Modeling BMPs to optimize municipal wastewater land treatment system
- North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept.
- Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States). Bioresources Engineering Dept.
Nitrogen contamination of ground water is recognized as a widespread and persistent problem throughout the nation. As recently as 1996, a US Geological Survey report indicated that significant portions of the United States are susceptible to nitrate contamination of ground water. Nutrient simulations of a municipal wastewater land treatment system were performed using the ground-water loading effects of agricultural management systems model. A total of 33 best management practices (BMPs) were simulated and compared to a baseline simulation of the current reed canary grass management practice. BMPs consisted of various combinations of crop types and cropping practices. Effectiveness of BMPs was compared based on the amount of nitrogen leached through the root zone and the harvested market value of each crop. Based on the model predictions and local market conditions, recommendations for the facility were given as the following: reed canary grass cut four times per year, orchard grass cut three or four times per year, or silage corn with a winter cover crop under low wastewater loading. Overloading the reed canary grass and orchard grass, especially for short periods of time, was simulated to have no adverse effects on the ground water. The ground-water loading effects of agricultural management systems model was demonstrated as a useful tool for the optimization of a municipal wastewater land treatment facility.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 302242
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Environmental Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 124; ISSN 0733-9372; ISSN JOEEDU
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Lignocellulosic crop supply chains (eg, Miscanthus, switchgrass, reed canary grass, rye, giant reed, etc.) Chapter 12 of "Biomass Supply Chains for Bioenergy and Biorefining"
Accumulation of heavy metals from extended wastewater irrigation