Next week, the village of Groton will begin testing phosphorous-reducing chemicals on wastewater from the village's sewage treatment plant.
Chemical testing is the first requirement set by the state Department of Environmental Conservation as a result of the plant's January 2004 to 2006 permit violations.
According to an Order on Consent between the DEC and the village, the plant has violated its flow limits for two years. Beginning Aug. 1, if the village does not comply with six orders set forth by the DEC, the village must pay a $24,000 penalty in addition to a definite $1,000 penalty that already must be paid.
A state DEC official confirmed Tuesday that they received back a signed consent that will ensure the plant continues its pursuit to minimize the amount of phosphorous it releases in the lake.
According to county officials, Groton's sewage treatment plant is a large contributor to the lake's extremely high phosphorous levels.
Owasco Lake's high phosphorous content is considered a cause of increased weed and algae growth in the lake, county officials said. Phosphorous levels in the lake have increased from 4.5 parts per billion in 1986 to 13 ppb in 2005.
Next week, the plant will begin testing different chemicals in the wastewater that can reduce the phosphorous level.
Following six weeks of testing two different chemicals, a summarized report with results will be sent back to the DEC for a decision to be made on further action, said Chuck Rankin, Groton administrator.
“We are very pleased the DEC is beginning to work with Groton,” said Eileen O'Connor, director of Environmental Health for Cayuga County. “It's too bad it couldn't have been done last year, but let's move forward with positive results.”
A two-day pilot study done on phosphorous removal on the Groton's wastewater treatment plant completed June 1 and released by the DEC, recommended that full-scale testing be conducted using the chemicals PAC and ferric chloride. According to the report, each chemical should be separately tested for three weeks.
The report estimates testing costs at $13,600, to be paid for by the village.
According to the county Department of Health, one third of phosphorous in Owasco Lake can be attributed to the plant, O'Connor said. Other sources may be lawns, farm runoff and septic systems that cannot be directly measured.
In two years, the plant has discharged more than 9,800 pounds of phosphorous into the Owasco Inlet, O'Connor said.
“Every pound of phosphorous grows 500 pounds of aquatic weeds in the lake,” said Bruce Natale, of the county Environmental Management and Engineering Services.
Currently, the lake's total phosphorous level is 13 micrograms per liter, Natale said.
“We hope to get the level back down to 10 where it was in the early 90s,” Natale said.
Three chemicals were tested in the original reduced-scale pilot testing and were proven successful. According to the report, the two chemicals that will now be tested have the potential of reducing phosphorous levels.
The six-week full-scale tests will determine what chemical reduces phosphorous the most effectively and where in the plant's system the chemicals should be placed to work best, the report stated.
Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net
According to an Order on Consent between the DEC and the village, the plant has violated its flow limits for two years. Beginning Aug. 1, if the village does not comply with six orders set forth by the DEC, the village must pay a $24,000 penalty in addition to a definite $1,000 penalty that already must be paid.
A state DEC official confirmed Tuesday that they received back a signed consent that will ensure the plant continues its pursuit to minimize the amount of phosphorous it releases in the lake.
According to county officials, Groton's sewage treatment plant is a large contributor to the lake's extremely high phosphorous levels.
Owasco Lake's high phosphorous content is considered a cause of increased weed and algae growth in the lake, county officials said. Phosphorous levels in the lake have increased from 4.5 parts per billion in 1986 to 13 ppb in 2005.
Next week, the plant will begin testing different chemicals in the wastewater that can reduce the phosphorous level.
Following six weeks of testing two different chemicals, a summarized report with results will be sent back to the DEC for a decision to be made on further action, said Chuck Rankin, Groton administrator.
“We are very pleased the DEC is beginning to work with Groton,” said Eileen O'Connor, director of Environmental Health for Cayuga County. “It's too bad it couldn't have been done last year, but let's move forward with positive results.”
A two-day pilot study done on phosphorous removal on the Groton's wastewater treatment plant completed June 1 and released by the DEC, recommended that full-scale testing be conducted using the chemicals PAC and ferric chloride. According to the report, each chemical should be separately tested for three weeks.
The report estimates testing costs at $13,600, to be paid for by the village.
According to the county Department of Health, one third of phosphorous in Owasco Lake can be attributed to the plant, O'Connor said. Other sources may be lawns, farm runoff and septic systems that cannot be directly measured.
In two years, the plant has discharged more than 9,800 pounds of phosphorous into the Owasco Inlet, O'Connor said.
“Every pound of phosphorous grows 500 pounds of aquatic weeds in the lake,” said Bruce Natale, of the county Environmental Management and Engineering Services.
Currently, the lake's total phosphorous level is 13 micrograms per liter, Natale said.
“We hope to get the level back down to 10 where it was in the early 90s,” Natale said.
Three chemicals were tested in the original reduced-scale pilot testing and were proven successful. According to the report, the two chemicals that will now be tested have the potential of reducing phosphorous levels.
The six-week full-scale tests will determine what chemical reduces phosphorous the most effectively and where in the plant's system the chemicals should be placed to work best, the report stated.
Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net
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Denny wrote on Aug 3, 2006 2:34 PM:
Bill wrote on Aug 3, 2006 2:18 PM: