The 13C, 15N and 34S signatures of a rocky reef planktivorous fish indicate different coastal discharges of sewage

2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Troy F. Gaston ◽  
Antionette Kostoglidis ◽  
Iain M. Suthers

We assessed the effects of primary, secondary and tertiary treated sewage on the stable isotope composition of the viscera and muscle of the zooplanktivorous eastern hula fish (Plesiopidae: Trachinops taeniatus). Fish were collected from three regions during three consecutive summer months for 2 years. In comparison to fish from control sites, the muscle δ15N of fish at outfall sites was significantly enriched by secondary and tertiary treated effluent. We estimate that 30–50% of nitrogen in hula fish near outfalls may be sewage-derived. The δ34S content of muscle was similar at all regions and sites (20–21‰), although it was significantly depleted by 1–2‰ at the tertiary treated outfall site. Detection of a comparatively minor volume of effluent (<6 ML day–1) in fish muscle may be due to its slower tissue turnover rate and the continuous discharge of effluent at outfall sites, compared to major yet sporadic rainfall or oceanographic events. The isotopic composition of hula fish from near a large primary treated sewage outfall off the coast of Sydney was not significantly different from one of the control sites, indicating a regional effect of four outfalls discharging >1000 ML day–1. With increasing upgrades to sewage treatment, stable isotopes may become useful tracers of anthropogenic nutrients in an oligotrophic environment.

Author(s):  
Eduardo de Aguiar Do Couto ◽  
Paula Peixoto Assemany ◽  
Maria Lúcia Calijuri ◽  
Aníbal da Fonseca Santiago ◽  
Luna Gripp Simões Alves

Airports consume significant amounts of water which can be compared to the volume consumed by mid-size cities, thus practices aimed at reducing water consumption are important and necessary. The objective of this study was to assess the reuse potential of sewage effluent produced at a mid-size international airport for nursery irrigation. The sewage treatment system consisted of a facultative pond followed by a constructed wetland, which were monitored during one hydrological year and the parameters COD, pH, solids, nitrogen, phosphorus and Escherichia coli were analyzed. Removal efficiencies of 85% and 91% were achieved for COD and solids, respectively. Removal efficiencies for ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus were 77% and 59%, respectively. In terms of E. coli concentration, the treated effluent met the recommendations by the World Health Organization for reuse in irrigation with the advantage of providing high levels of residual nutrient. The ornamental species Impatiens walleriana was irrigated with treated sewage effluent and plant growth characteristics were evaluated. The experiment showed that reuse can enhance plant growth without significantly affecting leaf tissue and soil characteristics. This study highlighted the importance of simple technologies for sewage treatment especially in countries which still do not present great investment in sanitation and proved that effluent reuse for landscape irrigation can provide great savings of water and financial resources for airport environments.


Author(s):  
Giuliano Gabrielli ◽  
Jorge L. da Paixão ◽  
Bruno Coraucci ◽  
Adriano L. Tonetti

<title>ABSTRACT</title><p>Effluents from secondary sewage treatment plants may contain amount of nutrients with the potential to cause eutrophication of water bodies. One of the ways to decrease this influx of nutrients would be the agricultural reuse. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the irrigation of roses of the Ambiance variety with the effluent from an anaerobic reactor and an intermittent sand filter (nitrified effluent). The trial lasted for 152 days. The dose of nitrogen applied via effluent was 91% of the crop requirement; of phosphorus, 3.5% (very low); and of potassium, 23%. There was no difference among treatments for the evaluated variables: diameter and length of stem, diameter and length of bud, and fresh weight of flower buds. The production of floral stems was higher in treatments with effluents without conventional fertilization. It is concluded that the irrigation with a treated effluent is an alternative for the fertilization of ambiance roses.</p>


1993 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 2071-2076 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.H. Hesslein ◽  
K.A. Hallard ◽  
P. Ramlal

We monitored the change in the isotope composition of sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen in broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus) tissues in response to a change in the isotope composition of their food. One of two batches of 2.5-yr-old fish raised in the laboratory were given a new food source with different δ34S, δ13C, and δ15N, which were monitored in muscle and liver tissue for 1 yr. A model including change due to tissue accumulation (growth) and metabolic replacement was developed. For all three isotopes, most of the change could be attributed to growth. Metabolic replacement expressed as a turnover rate was only 0.1 −0.2%∙d−1 and was similar for the three isotopes. Although liver tissue was −4.4 and −4.1‰, respectively, for δ34S and δ13C relative to muscle tissue, the response over time to the new food was the same as for muscle. We expect that the complete change in the isotope composition of fish tissue in response to a change in food could take years in slow-growing wild populations. The stable isotope composition would represent a long-term average of the food. In fast-growing fish the rate of change would directly reflect the growth rate.


2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Walczak

Changes of microbial indices of water quality in the Vistula and Brda rivers as a result of sewage treatment plant operationThis paper reports the results of studies of microbiological changes in the water quality of the Vistula and Brda rivers after the opening of sewage treatment plants in Bydgoszcz. The study involved determining the microbiological parameters of water quality. Based on the results obtained, it was found that the quality of the water in both rivers had improved decidedly after the opening of the plants, although an increased number of individual groups of microorganisms was found at the treated sewage outlet from one of the plants.


1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 243-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
J W van Sluis ◽  
L Lijklema

As a result of the construction of a barrage in the estuary of the Nakdong river the size of the estuary will be considerably reduced. In addition, a large river reservoir is created upstream of the barrage. Main points of interest are the effects of the discharge of raw sewage and treated effluent into the Nakdong river on the water quality in the projected reservoir and the water quality forecasts for the remaining part of the estuary, in relation with the existing plans for sewerage and sewage treatment for the city of Busan. In addition, measures to reduce the effects of the barrage and the outline of a water quality management programme are presented. Special consideration is given to the methodological aspects of the water quality study, i.e. the selection and use of mathematical models in a situation where input data are rather uncertain and only very few data for parameter estimation and model verification are available.


1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 449-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Giger ◽  
M. Ahel ◽  
M. Koch ◽  
H. U. Laubscher ◽  
C. Schaffner ◽  
...  

Effluents and sludges from several municipal sewage treatment plants in Switzerland were analyzed for nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPnEO, n=3-20), nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylate (NPlEO, NP2EO), corresponding nonylphenoxy carboxylic acids (NP1EC, NP2EC) and nonylphenol (NP). These chemicals derive from nonionic surfactants of the NPnEO-type, and specific analitical techniques were used to study their behaviour during mechanical-biological sewage and subsequent sludge treatment. The parent NPnEO-surfactants, with concentrations in raw and mechanically treated sewage from 400-2200 mg/m3, were relatively efficiently removed by the activated sludge treatment. The abundances of the different metabolites varied depending on treatment conditions. The refractory nature of NPl/2EO, NP and NPl/2EC was recognized. Both biotransformations and physico-chemical processes determine the behaviour and fate of nonylphenolic substances in sewage treatment. Nitrilotriacetate (NTA) was found in primary effluents at concentrations between 430 and 1390 mg/m3. The various treatment plants showed different removal efficiencies for NTA depending on the operating conditions. Activated sludge treatment with low sludge loading rates and nitrifying conditions removed NTA with efficiencies between 95 and 99%. High sludge loading caused a decrease in NTA removal efficiencies from 70% to 39%.


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