Project Number: 5347-13000-002-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jan 29, 2007
End Date: Jan 28, 2012

Objective:
(1) Provide baseline data to evaluate the long-term effects of irrigation with treated wastewater; (2) Understand proceses that govern the fate and transport of emerging contaminants, pathogens and nutrients found in treated wastewater used for irrigation; and (3) Develop guidelines for the safe reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation.

Approach:
Sites will be determined where wastewater application has occurred. Soil samples will be taken and analyzed for nutrients, pathogens, and emerging contaminants. Distribution of nutrients, pathogens, and emerging contaminants will be used to determine which constituents may be accumulating in soils for further investigations. Using a combination of lab, column and lysimeter studies fate and transport parameters will be determined for the identified constituents. Concurrently, a series of laboratory and field experiments will be conducted to determine the persistence of pathogens and emerging contaminants in delivery systems. Removal and transformations of nutrients and emerging contaminants as well as pathogen regrowth will be measured throughout the systems. Results and data will be used to identify problems inherent in wastewater irrigation. Constituents that pose a potential environmental risk will be identified and the fate and transport parameters developed will be used to formulate potential management options that could reduce potential environmental degradation. Formerly 5347-13320-001-00D (12/06).