On-site Wastewater and Centralized Sewer System Nutrient Loadings to Surface Wat
Grant
Overview
abstract
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The recent Senate Bill 1020 and the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico Basinwide Water Quality Plans call specifically for a better understanding of on-site wastewater system (OSW) nutrient inputs to surface water bodies. This information is needed to fill data gaps and guide adaptive water resources management. To further understanding of OSW nutrient inputs, two streams in Pitt County, NC (one with OSW and one with sewer) will be monitored for total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loading rates to determine the influence of OSW in relation to centralized sewer systems on stream water quality. The groundwater plumes from three OSW will be tracked to the stream to characterize the fate and transport of TN and TP. The goal is to study the TN and TP loading rates from OSW to determine if natural treatment processes (i.e. denitrification, adsorption) are adequately removing nutrients before discharge to surface waters. The TN and TP loading rates from the centralized sewer plant will be compared to the TN and TP loading rates from the OSWWS to assess the treatment efficiency of the systems. Stream physical and chemical water quality in the watersheds served by OSW and centralized sewer will also be analyzed. These analyses will provide insight into the nutrient contributions from OSW to surface waters in a nutrient sensitive watershed and will allow comparison of wastewater treatment strategies on water quality. Stream discharge and nutrient loadings will also be monitored during two storm events to assess the influence of urban runoff on stream water quality.
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