Presentation at Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and Campuses Conference on March 17, 2017

1. Facility Wastewater Discharges and
Pollution in MA: a Water Quality Analysis
Katelyn Tarrio, Casey Kelly, Kaitlin Walker
(Boston University)
http://www.econse.com/solutions/waste-water/

2. Background
http://fossilfuel.energy-business-review.com/news/us-epa-sets-new-limits-for-pollutants-discharge-
from-steam-electric-power-plants-011015-4683531

3. Research objectives
• Identify facilities that could be
contributing to a waterbody
impairment via permit violation
—Analyze trends at these sites
➢ Pollutant types
➢ Annual pollutant loads
➢ Compliance history
• Note areas for future research
Charles River Pollution Control Facility (Google Earth)

4. Methods
1. Use DMR pollutant loading tool to
identify/filter facilities
2. Map sites alongside impaired
waterbodies
(MassDEP’s 2014 Integrated List of
Waters 305b/303d)
3. Assess facility-specific trends from
EPA’s Discharge Monitoring Report
(DMR) and Enforcement and
Compliance History Online (ECHO)

5. Results
Facility Town
Westfield
Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Westfield
Westerly
Wastewater
Treatment Facility
Marlborough
Charles River
Wastewater
Treatment Facility
Medway
Massachusetts
Correctional
Institution (MCI)
Norfolk/Walpole
New Bedford
Wastewater
Treatment Facility
New Bedford

6. Westfield Wastewater Treatment Facility
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Poundsperyear(lb/yr)
Year
Nitrogen (as Ammonia) Load
Total pounds discharged Maximum allowable load

7. Charles River Wastewater Treatment Facility
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Poundsperyear(lb/yr)
Year
Phosphorus Load
Total pounds discharged Maximum allowable load

8. MA Correctional Institution (Norfolk/Walpole)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Poundsperyear(lb/yr)
Year
Aluminum Load
Total pounds discharged Maximum allowable load

9. New Bedford Wastewater Treatment Facility
* = Over limit at
some time during year
0
1000000
2000000
3000000
4000000
5000000
6000000
2012 2013* 2014* 2015* 2016*
Poundsperyear(lb/yr)
Year
Total suspended solids load
Total pounds discharged Maximum allowable load

10. Westerly Wastewater Treatment Facility
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
2012 2013* 2014 2015 2016*
Poundsperyear(lb/yr)
Year
Phosphorus Load
Total pounds discharged Maximum allowable load
* = Over limit at
some time during year

11. Conclusion
and
Future Work
Major findings:
• Pollutant trends: some facilities consistently in
violation
• 26% of sites discharging to impaired waters have
expired permits
• Demonstrates a practical, visual method of
water quality analysis
Ø Moving forward: data clarification and
community engagement

12. Thank You