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The Waukesha WWTP effluent effects on the Fox River for the purpose of future UV disinfection analysis / by Anthony M. Steffel.

by Steffel, Anthony M.

Disinfection and disinfectants

Ultraviolet radiation -- Industrial application

Wastewater -- Treatment and disposal

Sewage disposal plants

Sewage -- Microbiology

Water -- Purification -- Adsorption

80 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

Thesis advisor: Jeff MacDonald.

Committee members: Steve Arant, Dr. Frank Mahuta.

Introduction and background -- Literature review: Ultraviolet disinfection - Pathogen regrowth and photoreactivation - Parameters used to assess disinfection efficacy - Fecal colilform and impacts of exposure -- Materials and methods -- Results -- Analysis and discussion -- Conclusions and recommendations -- A: Sample forms -- B: Data analysis graphs -- C: Miscellaneous images -- D: Cost and time analysis.

The purpose of this project was to begin to address the following issue. The wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Waukesha, Wisconsin disinfects their effluent during summer months using ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This disinfection is a requirement as per their discharge permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). During exceptionally wet weather conditions, the capacity of the UV disinfection process is exceeded, and the plant must divert a portion of the flow around the UV process. That diverted portion of the water remains undisinfected as it is discharged to the neighboring Fox River. Diverting any portion of the plant's effluent flow around the disinfection process during the disinfection season is a violation of the plant's discharge permit. The plant has been issued a period of time to study the effects of the UV system and the effects their effluent has on Fox River water quality in order to make a determination as to the need to alter the UV system. The purpose of this project was to begin to address the above described situation.

The effectiveness of the UV system at Waukesha is based on the concentration of fecal coliform bacteria -- fecal coliform being an indicator of human fecal pathogen pollution in water -- in the effluent before it is discharged to the Fox River. This project involved the development of a fecal coliform monitoring program to analyze how the Waukesha plant is contributing fecal coliform contamination to the river. A series of locations -- upstream of the plant, at the plant outfall, downstream of the plant, and the whole effluent -- were sampled on 10 separate occasions, and tested as per standard water and wastewater examination method 9222 for fecal coliform colony counts. A laboratory was assembled in the MSOE CC-50 MSEV Laboratory, and the testing and analysis of the water samples were conducted there.

It was determined that the data collected were useful, but inconsistent with results that were expected. It was found that the Waukesha plant, on all occasions, was contributing fecal coliform polllution to the Fox River. It was found that there was little correlation between the flow of the river and concentrations of fecal coliforms. And it was found that photoreactivation and regrowth of pathogens may be ocurring, but the data are too inconsistant, and additional sampling locations, tested during the disinfecting season, would likely be needed to make a more firm determination of this activity. The sampling and testing were all conducted during the nondisinfection season. Therefore, to make a determination of the necessity of alteration to the current UV system at Waukesha, a more extensive monitoring program much like the one employed by this study, with modifications, is needed to collect more concise data during both disinfecting and nondisinfecting seasons, and during a variety of flow conditions.

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