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FY 1995 ABSTRACTS
FY 1995 Water Problems And Issues
Introduction:
Although the past winter was near average for snow conditions,
the spring and summer were very dry. This continues the below-average
precipitation of 1992 and 1993, and is developing into significant
low streamflows and ground water levels in the state and region.
Unfortunately, low water conditions will only exacerbate the traditional
state water problems and issues: non-point source pollution and competition
of users. These problems have been recognized in the past; however,
little action occurs toward resolving them until a true crisis exists.
A problem looming in the future is that of growth. Growth will unquestionably
affect water resources, and may stimulate the crisis necessary to
commence resolution of many of the current water problems.
Surface Water
Critical surface water issues continue to be both quantity and
quality related. Entering the third year of dry conditions, there
are highlighted locations where demand now exceeds supply, and this
includes the more traditional competition between instream versus
withdrawal uses. Systems with no clearly delineated operational rules
or user strategies may need to develop them either within or outside
of the legal arena. Unfortunately, there are few precedents from
which to develop consistent rules.
Surface water quality is impeded by the various forms of nonpoint
source pollution. There should be some concerned efforts to challenge
the notion that these are not feasible to effect change. There is
little federal regulatory sympathy for nonpoint source pollution
originating from out of state (acid rain) or natural causes (migratory
birds), which complicates resolution of nonpoint source pollution
issues. Continuing issues surround treatment of surface water and
small community systems, including: treatment costs and methods,
plant operations and best technologies.
Ground Water
There continues to be a trend toward bottling ground water.
The water sources are both from bedrock and unconsolidated deposits.
The regulations controlling this industry are very few, but should
include some aspects of wellhead protection. Also, there are lingering
concerns about water ownership and the right to export water. There
has been increasing interest by gravel pit owners as to the future
and the potential of their properties, especially since these formations
are also important aquifers and/or recharge areas. The general public
seems to be aware of the connection of ground water to daily activities;
however, the knowledge base of specific ground water flow patterns
is small.
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RELEASE OF NITRATE-NITROGEN AND HEAVY METALS FROM LAND APPLIED
BIOSOLIDS IN NORTHERN AREAS
Principal Investigators: Dr. George Estes, Jianqiang
Zhao and Nancy Batchelder, University of New Hampshire
Descriptors: Land application, sludge, ground water, soil water, nutrients,
crop yield
Problem and Research Objectives:
The research involves on-farm, field-scale studies with biosolids
from Concord and Hanover, NH, and is designed to identify best management
strategies for their appropriate use when applied to agricultural
land. The specific objectives for this research were: (1) to determine
the relationship between N loading rates, nitrate-N production and
changes in NO3 - N concentrations of soil profiles at four rates
of broadcast, soil-incorporated biosolids; (2) to identify the extent
of nutrients and metal accumulation and mobility within soil profiles,
uptake by crops, and their movement beyond the root zone at four
application rates of biosolids.
Principal Findings and Significance:
Biosolid application has produced negligible improvements in
crop yield due to a high degree of residual fertility in the soil
at both sites. At Site 2, no statistically significant differences
occurred in yield of silage corn for 1993, but in 1994 significant
yield increases (over controls) were noted with Concord biosolids
at the highest rates. At Site 1, no significant yield increases occurred
in either 1993 or 1994 (compared to controls) following application
of biosolids or manure. No significant change occurred in the concentration
of heavy metals in plant tissue following soil incorporation of biosolids
at either site. Metals were concentrated in the zone of incorporation
(0-6") of the soil profile.
Seasonal soil NO3 -N levels at Site 2 as measured via PSNT tests
showed a peak release in early August from biosolids, which was not
synchronous with the N needs of corn.
Concentrations of NO3 -N in water samples collected by suction lysimeters
located 4 feet below the soil surface were higher with biosolids
compared to manure at comparable rates of total N application. While
highly variable, NO3 -N concentrations from these lysimeters frequently
exceeded federal drinking water standards of 10 ug g-1 . Monitoring
wells installed in the summer of 1995 at Site 2 showed a fluctuating
water table in June-July which varies from 13 to 14 feet; water samples
collected from these wells showed NO3 -N concentrations to vary from
0.2 - 12 ug g-1 .
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INFLUENCE OF NONPOINT-SOURCE POLLUTION ON MICROBIAL ASPECTS
OF WATER QUALITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE'S COASTAL WATERSHEDS
Principal Investigators: Dr.
Stephen H. Jones, Dr.
William H. McDowell, Dr.
Richard Langan, University of New Hampshire
Descriptors: Water quality management, bacteria, organic compounds, nutrients,
contaminant transport, estuaries, pollutants, public health
Research Objectives:
The specific objectives of this research was as follows:
- Determine the seasonal occurrence and persistence of indicator
and pathogenic bacteria in relation to nutrients, phytoplankton blooms,
and DOC/dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) along a transect from the
Oyster River to Great Bay at Furber Strait;
- Characterize differences in growth and survival responses of target bacteria
in estuarine water from different sources (algal production, terrestrial
NPS runoff, POTW, seasonal and spatial differences) that reflect ambient
variability in DOC/DON, planktonic micro-flora and -fauna and nutrients;
- Relate laboratory results to observe environmental trends to
explain mechanisms of microbial dynamics in the Great Bay Estuary.
Principal Findings and Significance:
The temporal intensity of sampling was increased during August
1994, and in May and June 1995, to better understand the dynamics
of water quality parameters at some of the sites relative to target
bacterial numbers. The V. parahaemolyticus data showed differences
from V. vulnificus data in a similar fashion to last year. V. vulnificus
incidence was similar to that observed in 1993, which was much more
frequent than in any of the three previous years. However, V. vulnificus
concentrations were much higher throughout the study area in 1994.
Numbers were especially high at a site just downstream from the Durham
POTW, where DOC concentrations were also elevated. The most consistently
positive (54%) site for V. vulnificus incidence in 1994 was the site
farthest up the Oyster River, with incidence decreasing at the next
downstream site (25%), to the mouth of the river (18%) and at Adams
Point (16%).
Microcosm studies have yielded results that help to interpret field
observations. The incubation temperature had major effects on the
growth and survival responses of the different bacteria. The vibrios
became non-culturable at 5oC, as expected, while fecal-borne bacteria
maintained relatively high levels in estuarine water, even in the
presence of other bacteria. At 20oC, the vibrios showed some growth
responses in the estuarine water in pure cultures, less of a response
in water with eukaryotes inhibited, and no growth and decreased survival
in the presence of all microorganisms. E. coli exhibited no growth
but better survival in all treatments in the more polluted, upstream
estuarine water compared to the cleaner Adams Point water. Enterococci
showed less differences between sites, but maintained higher numbers
compared to E. coli.
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FIELD EVALUATION OF THE LAND APPLICATION OF PAPER MILL SECONDARY
CLARIFIER SLUDGE
Principal Investigators: Dr.
Thomas P. Ballestero, Dr.
James P. Malley, Jr., Dr. George O. Estes, University of New
Hampshire
Descriptors: Groundwater quality, heavy metals, industrial wastewater, infiltration,
sludge
Problem and Research Objectives:
Wausau Paper of New Hampshire, Inc. (formerly James River Corporation
- Groveton, NH plant) was faced with high costs of landfilling its
secondary clarifier sludge. The sludge is derived from the wastewater
treatment process of paper mill process waters, and it is composed
of 2% solids. The solids are basically microorganism husks, paper
fibers and clay colloids. It was felt that the sludge could be land
applied to grow crops suitable for forage, or in aiding with re-vegetation
of disturbed lands. The significance of the project was specifically
aimed at saving landfill space and at sludge management. More generally,
the project aided with sludge management of the regional paper mill
industry.
Objectives were to: monitor chemical fate and transport (soil, soil
water, ground water and vegetation); characterize infiltration characteristics
through time; evaluate vadose zone and ground water microbiology.
Principle Findings and Significance:
Over the project duration, over 17 million gallons were spread
over the application area. The annual application rate is limited
by the cadmium in the sludge. The source of the cadmium is boiler
blow down water.
To date, no adverse effects on ground water have been detected by
measurements. Also, although the sludge had very high TKN, no nitrate
increases were seen in soil water or ground water except immediately
after the application event.
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HYDROGEOLOGY
OF THE SPRUCE HOLE AQUIFER
Principal Investigators: Dr.
Thomas P. Ballestero,
Dr. Frank S. Birch, Dr.
Thomas Lee, University of New Hampshire
Descriptors: Aquifer characteristics, groundwater recharge, groundwater movement,
groundwater modeling, geophysics, ecosystems, wetlands
Problem and Research:
The research objectives of this continuing project were: delineation
of the lateral and vertical extent of the aquifer through the use
of seismic geophysics; completion of monitoring wells and a pumping
well; biotic and ecologic assessment of the bog; delineation of the
ground water connection to the bog; hydrogeology of the formation;
and potential for the formation to serve as a water supply with and
without the use of artificial recharge.
Principal Findings and Significance:
Three permanent monitoring plots were located inside each of
the commuter-classified and mapped plant communities. Plots were
4 m by 1.5m in size and are marked for future relocation by stakes
and aluminum tags. Three kinds of information were obtained from
each plot:
- A quantified cover estimate of each plant species by using the
line-intercept method.
- A species list of plants present, including minor species unlikely
to be encountered by sampling lines.
- A list of species and heights of all species taller than one
meter.
This information is stored as a computer database and is available
for future monitoring.
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