Limited uptake of nutrient input from sewage effluent in a tropical landscape

Figueroa-Nieves, Débora; McDowell, William H.; Potter, Jody D.; Martínez, Gustavo

doi:10.1086/684992

Cited by 10 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…In contrast to specific conductivity, N does not have a strong frequency at 0.5 days, but does have a high power at one day, indicating that in-stream processing is changing the N signal (Table 1). We do not have any indications of large groundwater N inputs in this system, and low ammonium concentrations eliminate nitrification of WWTP effluent as a possibility, so this release is most likely due to mineralization of organic matter that has been produced in-stream below the plant (Figueroa-Nieves et al, 2016;Martí et al, 2004). The signal then shifts to a removal signal until 13:00-15:00, during which specific conductivity increases, but N concentrations decrease.…”

Section: Wastewater Treatment Plant Signal Transitmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Different physical processes continue to control these signals, with depth changing from upstream pressure head celerity and specific conductivity changing due to flow velocity (McDonnell & Beven, 2014), resulting in hysteresis behaviour ( Figure S6). Increases in N have been seen below WWTPs in other locations, and they have been attributed to subsurface inputs and in-stream release processes (Figueroa-Nieves et al, 2016;Martí et al, 2004;Merseburger et al, 2005;Ribot et al, 2012). In addition, the relationship between specific conductivity and N at the downstream site is no The WWTP signal comes through at night, until about 3:00, with both N and specific conductivity increasing (Figures 4 and 6).…”

Section: Wastewater Treatment Plant Signal Transitmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…In contrast, some studies have also seen a decrease in N uptake length below WWTP outfalls, indicative of increased retention, attributing it to in-stream denitrification hotspots spurred by discharge of DOC from WWTPs, although there is the potential this varies seasonally (Gücker et al, 2006;Rahm, Hill, Shaw, & Riha, 2016;Ribot et al, 2012). Uptake rates have been shown to increase below WWTPs, whereas uptake velocity decreases in some studies (Figueroa-Nieves et al, 2016;Haggard et al, 2005); other studies show increases in both uptake rate and uptake velocity (Gücker et al, 2006). Uptake rates have been shown to increase below WWTPs, whereas uptake velocity decreases in some studies (Figueroa-Nieves et al, 2016;Haggard et al, 2005); other studies show increases in both uptake rate and uptake velocity (Gücker et al, 2006).…”

Section: Wastewater Treatment Plants As Nutrient Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Many studies have found a decrease in net nutrient retention below plants and increased nutrient export in both small and large rivers (Figueroa-Nieves et al, 2016;Haggard, Storm, & Stanley, 2001;Martí et al, 2004). Many studies have found a decrease in net nutrient retention below plants and increased nutrient export in both small and large rivers (Figueroa-Nieves et al, 2016;Haggard, Storm, & Stanley, 2001;Martí et al, 2004).…”

Section: Wastewater Treatment Plants As Nutrient Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Downstream evolution of wastewater treatment plant nutrient signals using high‐temporal monitoring

Ledford

Toran

2019

Hydrological Processes

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Wastewater treatment plants are major point-sources of nutrients to streams globally, but the impact on receiving streams is not always clear. Previous research has shown mixed responses in receiving streams, with some showing no net retention through instream processing for large distances below plants and some showing high rates of processing and retention. This study focuses on Sandy Run, a small, suburban stream in Montgomery County, PA, that receives effluent from two plants, where effluent makes up an estimated 50% of outlet discharge at baseflow. Two sites were monitored in late summer baseflow using high-temporal loggers to evaluate nitrate and phosphate retention with distance below the plants. Effluent quantity was monitored immediately below the effluent outfalls using specific conductivity as a conservative signal of solute fluctuations throughout the day. A site 1 km downstream showed diel nitrate changes, but despite moderate gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration rates, there was little net retention of nutrients and the diel nitrate signal can be attributed to advection and dispersion of variable upstream effluent. A site 5.4 km below the plant showed a diel nitrate signal as well, but baseflow daily hysteresis plots of nitrate and specific conductivity showed the effluent and nitrate peaks did not coincide. Instead, the effluent input signal was seen overnight, but there was in-stream removal and release processes during the day. Over the distance to this site, the stream was metabolizing some of the high nutrient loads, although gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration rates were lower. It is important to understand subdaily changes in nutrient processing to fully quantify the impacts of effluent on small streams at different scales. Furthermore, looking at the diel signal without considering conservative transport would overestimate in-stream processing. K E Y W O R D Sdaily hysteresis, ecosystem respiration (ER), gross primary productivity (GPP), high-temporal sensor, in-stream metabolism, nitrogen cycling, urban stream, wastewater treatment plant

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Section: Wastewater Treatment Plant Signal Transitmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Wastewater Treatment Plant Signal Transitmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Wastewater Treatment Plants As Nutrient Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Wastewater Treatment Plants As Nutrient Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Downstream evolution of wastewater treatment plant nutrient signals using high‐temporal monitoring

Ledford

Toran

2019

Hydrological Processes

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“…Elevated background nutrient concentrations and chlorophyll standing stocks can increase nutrient uptake (Bernot, Tank, Royer, & David, 2006;Niyogi, Simon, & Townsend, 2004). In tropical areas of developing countries, where population growth is significant (Grimm et al, 2008) and N and P inputs are usually large, significantly less information is available on stream uptake and retention of these nutrients (e.g., Figueroa-Nieves, McDowell, Potter, & Martínez, 2016;Gücker & Boëchat, 2004;Tromboni et al, 2017). Urbanization can also decrease streams' nutrient retention capacity and efficiency as compared with more pristine ecosystems by altering hydrologic characteristics (Batchelor & Gu, 2014;Grimm et al, 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient uptake in a simplified stream channel: Experimental manipulation of hydraulic residence time and transient storage

et al. 2018

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Stream restoration efforts have aimed at increasing hydraulic residence time (HRT) and transient storage (TS) to enhance nutrient uptake, but there have been few controlled studies quantifying HRT and TS influences on nutrient uptake dynamics. We assessed the effects of HRT and TS on ammonium (NH4+) and phosphate (PO43−) uptake through controlled experiments in an artificial channel draining a pristine tropical stream. We experimentally dammed the channel with artificial weirs, to progressively increase HRT, and performed NH4+ and PO43− additions to estimate uptake each time a weir was added. We also ran consecutive additions of NH4+ and PO43− with no weirs, to evaluate short‐term changes in uptake metrics. Also, NH4+ was injected alone to assess potential nitrification. We observed that NH4+ and PO43− uptake rates were much greater in the very first addition, probably due to luxury uptake. The weirs increased mean HRT (from 8.5 to 12 min) and depth (from 6.5 to 8.9 cm) and decreased mean water velocity (0.40–0.28 m s−1). Surprisingly, damming decreased the relative size of transient storage zone (storage zone area/channel area, As/A from 0.72 to 0.55), indicating that greater depth increased A, but not As. Greater HRT increased uptake rates and velocities of both nutrients (p < 0.05). The NH4+ conversion to NO3− was estimated at 18% of NH4+ consumption, indicating that joint additions to measure NH4+ and NO3− uptake would not be feasible in this system. Our results suggest that increases in HRT can lead to a greater short‐term retention of nutrients, with implications for stream management and restoration initiatives.

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Water quality trends of streams in Puerto Rico: Evaluating 50 years of the Clean Water Act

Martínez‐Rodríguez,

Vázquez‐Cartagena,

Perdomo‐García

et al. 2024

J of Env Quality

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Water quality regulations entail a substantial commitment of resources from governments and private entities. It is important to continually evaluate the effectiveness of these regulations to ensure they are having the intended impact. In this paper, we evaluated nutrient data as indicators of primary productivity and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and pH as response variables to assess historical water quality trends from 55 stations of Puerto Rico. The stations were divided into impaired versus non‐impaired categories based on their historical total phosphorus (TP) mean concentration. Mean TP and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were significantly higher in the impaired stations relative to the non‐impaired stations. In contrast, DO mean concentrations and mean pH values were significantly lower in the impaired stations. A generalized additive mixed model was used to demonstrate temporal trends. A significant decrease in TP and TN concentrations was observed with time at the impaired stations. This was accompanied by significant increases in DO concentrations and pH. The non‐impaired stations showed a marginal (statistically nonsignificant) decreasing trend with time. The large reductions in nutrient concentrations observed at the impaired stations seem to be related to the closure of several primary wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across the island. The conversion of abandoned crop agricultural lands into secondary forest in recent decades has resulted in small but significant decreases in TN (not TP) in receiving streams. We conclude that the Clean Water Act has promoted improvements in water quality in Puerto Rico by advancing upgrades in sanitary infrastructure and the regulation of point sources of pollution.

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Limited uptake of nutrient input from sewage effluent in a tropical landscape

Cited by 10 publications

References 55 publications

Downstream evolution of wastewater treatment plant nutrient signals using high‐temporal monitoring

Downstream evolution of wastewater treatment plant nutrient signals using high‐temporal monitoring

Nutrient uptake in a simplified stream channel: Experimental manipulation of hydraulic residence time and transient storage

Water quality trends of streams in Puerto Rico: Evaluating 50 years of the Clean Water Act

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