Development of a Nitrogen Sensor for On-Site Systems Annual Conference/Presenta… · Development...
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Chris Clapp Marine Scientist, TNC Development of a Nitrogen Sensor for On-Site Systems NOWRA 2017
Transcript of Development of a Nitrogen Sensor for On-Site Systems Annual Conference/Presenta… · Development...
NOWRA 2107
Chris ClappMarine Scientist, TNC
Development of a Nitrogen Sensor for On-Site Systems
NOWRA 2017
THE MISSION OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IS
TO CONSERVE THE LANDS AND WATERS ON
WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS.
Who we are and where we work
Our way of life is enriched by coastal habitats
Long Island is Defined By Water
Healthy marshNitrogen loaded marsh
“Coastal eutrophication as a driver of salt marsh loss”Deegan et al 2012, Nature
Dense, strong
roots
Nutrient-weakened roots
NYS Seagrass, 1930 - 2030
NYSDEC Seagrass Taskforce Final Report, 2010; Suffolk County assessment, 2014
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
1930 2009 2030
Acr
es o
f se
agra
ss
Extinction in NY
90% loss$200,000,000 lost annually
$10,000,000 lost since 1975.
Great Peconic Bay
Point Lookout
Photo: Carl LoBue (TNC)
Huntington/Oyster Bays: 331,000 kg N/yr
Total Nitrogen Loads from watersheds
septic/ cesspool systems
75%
STP6%
atmosphere10%
lawns5%
golf courses4%
agriculture0%
Peconic Estuary: 267,000 kg N/yr
Total Nitrogen Loads from watersheds
atmospheric deposition
24%
wastewater treatment facilities
7%septic/ cesspool
systems43%
agriculture17%
lawns6%
golf courses4%
Total Nitrogen Loads from watersheds
Great South Bay: 668,000 kg N/yr
atmospheric deposition
21%wastewater treatment facilities
1%
septic/ cesspool systems
69%
agriculture1%
lawns7%
golf courses1%
Moriches/Shinnecock Bays: 562,000kg N/yr
Total Nitrogen Loads from watersheds
atmospheric deposition
14%
wastewater treatment facilities
10%
septic/ cesspool systems
61%
agriculture7%
lawns6%
golf courses3%
All of our Waters are Impacted
Clean Water for People and Nature
74% Non-Performing Wastewater Treatment
Approximately 360,000 onsite sewage disposal system
209,000 systems in priority areas Approximately 252,530 pre-date
requirement for septic tank
Why the Fuss? ~1.5 million people, >900 sq miles/600,000 acres
Mostly unsewered (~74% of population)
Vulnerable sole source aquifer Diffuse public water supply well network (>900 wells)
Often relatively shallow (upper glacial aquifer)
~35,000 private wells; 200 sewage treatment plants
Wetlands, surface waters, 3 major estuary systems Groundwater and surface waters are connected All Suffolk estuary systems IMPAIRED by NITROGEN
Peconics, South Shore Estuary Reserve, Long Island Sound Eutrophication and low dissolved oxygen Mounting evidence showing linkages to harmful algal blooms Shellfish impacts COASTAL RESILIENCY
Wetlands, eelgrass
Approximate Flow• Total STP discharge 59 million gallons per day
– 43 mgd surface water
– 16 mgd groundwater
• Total individual homes 108 million gallons per day
– 360,000 x 300 gpd per home
• Total comm (inc. class 02) 20 million gallons per day
– 8000 sites x 2500 gpd per site
– SPDES program ~40 years old
– SCSC Article 6 is ~30 years old
– Permits issued since Article 6
consider density restrictions STP, 59 mgd,
33%
On-site, 98 mgd, 55%
SPDES Pre-density, 5 mgd, 3%
SPDES post density, 15
mgd, 9%
STP
On-site
SPDES Pre-density
SPDES post density
Hurdles To Entering Markets
• Experimental Systems – 3-5 Installs
– monthly sampling
• Pilot Stage – 8-12 Installs
– Monthly Sampling
• Provisional– Min 20 installs
– Bimonthly Sampling
• General Use– Sampling every 36 months
What Would Make You Comfortable?
Development Of Challenge
• Over 2 years in the making
• Established Criteria
• Look For Funds
• Gather and vet a group of judges
• Establish a platform to host it on
Basic Criteria
Measurements TN
Price $1000
Data Management Telemetry
Accessibility Within System
Maintenance Once Annually
Accuracy +/- 1 mg/l
Precision 95%
Range 0-60 mg/l
Durability 10 Years
Winners!
• First Place: Baikun Li and Yu Lei, University of Connecticut
• Second Place: Jason Khoo, Stanford University
• Third Place: William Powers, PixController, Inc.
•
• Honorable Mentions:
• Zach LaValle, Emonix, Inc.
• Malynda Cappelle, Atlas Regeneration Technologies
• Bretton Holmes and
• Julien Fils
Winners
Dr. Baikun Li Jason Khoo
Phase IIPrototyping
• Now Open for Entries
• Preliminary Screening - March 2018
• Testing - July to December
• Awards - February 2019
• Potential $300,000 purchase of product
Embayment Circulation
Multitude of Future Uses
• Maximize System Performance
• Scalable for Package Plants
• Use in Lysimeters For On-sites and Agriculture
Credit Goes to All Partners
• EPA• Suffolk County• Stony Brook University• USGS• University of Rhode Island• Mass Alternative Septic System Test Center• The Nature Conservancy• NEIWPIC• NOWRA!
Thank you
Chris Clapp
631-329-3981 ext 18
Maggie Theroux
