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Technical Practice Updates (TPUs) are a unique kind of resource provided by WEF for its members and other practicing professionals who need timely and accurate information on emerging technical topics. Developed under the auspices of WEF’s Technical Practice Committee by diverse and balanced task forces using WEF’s established consensus procedures, these documents provide sound and timely information on emerging scientific, engineering, and other practice-related issues. They are provided at no charge to WEF members and are available for purchase by nonmembers. (Note: WEF members, you will be prompted to enter your WEF Membership ID number and password). Topics currently available are as follows: Biosolids, Collection Systems, Microconstituents, and Other.
- Sudden Increase and Regrowth of Fecal Coliforms in Anaerobically Digested Biosolids (July 2008) (Members) (Nonmembers)
Recently published reports indicate that some wastewater treatment plants using anaerobic digestion and certain dewatering processes have experienced increases in fecal coliform concentrations immediately after dewatering and/or conveyance. The mechanisms behind the phenomena of fecal coliform density increases are still being studied and researchers are trying to understand why this has been observed at some facilities but not at others using similar processes. This document presents a summary of the current body of knowledge on this issue and a preview of ongoing research. It gives an overview of related regulatory issues for biosolids stabilization and testing protocols for fecal coliforms. Recommendations for communication strategies on this issue are provided. Finally, a description of currently known methodologies to address sudden increase/reactivation/regrowth phenomena is presented. This document is an update of the August 2006 Technical Practice Update (TPU) and includes more recent information since the original TPU was published.
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- Wastewater System Capacity Sizing Using a Risk Management Approach
(May 2007) (Members) (Nonmembers)
This TPU introduces municipal wastewater system owners and operators to a risk-based approach for determining the capacity of their collection and treatment systems and compares the risk management approach to capacity and sizing decisions with traditional approaches. The risk-based approach is taken in part from WEF’s Guide to Managing Peak Wet Weather Flows in Municipal Wastewater Systems (Guide) (WEF, 2006). This TPU is not meant to provide detailed protocols for a risk-based approach, rather, how the decision framework can be applied to wet weather alternatives analysis and level of service determinations.
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- Analytical Methods and Monitoring Technologies for Microconstituents
(May 2007) (Members) (Nonmembers)
This TPU includes the following sections: Background, Relevance of Issue, What Has Been Done and What We Know, Sampling, Sampling Extraction Techniques, Analyses - Instrumentation and Methods, Instrumental Technique Summaries, Total Organic Carbon, Gas Chromatography/Electron Capture Detection, Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, High-Resolution Mass Spectrometers, Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry, Screening Methods, Toxicology/Toxicity Methods, Quality Control/Quality Assurance for the Analysis of Microconstituents, Where We Are Headed/Next Steps, References, and Appendix - List of the Most Frequently Discussed Microconstituents.
- Current Regulatory Framework for Microconstituents in Water (November 2007) (Members) (Nonmembers)
This Technical Practice Update (TPU), one in a series covering issues surrounding microconstituents, provides an analysis of the current state of knowledge on federal regulatory mechanisms in the United States for microconstituents in the environment. Regulatory strengths and weaknesses and examples of potential solutions are examined.
- Effects of Wastewater Treatment on Microconstituents (May 2007)
(Members) (Nonmembers)
This TPU includes the following sections: Background; Relevance of Issue and Technical Practice Update Objectives; What Has Been Done and What Do We Know; What Is Needed or Not Known; Where We Are Heading; Next Steps and/or Recommendations; and References.
- Microconstituents in Biosolids (July 2007) (Members) (Nonmembers)
Although biosolids have been classified in 40 CFR 503 for potential environmental impacts, there has been minimal investment in understanding and quantifying microconstituents in biosolids. As used here, microconstituents is a broad, umbrella term that encompasses substances for which some information is available, such as those that can be categorized by effects or source, but which may require more study. Recent studies documented in this Technical Practice Update (TPU) indicate the presence of pharmaceuticals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, sterols, and other microconstituents in Class B biosolids, regardless of the biosolids treatment technologies used. This TPU serves as a resource for sound and accurate information on the current state of knowledge of these microconstituents until future standard practices are fully developed. Users can draw upon this information to better understand the issue and how it may impact them, and to assist in making informed decisions as to how they might proceed to manage their own biosolids programs in such a manner as to protect the health and welfare of their employees, the public, and the environment.
Included are a literature review of pertinent references on pharmceuticals, brominated flame retardants, plastics and plasticizers, and musks and fragrances; U.S. and European Union framework for regulating microconstituents in biosolids; how the issue should be addressed; methodologies for assessing microconstituents in biosolids; and a discussion of future research/directions on this Issue.
- New! Nanoparticles (May 2008) (Members) (Nonmembers)
This Water Environment Federation (WEF) Technical Practice Update (TPU) provides one of the first overviews of the potential effects of manufactured nanomaterials in wastewater treatment plants. Nanotechnology refers to the emerging field that creates and uses nanoscale material (manufactured nanomaterial) where the particle size is in the range of 1 to 100 nanometers (nm) in at least one dimension. Nanotechnology facilitates manipulation of materials at the molecular level. Because of their extremely small size and their ability to be manipulated at the molecular level, nanomaterials exhibit novel properties and functions that differ from their conventional counterparts, such as micron suspended or dissolved materials (National Nanotechnology Initiative, 2007).
- Source Control of Microconstituents (September 2007)
(Members) (Nonmembers)
This Technical Practice Update (TPU), one in a series covering issues surrounding microconstituents, provides information on potential source control measures to reduce the presence of microconstituents in surface water bodies. Source control measures seek to reduce or eliminate pollution where it originates to protect various environmental matrices, including surface water bodies and groundwater aquifers.
- Sources of Microconstituents and Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds (July 2007) (Members) (Nonmembers)
This Technical Practice Update (TPU), one in a series covering issues surrounding microconstituents, provides information on the sources of these compounds and potential human and environmental exposure. As defined here, microconstituents are natural and manmade substances, including elements and inorganic and organic chemicals. These are detected within water and the environment and a prudent course of action is needed to fully determine the potential effects on human health and the environment. These compounds include, but are not limited to, endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) and are found in environmental media such as air, surface water, and groundwater. These chemical compounds are ubiquitous in modern life and exposure results from their widespread use and the longevity of many chemicals. This paper describes the large number of naturally occurring and manmade compounds including household chemicals, personal care products and pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, additives to plastics and packaging materials, veterinary medicines, industrial chemicals, and pesticides. It identifies challenges and future directions for scientific study to better understand the effects of these compounds and ways to decrease these sources from entering the environment.
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