Research: CECs & Urban Stormwater Runoff · 2018. 7. 11. · Physical links: stormwater, industry, solid waste, wastewater, atmosphere Little prior CEC-stormwater research or data

Research: CECs & Urban Stormwater Runoff

Science and Policy of Emerging Contaminants in Minnesota | May 22nd, 2018

David Fairbairn | Research Scientist, MPCA

MPCA Mission: Protect and improve the environment and enhance human health

How We Complete This Mission

Monitor Environmental Quality

Technical & Financial Assistance

Enforce Environmental Regulations

Two of Many MPCA Programs

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)

Stormwater (Urban/Construction/Industrial Runoff)

Funding

Agency-Wide

Program-Specific

Topic-Specific

Where Does Research Fit In?2

MPCA Research & Monitoring

Collaborate: We engage with many partners, stakeholders, purposes

But generally, one main goal (WQ)

Example Stormwater Topic: BMP Performance-Related Gaps

Contaminant levels, fates, influences

BMP performance, variability, influences

Why it matters: permit requirements, WQ goals, cost-efficiencies

Why: Optimize management

3

CEC Program Priorities Research Topics

Initial Topics: CEC occurrence, highly impacted areas

Recently Emphasized Topics - MPCA CEC Framework

CEC Sources: Characterize likely, lesser-known sources

Importance, Typical signatures, Reduction opportunities

CEC-Bioeffects Linkages

New tools

Adverse outcome pathways (AOP)

Impacts of specific CECs, mixtures, relative risk

Prioritize specific CECs or bioeffects

CEC Fate & Transport

Additional matrices e.g., sediment, biota

Persistence, accumulation, byproducts, risks

Treatment & Mitigation4

Ag + Urban + Treated WW

Urban Ag Ag +UrbanTreated WW

SITE TYPE

Urban Ag Treated WW Ag+Urban+Treated WWSITE TYPE

Research Topics & Project Development

5

Triangulate - Info Gathering• Area of expertise• Gaps & priorities:

• Literature• Recent studies • Opportunities• Stakeholders – Internal/External

• Funding

Identify Objectives• Priority topics & questions• Feasibility• Components, methods• Partners• Proposal development

CEC Priorities Include: Sources, Effects, Mitigation

6

Project: Occurrence & Effects of CECs in Stormwater & Mitigation by BMPs

First: Why stormwater? Stormwater ≈ Any urban runoff

• Major flow pathway Large proportion of CECs mobilized by human activities

• Thus, WWTP focus • But, not all CECs go down the drain• >90% of MN residents in stormwater-permitted area (NPDES)• CECs frequently detected at urban sites w/o WWTP

• “Wastewater-dominated”, other CECs Physical links: stormwater, industry, solid waste, wastewater, atmosphere Little prior CEC-stormwater research or data

• Some studies: wastewater tracers, stormwater sediments, urban rivers• Stormwater often suggested as source

Added benefit: Apply Project 1’s work

CEC Priorities Include: Sources, Effects, Mitigation

7

Project: Occurrence, Effects, & Treatment of CECs in Stormwater

Objectives: Assess CECs in Twin Cities stormwater, bioeffects, treatment

Methods Which CECs to Study?

Priorities assessed: Source characterization, Mitigation, Treatment efficacy

Meds: Vet+Human

Atmospheric Processes

Combustion Byproducts

PaintsCoatings

Litter

Industrial, Consumer, Etc., Products

Runoff

Pesticides

Solvents

CEC Priorities Include: Sources, Effects, Mitigation

8

Project: Occurrence, Effects, & Treatment of CECs in Stormwater

Objectives: Assess CECs in Twin Cities stormwater, bioeffects, treatment

Methods• CECs: USGS pesticide, pharmaceutical, wastewater lists - 400+ chemicals• Bio: RNA, in vitro, outcomes• Conditions/matrices: Different stormwater types/areas, seasonal runoff events

Questions & Reporting• What’s in stormwater?• How variable?• What effects?• Do tests agree?• Are CECs, biology correlated? Do BMPs remove CECs? Do BMPs improve outcomes?

Priorities assessed: Source characterization, Mitigation, Treatment efficacy

Current & Future CEC Topics, Issues, Directions

General

Identifying key players in mixtures

Mixture effects

Rapid-throughput testing

Non-targeted analyses

Stressor ID, comparisons, context

Stormwater

More detailed, complete CEC info

Other BMPs

Groundwater

Context: regulated stormwater parameters, receiving waters, toxicology9

FIN

David Fairbairn

[email protected]

651-757-2659

10