU findings – Pretreatment of fast food restaurant wastewater to prevent premature drain field aging. Testing of the Advanced Grease Interceptor (AGIS), developed and manufactured by Sustainable Environmental Technologies, is ongoing. The technology is proven to reduce the impacts of fat, oil, and grease (FOG) in a sewer system originating from fast food restaurants. The current project is examining if AGIS decreases the premature aging of drain fields receiving wastes from fast food restaurants. The AGIS produces enzymes in a modified septic tank and uses a one-time inoculation. Experimentation entails simulated pilot-scale drain fields that have dimensionally correct depths and are instrumented with soil sensors to trace the formation of a biomat. Each receives a different waste so comparisons can be made. Further, LC-MS is being used to directly monitor changes in the FOG. Results show that the AGIS does reduce the molecular weight of FOG and the number of double bonds. This results in the FOG being less cohesive and more biodegradable. The pilot-scale drain fields demonstrated different behaviors, dependent on whether AGIS pretreatment was used or not. Upon decommissioning, a dramatic difference was found in the buildup pf FOG within the distribution pipe and gravel. The experimental design, using soil trenches with a vertical profile that is represented of field conditions, and monitoring with soil moisture sensors, appears to be an effective means to simulate a drain field. The ultimate outcome includes a change in action and condition. Successful pretreatment reduces the premature aging of the drain field and all of the expense and energy required to rebuild<br /> <br /> <br /> Activities <br /> <br /> <br /> Project Objective 4 – OWTS Training and Outreach Education<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Georgia – On April 6, 2015, we conducted a workshop on Advanced Treatment in Clayton, GA. We had a morning of talks followed by field trips in the afternoon to see an Orenco system, and Elgin system, and a typical soil of the mountain region. We had over 50 attendees from the Department of Public Health, installers, soil consultants, and engineering consultants. <br /> <br /> <br /> University of Minnesota – During the reporting period the UMN trained over 2,000 septic professionals (onsite wastewater system maintainers, service providers, installers, designers, and inspectors) in Minnesota in over 50 training events and also delivered training in SD, ND, IA, WI, IL, at the request of states, counties and professional organizations. UMN developed and implemented new hands-on troubleshooting training focused on advanced technology, collection and cluster systems. UMN staff planned and organized the educational program for 2014 annual conference in partnership with the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association; and continued work on a NIFA-funded project to develop a customized community septic system owner’s guide. This tool will assist property owners in understanding how their system works and what is needed for operation. <br /> <br /> <br /> UMN also published a review of online training opportunities available for septic system professionals.<br /> <br /> <br /> The UMN along with its partner has continued work on the development of community septic system owner’s guides (CSOG). This USDA grant funded project has developed a wastewater decision-making tool for consumers to help to transform rural wastewater management by developing a customizable CSOGs. The website H2OandM.com is a web-interface that allows an individual to produce an expert-driven and locally-customized manual (electronic or hard-copy) CSOG for any single family to cluster soil-based wastewater treatment system in America. This tool provides users with fundamental information about the operation and management of various wastewater management systems. A consultant, engineer, septic professional, facilitator, or even an educated community member can use this tool to produce a management plan for either a new or existing OWTS. The developer of any given CSOG is able to assemble a professionally designed guide by selecting situation-specific boilerplate language and graphics and inserting customized content to integrate system-specific permit and ordinance requirements.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Tennessee at Knoxville – J. Buchanan was involved with 15 educational sessions during 2015 and spoke to over 1,200 people about septic system installation, operation, and maintenance. The scope of these events ranged from meeting with individuals seeking knowledge about their systems, community-level discussions about high septic system failure rates, state-level meetings with regulators, engineers and soil scientists, to presentations at national meetings. Buchanan was an invited speaker at the Third Environmental Conference at Shenzhen, China and at Alberta, Canada.<br /> <br /> <br /> Oklahoma State University – OSU organized its Inaugural Oklahoma Onsite Wastewater Treatment Conference on October 9. The 153 participants who attended the Conference were composed of Regulators, Sanitarians, Soil Profilers, Certified Installers, Extension Educators and representatives from various Native American Nations. There were two plenary talks and 12 breakout sessions that focused on topics ranging from soil-based OWTS decisions to, maintenance and even business models. OSU led a multi-agency curriculum mapping effort to establish a state-wide OWTS Curriculum. Course gaps had been identified and teaching materials for some courses had been prepared. Some teaching materials were already tested to targeted audiences and later revised. OSU also collaborated with the Department of Environmental Quality in conducting two soil profiler certification courses that served 9 participants. The OSU state specialist on septic systems also delivered three seminars to various stakeholders. Three short-term courses designed for Extension Educators were also conducted during the reporting period.<br /> <br /> <br /> Michigan State University – The MSUE Comprehensive Onsite Wastewater Management Education Program is in its second year and continues to provide programming to professionals and homeowners. The two professional classes that were offered were “Key Ingredients of a Good Onsite Treatment System” and “Onsite Wastewater Treatment Design and Management”, each taking one 8 hour day. During the reporting period, 52 professional attended classes, offered at 5 locations through a webinar, and earned 609 CSE credits. An additional 25.8 CEC credits were awarded to these professionals. Six in-person homeowner classes were offered across Michigan and generally lasted 2 hours. Combined, there were 408 attendees. Evaluations were very positive, with the vast majority of participants stating that they plan a change of action based on the provided information.<br /> <br /> <br /> University of Rhode Island – During the reporting period, the URI project team delivered 5 seminars to academic and professional audiences throughout the U.S. (outside URI). In addition, we published 10 abstracts, one doctoral dissertation, and 4 peer-reviewed papers are either published or in review. The team delivered a total of 30 workshops/ classes in 3 states in the region, reaching a total of nearly 690 practitioners, decision makers and students. These classes provided continuing education credits needed by over 650 licensed professionals to renew their professional licenses. Classes included indoor and outdoor hands-on venues and ranged from half-day to two-day venues, two of which have qualifying exams. During the report period, URI scientists have provided direct OWTS technical assistance to: Oyster Bay / Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, NY; Peconic Estuary, Long Island, NY; and, Suffolk County health Dept., NY. Coordinating with Vermont DEC OWTS regulators and the Vermont Technical College, URI offered two classes to train VT practitioners on high strength wastewater treatment and microbiology of OWTS. URI conducted required classes which enabled 18 Rhode Island and Massachusetts wastewater practitioners to receive regulatory jurisdiction approval to design and install bottomless sand filters. URI researchers made ten presentations about OWTS and climate change at four different regional and national conferences, reaching approximately 300 scientists, wastewater practitioners, board of health officials, regulatory decision makers and coastal resource managers.<br />

Publications

Cooper, J. A., G. W. Loomis, D. V. Kalen, and J. A. Amador. 2015. Evaluation of Water Quality Functions of Conventional and Advanced Soil-Based Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. Journal of Environmental Quality 44(3): 953-962.<br /> <br /> <br /> Cooper, J. A., I. Morales, and J. A. Amador. 2015. Nitrogen Transformations in Different Septic System Drainfield Types. Ecological Engineering (In review).<br /> <br /> <br /> Dong, Y., Safferman, S. I., Herold, T., Ostahowski, J., and Panter, R. 2014. Enzyme Pretreatment of Fats, Oil and Grease from Restaurant Waste to Prolong Drain Field Effectiveness. 2014 National Onsite Water Resources Association, Denver Colorado.<br /> <br /> <br /> Julien, R., Safferman, S.I. 2015. Evaluation of Food Processing Wastewater Loading Characteristics on Metal Mobilization within the Soil. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 50(14): 1452-1457. <br /> <br /> <br /> Morales, I., Amador, J.A., Cooper, J., Boving, T.B. Transport of Escherichia coli in a Simulated Soil-based Wastewater Treatment System. (In preparation)<br /> <br /> <br /> Morales, I. 2015. Modeling onsite wastewater treatment system contaminants in current and climate changing conditions. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Rhode Island, 154 pages.<br /> <br /> <br /> Safferman, S. I., Gibb, T., and Bhakta, N. 2015. MSUE Comprehensive Onsite Wastewater Management Education Program. Michigan Environmental Health Association, Traverse City, MI.<br /> <br /> <br /> Safferman, S. I. and Dong, Y. 201). Enzyme Pretreatment of Fats, Oils, and Grease from Restaurant Waste to Prolog Drain Field Effectiveness. Michigan Environmental Health Association, Traverse City, MI.<br /> <br /> <br /> Szmurlo, M., S. Heger, D. Wheeler, and D. Gustafson. 2014. Online Training Opportunities for Septic Professionals in Minnesota. In proceeding of NOWRA 23rd Annual Conference. Alexandria, VA.<br /> <br /> <br /> Sowah, R., H. Zhang, D.E. Radcliffe, E. Bauske, and M. Habteselassie. 2014. Evaluating the influence of septic systems and watershed characteristics on stream fecal pollution in suburban watersheds in Georgia, USA. J. Applied Microbiology. doi:10.1111/jam.12614.<br /> <br /> <br /> Waak, M. and S. Heger. 2014. Adult Care Facility Septic System Evaluation. In proceeding of NOWRA 23rd Annual Conference. Alexandria, VA. <br />

Impact Statements

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