2015 Small Systems Webinar Series
Challenges and Treatment Solutions for Small Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems
Free webinars held each month from 2:00-3:00 PM EST (Optional Q&A session from 3:00-3:30 PM EST)
EPA's Office of Research and Development and Office of Water are hosting this monthly webinar series to communicate EPA's current small systems research along with Agency priorities. The series is providing a forum for EPA to communicate directly with state personnel and other drinking water and wastewater small systems professionals, which allows EPA to provide training and foster collaboration and dissemination of information.
Attendees have the option of receiving a certificate for one continuing education contact hour for each webinar. (Acceptance of certificate is contingent on state and/or organization requirements. EPA cannot guarantee acceptance.)
2015 Schedule and Registration for Upcoming Webinars
- October 27, 2015: Decentralized High-Rate Wastewater Treatment of Peak Wet Weather Flows
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Compendium of Performance Data for Facilities that Blend during Wet Weather (Presented by Kevin Weiss, EPA’s Office of Water). There are currently major knowledge gaps in the literature for the nature of effluent from water resource recovery facilities/wastewater treatment facilities that use blending to manage wet weather flows. There are also knowledge gaps for potential human health and water quality impacts associated with discharges of blended effluent. To help fill these gaps, EPA is developing a compendium of technical information to 1) provide an overview of the spectrum of design and operational options associated with treatment of wet weather flows, and 2) highlight performance data from facilities that blend, including those that provide auxiliary treatment and those that do not. To facilitate the development of the compendium, EPA is interested in obtaining published and unpublished data that describe the performance of facilities that blend and the performance under wet weather conditions of facilities that do not blend. In addition, EPA is interested in identifying additional sources of information that describe the potential impacts of blended discharges. This presentation will summarize the results of this effort.
Evaluation of a Decentralized, High-Rate Wastewater Treatment Plant for Wet Weather Flows (Presented by Presented by Daniel J. Murray, Jr., P.E., BCEE, EPA’s Office of Research and Development). Urban wet weather flows into municipal wastewater collection systems, either intentional or unintentional, are significant challenges for wastewater utilities. During rain events, these dynamic and often unpredictable flows can result in rapid changes in the flow rates and volumes of wastewater that must be collected and treated. In many cases, high flow rates in collection systems can exceed system carrying capacity and result in a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) or combined sewer overflow (CSO). In order to reduce or eliminate SSOs and CSOs, utilities are increasingly employing high rate treatment (HRT) systems. This project focused on evaluating the performance of HRT systems for removing contaminants related to wet weather flows. Specifically, this project evaluated the performance of ballasted flocculation technology combined with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology. Between January 2013 and May 2014, fifteen wet-weather related sampling events were performed at a wet weather treatment facility in southwest Ohio. This presentation will summarize the results of this effort.
About the Presenters
Kevin Weiss - Kevin is a Chemical Engineer with the Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management, Water Permits Division. He joined the Water Permits Division in 1987, where he works on municipal wet weather issues and integrated planning. During this time, he has worked on the storm water regulations (Phase I), draft SSO/CMOM regulations, blending policies, the Integrated Planning Framework, and the November 24, 2014 Financial Capability Assessment Framework. Kevin holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, and a J.D. from George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Daniel J. Murray, Jr., P.E., BCEE - Dan is a Senior Environmental Engineer with the Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division. He started his career with EPA in 1977, where he worked in EPA’s Regions 5 and 1. In 1987, he left EPA to work for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, where he led the Authority’s Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) control program. In 1990, he returned to EPA where he joined ORD in Cincinnati, OH. In 1995, he received the Gold Medal for Exceptional Service, EPA’s highest honor, for his work in supporting the development of the Agency’s CSO Policy. In 2005, he led the development and implementation of EPA’s Aging Water Infrastructure Research Program, a 5-year initiative based on the strategic asset management framework and the investigation and demonstration of emerging and innovative technologies. Dan holds a Master of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts and Ohio, and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer.
- November 24, 2015: Treatability Databases, Cost Models, and other Tools for Water Systems
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- December 15, 2015: Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water
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2015 Past Webinars
Recordings and presentation slides are available below for past webinars, and are being hosted on the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators' (ASDWA) website. Exit (Note: Continuing education contact hour certificates cannot be offered for watching previously recorded webinars)
- Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfections Systems: Treatment of Groundwater for Small/Medium Sized Water Utilities (September 29, 2015)
Webinar Recording: Coming soon
Presentation Slides: Coming soon
UV Disinfection - A treatment option for Small and Medium Sized Systems for SDWA Compliance (Presented by Michael Finn, EPA’s Office of Water). Recent research, technology advancements and new drinking water regulations have brought significant attention to UV disinfection as an option for microbial treatment for small and medium sized public water systems. UV disinfection is an effective treatment for the inactivation of Cryptosporidium in treatment of surface water supplies. Surface water systems that are required to provide additional Cryptosporidium treatment based on the Long Term 2 Surface Water Treatment Rule may choose UV disinfection as a strategy to meet treatment requirements. The majority of public water systems (>90%) serve ground water and the majority (>90%) of ground water systems serves less than 3300 people. The Ground Water Rule requires treatment for viruses for ground water sources found to be vulnerable to fecal contamination. UV disinfection can provide effective virus treatment and appropriately sized UV disinfection systems for small water systems have become more available. To ensure effective treatment is being provided, validation of the UV doses provided and monitoring of operational measures to ensure effective treatment are needed.
Evaluation of an Innovative Approach to Validation of UV Reactors for Disinfection in Drinking Water Systems (Presented by Jeffrey Adams, EPA’s Office of Research and Development). Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is an effective process for inactivating many microbial pathogens found in source waters with the potential as stand-alone treatment or in combination with other disinfectants. EPA provided guidance on the validation of UV reactors nearly a decade ago; however, there remains no standard approach for validating UV reactors to meet a 4-log (99.99%) inactivation of viruses. Because of lessons learned over the years, validation practices have been modified and changes in operation and monitoring of UV systems need to be addressed. Of particular challenge for medium-pressure UV is the monitoring of low-wavelength germicidal contributions for appropriate crediting of disinfection under varying reactor conditions of quartz sleeve fouling, lamp aging, and changes in UV absorbance of the water over time. This presentation will discuss EPA’s evaluation, in partnership with state and industry collaborators, of new approaches for validating UV reactors to meet groundwater and surface water pathogen inactivation, including viruses for low-pressure and medium-pressure UV systems.
About the Presenters
Michael Finn, P.E. - Michael is an Environmental Engineer with the Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, Drinking Water Protection Branch. He joined EPA in 2001 to work on the development of the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule and the Groundwater Rule and the related guidance documents. Michael is currently working with states and public water systems on the implementation of those rules, microbial water treatment issues, alternative treatment technologies and water availability and water efficiency in public water systems. Prior to coming to EPA, he was with the California drinking water program as a field engineer in the San Francisco Bay area. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resources Engineering from Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. He is a licensed professional engineer in California and Maryland and a certified water treatment operator.
Jeffrey Adams - Jeff is an environmental engineer with ORD’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division. Over the last decade he managed EPA’s Environmental Technology Verification Drinking Water Systems Center, which conducted studies evaluating the performance and sustainability of water treatment and monitoring technologies, including filtration processes, membrane separation, adsorptive media, UV and disinfection processes, and advanced oxidation technologies. Jeff has managed, authored, and co-authored numerous technical articles and has served on American Water Works Association (AWWA) technical committees and AWWA Research Foundation project advisory committees. He currently serves as the assistance agreement manager for EPA supported Water Research Foundation and Water Environment Research Foundation research studies. He received a M.S. and B.S. in Civil/Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.
- Distribution Operation Options for Small Systems to Address Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) (August 18, 2015)
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Evaluation of cost-effective aeration technology solutions to address total trihalomethane (TTHM) compliance. (Presented by Dr. Jonathan Pressman, EPA’s Office of Research and Development). This presentation will provide the results of an evaluation of cost-effective aeration technology solutions to address TTHM compliance at a water treatment plant clearwell. Prior to the evaluation, water utility systems with known TTHM MCL exceedances that lacked the technical expertise or financial ability to address the problem were identified. One of the systems was then selected based on source water quality, infrastructure type, and operations characteristics for the comparable aeration evaluation and testing. To assess their effectiveness at reducing TTHMs, multiple aeration technologies, including surface and spray aeration technologies, were evaluated to assess the rate of formation of DBPs through the system’s clearwell.
Operational strategies for controlling the formation of DBPs in distribution systems (Presented by Alison Dugan, EPA’s Office of Water). There are several operational strategies which small system operators (who utilize free chlorine) can use to control, or minimize, the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBP) in their distribution system; these strategies are mainly associated with reducing water age in the system through strategic flushing, modifying tank operations and rerouting water. Equally important to controlling DBPs, is monitoring to develop an understanding of the issue, including understanding DBP levels entering the distribution system (i.e., either from the water treatment plant or through a master meter, for a consecutive system) and factors that impact DBP levels in the system. Within the system, oftentimes surrogate parameters can provide an indication of DBP formation and help operators assess the impact of their efforts to control DBPs. This presentation will discuss all of these topics.
About the Presenters
Jonathan Pressman, Ph.D., P.E. - Dr. Pressman is a research environmental engineer with ORD’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, Treatment Technology Evaluation Branch located in Cincinnati, Ohio. His research interests include characterizing natural organic matter in drinking water sources with particular emphasis on disinfection byproduct formation, membrane processes for both drinking water treatment and natural organic matter concentration, and nitrification in drinking water distribution systems. Nitrification research includes special interests in molecular genetics and microbiological engineering. Dr. Pressman has a B.S. in civil engineering from Cornell University and a M.S. and Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a registered professional engineer in Ohio and Texas.
Alison Dugan - Alison is an environmental engineer with EPA’s Technical Support Center, in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a member of the Agency’s drinking water treatment optimization team, one of her primary responsibilities is to develop approaches for water systems to optimize their existing operations and infrastructure to control disinfection byproduct formation in the plant and distribution system, while not compromising other treatment objectives. The optimization tools and approaches developed by the team are field-tested with small- to medium-sized water systems, and then demonstrated to the states that participate in one of the four EPA Regional Area-Wide Optimization Programs (AWOPs).
- Corrosion Control for Drinking Water Systems (July 28, 2015)
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Treatment, control, and assessment strategies for lead and copper release into drinking water (Presented by Michael R. Schock, EPA’s Office of Research and Development). This presentation is an overview of the most important water treatment strategies for the control of lead and copper release from drinking water plumbing materials and components. In addition to lead, copper, and combined treatment, this presentation also covered sampling to find lead and copper, the stagnation behavior of copper versus that of lead, the impact of pipe scale aging on copper release, and complications of metal contamination arising from accumulated deposits of iron, manganese, and aluminum on the lead or copper pipe surfaces. An overview on the nature of scales and deposits on lead and copper pipes in real water systems, which often differ from classical corrosion theory, and the implications for metal release control by requiring the addressing optimization of interacting treatment processes to assure simultaneous compliance was also presented.
Requirements for optimizing corrosion control treatment (Presented by Brian D'Amico, EPA’s Office of Water). This presentation provided an overview of the existing requirements regarding Optimizing Corrosion Control Treatment in EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule regulation, including monitoring requirements and corrosion control treatment methods.
About the Presenters
Michael R. Schock - Mike is a chemist with ORD’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory in Cincinnati, OH. He has spent 30 years of his career conducting drinking water research, including both in-house and field research into drinking water treatment with emphasis on metal release mechanisms and predictive modeling, corrosion control, pipe scale/sediment and inorganic water analysis, contaminant accumulation and water quality in domestic plumbing and municipal distribution systems, and development of sampling strategies for metal contamination in building and premise plumbing. He has served on numerous advisory committees and has received more than 20 publication and research awards from EPA, New England Water Works Association, and the American Water Works Association, including the 2011 A.P. Black Research Award for lifetime achievement.
Brian D'Amico - Brian is a chemical engineer who has spent the last ten years at EPA working on water regulations for both the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the Clean Water Act. He is currently the team lead for the Regulations Implementing Section 1417 of the SDWA. Prior to his transition to drinking water, Brian worked on several effluent guidelines, including airport deicing and unconventional oil and gas.
- Biological and Microbial Aspects of Septic System Pollution (June 30, 2015)
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Fecal source identification of septic system pollution in receiving waters (Presented by Dr. Orin Shanks, EPA’s Office of Research and Development). In the United States, approximately 20% of all households are served by septic wastewater treatment systems. It is common for septic systems to fail due to age, design, poor operation and maintenance, and/or physical damage due to plant root infiltration. Direct discharge of waste into receiving waters with minimal or no treatment can pose a serious health risk when an impacted water source is used for recreation, a drinking water reservoir, irrigation, or aquaculture applications. This presentation 1) reviews the microbial composition of septic waste, 2) demonstrates the use of molecular technologies combined with geographic information system land use data to identify fecal pollution from failing septic systems in receiving waters, and 3) provides an overview of current EPA research activities on fecal source identification aspects of septic system pollution.
Advanced Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: Table Rock Lake Demonstration Project (Presented by Dr. Alfonso Blanco, EPA’s Office of Water). This presentation discusses a demonstration project for Table Rock Lake in the Ozark region of Missouri where wastewater discharges were entering the lake from failing septic systems, threatening the water supply because it received little or no treatment. This project illustrates how advanced wastewater treatment technologies combined with drip dispersal of the treated effluent into imported soil can be used as a solution to wastewater treatment problems in difficult site conditions. These advanced treatment technologies achieved very high removal rates for BOD5, phosphorus, and fecal coliform. The project also established a management system—Responsible Management Entity—for achieving sustainable system performance, as well as removing the responsibility of system maintenance from property owners and developers.
About the Presenters
Orin Shanks, Ph.D. - Dr. Shanks is a geneticist whose primary specialty is the application of molecular technologies for environmental microbiology. Over his years with EPA, he has investigated and published works on the identification of host-associated genetic markers of fecal pollution, development of quantitative real-time PCR methods, fate and transport of nucleic acids, as well as utility of molecular methods for ambient water quality management. Dr. Shanks received his undergraduate and Master’s degrees from the University of Wyoming and his Ph.D. from Oregon State University.
Alfonso Blanco, Ph.D., P.E., DWRE - Dr. Blanco is an environmental engineer with 40 years of domestic and international experience on wastewater projects. Presently he is working for the EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management, Sustainable Communities Branch in Washington, DC. Mr. Blanco graduated with an Associate Degree in Mechanical Design Engineering from Wentworth Institute, a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Merrimack College, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from Tufts University, and a Ph.D. in Remote Sensing from George Mason University. Dr. Blanco has published in several peer review journals and is a Licensed Professional Engineer and a Diplomat in Water Resources Engineering.
- Current Water Treatment and Distribution System Optimization for Cyanotoxins (May 26, 2015)
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Treatment strategies to remove algal toxins from drinking water (Presented by Lili Wang, EPA’s Office of Water). Public water systems are encouraged to take an integrated approach to address potential algal toxin health concerns in drinking water, which includes source water control, monitoring, treatment, and communication. This presentation focuses on treatment strategies being adopted or considered by water treatment plants to remove algal toxins while meeting other treatment goals. The presentation also discussed on-going efforts at the Office of Water to help states and public water systems implement the algal toxin Health Advisories.
Removal of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins through drinking water treatment (Presented by Nicholas Dugan, EPA’s Office of Research and Development). This presentation covers the control of intact cyanobacterial cells through particulate removal processes such as coagulation, sedimentation and filtration. The control of cyanobacterial toxins through oxidation and adsorption processes including, but not limited to, chlorine, ozone, and granular activated carbon will also be discussed. Finally, a case study based on data collected from multiple treatment facilities during EPA’s Office of Research and Development Lake Erie treatment plant sampling program will be presented. The study includes the examination of chlorophyll and toxin data to track the propagation of cells and their associated toxins through several treatment plants.
About the Presenters
Lili Wang, P.E. - Lili is an environmental engineer with EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management Division, Standards and Risk Reduction Branch. She joined EPA in 2011 to work on regulatory determination, the Six-Year Review of Microbial/Disinfection Byproducts Rules, the fluoride rule, and microbial and cyanotoxin water treatment issues. Lili came to EPA with 15 years of prior experience with environmental consulting firms providing research and development support to EPA, the U.S. Navy, and international clients on water treatment and contaminated site remediation. Lili is a registered professional engineer in Ohio.
Nicholas Dugan, P.E. - Nick is an environmental engineer with EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, Treatment Technology Evaluation Branch. In addition to ORD's Lake Erie treatment plant sampling program, he has performed or supervised bench- and pilot- scale treatment studies to evaluate the control of cyanobacteria, cyanobacteria toxins, cryptosporidium, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, nitrates, perchlorate, ammonia, and disinfection byproduct precursors through a variety of drinking water treatment processes. Nick is a member of the American Water Works Association and is registered as a professional engineer in Ohio.
- Understanding End Water Quality in Hospitals and Other Large Buildings (April 28, 2015)
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Presentation Slides ExitUse and effectiveness of various available technologies for the treatment and control of Legionella (Presented by César Cordero, EPA’s Office of Water). This presentation provides a brief overview of the EPA draft document, “Legionella: Current Knowledge on Treatment Technologies,” which will characterize the current body of knowledge regarding the use and effectiveness of various available technologies for the treatment and control of Legionella. The document will provide an overview on Legionella’s microbial, epidemiological and other characteristics, as well as describe various control approaches for the prevention and remediation of Legionella. The information on treatment technologies will include a characterization of their effectiveness, water quality issues, and recommended operational conditions based on the reviewed literature. The document could assist primacy agencies, affected facilities, and system operators in their decision-making process regarding measures to control for Legionella in building water systems.
Water quality issues in large buildings and emerging treatment technologies for premise plumbing-related pathogens (Presented by Dr. Mark Rodgers, EPA’s Office of Research and Development). The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) sets limits on water quality indicators for water in the distribution system. Once this distributed water enters a building or household, the responsibility of maintaining water quality shifts to the owners. The latest data for waterborne diseases indicates that premise plumbing-related outbreaks are increasing across the United States. This fact, and the legal ramifications of waterborne outbreaks, are leading hospital and hotel owners to address water quality in their buildings. This presentation discusses ORD’s investigation of water quality issues in large buildings, with the goal of providing information to building owners on how water quality changes as it moves through complex premise plumbing systems. The evaluation of emerging treatment technologies designed specifically to control premise plumbing-related microbial pathogens is also discussed.
About the Presenters
César Cordero - César joined the Standards and Risk Reduction Branch of EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water in 2007. During his time with EPA, he has been involved in the review of the Revised Total Coliform Rule and the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. He has also been involved in the development of the Contaminant Candidate Lists as well as helping address issues related to emerging waterborne pathogens. César has a B.S. in Industrial Microbiology and an M.S. in Biology, both from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.
Mark Rodgers, Ph.D. - Dr. Rodgers is a supervisory microbiologist for EPA's Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division where he serves as the Acting Chief for the Microbial Contaminants Control Branch. In this role, he supervises microbiologists working on a diverse research program that includes the development of assays for determining sources of fecal contamination in source waters, the community composition of biofilms in drinking water distribution systems, the fate of pathogenic and indicator organisms in biosolids, and the effectiveness of various conventional and emerging drinking water disinfectants.
- Small Water System Alternatives: Media and Membrane Filtration for Small Communities and Households (March 31, 2015)
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Small water system compliance technologies for the treatment of regulated contaminants (Presented by Michael Finn, EPA’s Office of Water). In this presentation, Michael reviews the common and “best available” small water system compliance technologies for the treatment of regulated contaminants including microbial, chemical and radiological contaminants. The presentation includes regulatory operational and monitoring issues as well as specific small system concerns associated with the treatment technologies. Michael also discusses the ‘top three’ regulated contaminant compliance concerns for small water systems.
Filtration alternatives for small communities and households (Presented by Craig Patterson, EPA’s Office of Research and Development). This presentation highlights research case studies on innovative and commercially available drinking water treatment alternatives for small community water systems. Emphasis is placed on media and membrane filtration technologies capable of meeting the requirements of the Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) and the Groundwater Rule. Information is also provided on household water treatment systems for removal of chemicals and pathogens from well water. The major source of information is from small drinking water research studies, including lessons learned over the past 12 years at the EPA Test and Evaluation Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio and at field locations in several EPA Regions and states.
About the Presenters
Michael J. Finn, P.E. - Michael is an environmental engineer with EPA's Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, Drinking Water Protection Branch. He joined EPA in 2001 to work on the development of the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule, and the Groundwater Rule and the related guidance documents. He is currently working with states and public water systems on the implementation of those rules, microbial water treatment issues, alternative treatment technologies and water availability, and water efficiency in public water systems. Prior to coming to EPA, he was with the California drinking water program as a field engineer in the San Francisco Bay area. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resources Engineering from Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. He is a licensed professional engineer in California and Maryland and a certified water treatment operator.
Craig Patterson, P.E. - Craig is an environmental engineer with EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, Water Quality Management Branch. He has over 30 years of experience with federal environmental programs and environmental consulting firms. Over the past 12 years, Craig’s research emphasis has been on drinking water treatment technologies for small communities of less than 500 people. His research has focused mainly on emerging and innovative water treatment technologies in support of EPA regulatory requirements. This effort has included collaborative field studies on a wide variety of surface and groundwater sources with researchers in EPA Regions, states, local health departments, water utilities, private industry, and academia.
- Innovative Biological Treatment for Small Water Systems: Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates (February 24, 2015)
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Biological treatment process for the removal of ammonia from small water systems (Presented by Dr., Darren Lytle, Ph.D., EPA’s Office of Research and Development). Ammonia in source waters can cause water treatment and distribution system problems, many of which are associated with biological nitrification. Therefore, in some cases, the removal of ammonia from water is desirable. Biological oxidation of ammonia to nitrate and nitrate (nitrification) is well understood and common in wastewater processes. However, the biological filtration to convert ammonia to nitrate in drinking water applications in full-scale systems is limited in the United States. In this presentation, Dr. Lytle (1) discusses reasons why ammonia in source waters can be problematic to water treatment and distributions; (2) discusses drinking water treatment options; (3) provides an in-depth discussion of the biological ammonia treatment option (engineering design and practical treatment considerations); and (4) provides data from pilot- and full-scale biological ammonia treatment studies.
Alternative preventative method to reduce nitrates/nitrites and cost (Presented by Mike Muse, EPA’s Office of Water). The Nature Conservancy and University of Illinois have determined a method to help provide clean drinking water to 70,000 people in Bloomington, IL. Lake Bloomington, one of two reservoirs that provide the city with its drinking water, has historically exceeded the nitrate Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 mg/L. Ten years of the Conservancy’s and its partners’ extensive research has shown that wetlands constructed in targeted agricultural fields effectively remove 46% -90% of inflowing nitrates from tile drains that would otherwise enter adjacent streams and rivers. In this presentation, this Illinois case study is discussed, showcasing an alternative preventative method to reduce nitrates/nitrites and cost.
About the Presenters
Darren Lytle, Ph.D. - Dr. Lytle is an environmental engineer for the EPA's Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division where he serves as the Acting Branch Chief for the Treatment Technology Evaluation Branch. Since beginning work at EPA in 1991, Dr. Lytle’s primary goal has been to research the quality of drinking water. Over the years, he has investigated and published works on drinking water systems, including work on distribution system corrosion control and water quality (e.g., red water control, lead and copper corrosion control); filtration (emphasis on removal of particles, and microbial contaminants and pathogens from water); biological water treatment; and iron and arsenic removal.
Mike Muse - Mike works within Source Water Protection and Climate Change in EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
- Research and Implementation of Arsenic Removal Technologies at Small Community Water Systems (January 27, 2015)
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Arsenic treatment implementation (Presented by Jamie Harris, EPA’s Office of Water). This presentation provides an overview of the wide variety of challenges faced by small water systems to implementing arsenic treatment for compliance with the Arsenic Rule of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Performance and cost effectiveness of arsenic removal technologies for small drinking water systems (Presented by Thomas Sorg, EPA’s Office of Research and Development). This presentation provides a general overview of the effectiveness of arsenic removal technologies and their cost, including capital and operating costs. Emphasis is placed on the three technologies that are most commonly utilized by small systems: adsorptive media, iron removal, and coagulation/filtration. The major source of information provided is from EPA’s Arsenic Demonstration Program. This program collected performance and cost data from 50 full scale arsenic removal systems installed in 26 different states.
About the Presenters
Jamie Harris - Jamie has been in the field of hydrology for more than 20 years. Her experience is related to water quality, water supply and regulatory issues both related to the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Jamie has worked as an environmental consultant overseas as well as in Maryland. She has also worked for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and Maryland Environmental Service at Maryland Department of the Environment. At EPA, Jamie oversees the implementation of a number of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations including the Chemical Phase Rules which includes over 65 Inorganic and Organic Contaminants, one of which is arsenic.
Thomas Sorg, P.E., BCEE - Tom is an environmental engineer with EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, Treatment Technology Evaluation Branch. He has over 51 years of experience with federal environmental programs. Tom's experience includes the past 42 years with the drinking water research and development program of EPA, and 25 years as Chief of the Inorganics and Particular Control Branch of the Drinking Water Research Division. His research emphasis has been on drinking water treatment technology for the removal of inorganic and radionuclide contaminants from water supplies, including the removal of arsenic. During the past 12 years, Tom's research has focused mainly on treatment technologies to remove arsenic from drinking water in support of the revised arsenic Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 μg/L. This effort has included oversight of the EPA Arsenic Removal Full-Scale Demonstration Program.