Biomonitoring Using EcotoxicologyAquatic ToxicologyPROBLEMS:Time and space relationsEnvironmental RequirementsMonitoring ChangesHuman HealthWater Quality StandardsWaste Discharge RequirementsTMDLs303(d) ListARKANSASArkansas vs. MississippiTMDL PROCESS--ArkansasMaintenance of Biological Integrity ~consideration of surrogates and reference systems~Habitat DescriptorsToxicity EvaluationBenthic Macroinvertebrate SurveysWhat can municipalities do?TMDLs - Beyond the local watershedOngoing related projectsAcknowledgmentsASU Ecotoxicology Research FacilityASU EVS and College of Sciences and MathematicsUSDA National SedimentaResearch supportBiomonitoring Using EcotoxicologyJerry L. FarrisArkansas State UniversityEnvironmental Sciences ProgramAquatic Toxicology• Presented at the• AWEA Lab/Pretreatment Session• AWW&WEA Conference2003PROBLEMS:1. Type and degree of treatment2. Flow from treatment plant3. Characteristics of wastewater4. Flow in receiving stream5. Quality of receiving system6. Amount/size of mixing zone7. Uses of receiving watersTime and space relations•Events– Spills, releases, catastrophe•Predictions – Risk assimilation, transformation, etc.– Prominent or targeted use products •Treatments– Recovery or conditionPreceding ProceedingDuring- providing scientific investigations to quantify sustainabilityArkansas State University Environmental Sciences ProgramUnderstanding, Protection, Management & UseEnvironmental RequirementsPresence of a speciesAbsence ≠ SignificanceMonitoring ChangesO Population numbersO Community compositionO Ecosystem functionO genetic compositionO bioaccumulation of toxicantsO endocrine functionO biomarkersHuman HealthUnmanaged ecosystemLoss of ecological servicesLoss of ecological servicesDrinking waterWaste assimilationConsumablesWater Quality StandardsWaste Discharge RequirementsDownstream ProtectionY Domestic water supplyY Agriculture water supplyY Stock & wildlife waterY Propagation of aquatic lifeY Swimming/boatingY AestheticsY NavigationY Industrial useEnvironmental Health or Biological IntegrityO Biological monitoringO BiomonitoringO Toxicity testing - bioassaysO Water quality monitoringO Environmental surveillanceO Compliance monitoringEcological Ecological Integrity = Integrity = Mass Balance Mass Balance HydrologyHydrologyFlow RegimeFlow RegimeLow FlowLow FlowStreamStreamHistoryHistoryHabitatHabitatFood SourceFood SourceBank / BedBank / BedStabilityStabilitySpeciesSpeciesCompositionCompositionLandLandUseUseStreamStreamCorridorCorridorWaterWaterQualityQualityRunoffRunoffTMDLs••TotalTotal••MaximumMaximum••DailyDaily••Loads (Loadings)Loads (Loadings)TMDLsTMDL = PS + NPS + MOSTMDL = PS + NPS + MOSPSPS= = ““POINTPOINT””SOURCE POLLUTIONSOURCE POLLUTIONNPSNPS= = ““NONNON--POINTPOINT””SOURCE POLLUTIONSOURCE POLLUTIONMOSMOS= MARGIN OF SAFETY= MARGIN OF SAFETY303(d) List303(d) List••What is it?What is it?••Part of the CWA (1972) requiring states to Part of the CWA (1972) requiring states to identify waters not meeting state water identify waters not meeting state water quality standardsquality standards••Developed every two yearsDeveloped every two years••What does it do?What does it do?••Essentially sets priorities for TMDL Essentially sets priorities for TMDL developmentdevelopment••Develop a TMDL for each pollutant, for each Develop a TMDL for each pollutant, for each listed waterlisted waterARKANSASARKANSAS9951 51 WaterbodiesWaterbodies9970 70 TMDLsTMDLs99All monitored dataAll monitored data99133 stations monthly133 stations monthly99103 stations quarterly103 stations quarterly9930 parameters30 parametersArkansas vs. MississippiArkansas vs. Mississippi2121SiltationSiltation/ Turbidity/ Turbidity4744742020Mercury 16Mercury 161010Nutrients 468Nutrients 46866PathogensPathogens22822866Chloride / Sulfide / TDSChloride / Sulfide / TDS242433““HeavyHeavy””metalsmetals121222AmmoniaAmmonia--11Priority organics Priority organics 7 7 11Organic Enrichment / low DOOrganic Enrichment / low DO391391--PesticidesPesticides429429--Biological ImpairmentBiological Impairment5757--pH pH 5252--Suspended solids Suspended solids 1010--Total toxicsTotal toxics99--NonNon--Priority organicsPriority organics77TMDL PROCESS--ArkansasIMPAIRMENTIMPAIRMENT34.5%34.5%AgricultureAgriculture34.5%34.5%UnknownUnknown17.2%17.2%MunicipalMunicipal6.9%6.9%IndustryIndustry3.4%3.4%Road const/mainRoad const/mainMaintenance of Biological Integrity ~consideration of surrogates and reference systems~•Community surveys•In-stream monitoring•Toxicity testing-bioassays•Compliance Monitoring (WET)TMDL PROCESS--Arkansas303 WATERBODIES (select from Eastern AR)303 WATERBODIES (select from Eastern AR)LL’’AnguilleAnguille((SiltationSiltationand Pathogens)and Pathogens)Bayou Bayou DeViewDeView(Nutrients and (Nutrients and SiltationSiltation))Habitat DescriptorsEvaluation codes related to ditch structure.Ditch RiparianCode Size Habitat Water Regime1 Primary Bare Dry2 Secondary Grass Water, no flow3 Tertiary Brush/Shrub Water, flow4 Quartenary Deciduous Riverine5 Riverine --- ---Primary (1)Riverine (5)Secondary (2)Tertiary (3) Quarternary (4)Toxicity EvaluationAqueous toxicity 48-h acute• Ceriodaphnia dubia• Pimephales promelasSediment toxicity 10-day acute• Chironomus tentansBenthic Macroinvertebrate Surveys• US EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol• Twenty jabs per 100-m reachMONITORING TRADE OFFLab BioassaysLab BioassaysField BioassaysField BioassaysField MonitoringField MonitoringHighHighExperimental ControlExperimental ControlLowLowLowLowEnvironmental RealismEnvironmental RealismHighHighQuality, Control, AccountabilityBiomonitoringBiomonitoring• Why organisms? Concentrate & integrate from water particulates & sediments --- tissues• Why transplants? Experimental control & environmental realism• Why bioaccumulation? Integrated record of bioavailability• Why growth? Ecological measurement, dose-response population effects• Why biomarkers? Flags of exposure, archived samplesWhat can municipalities do?••Help lead recovery in systems listed Help lead recovery in systems listed for enforcementfor enforcement••Participate in watershed groups Participate in watershed groups giving stakeholders a chance to giving stakeholders a chance to improve