wastewater – California Water Library

Page

Showing
31-41 of 67

Per Page

Sort By

New San Francisco Bay Contaminants Emerge

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | July 2nd, 2020

Summary

In 2016, the RMP launched a novel investigation to detect new or unexpected contaminants in Bay waters, as well as treated sewage (or wastewater) discharged to the Bay.

In 2016, the RMP launched a novel investigation to detect new or unexpected contaminants in Bay waters, as well as treated sewage (or wastewater) discharged to the Bay. This study used non-targeted analysis, a powerful tool that provides a broad, open-ended view of thousands of synthetic and naturally-derived chemicals simultaneously. We identified hundreds of contaminants, and the results have opened our eyes to urban stormwater runoff as an important pathway for emerging contaminants to enter the Bay.

View Document Download Now Email

Occurrence and Sources of Pesticides to Urban Wastewater and the Environment

American Chemical Society (ACS) | March 26th, 2019

Summary

Municipal wastewater has not been extensively examined as a pathway by which pesticides contaminate surface water, particularly relative to the well-recognized pathways o

Municipal wastewater has not been extensively examined as a pathway by which pesticides contaminate surface water, particularly relative to the well-recognized pathways of agricultural and urban runoff. A state-of-the-science review of the occurrence and fate of current-use pesticides in wastewater, both before and after treatment, indicates this pathway is significant and should not be overlooked. A comprehensive conceptual model is presented to establish all relevant pesticide-use patterns with the potential for both direct and indirect down-the-drain transport. Review of available studies from the United States indicates 42 pesticides in current use. While pesticides and pesticide degradates have been identified in wastewater, many more have never been examined in this matrix. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies are generally ineffective at removing pesticides from wastewater, with high removal efficiency only observed in the case of highly hydrophobic compounds, such as pyrethroids. Aquatic life reference values can be exceeded in undiluted effluents. For example, seven compounds, including three pyrethroids, carbaryl, fipronil and its sulfone degradate, and imidacloprid, were detected in treated wastewater effluent at levels exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) aquatic life benchmarks for chronic exposure to invertebrates. Pesticides passing through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) merit prioritization for additional study to identify sources and appropriate pollution-prevention strategies. Two case studies, diazinon and chlorpyrifos in household pesticide products, and fipronil and imidacloprid in pet flea control products, highlight the importance of identifying neglected sources of environmental contamination via the wastewater pathway. Additional monitoring and modeling studies are needed to inform source control and prevention of undesirable alternative solutions.

View Document Download Now Email

Occurrence and sources of radium in groundwater associated with oil fields in the southern San Joaquin Valley, California

American Chemical Society (ACS) | August 7th, 2019

Summary

Geochemical data from 40 water wells were used to examine the occurrence and sources of radium (Ra) in groundwater associated with three oil fields in California (Fruitva

Geochemical data from 40 water wells were used to examine the occurrence and sources of radium (Ra) in groundwater associated with three oil fields in California (Fruitvale, Lost Hills, South Belridge). 226Ra+228Ra activities (range = 0.010–0.51 Bq/L) exceeded the 0.185 Bq/L drinking-water standard in 18% of the wells (not drinking-water wells). Radium activities were correlated with TDS concentrations (p < 0.001, ρ = 0.90, range = 145–15,900 mg/L), Mn + Fe concentrations (p < 0.001, ρ = 0.82, range = <0.005–18.5 mg/L), and pH (p < 0.001, ρ = −0.67, range = 6.2–9.2), indicating Ra in groundwater was influenced by salinity, redox, and pH. Ra-rich groundwater was mixed with up to 45% oil-field water at some locations, primarily infiltrating through unlined disposal ponds, based on Cl, Li, noble-gas, and other data. Yet 228Ra/226Ra ratios in pond-impacted groundwater (median = 3.1) differed from those in oil-field water (median = 0.51). PHREEQC mixing calculations and spatial geochemical variations suggest that the Ra in the oil-field water was removed by coprecipitation with secondary barite and adsorption on Mn–Fe precipitates in the near-pond environment. The saline, organic-rich oil-field water subsequently mobilized Ra from downgradient aquifer sediments via Ra-desorption and Mn/Fe-reduction processes. This study demonstrates that infiltration of oil-field water may leach Ra into groundwater by changing salinity and redox conditions in the subsurface rather than by mixing with a high-Ra source.

View Document Download Now Email

Oil, Food, and Water: Challenges and Opportunities for California Agriculture

Pacific Institute | December 1st, 2015

Summary

A new comprehensive study by the Pacific Institute sheds light on the risks posed when oil and gas exploration and production operate alongside agriculture. “There

A new comprehensive study by the Pacific Institute sheds light on the risks posed when oil and gas exploration and production operate alongside agriculture. “There is growing concern about competition for land and water, and the impacts of soil and water contamination on the food supply and health and safety of farmworkers and consumers,” said Matthew Heberger, the study’s lead author. The disposal of oil and gas wastewater, which contains harmful chemicals, is a particular concern for agriculture. Disposal in unlined percolation pits poses a significant risk of contaminating groundwater resources that may, in turn, be used by agriculture. While this practice has been banned in several states, it is still widely used in California’s Central Valley, one of the nation’s most important agricultural regions. There are also serious deficiencies in the way California regulates the underground injection of wastes – current practices are not sufficiently protective of freshwater aquifers that may be used as drinking water or to irrigate crops and water livestock.

View Document Download Now Email

Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Policy: Water Quality Control Policy for Siting, Design, Operation, and Maintenance

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | June 19th, 2012

Summary

The purpose of this Policy is to allow the continued use of OWTS, while protecting water quality and public health. This Policy recognizes that responsible local agencies

The purpose of this Policy is to allow the continued use of OWTS, while protecting water quality and public health. This Policy recognizes that responsible local agencies can provide the most effective means to manage OWTS on a routine basis. Therefore as an important element, it is the intent of this policy to efficiently utilize and improve upon where necessary existing local programs through coordination between the State and local agencies. To accomplish this purpose, this Policy establishes a statewide, risk-based, tiered approach for the regulation and management of OWTS installations and replacements and sets the level of performance and protection expected from OWTS. In particular, the Policy requires actions for water bodies specifically identified as part this Policy where OWTS contribute to water quality degradation that adversely affect beneficial uses. This Policy only authorizes subsurface disposal of domestic strength, and in limited instances high strength, wastewater and establishes minimum requirements for the permitting, monitoring, and operation of OWTS for protecting beneficial uses of waters of the State and preventing or correcting conditions of pollution and nuisance. And finally, this Policy also conditionally waives the requirement for owners of OWTS to apply for and receive Waste Discharge Requirements in order to operate their systems when they meet the conditions set forth in the Policy. Nothing in this Policy supersedes or requires modification of Total Maximum Daily Loads or Basin Plan prohibitions of discharges from OWTS. This Policy also applies to OWTS on federal, state, and Tribal lands to the extent authorized by law or agreement.

View Document Download Now Email

Organic geochemistry and toxicology of a stream impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater disposal operations

Applied Geochemistry (Elsevier) | March 10th, 2017

Summary

The large volume of wastewater produced during unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction is a significant challenge for the energy industry and of environmental concern

The large volume of wastewater produced during unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction is a significant challenge for the energy industry and of environmental concern, as the risks due to leaks, spills, and migration of these fluids into natural waters are unknown. UOG wastewater is often hypersaline, and contains myriad organic and inorganic substances added for production purposes and derived from the source rock or formation water. In this study, we examined the organic composition and toxicology of water and sediments in a stream adjacent to an underground injection disposal facility that handles UOG wastewaters.

View Document Download Now Email

Passage of fiproles and imidacloprid from urban pest control uses through wastewater treatment plants in northern California, USA

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) | November 3rd, 2017

Summary

Urban pest control insecticides—specifically fipronil and its 4 major degradates (fipronil sulfone, sulfide, desulfinyl, and amide), as well as imidacloprid—were moni

Urban pest control insecticides—specifically fipronil and its 4 major degradates (fipronil sulfone, sulfide, desulfinyl, and amide), as well as imidacloprid—were monitored during drought conditions in 8 San Francisco Bay (San Francisco, CA, USA) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In influent and effluent, ubiquitous detections were obtained in units of ng/L for fipronil (13–88 ng/L), fipronil sulfone (1–28 ng/L), fipronil sulfide (1–5 ng/L), and imidacloprid (58–306 ng/L). Partitioning was also investigated; in influent, 100% of imidacloprid and 62 ± 9% of total fiproles (fipronil and degradates) were present in the dissolved state, with the balance being bound to filter‐removable particulates. Targeted insecticides persisted during wastewater treatment, regardless of treatment technology utilized (imidacloprid: 93 ± 17%; total fiproles: 65 ± 11% remaining), with partitioning into sludge (3.7–151.1 μg/kg dry wt as fipronil) accounting for minor losses of total fiproles entering WWTPs. The load of total fiproles was fairly consistent across the facilities but fiprole speciation varied. This first regional study on fiprole and imidacloprid occurrences in raw and treated California sewage revealed ubiquity and marked persistence to conventional treatment of both phenylpyrazole and neonicotinoid compounds. Flea and tick control agents for pets are identified as potential sources of pesticides in sewage meriting further investigation and inclusion in chemical‐specific risk assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1473–1482. © 2016 SETAC

View Document Download Now Email

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in San Francisco Bay wildlife: Temporal trends, exposure pathways, and notable presence of precursor compounds

Chemosphere (Elsevier) | April 21st, 2017

Summary

Concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in San Francisco Bay (SF Bay) wildlife have historically been among the highest reported globally. To track continuing

Concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in San Francisco Bay (SF Bay) wildlife have historically been among the highest reported globally. To track continuing exposures to PFASs and assess the impact of the 2002 phase-out of production of PFOS and related chemicals in the US, nine perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs; C4-C12), three perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs; C4, C6, C8) and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA, a PFOS precursor) were measured in SF Bay cormorant eggs in 2012 and harbor seal serum sampled between 2009 and 2014. PFOS remained the dominant perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) in both cormorant eggs (36.1–466 ng/g) and seals (12.6–796 ng/g) from 2012 and 2014, respectively. Concentrations in seal and bird eggs from the South Bay have declined approximately 70% in both matrices. To elucidate potential pathways of exposure, prey fish, sediments and wastewater effluent were analyzed for PFASs, and in the case of sediment and effluent, a suite of PFAA precursors. PFOS was the dominant PFAA in prey fish and sediment. In effluent, different mixtures of PFAAs were measured, with PFOS, PFHxA, and PFOA detected in the highest concentrations. Polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diesters (PFCA-precursors) were observed at concentrations over an order of magnitude higher than PFCAs in sediment, highlighting their importance as a potential, on-going source of PFCAs to SF Bay wildlife. These findings suggest that the PFOS phase-out has resulted in reduced burdens to wildlife in SF Bay, but that exposure to diverse and incompletely characterized PFASs continues.

View Document Download Now Email

Plumbing the Depths: Californians Without Toilets and Running Water

Pacific Institute | July 15th, 2019

Summary

California’s Human Right to Water law states that “every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption

California’s Human Right to Water law states that “every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes.” To date, the policy discussion on meeting California’s Human Right to Water has focused largely on expanding and improving drinking water utility services in the state, and improving the quality and reliability of drinking water for rural households using domestic wells. Sanitation and wastewater have received less attention. There also has been less attention paid to individuals and households in communities served by functional water and wastewater utilities but lacking the plumbing necessary to access those services. To partially remedy these gaps, we set out to better understand the number of Californians with inadequate access to toilets and hot and cold running water.

View Document Download Now Email

Policy for Water Quality Control for Recycled Water (Recycled Water Policy)

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | June 21st, 2013

Summary

The purpose of this Policy is to increase the use of recycled water from municipal wastewater sources that meets the definition in Water Code section 13050(n), in a manne

The purpose of this Policy is to increase the use of recycled water from municipal wastewater sources that meets the definition in Water Code section 13050(n), in a manner that implements state and federal water quality laws. The State Water Board expects to develop additional policies to encourage the use of stormwater, encourage water conservation, encourage the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, and improve the use of local water supplies. When used in compliance with this Policy, Title 22 and all applicable state and federal water quality laws, the State Water Board finds that recycled water is safe for approved uses, and strongly supports recycled water as a safe alternative to potable water for such approved uses.

View Document Download Now Email

← Prev

Page : 4

Type

Book/Textbook (1)
Bulletin (2)
California Water Plan (2)
Case study (5)
Conference proceedings (1)
Fact sheet (3)
Handbook/Guide (1)
Issue Paper (1)
Journal Article (25)
magazine (5)
Model (3)
Plan (8)
Policy (4)
Report (15)
White Paper (1)

Topic

Agriculture (4)
Climate Change (4)
Desalination (1)
Ecosystem & Species Management (4)
Ecosystem Restoration (1)
Environmental Justice (1)
Estuary News (5)
Federal Water Quality (1)
Fisheries (1)
Flood Management (4)
Fracking (1)
Geochemistry (4)
Geochemistry (1)
Geohydrology (2)
Groundwater (6)
History (2)
Human Right to Water (2)
Infrastructure (8)
Modeling (4)
Non Point Pollution Sources (3)
People & Water (2)
Planning & Management (16)
Point Pollution Sources (3)
Policy (2)
Pollutants (13)
Recycled Water (13)
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (13)
Salinity (4)
Sanitation (5)
State Water Quality (9)
Stormwater (3)
Uncategorized (1)
Water & Energy (4)
Water Quality (46)
Water Quality Monitoring (23)
Water Rights, Water Law (2)
Water Supply (8)
Water Use & Efficiency (8)
Wetland Mitigation (1)

Keywords

agricultural drainage (2)
agriculture (2)
agriculture water use and efficiency (1)
anadromous fish (1)
benthic macroinvertebrates (1)
Central Valley (3)
climate change (5)
Colorado River (2)
desalination (1)
direct potable reuse (1)
disadvantaged communities (DACs) (1)
drinking water (1)
drought (3)
economic analysis (3)
ecosystem management (3)
environmental justice (1)
Estuary News (5)
fisheries (2)
flood management (2)
flows (2)
fracking (2)
funding (2)
groundwater contamination (4)
groundwater dependent ecosystems (1)
Groundwater Exchange (13)
groundwater recharge (1)
habitat restoration (1)
history (2)
human right to water (2)
hydraulic fracturing (2)
infrastructure (9)
invasive species (1)
irrigation (2)
microplastics (2)
modeling (4)
monitoring (22)
nutrients (1)
oil and gas (3)
pesticides (2)
planning and management (7)
pollutants (10)
recycled water (15)
Regional Water Quality Control Plan (8)
Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (15)
salinity (4)
sea level rise (2)
sediment (5)
stormwater (6)
streams (1)
tribal water issues (1)
urban water conservation (6)
wastewater (67)
water quality (44)
water supply (5)
water use efficiency (3)
wetlands (1)

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (1)
American Chemical Society (ACS) (3)
American Geophysical Union (AGU) (1)
Applied Geochemistry (Elsevier) (2)
California Department of Water Resources (DWR) (2)
California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) (4)
California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA) (1)
Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB) (1)
Chemosphere (Elsevier) (1)
Clean Water (1)
Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRRWQCB) (1)
Congressional Research Service (CRS) (1)
Environmental Pollution (Elsevier) (1)
Heliyon (Elsevier) (1)
Hydrogeology Journal (Springer) (1)
I.B. Tauris (Bloomsbury) (1)
Johns Hopkins University Press (Hopkins Press) (1)
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (LRWQCB) (1)
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) (1)
Marine Pollution Bulletin (Elsevier) (1)
Nature Conservancy (1)
Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) (3)
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) (1)
Pacific Institute (3)
Palgrave Communications (1)
PLOS (1)
Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) (1)
San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (SDRWQCB) (1)
San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFBRWQCB) (1)
San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) (6)
San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) (5)
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (SARWQCB) (1)
Science of the Total Environment (Elsevier) (1)
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) (1)
Southern California Salinity Coalition (1)
Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure (Taylor & Francis) (1)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2)
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (2)
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) (1)
University of California, Davis (UC Davis) (1)
Water Education Foundation (1)
Water Research (Elsevier) (1)
Water Research Foundation (1)
Water Research, Elsevier (2)

Basin

Lucerne Valley 7-019 (1)

Hydrological Region

Central Coast (5)
Colorado River (3)
Lower Basin States and Mexico - Colorado River (3)
National (9)
North Coast (5)
North Lahontan (2)
Sacramento River (10)
San Francisco Bay (24)
San Joaquin River (9)
South Coast (17)
South Lahontan (3)
Tulare Lake (3)
Upper Basin States - Colorado River (1)

Reset

Search for:

CONTACT