With the state of Maryland’s encouragement for local governments to look closely at their land use policies and minimize impacts to the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, many counties are exploring wastewater reuse.
St. Mary’s is looking to incorporate the practice after the upcoming expansion of the wastewater treatment facility in Leonardtown. The surrounding counties of Charles and Calvert already redirect treated effluent through drip or spray irrigation systems, diverting discharges from local waterways and preserving potable water.
The use of spray and drip irrigation systems for the disposal of wastewater effluent is becoming a popular alternative across the country. As the rate of development continues in high volume, states and counties are seeking to recycle, if you will, treated wastewater that’s not good for human consumption yet not fantastic to discharge directly into streams, rivers or other bodies of water.
In Maryland, environmental maintenance of growing communities is front and center, as efforts to preserve and improve the water quality of the Bay and nearby watersheds have become a priority.
Approximately one-fifth of nutrient pollution in the beautiful Bay comes from wastewater and all seven jurisdictions that are part of its watershed- Md., Va., Del., N.Y., W.Va., Pa. and DC are working to decrease that percentage by installing nutrient-reducing technology at wastewater facilities and reusing wastewater when feasible.
The state of Va. received $80.2 Million in ARRA Funding to make such upgrades in 2009.
By taking this treated wastewater and transferring it via irrigation systems, communities can more efficiently maintain golf courses, landscaping, forests, crops and lawns. Rather than going straight into a stream, the water is instead additionally filtered by the natural physical, chemical and biological processes it meets within the soil. By the time it reaches nearby water, it contains far fewer pollutants.
According to a publication called Pipeline, put out by the National Small Flows Clearinghouse at West Virginia University, this method is safe for the public when all federal, state and local regulations are met. Specific requirements pertaining to the level of treatment required for each type of application must be closely adhered to and often the soil at the irrigation site is monitored for cumulative levels of salts, heavy metals, nutrients and disease-causing organisms.
While both spray and drip types of irrigation set-ups offer a benefit over dumping straight into nearby waters, there are advantages and disadvantages to each type.
Above-ground spray systems are believed to enrich the soil, promoting plant growth, and be easier to inspect and maintain, but they can generate aerosols and require large buffers due to potential public health threats.
Subsurface, drip types deliver the wastewater at the root level, meaning there are fewer issues with aerosols, odors and runoff, but emitters are notorious for clogging.
Both styles of irrigation systems require maintenance, which, in St. Mary’s will be shared with MetCom due to an inter-jurisdiction ag
<!–
–>
