Waste load allocation for whole effluent toxicity to protect aquatic organisms.

Autor: Hutcheson, M. R.
Zdroj: Water Resources Research; 1992, Vol. 28 Issue 11, p2989-2992, 4p
Abstrakt: A process is developed to determine a waste load allocation that will implement the narrative criteria for fish and wildlife propagation found in states' water quality standards. The waste load allocation to implement the narrative chronic criterion is determined to be percent effluent at a location in the receiving stream, as opposed to an effluent concentration derived from the numerical waste load allocation process. A typical narrative chronic criterion is 'receiving streams shall not exhibit chronic toxicity outside the mixing zone,' while a typical numerical chronic criterion is 'receiving stream concentration shall not exceed 0.005 μg/L of chlordane outside the mixing zone.' Toxicity tests are used to implement narrative criteria, while compliance with numerical criteria involves concentration measurements. It is shown that the appropriate percent effluent is inversely proportional to the dilution factor for chronic toxicity. An appropriate waste load allocation to implement the narrative acute criterion is 100% effluent. Waste load allocation for whole effluent toxicity is feasible. The required independent variables are available to regulatory agencies, and toxicity testing has become routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index