September 2015
Wastewater treatment plants
can tap into a University of Minnesota program to help reduce the environmental
impact of their treatment processes. MnTAP –
short for Minnesota Technical Assistance Program – works to mitigate pollution
by identifying the causes and sources of pollution, and working with the source
to change contributing processes, procedures and equipment.
MnTAP assists state business
and institutions in Minnesota with reducing their environmental impact by targeting
the sources of waste and pollution. As part of the University of Minnesota, MnTAP
services are non-regulatory (voluntary) and major funding from MPCA allows most
services to be offered at no cost. See MnTAP’s website
for more information on water- related services and resources.
On wastewater issues, MnTAP has
worked with businesses directly on problems identified by the business or the
Publicly Owned Treatment Plants (POTWs). In fact, it’s common for treatment
plants to introduce a business customer to MnTAP to solve a problem. In the
metro area, MnTAP has worked on volume reduction to reduce Sewer Availability
Charges from the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services. The program has also worked to identify and
reduce sources of metals such as zinc and mercury, biological oxygen demand (BOD),
and phosphorus in business wastewater discharges.
In addition, MnTAP can work
with POTWs directly. For example, the program has assisted with developing
phosphorus and mercury management plans, and more recently with contamination source
identification and energy conservation analysis and assessment.
Occasionally, MnTAP has worked
with the POTW treatment process itself. Two examples include research to
improve pond pH control to avoid acid additions, and evaluating the potential
to use excess oxidation ditch capacity to denitrify discharges. In that last example, denitrification impacts
were minimal but ditch operations were able to be consolidated which reduced
ditch aeration energy by 43 percent.
MnTAP currently has a U.S.
Department of Energy grant to do further energy
conservation work with POTWs to
reduce operating costs while eliminating the environmental impacts of excess
energy use. The program is looking for plants interested in improving the
energy performance of aeration, pumping and disinfection operations, as well as
plants interested in improving their biogas utilization. The primary MPCA
contacts helping with this project are Pam Meyer and Bill Dunn. Wastewater
plants interested in learning more or participating should contact MnTAP’s AJ Van den Berghe, 651-624-4653
Interns
are an important part of MnTAP’s services. In the last 10 years, six interns
have worked on POTW energy conservation projects identified by the plants
related to dissolved oxygen and aeration control. In addition, in 2015 six
interns worked on projects to reduce various aspects of upstream wastewater loads
and volumes.
With
MnTAP, the U of M continues its 30-year tradition of scientists and engineers
helping Minnesota reduce waste, conserve water and energy, reduce air
emissions, increase efficiencies, and save money.
In
the photo above, Yulin Ye, a 2013 MnTAP intern, collects water samples for
nutrient testing at the Hutchinson Wastewater Treatment Facility.
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Managing phosphorus is essential for protecting Minnesota’s surface
waters. Excess nutrients, primarily phosphorus, can ultimately lead to nuisance
algal blooms in lakes and streams, a process called eutrophication. Lakes and
streams in Minnesota are diverse and complex systems, and require a tailored
approach to protect them from excess phosphorus loading (example is Rum River
in the photo at right).
Since 2000, Minnesota has seen a noticeable decrease in the
Total Phosphorus concentrations of some streams and rivers that can be
attributed to point source reductions and the adoption of the phosphorus rule
(Minn. R. 7053.0255). In 2008, Minnesota adopted lake eutrophication standards
(LES) that set defined phosphorus, algae, and clarity goals for Minnesota’s
lakes. Similarly, Minnesota adopted river eutrophication standards (RES)
earlier this year, to set phosphorus and algae goals for rivers and streams.
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In general, the adoption of RES means more restrictive
phosphorus limits may be necessary for some facilities discharging to or
upstream of rivers with high phosphorus and algae concentrations (see the photo
of the Wolf-Cannon River confluence above). When setting a phosphorus limit,
effluent limit review staff will determine if existing phosphorus limits
required by state rule or LES are sufficient to protect local rivers from
excess algae growth. By applying both LES and RES analyses along with state
rule, permitted phosphorus limits will protect aquatic life and recreation in
our valued waters.
The MPCA has developed an implementation procedures document
outlining how these limits will be set, and will soon be available on the
MPCA website – stay tuned for updates in future issues of On Point. If you
would like a copy before then, contact Steve Weiss at Steven.Weiss@state.mn.us.
See the article below by MPCA Commissioner John Linc Stine
for more information about the new standards.
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New standards
designed to protect rivers choking with algae
By John Linc
Stine
Commissioner
of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
We all want
clean water for drinking, fishing and swimming – on that we all agree. How to achieve clean water is a much more
challenging and complex issue to solve. We’re miles ahead of other states in
what we know about water quality, thanks to Clean Water funding approved by
voters.
Recently, some
cities have raised concerns about the cost of meeting new limits on wastewater
treatment discharges. Over the past century advances in wastewater treatment
have led to major improvements in public health and surface waters that receive
wastewater discharges. However in some places more treatment is needed,
especially to remove phosphorus that acts as food for harmful algae.
Phosphorus getting
into rivers leads to a vicious cycle: Phosphorus
is a great fertilizer for algae, causing these rootless plants to grow quickly.
Algae don’t live long, resulting in a lot of dead organic matter that uses up
oxygen in the water as the plants decay. That leaves less oxygen for fish, bugs and other aquatic
life. MPCA and local studies show that aquatic life is suffering in many
Minnesota rivers. Algae also make the water unsightly and smelly for swimming, paddling
and fishing. Some forms can even make animals and people sick.
It doesn’t
have to be this way. Technology can drastically reduce phosphorus, with other
tools available for communities to address pollutant problems. Minnesota also offers
funding options to make these updates manageable. While wastewater is only one
source of phosphorus in rivers, its treatment is a critical part of keeping
waters healthy.
The exact
cost for cities to upgrade their wastewater treatment is not yet known. Any
estimates about the cost of meeting the new limits are only speculation at this
time. That’s because limits are customized for every treatment plant and river.
We look at the amount of phosphorus in a river and how that river reacts to it.
For example, slow shallow rivers tend to grow more algae while deeper and
faster rivers grow less.
The cost of improving
water quality is always factored into our limit setting. It’s why the state
offers grants and low-interest loans to reduce pollution. It’s why cities can phase in compliance with new rules and use innovative approaches. It’s why
cities can
apply for a variance, allowing them to exceed a limit while making progress
toward the goal. It’s why we’re working with cities to set their phosphorus
limits and find affordable ways to meet them.
The MPCA will
look at each plant and figure out the limit on phosphorus for that plant and
that river to make a difference. Some will need to reduce more phosphorus and
others won’t. This approach makes more sense economically and environmentally
than setting one limit that all plants have to meet whether it helps their
local rivers or not.
We’re confident in the science behind the
proposed limits. We’re also confident that communities will find ways to do
their share to clean up Minnesota’s rivers. We look at Bemidji and Ely that
have been meeting strict phosphorus limits since the 1970s. Throughout
Minnesota more than 240 cities are already being held to these more stringent limits.
Fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters are
essential to our way of life. They’re also essential to communities downstream.
We all want clean water. We all recognize the value it brings to Minnesota:
both in terms of tangible economic benefits such as increased property values
and a robust tourism industry, and intangible benefits that enrich our lives as
Minnesotans. We must work together to find creative, cost-effective solutions
to paying for it. We can achieve water quality when we all do our fair share.
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As mentioned in previous editions of the On Point newsletter, MPCA has been working on updating its process
for review and approval of chemical additives. The agency is pleased to
announce that this new process is now live! Visit the chemical additive approvals webpage to learn more about the latest process.
Chemical additives used for wastewater treatment that are new,
increasing in usage, or not previously approved need to receive approval
through the new chemical additive review process. Documents necessary for
additive approval, including the Chemical Additive Calculator (wq-wwprm2-12a) and the Chemical Additive Review Guidance (wq-wwprm2-12), can be found
on the webpage. In addition, YouTube videos with helpful tips from the
guidance document and a demonstration of the calculator are available.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email them to additives.pca@state.mn.us or contact the staff indicated on
the webpage. We appreciate your input and will do our best to address any
concerns.
The MPCA will soon introduce new online eServices to submit
Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs). As part of this transition, the current
eDMR portal will be shut down from Sept. 25 to Oct. 6.During this time, users
will not be able to access the current eDMR portal to view previously submitted
DMRs, submit or amend DMRs, or download any spreadsheets.
The new online eServices will not be available until Oct. 7,
at which time, all users must create a new account. Users will notice
that it looks different from what is displayed in the current eDMR Portal, but
the process for submittal of the Sample Values Spreadsheet and DMR will be
generally the same. A new submittal authorization agreement will need to be
signed and submitted ONLY if you are a new submitter. Access to the
existing eDMR Portal and new online eService can be found at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/aj0r1091
The MPCA has created helpful guidance and YouTube videos on
how to create the new accounts and submit the DMRs. The updated guidance and videos
can be found on the DMR webpage at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/hqzqb28
Please review the guidance materials and complete the
account creation process as soon as possible starting Oct. 7. This will help
with the transition to the new online eServices and submittal of the September
2015 DMRs.
If you have any questions regarding this process, feel free
to contact your assigned compliance and enforcement staff person.
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The
first annual Midwest Environmental
Compliance Conference (MECC) hosted by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
and other Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 business associations will
be held Oct. 29-30 in Chicago.
The
MPCA will be sending several speakers on topics such as “States as the Engine
of Creativity,” “New Online Interface for Water
Quality Data Management” and “Elimination of MPCA Citizens Board Impacts on Permitting.”
The MPCA will also host a Minnesota breakout session on Oct. 29.
For
more information, visit the MECC
website.
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