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<br />Study finds households are flushing more organic carbon
<br />A pilot study conducted by the Colorado
<br />School of Mines, in cooperation with the
<br />WRC's Onsite Se4vage Treatment Pro-
<br />gram team, sampled sixteen households
<br />in Minnesota, Colorado, and Florida for
<br />what Flowed into and out of their septic
<br />tanks. They compared these findings to
<br />a compilation of reports in the literature
<br />since 1969. By adding a mechanical diverter
<br />to the homes' building sewers, researchers
<br />were able to sample water from each home
<br />seasonally fora 24-hour period.
<br />Samples were evaluated for a number of
<br />conventional waste w-ater parameters, in-
<br />cluding suspended solids, nitrate, ammonia,
<br />phosphate, carbonaceous biological oxygen
<br />demand (eBOD), and chemical oxygen
<br />demand. At some sites, additional com-
<br />pounds were measured, such as pharmaceu-
<br />ticals, the antimicrobial additive triclosan,
<br />caffeine, and certain endocrine disrupting
<br />compounds found in household products. A
<br />resident survey provided household popula-
<br />tion data, ages, and water-use habits. While
<br />municipal waste water treatment plants are
<br />studied for effectiveness of contaminant re-
<br />moval, the effectiveness of individual septic
<br />systems has not received the same scrutiny.
<br />The small number of households sampled
<br />represents a qualitative snapshot, and so
<br />only broad comparisons are possible. Over-
<br />all, it was found that the cBOD was higher
<br />in the household samples compared to the
<br />literature, which may be due to increased
<br />use and disposal of pharmaceuticals and
<br />personal care products. Also, the cBOD of
<br />the septic tank effluents was less than that
<br />of the tank influents and much closer to the
<br />literature value, indicating that the Yanks
<br />successfully reduce eBOD.
<br />Researchers found caffeine in all samples
<br />tested, aspirin in about three quarters of
<br />samples, ibuprofen in half, and endocrine
<br />disruptors in more than three quarters. Wa-
<br />ter use did not vary From season to season
<br />but vas affected by the particapants' ages,
<br />with younger households using nearly twice
<br />the amount of water per person as house-
<br />holds with occupants 55 and older.
<br />The amount of oil and grease flushed down
<br />the drain was lower in sampled households
<br />than in the literature. Concentrations of
<br />phosphates were also down-possibly due
<br />to the adoption of phosphate-free clean-
<br />ers. The amount of nitrogen in waste water
<br />remained the same.
<br />"It's a little like going through someoue's
<br />trash can-you get a snapshot of what's being
<br />used inside the home," said WRC research
<br />assistant Jessica Wittwer, the field sampler
<br />For Minnesota. "While fewer households
<br />are flushing oils and grease down the drain,
<br />households are putting more organic carbon
<br />down the drain -possibly due to greater
<br />use of pharmaceuticals and anti-microbial
<br />cleansers. The concern with these chemi-
<br />cals is their long-term effect on the larger
<br />ecosystem and food chain."
<br />Study results underscore the need to
<br />improve septic system design and to target
<br />human behaviors that might be modified
<br />through education.
<br />Administrator created an environment of nuturing for both UURC and students
<br />Underneath an ability to create a budget
<br />or slice through bureaucratic messes,
<br />Maria Juergens possesses the heart of a
<br />mom. For sixteen years, she nurtured
<br />the Water Resources Center from a staff
<br />of four, through the establishment of the
<br />W RS graduate program, the expansion of
<br />the Water Resources Conference, and the
<br />growth of the water research, outreach
<br />and education programs that give the
<br />WRC the scope it has today. As she retires
<br />this June, Maria. leaves behind a culture of
<br />thoughtfulness and respect.
<br />Maria began her service at the WRC as a
<br />conference organizer. Her duties expanded
<br />until she was both assistant to the direc-
<br />tor of graduate studies (DGS) and office
<br />administrator.
<br />Maria says she enjoyed constructing
<br />budgets and managing the many parts and
<br />participants of the W RC's projects, but
<br />clearly her role as assistant to the DGS,
<br />a position she held until 2007, holds a
<br />special place in her heart. "Maria had a
<br />special compassion for the students;' said
<br />Jim Anderson, WRC co-director until
<br />2008, "She took an interest in each one's
<br />unique situation and helped them work
<br />through any problems, whether it were
<br />schedules or just adjusting to life as a
<br />graduate student." Over the years, Maria
<br />helped students find apartments, renew
<br />visas, open bank accounts, and even
<br />get to the hospital. "She handled my
<br />problems like a mom hoping for the best
<br />for her kids," said Yi-Wen Chiu, a WRS
<br />graduate student. It is no wonder that
<br />she received the Graduate. School's Best
<br />DGS Assistant Award in 2004.
<br />What outlet will Maria find for her tal-
<br />ents when she leaves the WRC? "I would
<br />hke to volunteer CO be an interpreter
<br />for hospitals or the judicial system,"
<br />says the native Equadorian. And in
<br />proper maternal fashion, she will help
<br />her daughter prepare for a September
<br />wedding. The WRC, meanwhile, will
<br />miss its matriarch. "Maria vas the heart
<br />and sout of the Center for so long, and
<br />our Alission Control for operations-it ~>ill
<br />be very difficult to replace her," said WRC
<br />co-director Deb Swackhamer, "She will be
<br />greatly missed."
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<br />Connie Post (WRC and Minnesota Sea Grantl, with longtime
<br />co-worker and friend Maria Juergens.
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