KEY TAKEAWAYS: The PFAS inventory helps determine where PFAS might be entering the collection system and who might be contributing. Illinois NPDES permit special conditions generally require permittees to develop and submit a PFAS inventory within 12 months of the permit effective date. Common high-risk PFAS contributors include airports and firefi...
As Illinois wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) navigate new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, requirements under updated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, one step stands out as especially critical: the PFAS inventory. While PFAS sampling and monitoring identify what per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ar...
They're often called forever chemicals – and unfortunately, the name fits. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human‑made chemicals designed to resist heat, water and oil. That's why they show up in everyday items like nonstick cookware, food packaging, stain‑resistant fabrics, firefighting foam and countless industrial ...
In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced legally enforceable drinking water standards for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The final rule sets limits for five PFAS chemicals and establishes a hazard index level for mixtures of two or more PFAS chemicals. What does this rule mean for public water systems? Initial...
Biosolids are treated sewage sludge that meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge. They are commonly applied to land as a soil conditioner or fertilizer and can be used on agricultural land, forests and rangeland. Biosolids are also suitable for nonagricultural use, such as golf courses,...
Biological wastewater treatment is a bioremediation process that uses microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and algae, to break down or transform pollutants in water into less harmful substances. Treatment techniques involve either attached growth processes, where microbes grow on the surface of stone or plastic media, or suspended growth process...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs) as national regulatory standards to control wastewater discharges of pollutants into surface waters and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). To date, the EPA has issued ELGs for 59 industrial categories. The wastewater treatment plant effluent stan...
Cost estimates play a critical role in the early planning stages of commercial sewage treatment systems. The first step in planning a wastewater treatment system upgrade for an industrial facility involves identifying suitable treatment processes and equipment. The next step is comparing the treatment processes, taking costs and operational realiti...
Sustainable wastewater management focuses on closing the loop on resource usage during wastewater treatment, creating a system where waste is minimized by resource recycling and reuse. By integrating efficient treatment processes and technologies, communities can minimize environmental impact while improving long-term water quality. The 3Rs of sust...
Traditional sewage treatment plants are large outdoor facilities that require significant energy consumption and high operational and maintenance costs. Most traditional treatment plants adhere to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-mandated secondary treatment standards, which are minimum, technology-based requirements. In contrast, the effl...
Per- and Polyfluoroalkalyl Substances (PFAS) are not directly generated at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) but enter through influent from industrial, commercial and domestic sources. Standard sludge treatment methods, such as digestion, lime treatment, thermal drying and composting, do not remove PFAS. As a result, municipal biosolids often co...
Most wastewater treatment equipment lasts 15 to 20 years, while the average wastewater treatment plants have a lifespan of 40 to 50 years. That means a majority of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) in the U.S., built in the 1970s and 1980s, are nearing or beyond the intended lifespan. Aging pipes, outdated facilities and inefficient technology...
Many wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) use digestion to meet federal regulations and reduce total sludge volume. The correct digester optimizes operations and maintenance, so it's crucial to make the best choice – aerobic or anaerobic – for your WWTP. Aerobic digestion is more suitable for small and medium WWTPs because of its high-energy demand....
Safeguarding a community's health is important. Effluent discharge from publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) can cause major damage, so municipalities must remain vigilant to identify and eliminate threats to their water systems. When nutrient-rich waste streams into aquatic ecosystems, excess nitrogen and phosphorus increase the growth of microo...
Water quality management is serious. Municipalities must manage the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of surface water and groundwater to facilitate a healthy community, which is no small task. Water quality is determined by various factors, including dissolved oxygen (essential for aquatic life), salinity, turbidity (water clarity)...
Sewage sludge is a wastewater treatment byproduct, a semi-solid slurry of organic matter, trace chemicals and inorganic solids. The effective management, treatment and disposal of sewage sludge is a major challenge. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) protect public health, surface waters and the surrounding environment by focusing on the three Rs ...
If you're exploring upgrades within your publicly owned treatment works (POTW), consider constructing an aeration basin in your community's wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to improve effluent quality and save on high energy costs. Let's focus on four questions to explore aeration basins: Why is aeration necessary in wastewater treatment?What is t...
While phosphorus and nitrogen are indispensable for the growth of aquatic flora, nutrient-rich wastewater results in eutrophication — an excessive growth of algae and plankton in bodies of water — which impairs freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems. To preserve these vital bodies of water and prevent eutrophication, wastewater treatment plants a...
Ideally, a sewer line should last 50 to 100 years, depending on the materials used to build the pipes. The gradual deterioration of sewer pipelines is caused by cracks, settling, tree root intrusion and other disturbances that develop over time. These deteriorating conditions affect the amount of inflow and infiltration entering systems, particular...
PFAS, or Per- and Polyfluroalkyl Substances, contamination of groundwater and drinking water exposes us to chemicals that eventually bioaccumulate in our tissues. Preliminary studies indicate the potential health effects of PFAS include altered immune and thyroid function, liver and kidney diseases, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes a...
