News Release

Discharge from Waste Water Treatment Facilities Minimally Affect Water Quality in the Kansas River

A recent study of the Kansas River from Topeka to Kansas City has assessed the cumulative water quality effects of discharge from wastewater-treatment facilities (WWTFs) during low-flow periods, when there usually is the greatest chance of WWTFs effluent exceeding water quality standards.  The newly released report is the result of a cooperative study between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), to provide information and a water-quality model for making operational decisions about existing and proposed WWTFs.

Concentrations of ammonia and fecal coliform bacteria were determined in the Kansas River during a summer and winter low-flow sampling periods. Generally, ammonia and fecal coliform bacteria concentrations were largest immediately downstream of major WWTFs, but did not exceed water-quality limits established for the protection of aquatic life or human recreation. These results indicate that most segments of the Kansas River currently have reserve capacity for assimilating ammonia and fecal-coliform bacteria during low-flow and could receive additional WWTF discharge without exceeding established water quality limits. This reserve capacity could support future population growth in the Kansas River corridor between Topeka and Kansas City.

Ammonia and bacteria are the two constituents that WWTFs affect that have the greatest chance of exceeding water quality standards in the Kansas River.  Ammonia is monitored because it is acutely toxic to fish at varying concentrations, and fecal-coliform bacteria are an indicator of the possible occurrence of gastrointestinal illness through accidental ingestion of water.

"The water-quality model provides KDHE with a tool we can use when projecting the impacts of  increasing or decreasing discharges from wastewater treatment facilities along the Kansas River between Topeka and

Kansas City,” said Mike Tate, Chief of KDHE’s Technical Services Section.

The new Kansas River water quality report is available online at:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5188/

For more information about this study and other Kansas River water quality information, visit our website at:

http://ks.water.usgs.gov/studies/KSR.ammonia/

Copies of Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5188, “Hydrologic and Water-Quality Conditions in the Kansas River, Northeast Kansas, November 2001-August 2002, and Simulation of Ammonia Assimilative Capacity and Bacteria Transport During Low Flow”, by Patrick P. Rasmussen  and Victoria G. Christensen, may be purchased from the USGS Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, Colo. 80225, or call 1-888-ASK-USGS. A limited number of copies are available from the USGS office in Lawrence, Kansas.

The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

To receive USGS news releases go to www.usgs.gov/public/list_server.html to subscribe.