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Services for Waste Water Treatment
Applied
Science Associates is helping wastewater treatment facility operators meet
regulatory requirements by providing strong technical solutions to problems involving
aquatic impacts. Through the application of computer models we can provide analysis
of the transport and fate of pathogens, conventional and toxic pollutants; conceptual
designs of outfall discharges and design of receiving waters monitoring in fresh
and marine environments. ASA combines robust analysis with visualization tools
to effectively communicate results for stakeholder groups, regulatory hearings
and expert witness testimony.
Capabilities
Flushing and Dilution Studies
How quickly does a particular area flush? What mixing zone size is appropriate for a particular outfall?
Using
a judicious mix of field surveys and modeling, ASA can help determine the diluting
and flushing capability of a body of water, whether a lake, stream, river, estuary
or coastal area. Field studies using dye as a tracer can provide actual distribution
of concentrations and thus dilution for an existing facility. Numerical dye studies
can be used to estimate dilution flushing for proposed projects.
Conceptual Design of Outfalls
Where is the best place to locate an outfall? What is the optimal design?
In
the design and location of a wastewater treatment facility, discharge outfall
is important in maximizing the dilution and minimizing the resulting impact. ASA
uses a variety of near field plume models linked to far field pollutant transport
models to estimate effects and optimize designs. These models have been used in
many locations where the environmental processes uniquely affect plume.
Combined Sewer Overflows
How long do shell fishing areas and beaches need to be closed to protect public health from CSO events?
ASA's models help wastewater treatment facility operators determine the impacts they have on the environment. This quantitative approach addresses issues like pathogen, chemical and other toxic pollutant discharges to answer questions for benefit analysis and permitting, such as:
- How
long and to what extent must the receiving body of water be closed around outfalls
to ensure public health?
- What
is the effect of the discharge on water quality (i.e. dissolved oxygen)?
- Are
water quality standards being violated by the discharges?
- What
are the impacts of various CSO design alternatives on water quality?
Services
The
complex regulatory environment of wastewater treatment facilities demands a flexible
and responsive consultant. That's what makes ASA the perfect partner.
For twenty years, ASA has combined computer tools with comprehensive field programs to provide customized solutions to aquatic problems for our clients.
ASA's seasoned project managers have extensive experience providing expert witness testimony as well as effectively presenting at regulatory and public hearings.
Our
reputation for technical excellence is well respected in both the scientific and
regulatory communities.
Software
ASA uniquely combines exceptional technical capabilities with visualization tools that present model results in an easily understandable geographic framework.
Advantages to ASA's modeling approach include:
- Models are continuously updated to incorporate the latest scientific advances, keeping them at the forefront of the field.
- Model results can be effectively communicated through animations and three-dimensional displays.
- Model grids are highly adaptable to complex shorelines and depths and allow increased resolution in areas of greatest interest.
- Each model is seamlessly integrated into a Windows-based system that streamlines the modeling process and reduces set-up time.
Projects
Project: Impact Assessment
of Design Alternatives for the greater Providence, RI Combined Sewer Overflows
Client: Narragansett Bay Commission
ASA assessed the effects
of the combined sewer overflow (CSO) events on water quality in the Providence
River and Upper Narragansett Bay. The study used ASA's WQMAP hydrodynamic and
water quality modeling system to estimate the extent of pollutant plumes from
a total of 85 CSOs under different design alternatives. The alternatives consisted
of near surface and deep tunnel storage as well as satellite treatment facilities.
Different design storms were studied to assist in determining how many days per
year that elevated levels of fecal coliforms would impact shellfishing areas and
beaches. The FC transport model was used to forecast future conditions under various
CSO mitigation alternatives.
Project:
Flushing and Outfall Study in Cohasset Harbor, MA, USA
Client: Town of
Cohasset
The Town of Cohasset was in the process of upgrading its wastewater treatment
plant and needed to determine if Cohassett Harbor had sufficient assimilative
capacity to receive an increased volume of treated effluent. ASA performed a dye
study with associated hydrodynamic measurements to determine present dilution
and flushing characteristics. Using the calibrated hydrodynamic and pollutant
transport models in WQMAP, ASA then estimated the concentrations of pathogens
and metals in the harbor based on increased loads from the plant. As part of the
project, a conceptual design for the discharge outfall was developed using EPA's
CORMIX model. The design was optimized to provide maximum dilution while minimizing
the impacts to boats in the adjacent mooring field.