Municipal wastewater discharge standards for ammonia nitrogen in Brazil: technical elements to guide decisions
In Brazil, domestic effluents represent the primary source of pressure on water resources. Water pollution can be controlled by defining, applying, and enforcing the effluent standards for wastewater discharge. Discussions are ongoing in Minas Gerais State regarding the possibility of setting a disc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Water Science and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/85/12/3479 |
| _version_ | 1798040964168679424 |
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| author | Marina Salim Dantas Luis Fernando de Morais Silva Hosana Hiromi Utida Novaes Sílvia Corrêa Oliveira |
| author_facet | Marina Salim Dantas Luis Fernando de Morais Silva Hosana Hiromi Utida Novaes Sílvia Corrêa Oliveira |
| author_sort | Marina Salim Dantas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Brazil, domestic effluents represent the primary source of pressure on water resources. Water pollution can be controlled by defining, applying, and enforcing the effluent standards for wastewater discharge. Discussions are ongoing in Minas Gerais State regarding the possibility of setting a discharge standard for ammonia nitrogen in municipal wastewater, which is currently not required. However, providing technical support for decision-making is challenging because of the difficulties in accessing monitoring data from sewage treatment plants. This study aimed to analyze the monitoring data from 49 sewage treatment plants operating in Minas Gerais to offer guidance for decision making. High concentrations of ammonia nitrogen in the effluents of the treatment plants were found, reinforcing the need for better control and the adoption of more advanced technologies. Furthermore, it was observed an increase in concentrations downstream of the discharges in the receiving water bodies. Adopting a progressive and adaptable discharge standard can be a solution for better control of treatment systems. HIGHLIGHTS
Discharge standard for ammonia nitrogen in municipal wastewater is not required in the Brazilian legislation.;
High concentrations of ammonia nitrogen were found in the effluents of Brazilian WWTPs.;
Receiving bodies had significantly higher ammonia nitrogen concentrations downstream than those upstream.;
Adopting a progressive and adaptable discharge standard can be a solution for better control of treatment systems.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:15:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ddc6ce4f124442b5bcdc3cabd6f2ba5b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0273-1223 1996-9732 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:15:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ddc6ce4f124442b5bcdc3cabd6f2ba5b2022-12-22T04:00:26ZengIWA PublishingWater Science and Technology0273-12231996-97322022-06-0185123479349210.2166/wst.2022.183183Municipal wastewater discharge standards for ammonia nitrogen in Brazil: technical elements to guide decisionsMarina Salim Dantas0Luis Fernando de Morais Silva1Hosana Hiromi Utida Novaes2Sílvia Corrêa Oliveira3 Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte/MG CEP 31270-901, Brazil Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte/MG CEP 31270-901, Brazil Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte/MG CEP 31270-901, Brazil Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte/MG CEP 31270-901, Brazil In Brazil, domestic effluents represent the primary source of pressure on water resources. Water pollution can be controlled by defining, applying, and enforcing the effluent standards for wastewater discharge. Discussions are ongoing in Minas Gerais State regarding the possibility of setting a discharge standard for ammonia nitrogen in municipal wastewater, which is currently not required. However, providing technical support for decision-making is challenging because of the difficulties in accessing monitoring data from sewage treatment plants. This study aimed to analyze the monitoring data from 49 sewage treatment plants operating in Minas Gerais to offer guidance for decision making. High concentrations of ammonia nitrogen in the effluents of the treatment plants were found, reinforcing the need for better control and the adoption of more advanced technologies. Furthermore, it was observed an increase in concentrations downstream of the discharges in the receiving water bodies. Adopting a progressive and adaptable discharge standard can be a solution for better control of treatment systems. HIGHLIGHTS Discharge standard for ammonia nitrogen in municipal wastewater is not required in the Brazilian legislation.; High concentrations of ammonia nitrogen were found in the effluents of Brazilian WWTPs.; Receiving bodies had significantly higher ammonia nitrogen concentrations downstream than those upstream.; Adopting a progressive and adaptable discharge standard can be a solution for better control of treatment systems.;http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/85/12/3479effluent qualityperformance evaluationreceiving water bodiessurface water qualitywastewater treatment plants |
| spellingShingle | Marina Salim Dantas Luis Fernando de Morais Silva Hosana Hiromi Utida Novaes Sílvia Corrêa Oliveira Municipal wastewater discharge standards for ammonia nitrogen in Brazil: technical elements to guide decisions Water Science and Technology effluent quality performance evaluation receiving water bodies surface water quality wastewater treatment plants |
| title | Municipal wastewater discharge standards for ammonia nitrogen in Brazil: technical elements to guide decisions |
| title_full | Municipal wastewater discharge standards for ammonia nitrogen in Brazil: technical elements to guide decisions |
| title_fullStr | Municipal wastewater discharge standards for ammonia nitrogen in Brazil: technical elements to guide decisions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Municipal wastewater discharge standards for ammonia nitrogen in Brazil: technical elements to guide decisions |
| title_short | Municipal wastewater discharge standards for ammonia nitrogen in Brazil: technical elements to guide decisions |
| title_sort | municipal wastewater discharge standards for ammonia nitrogen in brazil technical elements to guide decisions |
| topic | effluent quality performance evaluation receiving water bodies surface water quality wastewater treatment plants |
| url | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/85/12/3479 |
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