skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Elimination of Whole Effluent Toxicity NPDES Permit Limits through the Use of an Alternative Testing Species and Reasonable Potential Analysis

Abstract

The cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia dubia (C. dubia), is required by the State of South Carolina to be used in whole effluent toxicity (WET) compliance tests in order to meet limits contained within National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) experienced WET test failures for no clear reason over a long period of time. Toxicity identification examinations on effluents did not indicate the presence of toxicants; therefore, the WET test itself was brought under suspicion. Research was undertaken with an alternate cladoceran, Daphnia ambigua (D. ambigua). It was determined that this species survives better in soft water, so approval was obtained from regulating authorities to use this ''alternate'' species in WET tests. The result was better test results and elimination of non-compliances. The successful use of D. ambigua allowed WSRC to gain approval from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to remove WET limits from the NPDES permit.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
824782
Report Number(s):
WSRC-MS-2004-00426
Journal ID: ISSN 1938--6478; TRN: US0402155
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-96SR18500
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Journal Volume: 2005; Journal Issue: 16; Conference: WEF Annual Environmental Conference, New Orleans, LA (US), 10/02/2004--10/06/2004; Other Information: PBD: 24 May 2004
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; TOXIC MATERIALS; COMPLIANCE; DAPHNIA; POLLUTANTS; SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT; TESTING; TOXICITY; LIMITING VALUES; WATER QUALITY

Citation Formats

PAYNE, W L. Elimination of Whole Effluent Toxicity NPDES Permit Limits through the Use of an Alternative Testing Species and Reasonable Potential Analysis. United States: N. p., 2004. Web. doi:10.2175/193864705783867765.
PAYNE, W L. Elimination of Whole Effluent Toxicity NPDES Permit Limits through the Use of an Alternative Testing Species and Reasonable Potential Analysis. United States. https://doi.org/10.2175/193864705783867765
PAYNE, W L. 2004. "Elimination of Whole Effluent Toxicity NPDES Permit Limits through the Use of an Alternative Testing Species and Reasonable Potential Analysis". United States. https://doi.org/10.2175/193864705783867765. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/824782.
@article{osti_824782,
title = {Elimination of Whole Effluent Toxicity NPDES Permit Limits through the Use of an Alternative Testing Species and Reasonable Potential Analysis},
author = {PAYNE, W L},
abstractNote = {The cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia dubia (C. dubia), is required by the State of South Carolina to be used in whole effluent toxicity (WET) compliance tests in order to meet limits contained within National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) experienced WET test failures for no clear reason over a long period of time. Toxicity identification examinations on effluents did not indicate the presence of toxicants; therefore, the WET test itself was brought under suspicion. Research was undertaken with an alternate cladoceran, Daphnia ambigua (D. ambigua). It was determined that this species survives better in soft water, so approval was obtained from regulating authorities to use this ''alternate'' species in WET tests. The result was better test results and elimination of non-compliances. The successful use of D. ambigua allowed WSRC to gain approval from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to remove WET limits from the NPDES permit.},
doi = {10.2175/193864705783867765},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/824782}, journal = {},
issn = {1938--6478},
number = 16,
volume = 2005,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon May 24 00:00:00 EDT 2004},
month = {Mon May 24 00:00:00 EDT 2004}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

Save / Share: