Impacts of Biomonitoring Requirements on DoD Wastewater Treatment Facilities

摘要

Legislative emphasis on reducing the toxicity of wastewater effluent has resultedin increasingly sophisticated methods of determining toxicity. The purpose of this research project is to assess the impacts on DoD wastewater treatment facilities of one new monitoring method, biomonitoring. Biomonitoring has impacted DoD wastewater treatment facilities, however not to the degree anticipated. For bases that have been impacted, cost of contracting the tests is the primary problem associated with biomonitoring. Many bases have not been impacted because wastewater reuse has negated the need for discharge permits, and the inherent monitoring requirements. Bases subject to biomonitoring should assess water reuse as a means of wastewater disposal. Additionally, other bases have not as yet had biomonitoring requirements imposed on them. It is recommended that these bases prepare for future biomonitoring requirements by having their effluent tested to determine toxicity in anticipation of biomonitoring implementation by the states.