Is bigger better? Driving factors of POTW performance in New York

Rahm, Brian G.; Morse, N.; Bowen, Michelle; Choi, Jun; Mehta, Dhaval; Vedachalam, Sridhar

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2018.02.024

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Because WRP effluent has a large impact on the hydrological nature of these river systems, improved WRP treatment systems and increased capture of CSO-impacted stormwater resulted in an improvement in these water quality parameters. These data also demonstrate the effectiveness of wastewater treatment infrastructure in meeting newly implemented NPDES limits, but as Rahm et al (2018) demonstrated, large wastewater treatment plants generally maintain water quality levels very consistently near regulated limits. Observable trends in Cl − and  2 4 SO concentrations and temperature in these river systems can be attributed to other natural and anthropomorphic factors unrelated to WRP processes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Because WRP effluent has a large impact on the hydrological nature of these river systems, improved WRP treatment systems and increased capture of CSO-impacted stormwater resulted in an improvement in these water quality parameters. These data also demonstrate the effectiveness of wastewater treatment infrastructure in meeting newly implemented NPDES limits, but as Rahm et al (2018) SO concentrations and temperature in these river systems can be attributed to other natural and anthropomorphic factors unrelated to WRP processes. Ultimately, continued water quality monitoring is crucial to understanding and overcoming any such anthropomorphic factors and realizing healthier river systems, especially within a highly urbanized region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…These data also demonstrate the effectiveness of wastewater treatment infrastructure in meeting newly implemented NPDES limits, but as Rahm et al. (2018) demonstrated, large wastewater treatment plants generally maintain water quality levels very consistently near regulated limits. Observable trends in Cl − and

{SO}_{4}^{2 -}

concentrations and temperature in these river systems can be attributed to other natural and anthropomorphic factors unrelated to WRP processes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

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Long‐Term Trends Show Improvements in Water Quality in the Chicago Metropolitan Region With Investment in Wastewater Infrastructure, Deep Tunnels, and Reservoirs

Pluth

Brose

Gallagher

et al. 2021

Water Resources Research

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The ecological degradation of streams draining urban land, known as the urban stream syndrome, is characterized by elevated nutrients and contaminants, increased hydrologic flashiness, and altered biotic assemblages. This study demonstrated an improvement in chemical characteristics by evaluating water quality trends from 1975 to 2012 and from 2013 to 2018 in the Chicago, Calumet, and Des Plaines River Systems in Cook County, Illinois. Data from 41 monitoring locations were compiled and 11 water quality parameters were analyzed for long‐term monotonic trends and differences in water quality parameters between select time periods to investigate the outcomes from improvements in water reclamation plant (WRP) and tunnel and reservoir infrastructure carried out by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. From 1975 to 2012, significant decreasing trends in concentrations were demonstrated at most sampling locations for total organic carbon (TOC), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+), total suspended solids (TSS), fecal coliform (FC), and sulfate. Significant increasing trends were demonstrated for dissolved oxygen (DO) and chloride concentrations and temperature. Total phosphorus (TP) concentrations increased downstream of the Stickney, Kirie, and Calumet WRPs from 1975 to 2012, but decreased downstream of the Kirie WRP and had no trends downstream of the Stickney and Calumet WRPs from 2013 to 2018. Improvements in TKN, NH4+, TOC, TSS, FC, TP, and DO concentrations over four decades demonstrated the benefits of expanding secondary wastewater treatment and implementing the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan System, instream and side‐stream elevated pool aeration stations, and effluent disinfection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Because WRP effluent has a large impact on the hydrological nature of these river systems, improved WRP treatment systems and increased capture of CSO-impacted stormwater resulted in an improvement in these water quality parameters. These data also demonstrate the effectiveness of wastewater treatment infrastructure in meeting newly implemented NPDES limits, but as Rahm et al (2018) SO concentrations and temperature in these river systems can be attributed to other natural and anthropomorphic factors unrelated to WRP processes. Ultimately, continued water quality monitoring is crucial to understanding and overcoming any such anthropomorphic factors and realizing healthier river systems, especially within a highly urbanized region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

{SO}_{4}^{2 -}

concentrations and temperature in these river systems can be attributed to other natural and anthropomorphic factors unrelated to WRP processes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Long‐Term Trends Show Improvements in Water Quality in the Chicago Metropolitan Region With Investment in Wastewater Infrastructure, Deep Tunnels, and Reservoirs

Pluth

Brose

Gallagher

et al. 2021

Water Resources Research

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“…Sewer waste regulations vary by state and municipality, as do the abilities of POTWs to obtain financing and engage in new capital projects(Rahm et al (2018)). 39 The 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA) tasked the EPA with regulating the untreated discharge of chemical emissions to rivers and lakes by municipalities, industrial customers, and other point-sources.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is indicated by the much larger measured decline in effluent releases when transfers to POTWs are omitted, compared with the estimated decline when they are included.38 Sewer waste regulations vary by state and municipality, as do the abilities of POTWs to obtain financing and engage in new capital projects(Rahm et al 2018). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Decomposing changes in establishment‐level emissions with entry and exit

Holladay

LaPlue

2021

Canadian J of Economics

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This paper decomposes pollution releases by U.S. manufacturing establishments to show the relative importance of four establishment-level channels: entry, exit, reallocation between survivors, and within-establishment adjustment of emissions intensity.Using a panel of establishment-level output and pollution emissions to air and water for U.S. manufacturers, we decompose changes in pollution emissions into the three channels typically presented in the literature: changes in scale (output), composition (industry market share), and industry-level technique (emissions intensity). We then decompose changes due to industry-level emissions intensity into four establishmentlevel channels for three criteria air pollutants and water pollution. For volatile organic compound emissions, nearly two-thirds of the reduction in sector-level emissions intensity is due to within-establishment reductions in emissions intensity. The other third is driven by reallocation to cleaner establishments. Though the magnitudes differ, results are broadly similar for particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Onsite releases of effluents to water exhibit a similar pattern, though the relative importance of reallocation is greater. Additionally we find that within-establishment reductions in water emissions are associated with increased transfers to offsite publicly owned treatment facilities. The heterogeneous contributions across channels suggests that the cleanup in the U.S. manufacturing sector likely has multiple sources.

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