Methods for Estimating Annual Wastewater Nutrient Loads in the Southeastern United States

McMahon, Gerard; Tervelt, Larinda; Donehoo, William

doi:10.3133/ofr20071040

Cited by 8 publications

(26 citation statements)

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“…To meet the need for reliable information on point‐source nutrient loads to surface waters, we present a methodology for systematically evaluating and, where possible, improving the quality of the PCS data for calculating annual loadings to U.S. streams. Our approach refines the previous methods employed by the USEPA (2006a,b) and McMahon et al. (2007) to address specific data needs to support recent model‐based assessments of nutrient sources in six major regional watersheds (called major river basins, or MRBs) (Figure 1) of the continental U.S.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…The pilot project approach was based on procedures used in an USEPA investigation of nutrient loading to the Mississippi River basin (USEPA, 2006a,b). The methods and data developed in the pilot study for the Southeast (MRB2) were reported by McMahon et al. (2007) and by Hoos et al.…”

Section: Study Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, these data can be quite limited in availability and quality in some areas, and compiling the data over large areas can be difficult (Zogorski et al. , 1990; McMahon et al. , 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The PCS data have recognized limitations in both accuracy and consistency across states and regions due to inconsistent reporting procedures and policies, and to reported quality‐assurance concerns (Zogorski et al. , 1990; GAO, 2000; McMahon et al. , 2007; USEPA, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous efforts to compile regional (USEPA, 2006a,b; McMahon et al. , 2007) and national (Luken et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nutrient Loadings to Streams of the Continental United States from Municipal and Industrial Effluent1

Maupin

Ivahnenko

2011

JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association

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Data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency Permit Compliance System national database were used to calculate annual total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) loads to surface waters from municipal and industrial facilities in six major regions of the United States for 1992, 1997, and 2002. Concentration and effluent flow data were examined for approximately 118,250 facilities in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Inconsistent and incomplete discharge locations, effluent flows, and effluent nutrient concentrations limited the use of these data for calculating nutrient loads. More concentrations were reported for major facilities, those discharging more than 1 million gallons per day, than for minor facilities, and more concentrations were reported for TP than for TN. Analytical methods to check and improve the quality of the Permit Compliance System data were used. Annual loads were calculated using “typical pollutant concentrations” to supplement missing concentrations based on the type and size of facilities. Annual nutrient loads for over 26,600 facilities were calculated for at least one of the three years. Sewage systems represented 74% of all TN loads and 58% of all TP loads. This work represents an initial set of data to develop a comprehensive and consistent national database of point-source nutrient loads. These loads can be used to inform a wide range of water-quality management, watershed modeling, and research efforts at multiple scales.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Study Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous efforts to compile regional (USEPA, 2006a,b; McMahon et al. , 2007) and national (Luken et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Nutrient Loadings to Streams of the Continental United States from Municipal and Industrial Effluent1

Maupin

Ivahnenko

2011

JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association

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Co‐occurrence of Nitrate with Other Contaminants in the Environment

2020

Geophysical Monograph Series

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Multi-scale Modeling of Nutrient Pollution in the Rivers of China

Chen

Strokal

Vliet

et al. 2019

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Chinese surface waters are severely polluted by nutrients. This study addresses three challenges in nutrient modeling for rivers in China: (1) difficulties in transferring modeling results across biophysical and administrative scales, (2) poor representation of the locations of point sources, and (3) limited incorporation of the direct discharge of manure to rivers. The objective of this study is, therefore, to quantify inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to Chinese rivers from different sources at multiple scales. We developed a novel multi-scale modeling approach including a detailed, state-of-the-art representation of point sources of nutrients in rivers. The model results show that the river pollution and source attributions differ among spatial scales. Point sources accounted for 75% of the total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) inputs to rivers in China in 2012, and diffuse sources accounted for 72% of the total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) inputs. One-third of the sub-basins accounted for more than half of the pollution. Downscaling to the smallest scale (polygons) reveals that 14% and 9% of the area contribute to more than half of the calculated TDN and TDP pollution, respectively. Sources of pollution vary considerably among and within counties. Clearly, multi-scale modeling may help to develop effective policies for water pollution.

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Methods for Estimating Annual Wastewater Nutrient Loads in the Southeastern United States

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Nutrient Loadings to Streams of the Continental United States from Municipal and Industrial Effluent1

Nutrient Loadings to Streams of the Continental United States from Municipal and Industrial Effluent1

Co‐occurrence of Nitrate with Other Contaminants in the Environment

Multi-scale Modeling of Nutrient Pollution in the Rivers of China

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