Premium
Model Parameters for Simulating Fate and Transport of On‐Site Wastewater Nutrients
Author(s) -
McCray John E.,
Kirkland Shiloh L.,
Siegrist Robert L.,
Thyne Geoffrey D.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.2005.0077.x
Subject(s) - effluent , wastewater , pollutant , environmental engineering , nitrification , nitrate , environmental science , ammonium , denitrification , population , sorption , phosphate , chemistry , environmental chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , nitrogen , engineering , demography , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , adsorption , sociology
This paper presents a critical review of model‐input parameters for transport of on‐site wastewater treatment system (OWS) pollutants. Approximately 25% of the U.S. population relies on soil‐based OWS for effective treatment and protection of public health and environmental quality. Mathematical models are useful tools for understanding and predicting the transport and fate of wastewater pollutants and for addressing water‐budget issues related to wastewater reclamation from site to watershed scales. However, input parameters for models that simulate fate and transport of OWS pollutants are not readily obtained. The purpose of this analysis is to illustrate an objective, statistically supported method for choosing model‐input parameters related to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Data were gathered from existing studies reported in the literature. Cumulative frequency distributions (CFDs) are provided for OWS effluent concentrations of N and P, nitrification and denitrification rates, and linear sorption isotherm constants for P. When CFDs are not presented, ranges and median values are provided. Median values for model‐input parameters are as follows: total N concentration (44 mg/L), nitrate‐N (0.2 mg/L), ammonium (60 mg/L), phosphate‐P (9 mg/L), organic N (14 mg/L), zero‐order nitrification rate (264 mg/L/d), first‐order nitrification (2.9/d), first‐order dentrification (0.025/d), maximum soil capacity for P uptake (237 mg/kg), linear sorption isotherm constant for P (15.1 L/kg), and OWS effluent flow rates (260 L/person/d).