Evaluation of Wastewater Nitrogen and Estrogen Treatment Options
Wastewater treatment plants discharge effluent that contains contaminants of emerging concern, such as estrogens. Estrogens have been shown to cause ecological effects such as fish feminization and fish population collapses. Presently the treatment and discharge of estrogens into the environment via wastewater treatment is not regulated. However, it has been found that the extent of estrogen discharge from wastewater treatment correlates with how and how well nitrogen, which currently is regulated and will likely be more so in the future, is removed during the treatment process. Thus more effective nitrogen removal processes have the potential to also ensure more effective removal of estrogens. Researchers at the University of Minnesota are using this appropriation to determine how different nitrogen removal processes perform under a variety of weather conditions with respect to how well they remove both nitrogen and estrogenic compounds in order to help improve wastewater treatment of nitrogen and estrogenic compounds.
$500,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to examine the performance of new wastewater contaminant treatment options under Minnesota weather conditions in order to understand how to improve wastewater treatment of nitrogen and estrogenic compounds, decrease costs and energy use, and safeguard aquatic species. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2017, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.