Evaluation of land application of wastewater as a nutrient reduction control strategy in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Date
2006
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The health of the Chesapeake Bay, a source of industry and recreation, has deteriorated due to nutrient pollution. Three main sources of the pollution are agriculture, air pollution, and sewage treatment facilities. This project focused on the nutrient pollution caused by sewage treatment facilities. In the Chesapeake Bay region, there are approximately 300 significant publicly owned treatment facilities that discharge over 0.5 MGD. It is estimated by the Chesapeake Bay Program that approximately 285 million pounds of nitrogen was discharged into the Bay in 2000, reducing DO levels, which in turn adversely affects the Bay ecosystem. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using land application of treated wastewater effluent to reduce the pollution of nitrogen and phosphorus. Using soil maps and state regulation documentation, we determined the potential of present POTWs to upgrade to utilize spray irrigation. Also, using planning equations, the amount of acres needed for the treatment process was estimated and the suitability of new treatment sites within a 5-mile radius of the wastewater facilities were evaluated. From the sites that were deemed inappropriate for full wastewater application, we determined possible areas that would be able to manage partial applications based on reduced flow conditions. Next, we devised a way to estimate the amount of nutrients removed by land application. Lastly, we compared the projected capital and operation and management costs of the possible land application sites to that of a biological nitrogen removal (BNR) process. Our goal is to use the method of land application of treated wastewater to help divert nutrients from the waterways, in an effort to restore the health of the Bay and enhance crop yields efficiently and effectively.