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Monitoring lead in drinking water is important for public health, but seasonality in lead concentrations can bias monitoring programs if it is not understood and accounted for. Here, we describe an apparent seasonal pattern in lead release into orthophosphate-treated drinking water, identified through point-of-use sampling at sites in Halifax, Canada, with various sources of lead. Using a generalized additive model, we extracted the seasonally varying components of time series representing a suite of water quality parameters and we identified aluminum as a correlate of lead. To investigate aluminum's role in lead release, we modeled the effect of variscite (AlPO

Orthophosphate is commonly used to control lead release to drinking water, but it is a potential source of nutrient pollution and can increase the concentration of particulate and colloidal lead. G...

Declining emissions of sulfur and nitrogen have curtailed acid deposition across large areas of North America and Europe. This has allowed many lakes to recover from acidification, with decreases in sulfate, increases in pH, and increases in alkalinity. But reduced acid deposition has not always coincided with chemical lake recovery. Surface waters in Nova Scotia did not exhibit clear evidence of recovery as recently as 2007, due in part to increasing organic acidity and slow replenishment of base cations. In an updated assessment with data collected as recently as 2019, we analyze water chemistry representing 81 lakes and rivers and two precipitation monitoring stations over up to 41 years. We find that Nova Scotia surface waters are now exhibiting signs of chemical recovery. We estimated the linear decrease in precipitation sulfate and nitrate yield at up to 0.31 and 0.18 kg ha-1 year-2, respectively, and the linear increase in precipitation pH at up to 0.014 year-1. Sulfate decreased in 60 of 62 lakes and 14 of 17 rivers (-0.0051 to -0.23 mg L-1 year-1), while pH increased in 55 of 64 lakes and 11 of 17 rivers (0.0015-0.072 year-1). Apparent colour increased in 54 of 62 lakes and 13 of 17 rivers (0.0026-3.9 Pt-Co year-1). We identified increasing aluminum trends in 46 of 61 lakes, and we show using size-exclusion chromatography that binding to organic and iron-based colloids may help to explain these trends. To the extent that increases in apparent colour are explained by chromophoric dissolved organic matter (DOM), they imply greater binding capacity for metals in surface waters, and greater capacity for DOM to stabilize metal (oxyhydr)oxide colloids.

The potential use of a statistical approach for the investigation of complex dissolved organic matter (DOM) sources in surface water within a recycled water system monitored by excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy is shown. The work in this manuscript utilize information extracted from EEM spectroscopy to characterize DOM in collected surface water samples along with a wastewater treatment plant to drinking water treatment plant, discussing that humic-like and protein-like DOM sources predominate in the investigated water samples. Five different fluorescent components were resolved, describing several different types of DOM with different excitation and emission spectra that were distinct among the watershed sampling sites and indicating the influences of anthropogenic impacts. In addition, these novel fluorescence parameters have potential to improve resolution to direct more targeted water quality monitoring approaches.

Access to clean and safe drinking water is a perpetual concern in Arctic communities because of challenging climatic conditions, limited options for the transportation of equipment and process chemicals, and the ongoing effects of colonialism. Water samples were gathered from multiple locations in a decentralized trucked drinking water system in Nunavut, Canada, over the course of one year. The results indicate that point of use drinking water quality was impacted by conditions in the source water and in individual buildings and strongly suggest that lead and copper measured at the tap were related to corrosion of onsite premise plumbing components. Humic-like substances were the dominant organic fraction in all samples, as determined by regional integration of fluorescence data. Iron and manganese levels in the source water and throughout the water system were higher in the winter and lower in the summer months. Elevated concentrations of copper (>2000 μg L-1) and lead (>5 μg L-1) were detected in tap water from some buildings. Field flow fractionation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ultraviolet-visible spectrometry was used to demonstrate the link between source water characteristics (high organics, iron and manganese) and lead and copper in point of use drinking water.

Drinking water samples were collected from the water source, water delivery truck, domestic water storage tanks, and at the point of use in a decentralized drinking water system in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, a predominantly Inuit community in Canada's Arctic region. The samples were analyzed for standard water quality parameters (turbidity, colour, pH, conductivity), biological water quality parameters (coliforms, adenosine triphosphate), and free and total chlorine. The microbial communities in a subset of water and biofilm samples were characterized with DNA analysis. Physiochemical characteristics at the tap were influenced by source water quality and building-specific conditions. Multiple aesthetic water quality parameters were above recommended values including turbidity and colour. Turbidity and biological activity (measured as cellular ATP) varied temporally in some locations. DNA analysis at the phylum, family, and genus level demonstrated that microbial ecology evolved from source water to tap and that individual storage tanks and taps were influenced by distinct microbial communities.

Based on recent studies, passive sampling is a promising method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater surveillance (WWS) applications. Passive sampling has many advantages over conventional sampling approaches. However, the potential benefits of passive sampling are also coupled with apparent limitations. We established a passive sampling technique for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater using electronegative filters. Though, it was evident that the adsorption capacity of the filters constrained their use. This work intends to demonstrate an optimized passive sampling technique for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using granular activated carbon (GAC). Through bench-scale batch-adsorption studies and sewershed deployments, we established the adsorption characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and two human feacal viruses (PMMoV and CrAssphage) onto GAC. A pseudo-second-order model best-described adsorption kinetics for SARS-CoV-2 in either deionized (DI) water and SARS-CoV-2, CrAssphage, and PMMoV in wastewater. In both laboratory batch-adsorption experiments and in-situ sewershed deployments, the maximum amount of SARS-CoV-2 adsorbed by GAC occurred at ~60 h in wastewater. In wastewater, the maximum adsorption of PMMoV and CrAssphage by GAC occurred at ~60 h. In contrast, the adsorption capacity was reached in DI water seeded with SARS-CoV-2 after ~35 h. The equilibrium assay modeled the maximum adsorption quantity (q

In developing an effective monitoring program for the wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA), the importance of sampling methodology is paramount. Passive sampling has been shown to be an effective tool to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. However, the adsorption characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on passive sampling material are not well-understood, which further obscures the relationship between wastewater surveillance and community infection. In this work, adsorption kinetics and equilibrium characteristics were evaluated using batch-adsorption experiments for heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 (HI-SCV-2) adsorption to electronegative filters. Equilibrium isotherms were assessed or a range of total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations (118, 265, and 497 mg L–1) in wastewater, and a modeled qmax of 7 × 103 GU cm–2 was found. Surrogate adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model in wastewater with maximum concentrations achieved within 24 h. In both field and isotherm experiments, equilibrium behavior and viral recovery were found to be associated with wastewater and eluate TSS. On the basis of the results of this study, we recommend a standard deployment duration of 24–48 h and the inclusion of eluate TSS measurement to assess the likelihood of solids inhibition during analysis., Field and bench-scale studies showed that a 24−48 h deployment was ideal for a passive sampling of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and that analysis should include eluatimg TSS measurement to understand the role of inhibition in high TSS samples.

Reduced atmospheric acid deposition has given rise to recovery from acidification - defined as increasing pH, acid neutralization capacity (ANC), or alkalinity in surface waters. Strong evidence of recovery has been reported across North America and Europe, driving chemical responses. The primary chemical responses identified in this review were increasing concentration and changing character of natural organic matter (NOM) towards predominantly hydrophobic nature. The concentration of NOM also influenced trace metal cycling as many browning surface waters also reported increases in Fe and Al. Further, climate change and other factors (e.g., changing land use) act in concert with reductions in atmospheric deposition to contribute to widespread browning and will have a more pronounced effect as deposition stabilizes. The observed water quality trends have presented challenges for drinking water treatment (e.g., increased chemical dosing, poor filter operations, formation of disinfection by-products) and many facilities may be under designed as a result. This comprehensive review has identified key research areas to be addressed, including 1) a need for comprehensive monitoring programs (e.g., larger timescales; consistency in measurements) to assess climate change impacts on recovery responses and NOM dynamics, and 2) a better understanding of drinking water treatment vulnerabilities and the transition towards robust treatment technologies and solutions that can adapt to climate change and other drivers of changing water quality.

Lead is a neurotoxin and an environmental contaminant. Many jurisdictions require that it be monitored in drinking water, especially where lead plumbing remains in use. But seasonal variation in lead concentrations can bias monitoring programs if it is not understood and accounted for. Here, we describe an unexpected pattern in lead release to drinking water, identified through point-of-use sampling. The median lead concentration representing paired first-draw water samples—collected in multiple years—was 46% lower in October compared to February. Seasonal variation in orthophosphate, pH, and alkalinity accounted for at least some of this pattern and predicted lead solubility in October was 76% of that in February. But seasonally varying aluminum may also have been a factor; as a supplement to the field study, we evaluated the effects of aluminum residual, temperature, and orthophosphate concentration on lead release from lead coupons. Increasing the orthophosphate concentration from 0–1 mg/L decreased lead release by 34%, and increasing water temperature from 4–21˚C increased lead release by 120%. Increasing the aluminum concentration from 20–500 µg/L increased lead release by 41% and modified the effect of orthophosphate, rendering it less effective in controlling lead release. We attributed this to a decrease in the concentration of soluble (0.45 µm). These data suggest that residual aluminum from coagulation may interfere with orthophosphate corrosion control, especially when the treatment process does not allow the pH of minimum aluminum hydroxide solubility to be targeted.

Lead and manganese are regulated in drinking water due to their neurotoxicity. These elements have been reported to co-occur in drinking water systems, in accordance with the metal-scavenging properties of MnO2. To the extent that manganese is a driver of lead release, controlling it during water treatment may reduce lead levels. We investigated transport of lead and manganese at the tap in a full-scale distribution system: consistent with a cotransport phenomenon, the two metals were detected in the same colloidal size fraction by size-exclusion chromatography with multielement detection. We also studied the effect of manganese on lead release using a model distribution system: increasing manganese from 4 to 215 μg L-1 nearly doubled lead release. This effect was attributed primarily to deposition corrosion of lead by oxidized phases of manganese, and we used 16S rRNA sequencing to identify bacteria that may be relevant to this process. We explored the deposition corrosion mechanism by coupling pure lead with either MnO2-coated lead or pure lead exposed to MnO2 in suspension; we observed galvanic currents in both cases. We attributed these to reduction of Mn(IV) under anaerobic conditions, and we attributed the additional current under aerobic conditions to oxygen reduction catalyzed by MnO2.

Exposure to lead, copper, and manganese via drinking water is a public health concern. Modeling can account for solubility due to simple inorganic ligands but generally falls short in capturing the effects of natural organic matter, particles, and colloids; environmental data are needed to understand the importance of these species. Here, we demonstrate the use of asymmetric flow field flow fractionation with UV and ICP-MS detection to separate drinking water samples into ionic species, colloids, and metal–organic complexes. Colloidal iron appeared to be more important as a transport vector for lead, copper, and manganese than natural organic matter: estimated colloidal metals concentrations (Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn >1000 kDa) were at least 3 times greater than concentrations of these metals associated with the high apparent molecular weight (∼1 kDa) organic signal. In transmission electron micrographs, two distinct populations of relatively dense colloids in the size range 50–200 nm were apparent, with morphologies typical of environmental iron oxides. Moreover, energy dispersive spectroscopy showed that sample colloids were rich in iron, copper, and oxygen. At equilibrium (e.g., during long stagnation periods in plumbing), high molecular weight organic and colloidal fractions represent additional capacity for drinking water to transport lead, which could have implications for water treatment to limit lead exposure.

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and algal toxins can be expensive to monitor and represent significant potential risks to human health. DBPs, including haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes, are possible or probable human carcinogens. Microcystin-LR—produced by cyanobacteria—is linked with various adverse health effects. Here we show that fluorescence spectra predict both microcystin-LR occurrence and DBP formation potential (DBPfp) in lake water. We compared models with either fluorescence spectra or a suite of water quality predictors as inputs. A regularized logistic regression model with fluorescence spectral inputs correctly classified 94% of test data with respect to microcystin-LR occurrence, with a 96% probability of correctly ranking a detect/nondetect pair. Regularized linear regression predicted DBPfp based on fluorescence inputs with a combined R2 of 0.83 on test data. A gradient-boosted classifier with seven water quality inputs was comparable in detecting microcystin-LR (91% correct), as was U...

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations have been increasing in parts of the northern hemisphere for several decades. This process—brownification—often accompanies increasing iron and aluminum, but the metal–DOM interactions these concurrent trends imply are poorly described. Here we used field-flow fractionation with UV and ICP-MS detection to measure the size distribution of colloidal iron, aluminum, manganese, copper, uranium, and chromophoric DOM in six lakes over six months. Five of these lakes have browned to some degree in the past three decades, with linear increases in organic carbon and color ranging from 0.01 to 0.13 mg C L−1 yr−1 and 0.13–1.94 PtCo yr−1. Browning trends were more pronounced and colloids more abundant in lakes with wetlands in their catchments. Iron and aluminum were present in two primary fractions, sized nominally at 1 and 1000 kDa. The 1 kDa fraction included the primary DOM signal, while the 1000 kDa fraction absorbed minimally at 254 nm and likely represents iron-rich (oxyhydr)oxides. Colloidal manganese was sized at 1000+ kDa, whereas colloidal copper and uranium occurred primarily at 1 kDa. These associations fit with a pattern of increasing DOC, iron, aluminum, and color in the region’s lakes. They represent a significant challenge for drinking water treatment systems, especially those in remote communities. Given that browning trends are expected to continue, monitoring plans would better inform treatment process design and operation by characterizing DOM and iron-rich, primarily inorganic colloids that contribute to adverse water quality outcomes.

We are in unprecedented times with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has impacted public health, the economy and our society on a global scale. In addition, the impacts of COVID-19 permeate into our environment and wildlife as well. Here, we discuss the essential role of wastewater treatment and management during these times. A consequence of poor wastewater management is the discharge of untreated wastewater carrying infectious SARS-CoV-2 into natural water systems that are home to marine mammals. Here, we predict the susceptibility of marine mammal species using a modelling approach. We identified that many species of whale, dolphin and seal, as well as otters, are predicted to be highly susceptible to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In addition, geo-mapping highlights how current wastewater management in Alaska may lead to susceptible marine mammal populations being exposed to the virus. Localities such as Cold Bay, Naknek, Dillingham and Palmer may require additional treatment of their wastewater to prevent virus spillover through sewage. Since over half of these susceptibility species are already at risk worldwide, the release of the virus via untreated wastewater could have devastating consequences for their already declining populations. For these reasons, we discuss approaches that can be taken by the public, policymakers and wastewater treatment facilities to reduce the risk of virus spillover in our natural water systems. Thus, we indicate the potential for reverse zoonotic transmission of COVID-19 and its impact on marine wildlife; impacts that can be mitigated with appropriate action to prevent further damage to these vulnerable populations., Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image, Highlights • The COVID-19 pandemic impacts not only humans but both our environment and wildlife. • Wastewater is a conduit for reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to wildlife. • 15 species of endangered marine mammals are predicted to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 • Wastewater spillover in Alaska could put several species of marine mammals at-risk. • Restricted access and vaccination are ways to limit COVID-19 risk to marine mammals.

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) allow food fish to be grown in a contained system with minimal water use (up to 99% recirculation) and a small land footprint. Currently, the use of natural estrogen (17β-estradiol; E2) as a feed additive is being studied to increase growth and feminization in American eels (Anguilla rostrata) being grown in a RAS. This study aimed to degrade concentrations of E2 and its metabolites, estrone (E1) and estriol (E3), in aquaculture effluent to below detectable levels to ensure the safe discharge of waste streams. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been previously used to degrade trace organic contaminants to great effect. This study tested two AOPs (UV and UV/H2O2) for the removal of E2 and its metabolites at low concentrations. Estrogen levels were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Increasing UV dose increased the degradation of estrogens and their removal was improved in aquaculture wastewater versus in pure water. The addition of H2O2 did not consistently improve the efficacy of the UV treatments. The results of this study indicate that these processes may be of future commercial use to remove estrogenic compounds from aquaculture wastewater.

A biomass recovery method was developed to monitor UV disinfection efficacy using adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Typically, disinfection monitoring at wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) involve...

The efficacy of ozonation in different seawater conditions provides an improvement in the water quality and promotes the increment of dissolved oxygen. By-products (bromine, bromate, and bromoform)...

Manganese (Mn) in drinking water systems can accumulate in Mn-oxide deposits which can be resuspended and re-released leading to dirty water events. Public health concerns regarding Mn are growing due to recent studies correlating Mn in drinking water with neurotoxicity in children. Understanding the factors impacting biologically mediated Mn deposition within water supply systems is crucial to developing strategies that limit Mn in drinking water. Annular reactors containing coupons for biofilm growth were installed at the beginning (Pump House) and end (Supply Plant) of the raw water transmission pipeline at a water supply plant in Nova Scotia, Canada to investigate Mn biofouling. Water quality parameters, the concentration of Mn in bulk water and biofilm, and Mn oxidizing bacteria (MOB) within biofilms were measured. Biofilm communities were characterized by 16S rRNA sequencing. Dissolved Mn concentrations decreased (∼20%) as water travelled from the pump house to the supply plant. Despite this reduction, culturable MOB and Mn-oxides were 80% and 70% greater, respectively, in the supply plant reactor biofilm relative to the pump house. Surprisingly, sequencing analysis showed the abundance of known MOB was greater in the pump house reactor than the supply plant reactor. The biofilm community in the supply plant reactor was composed mainly (55%) of the genus Candidatus Koribacter. BLASTp analysis of Candidatus koribacter versatilis identified four proteins homologous to multicopper oxidases, which are known to perform Mn oxidation. We suggest Candidatus Koribacter may be a novel MOB which has a considerable impact on biological Mn oxidation and Mn biofouling.

This study investigated treatment strategies which accelerated the acclimation of new Mn-removing biofilters to help utilities respond to changing Mn regulations, such as the recent introduction of a health-based maximum acceptable concentration and a reduction in the aesthetic objective for Mn in drinking water by Health Canada. Bench-scale filters of either GAC or anthracite media were fed with applied water containing Mn (17–61 μg/L) from a full-scale plant over 294 days. Treatment strategies included the addition of H2O2 (1 mg/L) and/or an increase in pH from 6.8 to 7.5 through the addition of NaOH. The potential physico-chemical and biological mechanisms responsible for accelerated biofilter acclimation under the various redox conditions were investigated through thermodynamic modelling, to predict homogeneous Mn oxide formation, and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, to characterize the microbial community within the filters. GAC filters treated with NaOH, and both H2O2 and NaOH, were the first to acclimate (

The main psychoactive compound in marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and its metabolites are emerging organic contaminants that have been detected in waste and surface waters. As legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use continues, the effects of increased use and potency of marijuana on water and wastewater treatment processes and the environment should be considered. This study examined degradation kinetics of the main urinary metabolite of THC, 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC–COOH) with chlorine. THC–COOH was rapidly removed from both deionized (DI) water at pH 5.6 ± 0.2 and Suwannee River humic acid (SRHA) at pH 5.1 ± 0.2 using low doses of chlorine (0.1 to 0.50 mg free Cl2/L), with half-lives calculated from second-order kinetics constants (k2) of 8 s for DI and 42 s for DI with SRHA. Kinetic rates increased with an increase in pH from 5 to 9 in both DI water and SRHA and no interference from phosphate was observed. The chlorination pathway of electrophilic subst...

A stochastic ecological model with an integrated equilibrium temperature model was developed to predict microalgae growth and phosphorus removal in cold region waste stabilization ponds (WSPs). The model utilized a Monte Carlo simulation to account for parameter uncertainty. The equilibrium temperature model was parameterized using field data collected from two WSPs in Nunavut, Canada, from 2012 to 2014. The equilibrium temperature model provided good agreement with field data on a daily time step. The full model was run using historic (1956-2005) temperature and solar radiation data from five communities (Baker Lake, Cambridge Bay, Coral Harbour, Hall Beach, Resolute) in Nunavut, Canada. The communities represented a range of geographical locations and environmental conditions. Logistic regression on pooled model outputs showed that mean July temperature and mean treatment season temperature (June 1-September 15, ice-free period) provided the best predictors for microalgae growth. They had a predictive success rate of 93 and 88%, respectively. The modelled threshold (50% probability from the Monte Carlo simulation) for microalgae growth was 8.7 and 5.6 °C for the July temperature and mean treatment season temperature, respectively. The logistic regression was applied to each community (except Sanikiluaq) in Nunavut using historic climate data and a probability of microalgae growth was calculated. Based on the model results, soluble phosphorus concentrations consistent with secondary treatment could be achieved if WSP depth is less than 2 m. The model demonstrated a robust method to predict whether a microalgae bloom will occur under a range of model parameters.

The operational significance of energy-intensive rapid mixing processes remains unaddressed in coagulation and flocculation of insoluble precipitates (flocs), which play an important role in the removal of impurities from drinking water supplies. In this study, the influence of rapid mixing and associated mixing energy on floc aggregation was examined for a surface water source characterized by a high fraction of aquatic humic matter. Infrared spectral analyses showed that the colloidal complexes resulting from ligand exchange between iron and dissolved natural organic matter (DOM) were not substantially influenced by the mixing energy input. This signified that DOM removal by coagulation can be achieved at lower mixing intensity, thereby reducing energy consumption. In contrast, macroscopic investigations showed the coagulation mixing energy affected floc size distributions during the slow mixing stage in flocculation and, to some extent, their settling characteristics. The results from analysis of floc properties clearly showed that more mixing energy was expended than necessary in coagulation, which is typically designed at a high mixing intensity range of 600-1000 s

This study examined sulfate deposition in Nova Scotia from 1999 to 2015, and its association with increased pH and organic matter in two protected surface water supplies (Pockwock Lake and Lake Major) located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The study also examined the effect of lake water chemistry on drinking water treatment processes. Sulfate deposition in the region decreased by 68%, whereas pH increased by 0.1-0.4 units over the 16-year period. Average monthly color concentrations in Pockwock Lake and Lake Major increased by 1.7 and 3.8×, respectively. Accordingly, the coagulant demand increased by 1.5 and 3.8× for the water treatment plants supplied by Pockwock Lake and Lake Major. Not only was this coagulant increase costly for the utility, it also resulted in compromised filter performance, particularly for the direct-biofiltration plant supplied by Pockwock Lake that was found to already be operating at the upper limit of the recommended direct filtration thresholds for color, total organic carbon and coagulant dose. Additionally, in 2012-2013 geosmin occurred in Pockwock Lake, which could have been attributed to reduced sulfate deposition as increases in pH favor more diverse cyanobacteria populations. Overall, this study demonstrated the impact that ambient air quality can have on drinking water supplies.

Polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were used in this study to explore passive sampling for the detection of microcystin-LR (MC-LR). POCIS were deployed in triplicate for a minimum of 28 days at the inlet and outlet of a 1 km2, 4.2 km long lake in Atlantic Canada. POCIS results were compared to lake water grab sampling and followed a similar trend. Laboratory POCIS studies using lake water spiked with known MC-LR concentrations were used to estimate lake water concentrations over the deployment period by calculating POCIS sampling rate (Rs). The Rs for MC-LR in this lake water was found to be 0.045 (±0.001) and 0.041 (±0.001) L per day for initial concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 μg L-1. Estimated MC-LR concentrations from POCIS were generally higher than grab sampling results, especially at the outlet to the lake from late September to late October. This could possibly give a better picture of MC-LR concentrations in the lake; MC-LR concentrations can fluctuate substantially over short time periods. POCIS were able to detect MC-LR in the water stream when grab sampling resulted in non-detects (i.e., below detection limit of LC-MS/MS). The use of passive sampling for MC-LR could have beneficial implications for public health and toxicity testing by lowering detection limits for this chronically and acutely toxic chemical. The correlation of aqueous MC-LR concentrations to POCIS MC-LR concentrations needs further study.

Silicates have been added to drinking water for decades, both to sequester iron/manganese and as a corrosion control treatment for lead. But the mechanisms by which they might act to limit lead release are not well understood. We evaluated the effects of two silicate formulations on lead release due to uniform and galvanic corrosion over a wide range of pH and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations. We compared these results to better-characterized systems, with added ortho- or polyphosphate and in an inhibitor-free control. Independent of pH, silicates did not consistently mitigate lead release due to either uniform or galvanic corrosion. Furthermore, lead carbonates appeared to determine lead solubility in the presence of sodium silicate. While silicate treatment did promote the formation of a nanometer-thick silicon layer on lead and a decrease in crystallite size at the scale surface, these changes did not inhibit lead release. But unlike polyphosphate—which is known to form soluble complexes with lead and disperse particulate metals—high ratio silicate did not exacerbate lead release. Metasilicate did exacerbate lead release, especially at pH 7 and 5 mg DIC/L; this suggests that silicate formulation may have an important effect on the dispersion of lead-rich particles.

The traditional approach to extracting estrogens from water matrices, solid-phase extraction (SPE), presents a number of challenges when applied to complex wastewater matrices. Conversely, the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) clean-up method offers an alternative sample preparation approach that omits sample filtration and overcomes additional challenges associated with SPE. The objective of this study was to implement and validate a scaled QuEChERS method, using a standard addition approach, for extracting estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) from the estrogenic influent of a recirculating aquaculture system containing American eels (Anguilla rostrata). While traditional QuEChERS protocols do not facilitate considerable sample concentration, a 500-fold concentration factor was implemented for reliable quantitation of parts-per-trillion concentrations of estrogens from an initial sample volume of 20 mL to a final extract volume of 40 μL. Following analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, excellent process efficiencies were observed at spiked concentrations of 10 and 50 ng L−1 for E2 and E1 (101 to 111%; %RSD ≤ 16), and moderate to acceptable process efficiencies were achieved for E3 (75 to 87%; %RSD ≤ 16). Validation of method parameters, including specificity, linearity, accuracy (recovery and process efficiencies), precision (intra-day precision, and inter-day precision), matrix effects, method detection limit, and limit of quantitation, led to reliable quantitation of unknown concentrations of E1, E2, and E3 in the aquaculture influent as low as 52, 20, and 33 ng L−1, respectively. This study provides a validated analytical method for waste systems requiring quantitation of estrogens in their complex wastewater matrices.

High levels of iron in distributed drinking water often accompany elevated lead release from lead service lines and other plumbing. Lead-iron interactions in drinking water distribution systems are hypothesized to be the result of adsorption and transport of lead by iron oxide particles. This mechanism was explored using point-of-use drinking water samples characterized by size exclusion chromatography with UV and multi-element (ICP-MS) detection. In separations on two different stationary phases, high apparent molecular weight (>669 kDa) elution profiles for (56)Fe and (208)Pb were strongly correlated (average R(2)=0.96, N=73 samples representing 23 single-unit residences). Moreover, (56)Fe and (208)Pb peak areas exhibited an apparent linear dependence (R(2)=0.82), consistent with mobilization of lead via adsorption to colloidal particles rich in iron. A UV254 absorbance peak, coincident with high molecular weight (56)Fe and (208)Pb, implied that natural organic matter was interacting with the hypothesized colloidal species. High molecular weight UV254 peak areas were correlated with both (56)Fe and (208)Pb peak areas (R(2)=0.87 and 0.58, respectively). On average, 45% (std. dev. 10%) of total lead occurred in the size range 0.05-0.45 μm.

Fluorescence spectroscopy shows promise as a tool for monitoring regulated disinfection by-products (DBPs) online in water treatment applications. Prediction of DBP formation via fluorescence spectroscopy was investigated using drinking water treatment plant (WTP) samples and experimental data from bench-scale advanced oxidation processes applied to a natural water matrix. L1-Regularized linear regression (lasso), boosted regression tree ensembles, principal components regression, supervised principal components, and fluorescent regional integration models were applied to data comprising instantaneous haloacetic acid (HAA) and trihalomethane (THM) concentrations and DBP formation potentials (HAAfp and THMfp) paired with fluorescence excitation–emission matrices. L1-Regularized linear regression yielded the lowest mean absolute error (MAE), assessed by cross-validation, on HAA and HAAfp data collected at the WTP (7.7 μg L−1, N = 22). Boosted regression tree ensemble predictions had the lowest MAE on WTP THM and THMfp data (13.5 μg L−1, N = 37). L1-Regularized linear regression and supervised principal components, respectively, exhibited the greatest prediction accuracy (MAE 14.9 and 9.5 μg L−1, N = 60) for HAAfp and THMfp data generated via bench-scale advanced oxidation processes. Linear models based on either fluorescent regional integration or (unsupervised) principal components were consistently less accurate than the highest-performing methods for DBP prediction.

We evaluated anthropogenic Pb deposition along a west-east transect from the Adirondack Mountains, New York, USA (ADIR) region, the Vermont-New Hampshire-Maine, USA (VT-NH-ME) region, and Nova Scotia, Canada (NS) region using 47 210Pb-dated lake sediment records. We used focus-corrected Pb inventories to evaluate cumulative deposition and breakpoint analysis to evaluate possible differences in timings among regions. Peak Pb concentrations decreased from west to east (ADIR region: 52–378 mg kg−1, VT-NH-ME region: 54–253 mg kg−1, NS: 38–140 mg kg−1). Cumulative deposition of anthropogenic Pb also decreased from west to east (ADIR region: 791–1344 mg m−2, VT-NH-ME region: 209–1206 mg m−2, NS: 52–421 mg m−2). The initiation of anthropogenic Pb deposition occurred progressively later along the same transect (ADIR region: 1869–1900, VT-NH-ME region: 1874–1905, NS region: 1901–1930). Previous lead isotope studies suggest that eastern Canadian Pb deposition over the past ~150 years has originated from a mix of both Canadian and U.S. sources. The results of this study indicate that anthropogenic Pb from sources west of the ADIR region were deposited in lesser amounts from west to east and/or Pb sources reflect less population density from west to east. The timing of the initiation of anthropogenic Pb deposition in the NS region suggests that Pb from gasoline may be an important source in this region.

Profile, regulatory, and investigative sampling were completed in six utilities to study the impact of partial and full lead service line replacements (LSLRs) on water lead levels (WLLs) and consumer's exposure. As compared to households with no replacement, lead release after partial LSLR (PLSLR) was generally greater in the short term (3-50 days), and comparable or lower in the medium (2 years) and long-term (2 years). This was mainly explained by insufficient time elapsed to stabilize scales after disturbances to the service line. One utility showed sustained lead release over 18 months after PLSLR. Moreover, the reduction in WLLs was small when analyzing results for the same households. As a comparison, full LSLR decreased WLLs drastically and immediately. The occurrence of low (0-5 μg/L) to high (≥50 μg/L) WLLs in the profiles varied between households and reflected the variability of exposure among households in the same system. Using this probability of occurrence, the distribution of WLLs of exposure was estimated for households with or without a PLSLR, and used to model young children blood lead levels (BLLs) for both groups of households. The range of modeled BLLs decreased slightly for households with PLSLR, but still overlapped the range estimated for households with no replacement. This analysis suggests that, in a system, PLSLRs do not reduce young children blood lead levels except in a fraction of households.

The rate and efficiency of iron generation in a bench-scale electrocoagulation (EC) system was investigated when variations were made to operating voltage, cathode material and electrolyte composition. Two electrolytes were tested, one with organic compounds (naphthalene, acenaphthene and 4-nonylphenol) and one without. While aromatic structures often make good corrosion inhibitors, in this case they had no discernible effect. This is a positive indicator that EC systems will not have adverse effects when treating wastewaters associated with oil and gas production. Using a stainless steel cathode rather than an aluminium one resulted in 35% more production of iron at the anode per volt per minute; it also resulted in greater iron production given equivalent quantities of power. This occurred because the rate-limiting hydrogen evolution reaction at the cathode occurs more quickly on iron than on aluminium. It was also observed that the EC system (using either cathode) produced more iron per unit power when operated at lower voltages. At lower voltages, the corrosion that occurred spontaneously in the absence of an applied current contributed more significantly to the total amount of iron released. This research suggests that it is more efficient to design EC systems using iron-based cathodes rather than aluminium ones. It also indicates that it is more energy efficient to use more electrodes at low power, rather than fewer electrodes at high power.

Lead exposure via drinking water remains a significant public health risk; this study explored the potential effects of upstream iron corrosion on lead mobility in water distribution systems. Specifically, galvanic corrosion of lead by iron (oxyhydr)oxides was investigated. Coupling an iron mineral cathode with metallic lead in a galvanic cell increased lead release by 531 μg L–1 on average—a 9-fold increase over uniform corrosion in the absence of iron. Cathodes were composed of spark plasma sintered Fe3O4 or α-Fe2O3 or field-extracted Fe3O4 and α-FeOOH. Orthophosphate immobilized oxidized lead as insoluble hydroxypyromorphite, while humic acid enhanced lead mobility. Addition of a humic isolate increased lead release due to uniform corrosion by 81 μg L–1 and—upon coupling lead to a mineral cathode—release due to galvanic corrosion by 990 μg L–1. Elevated lead in the presence of humic acid appeared to be driven by complexation, with 208Pb and UV254 size-exclusion chromatograms exhibiting strong correlati...

Arctic communities often face drinking water supply challenges that are unique to their location. Consequently, conventional drinking water regulatory strategies often do not meet the needs of these communities. A literature review of Arctic jurisdictions was conducted to evaluate the current water management approaches and how these techniques could be applied to the territory of Nunavut in Canada. The countries included are all members of the Arctic Council and other Canadian jurisdictions considered important to the understanding of water management for Northern Canadian communities. The communities in Nunavut face many challenges in delivering safe water to customers due to remoteness, small community size and therefore staffing constraints, lack of guidelines and monitoring procedures specific to Nunavut, and water treatment and distribution systems that are vastly different than those used in southern communities. Water safety plans were explored as an alternative to water quality regulations as recent case studies have demonstrated the utility of this risk management tool, especially in the context of small communities. Iceland and Alberta both currently have regulated water safety plans (WSPs) and were examined to understand shortcomings and benefits if WSPs were to be applied as a possible strategy in Nunavut. Finally, this study discusses specific considerations that are necessary should a WSP approach be applied in Nunavut.

The goal of this research was to develop a robust method for taste and odour compounds that can be implemented by laboratories with mass spectrometers lacking chemical ionisation capabilities or specialised sample introduction hardware that are commonly used for taste and odour methods. Development, optimisation, and validation of a solid-phase extraction method using liquid injection and gas chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry detection with electron impact ionisation are described. Camphor was used as an internal standard, and through method development and robustness testing it was shown to extract similarly to other taste and odour compounds, making it a cost-effective alternative to deuterated analogs. The instrumental parameters and extraction procedure were fully optimised prior to assessing the method’s linearity, precision, and accuracy. Using a 2000-fold enrichment factor, method recoveries for priority compounds geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) were >90%. Excellent linearity w...

Nitrate, arsenic and vanadium are all potential groundwater contaminants. Various resource constraints can make conventional treatment methodologies, such as ion exchange and membrane processing, challenging to implement for small utilities. This research examined the potential of biological denitrification with Paracoccus denitrificans and adsorption to ferric hydroxide precipitates to simultaneously remove nitrate and either arsenic or vanadium. Continuous bench-scale testing found that average nitrate removal of up to 60% was obtained. The continuous bench-scale testing also found that arsenic and vanadium were both removed by way of adsorption to ferric hydroxide precipitates. The average per cent removal for arsenic and vanadium were 81·5% and 91·1% when 2 mg/L of iron was added. In fact, arsenic concentrations were below 10 μg/L following addition of 2 mg/L of iron. This bench-scale system demonstrates the potential of integrating bio-adsorption for co-contaminant removal, which could hold promise for small communities requiring an innovative approach to simultaneously remove contaminants.

The fate of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in wastewater treatment systems is an area of increasing concern. Little research has been done to understand this issue in rural or decentralized communities. The objective of this research was to examine the ability of a bench scale nitrifying recirculating biofilter (RBF) to remove four acidic PhACs: gemfibrozil, naproxen, ibuprofen and diclofenac from secondary treated municipal wastewater at concentrations of 20 and 200 μg/L. The average removals in this study were between 92 and 99% for ibuprofen, 89 and 99% for naproxen, 62 and 92% for gemfibrozil and 40 and 76% for diclofenac, which is consistent with literature. Ibuprofen and naproxen were largely removed through biological transformation; whereas gemfibrozil and diclofenac showed more variable removal, likely due to both biological transformation and sorption processes. PhAC removal in the RBFs was repeatable between trials, robust and responsive to system upsets, and the presence of PhACs as a single compound versus mixtures had no impact on PhAC removal efficiency. In summary, this study indicates that RBFs as a nitrifying stage of a multi-stage filtration process could be a viable technology for removal of some acidic pharmaceuticals in small onsite wastewater treatment facilities.

Drinking water in the vast Arctic Canadian territory of Nunavut is sourced from surface water lakes or rivers and transferred to man-made or natural reservoirs. The raw water is at a minimum treated by chlorination and distributed to customers either by trucks delivering to a water storage tank inside buildings or through a piped distribution system. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical and microbial drinking water quality from source to tap in three hamlets (Coral Harbour, Pond Inlet and Pangnirtung-each has a population of2000) on trucked service, and in Iqaluit (population ~6700), which uses a combination of trucked and piped water conveyance. Generally, the source and drinking water was of satisfactory microbial quality, containing Escherichia coli levels of1 MPN/100 mL with a few exceptions, and selected pathogenic bacteria and parasites were below detection limits using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods. Tap water in households receiving trucked water contained less than the recommended 0.2 mg/L of free chlorine, while piped drinking water in Iqaluit complied with Health Canada guidelines for residual chlorine (i.e.0.2 mg/L free chlorine). Some buildings in the four communities contained manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and/or lead (Pb) concentrations above Health Canada guideline values for the aesthetic (Mn, Cu and Fe) and health (Pb) objectives. Corrosion of components of the drinking water distribution system (household storage tanks, premise plumbing) could be contributing to Pb, Cu and Fe levels, as the source water in three of the four communities had low alkalinity. The results point to the need for robust disinfection, which may include secondary disinfection or point-of-use disinfection, to prevent microbial risks in drinking water tanks in buildings and ultimately at the tap.

Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is being applied in many aquaculture industries as it provides an opportunity to produce fish in a contained system with minimal use of water. In proposed RAS-based farming of the American eel, 17β-estradiol (E2) is being investigated as an in-feed drug to feminize and increase growth of farmed eels. This creates potential for release of E2 and its metabolites from the eel RAS and information is needed to monitor and manage eel farm effluents to reduce impact on the environment. In the current study, the concentrations of E2 and its metabolites (i.e., estrone (E1) and estriol (E3)) were monitored from different compartments in the RAS and analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). E2 levels ranged from 8 to 25 ng/L in the water recirculating within the RAS and declined to 2–6 ng/L in the weeks post-treatment. E1 levels were within similar ranges as E2, whereas E3 levels were below 2 ng/L throughout the study. The results were used to develop a computational model to describe the fate of E2 and its metabolites in the RAS, and to delineate the influences of metabolism and hydrodynamics for the removal of E2 by RAS processes. The rapid removal of uneaten feed and feces downstream of inventory tanks was found to be the most significant mechanism for the removal of 2–6% of the E2 added in feed daily, producing a concentrated effluent stream suitable for strategic treatment strategies. Greater than 94% of E2 added to the system with feed was either metabolized by the eels and/or bacteria in the biofilters of the RAS or was sufficiently bound to solids fractions in the solid samples to resist organic extraction and detection. Additionally, reducing daily water exchange from 23 to 7% of the system water inventory resulted in an increase of only 1 ng/L in E1 concentrations within the RAS system while a negligible change in the concentration of E2 was observed.

This study was performed to investigate dissolved organic matter (DOM) adsorption equilibrium using synthetic iron pipe corrosion scales i.e. goethite and magnetite for different pH values ranging from 2.5 to 10.5. The synthesized goethite and magnetite was characterized by XRD, SEM and BET surface area. SEM micrographs for before and after DOM adsorption study revealed a significant change on the morphology of goethite and magnetite surface. Molecular weight distributions of DOM measured by HPSEC revealed that the higher molecular weight fractions adsorbed preferentially onto goethite and magnetite surface, and it was pronouncedly observed at lower pH. The DOM adsorption data illustrated to be fit well by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm indicating monolayer coverage. The standard Gibb’s free energy ( Δ G ads ∘ ) changes of adsorption process stating the DOM adsorption onto goethite and magnetite surface was spontaneous under the experimental conditions. However, the maximal adsorption capacity for goethite and magnetite were revealed to be 4.75 mg-C/g and 3.79 mg-C/g respectively at pH 2.5. The DOM adsorption study was observed to be highly pH dependent. Consequently, zeta (ζ) potential measurements revealed that surface charge of goethite and magnetite was modified due to DOM adsorption onto their surfaces, and their pH for point zero charge ( pH PZC ) was shifted to lower pH compared to that of in absence of DOM. Nevertheless, it has been suggested that ligand exchange between carboxyl/hydroxyl functional groups of DOM and, goethite and magnetite surface was the leading interaction mechanism for DOM adsorption process. FTIR spectroscopy study was in agreement with the conclusion cited above.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate different effluent treatment options for Atlantic Canadian seafood processing plants. Bench-scale testing with a 25-mesh screen, sedimentation (SED), and dissolved air flotation (DAF) was conducted. Treatment by SED and DAF was successful in reducing contaminant concentrations with maximum observed percent reductions: biochemical oxygen demand, BOD5 (90%); chemical oxygen demand, COD (60%); turbidity (99%); total suspended solids, TSS (95%); and ammonia nitrogen, NH3-N (50%). Bench-scale 25-mesh screen runs for select effluent types showed poor reduction efficiencies and appeared to provide inadequate removal of contaminants. Sedimentation and DAF using alum were effective at removing solids but less effective at removing soluble effluent components. Improved performance may be possible with further treatment technology optimization on an effluent specific basis.

The goal of this research was to remove arsenic from groundwater supplies via adsorption into media obtained from waste material generated as by-products from glass recycling programs and the seafood industry such as crushed glass and scallop shells. During the course of this research four new adsorbents were developed: ferric hydroxide coated crushed glass (FHCCG); ferric oxide coated crushed glass (FOCCG); ferric hydroxide coated scallop shells (FHCSS); and ferric oxide coated scallop shells (FOCSS). The adsorbents were characterized through evaluation of their structure, surface area, chemical composition, iron content, and coating stability. Efficiency of the adsorbents to remove arsenic from water was examined through batch kinetic and isotherm adsorption experiments. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbents was also evaluated by performing column experiments using real ground waters and a synthetic water. Arsenic removal to a concentration less than 10 μg/L was achieved with the FHCSS and more than 9000 bed volumes of water were treated before the breakthrough point was reached. The research results revealed that scallop shells coated with ferric hydroxideperformed better than crushed glass coated with ferric hydroxide. Both FOCCG and FOCSS had poor arsenic removal compared with FHCSS and granular ferric hydroxide (GFH). Ferric hydroxide coated scallop shells performed similarly to GFH.

This paper presented a simplified ecological risk assessment of the toxicity of alum residuals from water treatment plants to surface water that is based on the framework recommended by United Stat...

Corrosion control strategies are important for many utilities in maintaining water quality from the water treatment plant to the customers' tap. In drinking water with low alkalinity, water quality can become significantly degraded in iron-based pipes if water utilities are not diligent in maintaining proper corrosion control. This article reports on experiments conducted in bicarbonate buffered (5 mg-C/L) synthetic water to determine the effects of corrosion control (pH and phosphate) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the rate constants of the Fe(II) oxidation process. A factorial design approach elucidated that pH (P = 0.007, contribution: 42.5%) and phosphate (P = 0.025, contribution: 22.7%) were the statistically significant factors in the Fe(II) oxidation process at a 95% confidence level. The comprehensive study revealed a significant dependency relationship between the Fe(II) oxidation rate constants (k) and phosphate-to- Fe(II) mole ratio. At pH 6.5, the optimum mole ratio was found to be 0.3 to reduce the k values. Conversely, the k values were observed to increase for the phosphate-to- Fe(II) mole ratio1. The factorial design approach revealed that chlorine and DOM for the designated dosages did not cause a statistically significant (α = 0.05, P0.05)change in rate constants. However, an increment of the chlorine to ferrous iron mole ratio by a factor of ∼ 2.5 resulted in an increase k values by a factor of ∼ 10. This study conclusively demonstrated that the lowest Fe(II) oxidation rate constant was obtained under low pH conditions (pH ≤ 6.5), with chlorine doses less than 2.2 mg/L and with a phosphate-to-Fe(II) mole ratio ≈ 0.3 in the iron water systems.

The objective of this study was to assess lead release in a pipe rig system that was disinfected with either chloramines or free chlorine. The study was carried out using pipe loops and copper pipe rigs that had lead solder, which provided the only source of lead. The water quality of the treated water had a low alkalinity (

Lead service lines (LSLs) are a major source of drinking water lead, and high iron levels are frequently observed along with elevated lead release. A model distribution system, dosed with orthophosphate, was used to evaluate the effect of corroded iron distribution mains on lead release from recovered LSLs. Lead release was higher by 96 μg L(-1), on average, from LSLs supplied by corroded iron compared to the inert reference material (PVC). This effect may be explained by deposition of semiconducting iron oxide particles within LSLs. When galvanic cells with lead and magnetite (Fe3O4) electrodes were short-circuited, lead release increased 8-fold and a current averaging 26 μA was observed. In effluent from LSLs with an upstream iron main, colloidal lead and iron occurred in the same size fraction-possibly due to release of colloidal particles from LSL corrosion scale enriched with iron. Under these circumstances, high molecular weight (669 kDa) (208)Pb and (56)Fe elution profiles, observed via size-exclusion chromatography, were highly correlated (average R(2) = 0.97). Increasing orthophosphate from 0.5 to 1.0 mg L(-1) (as PO4(3-)) accompanied an average reduction in lead release of 6 μg L(-1) month(-1) but did not significantly reduce the effect of an upstream iron main.