Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

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 Outputs Project Objective 2  Develop new OWTS design criteria for the purposes of climate change adaptation and mitigation 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. Michigan State University findings  Phosphorus Removal and Recovery from OWTS 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Activities Project Objective 4  OWTS Training and Outreach Education 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Publications 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. Bradshaw, J., Radcliffe, D. E. (2011). Nitrogen losses in a Piedmont onsite wastewater system. Abstract. SSSA. a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2011am/webprogram/Paper66641.html 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] 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. 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] Lee, B.D. 2012. Septic system maintenance: Care and feeding of your system. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-501. Lee, B.D. 2012. Septic system failure and environmental impacts. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-502. Lee, B.D. 2012. Septic tanks: the primary treatment device of septic systems. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-503. Lee, B.D. and M. Coyne. 2012. Importance of wastewater biological oxygen demand in septic systems. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-504. Lee, B.D. and M. Coyne. 2012. Impacts of additives on septic system performance. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-505. Lee, B.D. and G. Munshaw. 2012. Turfgrass color: Indicator of septic system performance. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-506. Lee, B.D. 2012. Flood conditions and your septic system. University of Kentucky bulletin. HENV-507. 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. Onsite Sewage Treatment Program. 2011. Manual for Septic System Professionals in Minnesota. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN. Radcliffe, D. E., Bradshaw, J. K. (2011). A nitrogen chain model for on-site wastewater systems.Abstract. SSSA. a-c-.confex.com/crops/2011am/webprogram/Paper64915.html 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. Wheeler, D. and S Heger. 2011. Rice County Seepage Pit (Dry Well) Research Summary. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN. Wittwer, Jessica and S. Heger. 2011. Laboratory Manufactured High Strength Waste Study. University of Minnesota, Water Resource Center. St. Paul, MN.