Results

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread illness, taken the lives of nearly five million people worldwide, and caused many other disruptions to daily life. The pandemic has also presented several challenges to disease surveillance and epidemiological risk mitigation. Addressing these challenges requires novel decision support methods to satisfy multiple and sometimes competing goals of risk reduction, securing private data, and preserving personal liberties. In this presentation, we will describe our contributions to the development of a SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance monitoring program, subsequent data analyses to interpret results, and modeling to evaluate the predictability of this novel method that emerged during the pandemic. Weekly grab samples of wastewater were initiated in May 2020 for SARS-CoV-2 analysis at four locations. Three of these were on-campus building-level locations, with one off-campus catchment-level location. Preliminary results indicated elevated concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 co-occurring with new outbreaks in the community. As a result, sampling was continued through the Fall semester, expanding the program to monitor four specific residence halls at the building level. In January 2021, sampling was expanded to a total of six residence halls and one off-campus catchment-level location, sampling frequency was increased to twice weekly, and the temporal composition of these samples was modified with the installation of automatic composite samplers. The sampling protocol was again expanded in August 2021 to include a total of 18 composite samples at twice-weekly resolution. This included 15 on-campus locations yielding building-level samples and three off-campus catchment-level locations. Methods to model this type of data to establish public health implications are rapidly developing and have required ongoing research. Some preliminary approaches have been published to correlate wastewater concentrations with COVID-19 cases at the community level from samples taken at wastewater utility plants. These methods allow for a larger population (i.e. those contributing to wastewater) to be analyzed using a single test. Further, this style of testing captures results from communities without differentiating between symptomatic or asymptomatic cases. However, these methods have not been well-established at the building level where factors such as fluid mixing, transit time, sewer geometry, dilution with wastewater streams largely free of viral RNA (e.g. laundry), and more transient populations are assumed to negatively impact the interpretation of results. Additionally, fecal shedding rates SARS-CoV-2 variants are not well-established, potentially calling into question the application of preliminary models based on the original strain of the virus. To support decision-making on campus, we have created a data analysis plan using monitored wastewater concentrations and positive or presumptive cases identified through clinical sampling, screening-based saliva sampling, and contact tracing. Building-level data such as occupancy counts, the percentage of vaccinated residents, and building water use volume are being collected to better support modeling and interpretation of results. Wastewater samples are collected from manholes corresponding to building wastewater discharges, and analyzed for a variety of gene targets from known variants. We will present results of these analyses for data collected during the 2021 calendar year. Several analyses will be presented including (i) cross-correlation between wastewater signal and the number of known or presumptive cases contributing to samples; (ii) a Poisson regression to determine the predictability of the number of infections from wastewater concentrations; and (iii) variable selection to determine factors driving the relationship between case counts and wastewater signal which will best inform deterministic modeling. These results will provide a unique perspective into the challenges and benefits of conducting a wastewater surveillance program at the building-level, and will support future efforts to model case counts from building-level wastewater concentrations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Wastewater analysis for SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been underway in various locations across the world since early 2020 and is a rapidly expanding area of research. There is a limited understanding of the behaviour of viruses within the sewer network. However, it is likely that the virus is subject to a range of biotic and abiotic factors which may influence its persistence and transit time within the network . Understanding this behaviour is key in developing sampling strategies which underpin an effective Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) health surveillance system. Developing this understanding requires answers to a number of core questions, namely:

•Does the virus follow conservative flow regimes?
•Does the virus degrade in the sewer environment?
• How long does the virus persist in the network?
•What are the impacts of re-entrainment after weather events?

A better knowledge of these factors would allow better interpretation sample results in the context of the environmental conditions, which will also create the foundation for being able to triangulate and track the sources of viral outbreaks.

In the UK over 90% of the water and wastewater networks are representing in hydraulic models. These models have been built over the past 10 – 15 years and have been subject to millions of pounds of investment to ensure they are fit for purpose and accurate. These models have the potential to be a key tool in an effective WBE program if used in the right way. To date, development has primarily been focused on flooding, which is the core driver in the UK, and less so on the representation of water quality parameters.

Method

Through this study we worked to assess how well these models could be used to represented viral transport in sewer network, as well as identify any potential limitations.

To do this we worked in two catchments, each with different properties to deploy an enveloped viral marker at known places into the sewer network and then tracking its appearance at various locations. This work was complemented with the conservative flow fluorescent dye tracer, rhodamine-WT. We followed these tracers through the use of an autosamplers in the network over 17 days. Using these results, we then calibrated a hydraulic model (with contaminant transport processes) to understand the key parameters which influence transport (degradation rate, flow rate, rainfall, pipe material and roughness).

The models use the Innovyze Infoworks ICM modelling platform. In all cities the models were 'cut down' to represent only the major network with inflow files at junctions, as in Figure 1. This was done to increase the speed of the models.

In order to ensure accuracy these cut down models are checked against the full model to make sure there are no differences. The conditions on the sampling days were then re-created by adding any rainfall and inputting the markers at the upstream manhole, representing it as coliform.

Results

The different catchments each highlighted different challenges and opportunities. In the first there was a pumping station in between the input location and the sampling point. This meant that initially the model under predicted the travel time by over 4 hours. To counter this the impact of the pump was derived by including its operational controls. After this was done the time of travel matched that of the experiments closely, as seen in Figure 2. In our simulations we ran a number of scenarios with different T90 decay times. In Figure 2 it can be seen that a T90 of 10 – 12 hours most accurately matches the experiments. This influences the design of a sampling strategy or interpretation of the result to incorporate this decay of the virus.

In the second catchment there was a single straight run of pipe, with no significant hydraulic structures. However, we were unable to recreate the travel time accurately, as shown in Figure 3.

The models use a standard Dry Weather Flow day based upon when they were originally verified. We compared velocity measurements taken on the day of the experiments to the validation day and there was a large differential. This may be explained by changing water usage during Covid altering the flow patterns in the sewer, as was suggested by the flow monitor at the outlet point, as shown in Figure 4.

Conclusion

The key conclusion from the work is that it is possible to represent an enveloped virus in the sewer network through the use of hydraulic models. Both in terms of travel time and decay rate. However, using the models 'off the shelf' can lead to large inaccuracies as the models may not be validated/ developed with the intention for use in water quality modelling or water usage has changed during Covid with home working to the point at which the models are no longer representative. In these conditions having flow measurements recorded at the same time as sample extraction can lead to more certainty around the outputs/ results and allow for the models to be adapted to match reality.

If the models are fully validated it is possible to use the water quality modules to represent the virus transport with a T90 decay rate of 10-14 hours. This means that sampler coverage needs to ensure that areas outside of this distance from a sampler need to be covered by additional in-network samplers to represent SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. Or include scaling factors to incorporate the likely decay of the virus.
The transport of the virus is conservative (via advection), as a result if the key parameter of interest is travel time this can be calculated based on only knowledge of the network configuration and the flow rates. However, the models are still required to explore the relationship with decay rates.

Future work

The opportunity to represent other health markers and chemicals is being explored as well as whether these models can be run in real time and integrate real time sample data to track the sources of infection in communities.

The City of Hampton (City) recently finalized a Downtown Hampton Master Plan to guide future growth and enhancement of its downtown area. The plan includes improved street networks, additional green space, new housing, and commercial space. A key goal of the plan is to improve connections between the core downtown and the waterfront. Under Virginia stormwater regulations, implementation of the Downtown Master Plan will require reductions in pollutant loading to surrounding the water bodies such as the Hampton River and Chesapeake Bay. In support of this plan, the City also developed a Downtown Water Quality Master Plan to support their Downtown Master Plan development. The overall goal of the Water Quality Plan is to provide a pathway for the City to achieve pollutant reduction requirements and advance other City initiatives as the Downtown Hampton Master Plan becomes a reality. In accordance with Virginia's stormwater regulations (9VAC25-870-63), each redevelopment in the downtown area will require a 20% net reduction in pollutant (phosphorus) loading to the Hampton River and Chesapeake Bay, relative to the pre-redevelopment loading. The City intends to achieve this requirement by implementing water quality projects throughout the Downtown Hampton area. To select these sites, a project selection framework was developed to advance each of the City's goals including Resilient Hampton initiatives and increasing greenspace in the area. This presentation will discuss the development of the site selection framework, conceptualization of each stormwater treatment facility, and the final results of the study. Attendees will gain an understanding of stormwater treatment, site selection techniques, and insights into urban stormwater design.

The California Association of Sewerage Agencies Regulatory Workgroup prepared a guidance document in 2022-23 for wastewater agencies who produce biosolids and contract out land application services. The document is aimed at producers of Class B biosolids and it aims to help agencies oversee their contractors in a manner compliant with 40 C.F.R. § 503, i.e. EPA 503 regulations. The purpose of the document is not to address all the elements of an Environmental Management System, nor is it to substitute the best practice guidance from the National Biosolids Partnership. Rather, this document provides a simple distillation of duties retained by a generator of biosolids when the land application of the biosolids is handled by an outside contractor. EPA 503 regulations promote a spirit of cradle-to-grave involvement in biosolids handling on the part of the generator, yet the regulations leave room for interpretation. This is especially complicated for tasks that have been contractually transferred to the biosolids handler and are beyond the operational control of the generator, yet the generator remains responsible in principle. Further complicating interpretation is that EPA 503 does not clearly list generator duties for land application beyond sampling and analysis, leaving the reader to find duties throughout the full legal code. The document describes how the utilities should provide oversight via desktop review and in the field, before, during, and after land application. Aspects of the contractor's operation that can be reviewed via desktop include field permits, trucking routes, crops to be grown, and timing of application. Also, outreach to landowners and local regulators can be conducted in office. It is important to note that EPA 503 promotes communication between the generator and the landowner to ensure that the landowner is aware of the land application practice occurring on their fields. The document describes how a utility can conduct effective site visits to verify that land application practices are consistent with federal, state, and local (county) regulations. Site visits are also encouraged after application to verify the crop being grown at the site. Perhaps most importantly, the guidance describes agronomic loading rates. It provides definitions, calculations, and guidance related to biosolids analysis, soil analysis, field loading, and crop uptake. The guidance addresses how climate and soil type will affect assumptions. The guidance helps agency staff demystify and interpret field reports from a land applier. Finally, while the guidance document describes the limitations of contracts in abdicating a generator's duties, it nevertheless includes example contractual language to help agencies develop strong agreements. In general, the guidance is meant to help both new and experienced agencies monitor their biosolids land application practices. This talk will step through the guidance document and discuss input and nuances for the various recommendations. This talk will be useful to agency staff persons and biosolids contractors alike, as well as consultants and regulators. While the guidance was developed in California, it is applicable to all states.

Nature-based solutions offer a breakthough in addressing regional and local stormwater needs. The efficacy of these solutions, though recent in adaptation, are now well documented. The benefits are global across the stormwater and water resource spectrum. Across the United States as well as globally, larger regional projects with multi-disciplinary nature-based components are gaining acceptance and popularity in lieu of traditional project by project stormwater management or as a compliment to green infrastructure programs. The White House and National Climate Task Force recently developed and published a framework to accelerate nature-based solutions in November 2022. Clients across the US are actively developing these types of solutions for flooding, erosion, water quality, ecological uplift and habitat restoration, wetland mitigation and for compliance with impaired waterbody criteria. The strength of regional nature-based solutions is that a single project can provide multiple benefits rather than a single benefit such as flood reduction or stormwater capture that traditional approaches focus upon. This also opens up such projects to additional grant and partner funding as these projects may include resiliency, sustainability, mitigation or ecological benefits as well as the ability to address the needs of multiple projects and stakeholders rather than just one. In aggregate, these projects can be more cost-effective than traditional approaches. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) completed a regional project in which an area of poor water quality in a stagnant bay was addressed with bridge cuts in a causeway to improve circulation and water quality and set up a water quality credit bank to address any project that drained to the bay that could be used instead of constructing traditional stormwater ponds and linear stormwater management. An internal FDOT audit concluded the project saved $100 Million over traditional construction and maintenance heavy approaches as well as resulting in much better receiving waterbody quality. In addition, nature-based solutions have a much lower carbon footprint than traditional approaches. In many cases they act as a carbon sink rather than a carbon producer. Based on the success and documented results of several nature-based solutions as well as non-traditional approaches to stormwater management in Florida that have run gamut from wetland restoration for ecological and floodplain mitigation as well as stormwater quality, utilizing stormwater for reclaimed water reuse, septic tank removal in impaired springsheds, tidal circulation improvement to address receiving water quality to seagrass restoration and ecological habitat uplift, FDOT developed a statewide manual to encourage nature-based, innovative stormwater solutions. One of the reasons traditional project-by-project stormwater solutions remain a strong option is the efficiency of a single stakeholder and project as well as a predictable design framework. To address these issues, the FDOT identified several strategies to improve adoption and success of multidisciplinary, multi-benefit nature-based and innovative stormwater solutions. These include: -Early identification of opportunities in planning stage -Early stakeholder engagement -Program wide approach so multiple projects can be tied to a regional solution\ -Early permit agency engagement to achieve buy in on novel stormwater management approaches -Exploration of grant and stakeholder funding -Development of a GIS-database to identify specific watershed issues and opportunities -Early identification of skillsets outside traditional stormwater approaches Regional nature-based approaches are likely to continue to increase. In addition to stormwater, they apply to water supply and infrastructure, environmental mitigation and restoration and coastal approaches such as living shorelines as opposed to traditional hardscape. It is often much easier to obtain public and environmental support and buy in for a regional stormwater facility that restores a natural hydrologic system, includes park or eco-tourism elements and serves multiple highways, developments or projects within a watershed than it would be for a traditional project and approach. As such, these projects are a win-win for a broad spectrum of clients and stakeholders. In addition, nature-based approaches are able to better accommodate and scale with climate change and hence are more sustainable and resilient.

Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) has drawn significant attention as an early warning tool to detect and predict the trajectory of COVID-19 cases in a community as it can provide evidence of both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. However, precise and accurate viral copies quantification in wastewater is a prerequisite for making that tool successful. This ultimately is dependent on the effective and reliable virus concentration method prior to RNA extraction and quantification. Virus concentration is crucial in the wastewater especially when viral titers are very low, as is seen in building-based surveillance (Corchis-Scott et al., 2021; Gibas et al., 2021). Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based precipitation, Electronegative Membrane Filtration (EMF), and Ultrafiltration are the popular methods that are being used to concentrate virus with successful signal detection (La Rosa et al., 2020; Wu et al., 2020; Kumar et al., 2020). However, in the context of congregate living facilities such as university residence halls, school rapid virus concentration method is necessary for faster data reporting. We previously reported outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 building level surveillance for a large urban college campus during Fall 2020 using EMF as the method of concentration (Gibas et al., 2021). However, to shorten the timeline from sample collection to reporting, we have tested an alternative concentration method using the InnovaPrep CP Select concentrator (https://www.innovaprep.com). We aimed to determine how the optimized CP Select protocol performs compared to the established EMF method in terms of filtration time, external control recovery, and sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 detection and quantification. Method Wastewater samples was processed using the Innovaprep Cp Select method and EMF method side by side. Bovine Coronavirus or BCoV (BOVILIS® Coronavirus, Merck Animal Health, NE, USA), a surrogate of human coronavirus, was spiked into the wastewater as a process control prior to sample concentration. For sample processing with the CP Select concentrator, wastewater samples were centrifuged for 10 mins at 10000xg to remove solid debris. 10% Tween-20 was added to the supernatant in a ratio of 1:100 before concentration. 40 to 150 mL samples were then filtered through a single use 0.05 PS Hollow Fiber Filter Tips (InnovaPrep) using the automatic CP Select (InnovaPrep). Viral particles attached to the filter tips were recovered by eluting with 0.075% Tween-20/Tris elution fluid using Wet Foam Elution technology (InnovaPrep) into a final volume ranging from 250 uL to 500 uL. Conventional EMF or HA method was followed as previously described in Gibas et al., (2021). Following the EMF or CP Select concentration step, we then used the QIAamp viral mini kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA) for RNA extraction from 200 uL of concentrated sample. To determine whether a significant amount of virus remained in the pellets following centrifugation step, we quantified recovery of BCoV and natural SARS-CoV-2 from both the pellet and the supernatant of centrifuged samples. As part of the optimization of the Cp Select protocol we tested the sonication step addition prior to the centrifugation step and AVL lysis buffer (Qiagen) addition to the eluted concentrated sample to see the virus recovery performance. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 using CDC recommended N1 (Nucleocapsid) primer and probe set (Corman et al., 2020) and Bovine Coronavirus a primer/probe set published by Decaro et al., (2008). The detail of the RT-qPCR protocol was discussed in Gibas et al., (2021). Result The CP Select method resulted in a BCoV recovery rate of approximately 37%, which is higher than BCoV recovery from samples processed using an EMF protocol. The CP Select is capable of processing up to 150 mL of wastewater within 30 min, while the EMF method fails at larger volumes and operates optimally with 40 mL input. This allows for a higher effective volume of wastewater to be assayed with the CP Select relative to EMF, which in turn results in increased sensitivity for detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater. About 25% of samples that tested negative when concentrated with the EMF method produced a positive signal with the CP Select protocol. Virus partitioning result indicated that a significantly smaller fraction of BCoV was recovered from the pellet than from the supernatant, with a P-value of 0.015 (P < 0.05). However, SARS-CoV-2 behaved differently from BCoV in centrifugation, with similar recovery fractions in the supernatant and the pellet (P value of 0.857). This difference may be due to the viral structure itself; the structure of the spike protein may result in SARS-CoV-2 attaching more strongly to a solid surface compared to BCoV. Ai et al. (2021). The optimization of the CP Select protocol by adding AVL lysis buffer significantly improved the virus recovery performance. Sonication step increased Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) recovery by 19%, which seems to compensate for viral loss during centrifugation. Inhibition to RT-qPCR was not found for both of the method. Filtration time decreases by approximately 30% when using the CP Select protocol, making this an optimal choice for building surveillance applications where quick turnaround time is necessary. In general, the CP Select concentrator is advantageous for concentrating low viral titer wastewater samples, especially when rapid data reporting is necessary, and use of this protocol can also improve recovery and detection sensitivity.

To transition toward cleaner energy production, Alliant Energy embarked on the development of the most environmentally friendly, natural gas-fired energy facility in the Midwest. The newly constructed West Riverside Energy Center (WREC) provides enough power to support more than 550,000 homes in the region. Located on a 90-acre site in Beloit, Wisconsin, the WREC became the first Envision Platinum-verified project in Wisconsin by following the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure's framework for assessing sustainability, resiliency, and equity in infrastructure. The planning, design, and construction of the WREC leveraged Nature-Based Solutions to restore natural systems on the site. The project restored nearly 67 acres of natural environment surrounding the facility through the conversion of agricultural cropland to native prairie grasses and wildflowers, creating new habitat and improving habitat connectivity. In addition to the landscape restoration, the project was designed to mimic pre-development hydrologic conditions. Innovative techniques, including stormwater harvesting and re-use for process water, stormwater pond retrofits, and treatment train including rain gardens and bioswales helped the project achieve the Restorative designation for stormwater management, becoming the first Envision-certified project to reach this performance standard, in which stormwater management was not intended as the primary purpose of the project. The WREC manages nearly 170 acres of stormwater runoff through best management practices (BMPs) that include vegetated swales, a 1-acre infiltration basin with engineered subsurface media, 5,000 gallon stormwater harvest and re-use cistern, and land use conversion. HydroCAD and WinSLAMM were used to model project performance, indicating that event-based peak flow rates would decrease between 14% to 20%, and the property would reduce stormwater runoff by 65,000 CF on an average annual basis. WinSLAMM estimates that total suspended solids (TSS) will be reduced by 84% on an average annual basis as a result of the stormwater design. The design achieved ISI's Restorative designation for stormwater management by maintaining or improving pre-developed hydrologic conditions and retaining or repurposing more than 100% of the pre-development infiltration capacity of the site. These stormwater solutions complemented WREC's One-Water approach for the site. The facility minimized water consumption by implementing unique water treatment solutions, re-using water within the facility, and treating wastewater prior to discharge to the Rock River. A process water pre-treatment system allows for 8 to 10 cycles of process water concentration, compared to an industry typical standard of 4 to 5 cycles of concentration from untreated well water. The team also utilized a land management approach outside of the main building as part of a Phosphorus Trade Agreement to meet or exceed Wisconsin's nutrient discharge requirements. Co-benefits associated with WREC development and sustainable water management include a new multi-modal trail connection to a 12-mile walking, hiking, and biking trail. A 4 MW solar field was constructed to provide the generating station with the ability to quickly and efficiently adjust for power demands in real time. An energy lab provides an interactive forum for public education to communicate the benefits of the prairie restoration and renewable energy production. By following the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure's sustainability framework, the WREC was completed under budget, and the facility was online in time for increased summer power demand. Successful planning, design, and construction of the WREC serves as a model for Nature-Based Solutions and sustainable water management in the Midwest. This presentation focuses on project goals, regulatory and design criteria management, modeling, design, and results. By implementing a one-water approach and nature-based solutions, this award-winning project incorporated sustainable water and environmental practices to contribute toward Envision Platinum verification.

Liquid biosolids land application programs have successfully operated in North America for decades. Land application of biosolids is an economical way for farmers to improve crop production and soil health while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the landfilling of biosolids. However, with growing populations and increasing wet weather events, some programs have more recently experienced operational challenges surrounding hauling, land application, and inadequate storage. This has encouraged some programs to explore alternatives to their traditional biosolids management practices. Lystek THP is a biosolids management solution that uses thermal hydrolysis to transform biosolids and residuals into a concentrated and pathogen free liquid fertilizer product. It is a cost-effective way to extend liquid storage and reduce management stresses in facilities with existing dilute liquid land application programs. The patented process produces a concentrated (13-16% solids) EPA Class A biosolids fertilizer, LysteGro. This concentrated liquid fertilizer is applied via sub-surface injection, ensuring cleanliness when compared to traditional surface methods. Injection application increases soil contact, ensuring efficient nutrient use, and mitigation of run-off potential. The liquid product also allows for efficient loading and off-loading, as well as odor mitigation at the plant and throughout transportation. Notably, the concentrated liquid biosolids fertilizer contains added potassium (K), a key nutrient that is present in only very low quantities in other biosolids. The addition of potassium ensures the product can be used as a full replacement for conventional mineral fertilizers - providing significant value to the farmer. Benefits of this biosolids fertilizer application are realized over multiple years due to the slow-release nature of the nutrients in the product and improvements in soil health. Micronutrients, including zinc and copper, as well as macronutrients, including calcium and sulfur, important for crop growth are inherent in biosolids. This provides farmers with an accessible and sustainable option for these nutrients that would typically be expensive to purchase in the mineral fertilizer form. The addition of organic matter to soils helps improve overall soil health - including improved water holding capacity, soil structure and tilth, increased microbial activity, as well as increased resilience to severe weather conditions. We will discuss two relevant case studies: St. Cloud, Minnesota, and the South Huron Valley Utility Authority (SHUVA) in Brownstown, Michigan and the operational improvements they have realized as a result of a reducing residual biosolids volumes by implementing a concentrated Class A liquid biosolids fertilizer program. The City of St. Cloud's Nutrient, Energy, and Water Recovery Facility was looking to pursue a Class A treatment technology as part of its Resource Recovery and Energy Efficiency master plan to prepare for possible future regulatory changes. Facing storage capacity issues with their previous dilute liquid Class B program, they were also looking for solutions that could reduce their biosolids volume. St. Cloud's Class B biosolids application program had been successfully managed and operated for many years by City staff, with a receptive farming community for biosolids. Lystek was selected by the City of St. Cloud to supply the Class A biosolids treatment technology. The system became operational in the plant by September 2018 and St. Cloud has continued to operate their successful land application program using their existing infrastructure and equipment, without the addition of any new buildings or biosolids storage. They have seen a dramatic 70% reduction in their biosolids volumes and associated trucking, correspondingly reducing their biosolids program's transport greenhouse gas emissions by 70%. The program itself has also become easier to manage as the City of St. Cloud saw decreases of 85% in their overtime hours associated with land application. The estimated cost savings of producing and managing a concentrated liquid fertilizer at St. Cloud are approximately $12 million over the 20-year life cycle when compared to alternative solutions. The South Huron Valley Utility Authority (SHVUA) was seeking a solution to manage their dilute liquid biosolids program at their wastewater treatment plant serving a population of 90,000. The existing low-solids, lime stabilized Class B biosolids program was severely limited by insufficient winter storage and the WWTP was required to implement a costly contingency option of dewatering and hauling to landfill. Switching to a concentrated liquid fertilizer program has provided the SHVUA WWTP with a solution to reduce biosolids volumes by over 50%, effectively doubling that plant's storage capacity, while also producing a Class A biosolids fertilizer for local agricultural use. This change has ensured operational security and eliminated the need to dispose of 'excess' biosolids in landfills, allowing the Authority's resource recovery program to advance. Additionally, the plant was able to eliminate the use of lime stabilization and the associated chemical costs, as well as necessary storage clean out activities. The Lystek THP module processing footprint was small enough that it could be installed in an existing building with unused space, maximizing the use of existing infrastructure. Concentrated liquid biosolids fertilizer programs allow for efficient biosolids management through integration with conventional wastewater treatment plant equipment and processes. This program can greatly reduce a WWTPs volume of biosolids and required storage infrastructure, remove the need for complex management systems and infrastructure, and decrease trucking costs, all while providing a desirable fertilizer product.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) accepted in 2019 post-construction monitoring as completed for the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC) Railway Company Intermodal Facility (IMF) mitigation conservation corridor located in the City of Edgerton in southwest Johnson County, Kansas. Presentation focuses on the successful design and implementation of nature-based (NB) stormwater management strategies associated with development of a complex industrial site as verified by annual monitoring. The purpose is to demonstrate that a carefully planned and designed ecological corridor can work in symbiosis with an adjoining industrial development to mitigate adverse impacts and enhance environmental benefits. Site is located approximately 35 miles southwest of downtown Kansas City, providing positive local context in support of the WEF SWI Stormwater Summit 2023 conference. The technologically advanced IMF enables efficient intermodal freight shipments within the BNSF rail network to the Kansas City region. Strategically siting the complex industrial development relative to key rail and highway transportation infrastructure required realigning approximately 2 miles of an unnamed Big Bull watershed tributary. Onsite mitigation was required to beneficially enhance, create, and restore the ecosystem functions and values of impacted wetlands and streams. The conservation corridor is excluded from future development or disturbance by perpetual easement, providing ecologically sustainable and long-term natural environmental benefits. Planning and design required considering watershed functions and values relative to stormwater management; water quality improvement; flood risk management; wetlands preservation; erosion control; and in-stream/riparian habitat conservation. The resulting ecological conservation corridor comprises approximately 59 acres; includes seven stormwater best management practice (BMP) areas; relocated stream with floodplain/floodway; and five restored wetland cells. Natural stream restoration techniques were used to realign the stream in a strategically sited and centrally located ecological corridor. Stream relocation included 31.23 acres of riparian buffer creation and 8.79 acres of riparian buffer enhancement. Development required realignment of 9,247 linear feet of a perennial stream to 7,747 linear feet of relocated channel with reference channel dimension, pattern, and profile. Riparian buffer areas included 16.75 acres of newly created shallow marsh and emergent/scrub-shrub zone wetlands for stormwater management. BMP treatment features manage site runoff from the IMF and surrounding areas prior to discharging into the relocated stream. At each stormwater outfall, a treatment train approach is used, including a forebay area (energy dissipation and sediment trap), constructed wetland area (water quality treatment), and vegetated outflow swale. A detailed water budget analysis evaluated the expected surface water runoff into the wetlands and modeled the hydrology of the wetlands to replicate natural conditions with the design. Onsite wetlands restoration included 7.18 acres not within riparian buffers, including a large emergent (herbaceous) wetland area in the center of the conservation corridor. Sustainable materials were primarily used to construct natural stormwater and erosion control features to provide water quality treatment for onsite drainage runoff before discharge to the relocated channel. Restored wetlands, riffles, pools, and ecologically designed drainage basins improve water quality, promote detention/infiltration, restore natural habitats, and mitigate indirect environmental impacts. Hard structures constructed with concrete and riprap were minimized. Where possible, onsite rock and vegetation were sourced for wetland and stream stabilization. Sustainable nature-based stormwater techniques and features utilized in design/construction will be presented. Relocation of the stream with detailed design of drainage features effectively reduced downstream peak flows and upstream base flood elevations (BFE). The realigned conservation corridor reduces the BFE at the upstream project limits by 3.63 feet. The first decade of operation has shown no evidence of channel instability (down-cutting, deposition, and bank erosion). Approximately 300-acre feet of annual runoff is routed through the wetlands. Monitored wetlands continue to demonstrate healthy and flourishing hydrophytic vegetation. The wetland detention ponds have successfully promoted nutrient reduction, sequestered carbon, recharged local water tables, and generally improved water quality. The naturally inspired conservation corridor and mapped floodway is a readily identifiable feature at Logistics Park Kansas City (LPKC). The corridor represents one of the largest local on-site mitigation efforts in Johnson County, providing habitat creation in conjunction with stormwater runoff treatment. Johnson County's Big Bull Creek Park is located immediately downstream of the conservation corridor, extending the corridor's environmental and water resource ecological conservation benefits into a 2,060-acre strategic prairie conservation and restoration area. The managed conservation corridor demonstrates the project team's commitment to minimize environmental impacts and contribute to long-term sustainability of communities served. The naturally landscaped floodway provides sustainable habitat for wildlife, waterfowl, and pollinators, while prioritizing stormwater and floodplain management. The presentation objective is to demonstrate how stormwater management functional requirements can be sustainably integrated with nature-based design features strategically sited within an ecological conservation corridor. The desired outcome is that the presentation will encourage participants to consider similar stormwater management strategies that are both environmentally beneficial and consistent with best management and design practices.

ABSTRACT British Columbia (BC) is 1.4 times the size of Texas. While only 1% of its land base is native grassland, these areas have been historically prized for homesteading and early agriculture. Today they are mainly used for ranching, but over a century of use has left many BC grasslands in a degraded state. These grasslands support more threatened and endangered species of birds, animals, and vegetation than any other terrestrial biome in the province. The OK Ranch is a 15,000 acre cow-calf operation located in the interior of BC, and was emblematic of these challenges. The upland grasslands of the OK Ranch experienced a decrease in productivity over the last century due to long-term agricultural and grazing practices, now compounded due to climate change. First Nations oral histories tell of tall grasses 'belly high to a horse' flowing with the upland winds, but due to historic homesteading and more recent attempts at cereal production in this dry, high-altitude area, soils were exposed to harsh elements and the natural forage was unable to return to previous production levels. In 2013, SYLVIS partnered with the OK Ranch's landowner to emphasize grassland restoration using biosolids to achieve effective stewardship as well as productivity for the ranch operation. Since that time, SYLVIS and Metro Vancouver, together with several research partners, have sought to understand and quantify the benefits conferred to the site through the careful use of biosolids as a soil amendment tool. This presentation will share the unprecedented understanding of what can happen for a degraded ecosystem when provision of critical soil conditioning supports rehabilitation. Specifically, we will discuss how: -Soils have been protected through the growth and expansion of a thatch layer, and reduction of bare soil and crusting throughout the site. -Grasses have recovered and now grow with vigour, producing up to 400% more biomass, while also being more nutritious for cattle and ungulates. -The changes in biomass and resilience have resulted in significant carbon capture on the landscape, both in short-term annual carbon through above ground biomass, but also in long-term belowground carbon capture and storage in soils and roots. -The improved grass structure has resulted in favorable habitat development for endangered or threatened insects, which in turn support threatened bird species, which has become a major research focus at the OK Ranch through a partnership with the University of British Columbia. -Mammals, large ungulates, and predators appear to spend more time in the grasslands. -The productivity has resulted in increased employment at the OK Ranch, with more cattle and more hands hired to help manage those cattle. -A desktop analysis of climate change mitigation and ultimate benefits to the environment provides a compelling case for the economic, environmental and societal value of grasslands restoration. The OK Ranch grasslands restoration project is more than just land application of biosolids. It demonstrates the layers of co-benefits provided through the restoration of semi-arid grasslands of not just soil improvement, but of carbon capture, habitat recovery, and economic development. . The presentation will conclude with a discussion of what levels of awareness and information sharing might be required, and what innovative strategies are available to increase uptake of beneficial use messages to achieve this kind of scale for grassland restoration in North America.

This paper and presentation will survey and analyze the latest lawsuits and regulatory developments affecting the beneficial use of biosolids to provide wastewater and residuals professionals current information that will help inform their decisions on risk, liability, management, and planning. Slaughter and Silton regularly defend land application in litigation, and they are currently working on behalf of a major land application contractor-and its farm partners-to challenge a Pennsylvania locality's attempt to restrict land application. The speakers will discuss the challenges posed by local ordinances, tort litigation, and the ongoing campaign to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This talk will outline potential risks, while also highlighting potential strategies for managing land application and discouraging attacks on beneficial use in the face of a changing legal environment and local communities that may be hostile to land application. Slaughter and Silton will first address the interplay between state and local regulation by exploring several case studies involving local attempts to restrict or ban land application. Their discussion will cover California, where decade-long litigation over a local biosolids ban resulted in a trial and settlement striking down the ban. City of Los Angeles v. Kern County, 2017 WL 1292822 (Tulare Co. Super. Ct. Mar. 14, 2017). Among other things, the Kern trial resulted in findings that land application poses few risks after hearing evidence concerning minimal concentrations of PFAS in soil and groundwater beneath a farm where biosolids had been land applied for decades. The speakers will also address recent developments in other states, including Pennsylvania, where the speakers are currently challenging application of a local waste ordinance to land application. Second, the speakers will survey risks to land application posed by tort law suits. Cases in which plaintiffs' lawyers have alleged nuisance conditions caused by land application will be discussed, including the important decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Gilbert v. Synagro Central, LLC, 131 A.3d 1, which ruled that farming with biosolids is a normal agricultural operation entitled to protection under Pennsylvania's Right to Farm Act. The speakers will also discuss a case brought in Maine, Stoneridge Farms v. 3M, in which a dairy farmer alleges that land application resulted PFAS contaminating his land, groundwater, and dairy cows. This case was voluntarily dismissed but portends a new generation of tort litigation seeking to challenge land application. Third, the talk will assess the regulatory landscape for land application. Legislators and regulators, at the behest of many advocacy groups, have turned their focus to trace chemicals that may be found in biosolids, including PFAS. Silton and Slaughter will highlight recently regulatory developments and their implications for POTWs, biosolids service providers, and farmers. The presentation will conclude with how stakeholders in land application-POTWs, contractors, and farmers-can collaborate to reduce their risks and navigate a challenging, dynamic legal and regulatory landscape.

Background Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) in South Carolina and Georgia have been historically dependent on landfill disposal for the management of the wastewater solids generated through their respective treatment processes. In Georgia and South Carolina nearly 65% of wastewater solids are sent to landfill. In recent years, landfills in both states have undergone policy changes that include steep increases in tipping fees for wastewater solids and a reduction in wet waste acceptance. The reduction of wet waste acceptance limits the percent wet waste (>40% moisture) accepted into landfills. In Georgia, landfills are required to develop a detailed Sludge Management Plan (SMP) if they accept more than a 5% wet waste to 95% Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) ratio. The changing landscape surrounding landfill disposal creates significant challenges for WWTPs in both states. The uncertainties resulting from these changes have served as the impetus for four WWTPs (two in Georgia and two in South Carolina) to evaluate new biosolids management technologies, beneficial use markets, and management methods. Objective Four utilities located in Gainesville, GA, Douglasville, GA, Beaufort, SC, and East Richland, SC underwent Biosolids Regulatory and Market Assessments for their respective WWTPs. The assessment worked to identify opportunities and challenges resulting from state regulations, local markets, and corresponding economics, associated with managing various biosolids products under consideration. Comprehensively, the Regulatory and Market Assessments for all of the utilities serve as a guide to the biosolids beneficial use and disposal outlets and management methods to achieve the following three objectives. 1. Identify permitting pathway for several biosolids products and management methods in Georgia and South Carolina; 2. Identify beneficial use and disposal outlets in the region for the respective baseline products generated by each WWTP; 3. Identify beneficial use and disposal outlets in the region for proposed products; and 4. Define market details including market capacity, storage requirements, and revenues and expenses associated with product management. Methodology The Biosolids Regulatory Assessments included a detailed review of existing Federal and state biosolids beneficial use and disposal regulations, as well as future regulatory federal and state regulatory considerations. Encompassed in the Market Assessment for each utility, the baseline solids management program was examined to understand existing practices and costs associated with solids disposal. Information about the local market preferences and demand for the biosolids products being considered for each utility was gathered through market research and interviews with potential market outlets. Collected data was used to identify the opportunities, challenges, and outside-the-gate program expenses (those expenses associated with product management only) associated with each market/product combination. The data from each utility was further analyzed to develop an idea of the current biosolids beneficial use and disposal trends relating to the management of several biosolids products in both South Carolina and Georgia. Four main products were evaluated including Class B digested cake, Class B and A/EQ alkaline stabilized cake, Class A/EQ compost, and Class A/EQ thermally dried granules. Findings and Current Status Assessment findings reveal that the development of beneficial use programs, both self-managed programs (SMP) and Third-Party Contractor (TPC) managed programs are available and viable in South Carolina and Georgia. Listed below are the main recommendations and findings that were consistent for each Market Assessment: 1. High Level of Interest in Class A/EQ Thermally Dried Granules: In each Market Assessment, thermally dried granules scored higher than other products due to the high level of interest noted in outlet surveys as well as the increased product flexibility within several different markets. Although interest level is high, many interested market outlets require a high-quality product, which is typically generated from rotary drum dryers. 2. Availability of Off-Site Stabilization Facilities: Off-site stabilization facilities are currently available with more coming online in the coming years. The majority of stabilization facilities in Georgia and South Carolina are composting facilities which product Class A/EQ compost for several markets. 3. On-Site Storage Requirement: 3 months of on-site storage is highly recommended, regardless of which market/product combination is pursued. The increase of on-site storage presents each utility with increased flexibility and resiliency. A summary of the selected products, most promising markets, relative outside-the-gate costs, opportunities, and considerations are summarized in Table 1. Furthermore, a summary of the regulatory considerations for Georgia and South Carolina can be found in Table 2. The Market Assessment findings indicate the current market conditions are strongly favorable for beneficial use of Class A/EQ compost and dried granule biosolids products. The presentation will further discuss the relative outside-the-gate costs associated with the management of each product as well as growing trends relating to the beneficial use of biosolids in this region.