Corrosion-induced Whole Effluent Toxicity from a cooling tower: A toxicity reduction evaluation case study

Conference · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:395334

Fort, D J; Stover, E L; Talley, J M; Copenhaver, M B ^[1]

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1. Stover Group, Stillwater, OK (United States)

As the result of Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) test failures with Daphnia pulex, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required an industrial facility discharging approximately 5 million gallons per day (MGD) of recirculating cooling water obtained from a large freshwater river to conduct a Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE) program. Under the terms of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, the facility was required to conduct 48-hour acute toxicity tests with D. pulex and Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow). Although effluent toxicity to D. pulex was consistently observed, no toxicity was induced to the fathead minnow during the TRE program. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the recirculating cooling water was discharged back into the same river. The objectives of the TRE program were to investigate the causes of toxicity, locate potential sources of the suspected toxicant(s), and identify practicable toxicity reduction methodologies to be used. The TRE program approach and results from the associated studies are presented in this report, including a successful remedy for the WET problem.

• OSTI ID: 395334
• Report Number(s): CONF-9505206--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
COOLING TOWERS
COPPER
CORROSION INHIBITORS
CORROSION PRODUCTS
CORROSION PROTECTION
FEEDWATER
FISHES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LOSSES
RIVERS
TOXICITY
WASTE WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
ZINC