Identifying contaminated sediment problems associated with urban stormwater discharges in lakes

Urban stormwater discharges during wet weather has always been a sensitive issue to deal with. By inducing combined sewer overflows, substantial impacts on receiving water are commonly feared. Aware of this problematic situation, the VSA already created the STORM guideline to cope with this issue in small rivers. However, such a guideline is still lacking for large rivers and lakes. This project is a first step towards this direction and tries to prospect the necessity of such instructions for lakes. For this purpose, the present master thesis studies the impact of urban stormwater discharged via the Flon river into the Vidy Bay of Lake Geneva, next to the city of Lausanne. A Sediment Quality Triad, meaning a combination of three assessment methods (chemistry, ecotoxicology and in situ benthic communities), was implemented to assess the impact of stormwater discharges on the sediments in this part of the lake. On a large sampling grid composed of 15 sites, heavy metals were measured and ostracod bioassays were performed with the sediment samples collected at these sites. Subsequently, on the five sites located in the central transect of this sampling grid, further experiments were led to understand the incidence of stormwater discharges on sediment quality while moving away from the Flon river’s effluent. In addition to heavy metals, PAHs and PCBs were measured at these sites. A battery of three extra ecotoxicological bioassays was also carried out. These tests were implemented with the following organisms: chironomids, macrophytes and nematodes. Finally, two kind of in situ communities were studied in these five sites: microbial communities in order to perform a pollution-induced community tolerance (PICT) and oligochaete communities in order to implement the oligochaete index of lake bioindication (IOBL). The implementation of these experiments showed that the contamination induced by urban stormwater discharges is limited to the proximity of the combined sewer overflow. A set of pollutants mainly composed of copper, zinc, PCBs and PAHs was identified within this contaminated area. Although no toxicity was observed on the sites affected by this contamination, in situ community studies revealed substantial shifts towards resistant species in both oligochaete and microbial community structures. Another contamination area, observed in remote sites and mainly composed of cobalt, chromium, iron, manganese and nickel, remains not well understood. The laboratory toxicity tests detected some toxicity in benthic invertebrates but the benthic communities studied in situ showed no apparent alteration. Modeling tools are required to get a better understanding of the source of this contamination.

Road runoff over the shoulder diffuse infiltration

Pascal Piguet

A new concept of road runoff management, based on diffuse infiltration over the shoulder, was tested in a real-scale experimentation site located near Grandson, Switzerland. This new concept consists in diffusely infiltrating the road runoff in the infiltration slope adjoining the road shoulder; where road contaminants are retained. This presupposed that the road shoulder was as tightened as possible to effectively drive the road runoff to the slope, and that the infiltration slope effectively retains all road pollutants. Those two main postulates needed strong scientific verification. For this purpose, five different shoulder designs were tested in Grandson to assess which one presented the best hydraulic performance, i.e. which shoulder was the most impervious. Those designs were made of gravel mixed with humus (SGL), gravel mixed with clay (SGC), gravel seeded with lawn (SGL), a prolonged HMF road base (SH), and a bentonitic geotextile tightening (SB). Also, to verify the retention of pollutant, two infiltration slopes adjoining SGL (LW) and SH (LH) were set as lysimeter (basal geomembrane collecting road effluents); the third infiltration slope (LB) had a direct connection with the aquifer which was closely monitored (6 piezometers located up- and downstream from the road; influence of the road runoff was thus emphasized). Finally, to ensure that this new concept do not lower the road bearing capacity, deflectometers were placed in the road structure; 3 campaigns of leveling assessed the road settlement. Hydraulic assessment of the shoulders, based on 112 natural precipitation as well as 3 artificial watering tests, showed strong discrepancies between all shoulders behaviours. They had to deal with potentially high amount of water. Lag times ranged from a few minutes to several hours. Results showed that lag times were only function of the precipitation mean intensity. The infiltration process could be assessed by a modified Green & Ampt equation. The moisturizing front was frank and linearly progressed downward. Shoulders vertical hydraulic conductivities ranged from 4.6·10-6 (SGC) to 2.2·10-5 m·s-1 (SGL). The exfiltration volume is function of the water volume available at the shoulder surface. The drought preceding the rain event has no influence on the stock variation or the exfiltration volume. Road runoff used two different infiltration paths: the macroporosity drives the water efficiently and rapidly, while the microporosity is less efficient and retains the moisture longer. Tracer tests (Brine) proved that the contamination first flush passed over the shoulders. This is also confirmed by the flux calculation. Runoff coefficients CR ranged from 0.3 (SGL) to 0.9 (SB). This coefficient decreased rapidly once the shoulder is wet. Only SB really fulfilled its task, letting water through only in harsh hydraulic conditions (100 mm; 40mm/h). It is highly recommended for further road development: for new roads as well as old roads being refurbished. The shoulder SH proved to be inefficient for structural and material reasons. Other shoulders are comparatively ineffective. SGC must be enhanced; in that case it could offer a valuable alternative. The bearing capacity of the road was very good. The road lifetime was evaluated to more than 20 years (1·109 residual standard axle load). The Grandson experimental site could not conclusively demonstrate a worsening of the geotechnical behaviour of the road. This is due to the particularly good material and road pavement thickness used for this road. Infiltrations in shoulders are high enough and would have doubtless caused a loss of bearing capacity in case the road would have been more modestly dimensioned. It is therefore clear that the shoulder must be tightened. Geochemical results concerned six families of contaminant: MTE, PAH, Cx, BTEX, MTBE, and PCB. Batch and column tests allowed calculating MTE and PAH distribution coefficient Kd in the Grandson soils, as well as in other typical Swiss soils. Results showed that mobile elements are B, Br, Mo, Ba, Sb, Zn, and V (0 < Kd < 90). Less mobile elements are Ni, Cd, Cr, and Rb (200 < Kd < 300). Elements with very low mobility are Pb, Mn, and Ti (1500 < Kd < 3500). PAH mobility was high for the light PAH (naphthalene, acenaphtene, fluorene, anthracene; Kd < 75). Heavy PAH had lower mobility (Kd > 175). Comparisons with other typical soils enlightened the predominant influence of the pH. Batch test performed with acidic soils (pH = 5.5) confirmed lower MTE Kd. MTE are thus more mobile in acidic soils. Other physicochemical parameters have a smaller influence. The column test performed with a synthetically loaded solution (MTE and PAH) infiltrating the Grandson soils showed that MTE are more mobile in dynamic conditions. This is easily explained by the reduced contact time between the contaminant and the soil aggregates. PAH were not detected at the column outlet, thus showing a very good retention in the column soil. Soil layers analyses demonstrated that PAH were mostly retained in the surface layers. Also, MTE with low mobility show the same behaviour. Mobile elements showed no preferential retention layer. Concerning the infiltration slope, lag times were usually greater than those encountered for the shoulders. Lag time were function of the rain mean intensity. The influence of the preceding drought was significant. Exfiltration volumes EL were high in case of large event; it could be approximated by a simple equation function of the API and surface available water. Moisture redistribution processes occurred in the soils as long as there is a volumetric water content θ gradient. Fluxes strongly varied in magnitude and direction during a precipitation event: usually from about 1·10-8 to 1·10-5 m·s-1 and from up- to downward (evaporation to infiltration). The first flush effect was poor to medium. NaCl signal was highly buffered. The pH was also completely buffered by the soil high carbonate content. It thus shifted from 6.5 in the rainwater to 8 in the LW exfiltration water. To especially emphasize the geochemical behaviour, an artificial precipitation test was created to control every aspect of the rainfall. It was judged very representative of a natural storm. MTE and PAH contaminants had two different behaviours: mobile elements moved mainly in solute and have concentration correlated with EC. Elements with low mobility had higher concentrations correlated with the turbidity peaks. They were transported sorbed to particles. Comparison between the particular and solute form concentrations confirmed that mobile elements are measured in similar concentrations whether the sample was filtered at 0.45 µm, at 1 µm, or not filtered at all prior to acidification. On the contrary, less mobile elements are easily sorbed to particles. The MTE concentrations under sorbed form range from 5% (Rb, Sb) to 98% (Pb) of the total concentration. They had strong first flush effects. B, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, CU, Zn, Br, Mo, Cd, Sb, and Pb were identified as road tracers. Fe and Al represented 80% of the road runoff. Overall, the total MTE concentration in the lysimeter first water collected decreased to 1/30th of the road runoff first flush concentration. Mobile elements were less retained. The PAH total concentration in the lysimeter first collected water was about 1'000 times lower than in the road runoff first flush. The PAH concentration was mainly constituted by mobile PAH naphthalene and phenanthrene. Cx were well represented in the road runoff. However, only heavy species were commonly found. C32 was the most common specie. The triplet C16-C18-C20 was always present in high concentration in the lysimeter exfiltration water. This triple is a great road tracer. BTEX, while present in the road runoff, were not detected in the lysimeter exfiltration water. The alluvial aquifer was also monitored. It is confined between the Arnon (north) and a basement till which shallows up southward. Eastern and western limit are less known but might coincide with the river. The aquifer is clearly linked to the river. This is proved by the piezometric level, EC and T follow-up. EC and temperature also emphasized the higher activity in downstream piezometer. The road runoff infiltration could not be emphasized by the NaCl tracer test. The infiltrated water concentration was possibly buffered by the aquifer volume. Also, the brine was heavier than the aquifer water: it could have plunged to the bottom of the aquifer. All families of contaminant are presented in the aquifer. However, the provenance of those contaminants remains uncertain. The groundwater was indeed as concentrated upstream as downstream. Moreover, the river concentrations had similar, or even higher, values. The contamination provenance is thus either the aerial deposition (equally distributed up- and downstream), either the Arnon River infiltrating the aquifer. The contaminant behaviours in the aquifer could be described. It confirmed the contaminant mobility previously noted during the batch, column and test precipitation experiments. Mobile substances are seen in higher concentrations, whereas substances with low mobility are sparsely found. This project thus demonstrated that the new "over the shoulder diffuse infiltration" concept is clearly implementable. Aquifer concentrations were compared to Swiss legal concentration limits. Except for Cr, the aquifer water was of drinkable quality. This proved that the concept is robust, environmental-friendly and conclusive.

EPFL2007

Hydrodynamic characterisation of a groundwater - surface water system and evaluation of BTEX, PAHs decay and heavy metals fate

Jordi Batlle-Aguilar

Most contaminated sites related to past industrial activities in Europe are adjacent to rivers and urbanized areas. These sites pose a major problem for water authorities and policy makers in terms of contaminants mobility, natural attenuation (or degradation) and risk assessment for environment and humans. Natural attenuation in groundwater is only effective if hydrogeochemical conditions of the system are favourable and contaminant degrading microorganisms are present. To evaluate this effectiveness, many site specific factors have to be considered, among which the dynamics of groundwater fluxes and groundwater – surface water interactions and biogeochemical processes. The site of concern in this study is a brownfield located in the north bank of the Meuse River, upstream of the city of Liège, Belgium. The soil, the unsaturated zone and the gravel aquifer are heavily contaminated by organic pollutants (BTEX and PAHs) and metals due to past industrial activities of coke production in the XXth Century. Various point sources of contaminants were delineated in the site. Benzene and Toluene concentrations in groundwater were found up to 50.000 μg l-1 and 23.000 μg l-1 respectively in source areas, while pollution due to metals was less important, with presence of Fe (> 6400 μg l-1), Zn (40 μg l-1), Co (18 μg l-1), Cu (>9 μg l-1), Pb (>100 μg l-1) and Cr (2 μg l-1) mainly with higher concentrations in some hot spots. The Meuse River level is established at around 59.5 meters a.s.l. by dams. However, river water levels fluctuate continuously with amplitude varying between a few centimetres up to 2 meters during winter and spring seasons. The main objectives of the research investigations were 1) to evaluate whether an interaction exists, at the level of the mentioned brownfield, between groundwater and the neighbouring river; 2) to assess the dynamics of such interactions and to quantify groundwater fluxes as the main potential vector of mobility of contaminants offsite; 3) to determine the potential of bacterial degradation of organic compounds and fate of metals contaminants in the specific environment of the site; and 4) to integrate groundwater – surface water dynamics with potential degradation of contaminants in order to evaluate further evolutions of contaminants in the aquifer. A detailed monitoring of groundwater and surface water levels, together with a series of field tests like pumping and tracer tests, contributed to a good knowledge in hydrodynamics of the contaminated aquifer. Groundwater and surface water monitoring datasets were analyzed in order to characterize hydraulic dynamics of the groundwater – surface water system. Groundwater heads observed were strongly influenced by Meuse River stages, and groundwater flow in the transition zone (seepage) was oriented in the direction going from the aquifer to the river under normal conditions. The use of an analytical model, however, pointed out that small changes on water river level were enough for a groundwater flow inversion, so seepage going from the Meuse River into the aquifer. Organic compounds (mainly benzene and low weight PAHs) have been studied with respect to their intrinsic bacterial degradation potential. Two independent stable isotope-based approaches (laboratory and field) were used to determine in situ biodegradation rates for benzene, and for the two- and three-ring aromatic hydrocarbons naphthalene and acenaphthene. In the laboratory, microcosms were set up with 13C-labeled substrates as well as with groundwater and with sediments from the site. The increase in 13C-CO2 over time was monitored by GC-IRMS analysis and used to calculate biodegradation rates. Benzene, naphthalene and acenaphthene were found to be biodegradable by the intrinsic microbial community under in situ-like conditions. The respective biodegradation rates decreased with increasing number of aromatic rings and were significantly lower under anoxic conditions. Apart from the microcosm study, in situ-biodegradation rates could be retrieved in a field study from 13C/12C signatures of residual groundwater contaminants using first-order kinetics. Biodegradation rates of lab- and field-based approaches were found to be in good agreement. Batch tests revealed that the heavy metals could be precipitated under sulphate (present at the site) reducing conditions. This in situ bioprecipitation process can be induced by the presence of electron donors and plays an important role in the natural attenuation process. Other conditions as aerobic or nitrate reducing conditions, did not lead to heavy metal immobilization. This gives specific indications about future site management and land use. It was also proved that the present heavy metal concentration did not influence the PAH biodegradation. However, PAH biodegradation under aerobic conditions is very slow. Further investigations will be necessary to evaluate the effect of aerobic biodegradation (addition of air) on the mobilization of the heavy metals, bound to the aquifer. The continuous changes of the groundwater flow direction observed in the studied site, lead to surface water flowing into the aquifer. This is likely to be an additional source of oxygen for the aquifer. This influx of oxygen-saturate water could enhance the degradation of BTEX and PAHs in the regions of the aquifer which are affected. Further investigations are needed to come to a qualitative evaluation to what extent oxygen from river water contributes to the removal of BTEX and PAHs at the site.

2008

Sources, Spreading and Fate of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Resistant Bacteria in Vidy Bay, Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Nadine Czekalski

Increasing numbers of multiresistant bacterial pathogens cause severe health problems on a global scale. Large quantities of bacteria and their resistance genes are discharged into natural environments via human and animal waste. Not much is known so far about the fate and further spread of resistance determinants in the environment. There is evidence that aquatic environments may function as important compartments for preserving and exchanging antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) from sewage and drinking water. Lake Geneva is the largest fresh water reservoir of Western Europe and supplies the surrounding cities. At the same time these cities discharge sewage into the lake. Lausanne is the largest city in the lake’s catchment and discharges the highest amount of treated, as well as in case of heavy rain events, partly untreated waste waters. Also two rivers, Chambering and Flown, transport untreated sewage (bypass), in case of storm events. Only 3.4 km from the sewage discharge point lake water is pumped for drinking water preparation for Lausanne. Many studies have reported on contamination of the bay with heavy metals, inorganic nutrients, organic carbon and fecal indicator bacteria due to the sewage discharge. The present thesis aimed on investigating the sources, spreading and fate of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in the Vida bay, Lake Geneva. In the first part of this dissertation, a screening for antibiotic- and specifically multi-resistant bacteria was carried out as one of the first studies in a Swiss waste water stream and the receiving fresh water lake. For this purpose, a combined set of culture based (viable bacterial counts on nutrient media supplemented with antibiotics) and molecular tools (detection and quantitation of antibiotic resistance genes from environmental DNA-extracts using quantitative real-time PCR) was applied. Raw hospital and communal sewage, as well as partly treated/mixed sewage, which is discharged into the lake via an effluent pipe 700 m off shore, were taken into account. Furthermore lake water samples nearby the end of the waste water discharge pipe and the drinking water pump as well as close to the two river mouths were analyzed. Finally, the role of Lausannes WTP was evaluated for its potential to remove resistant and multiresistant bacteria, as well ARG. Results show highest levels of multiresistant bacteria and ARG in both hospital and communal sewage. Incidence was found that the WTP is a selective environment for multiresistant bacteria and resistance genes. Moreover, lake water and sediments nearby the end of the WTP discharge pipe and the two river mouths exhibited significantly higher levels of resistant determinants as compared to samples from the drinking water uptake. If the level of antibiotic resistance close to the drinking water uptake represents the natural background level of the lake or whether it is impacted by the WTP plume remained open during this first survey. The spatial distribution and persistence of ARG discharged via waste water into lake systems has been evaluated for the first time in the second part of this thesis. 22 sediment cores were sampled along two major transects (leading either into the deep lake or along the south-western shore line to the drinking water uptake) and in the vicinity of the WTP discharge pipe in the Vidy bay. A subset of samples was also analyzed for contamination with a “conventional” pollutant of sewage (mercury), for which a similar transport behavior (particle bound) as for bacteria and their resistance genes is assumed. The microbial community composition in all sediment as well as in waste water samples was analyzed using ARISA. Strong pollution with both ARG and mercury was detected in close proximity of the WTP discharge pipe and both contaminants significantly decreased along the transect into the deep lake. In general however, the spatial contamination of mercury and ARG was only moderately correlated. While the mercury contaminated sediment surface area tended to have a pollution tail in south eastern direction, ARG showed only a slow decrease along the south western transect. These findings imply differences in transport and fate of mercury and ARG in the bay, or additional sources of ARG contamination. Analysis of the microbial diversity in the samples support these hypotheses. This study revealed feasibility of qPCR as a tool to semi-quantitatively track spatial ARG contamination in fresh water lake sediments. Not much is known yet on the antibiotic resistance background level of fresh water lakes and how this may be influenced by anthropogenic activities in the surrounding catchment. Water samples from 21 Swiss lakes have been collected and were analyzed for the prevalence of different ARG (2 sulfonamide resistance genes sul1 & sul2, 3 tetracycline resistance genes tetB, tetM, tetW and one plasmid mediated fluoroquinolone resistance gene qnrA). In order to document the abundance of these genes in the bacterial populations, they were normalized to bacterial 16S rRNA gene copy numbers. The lakes differ in size, geographical position, land use pattern, and trophical status. The composition of the microbial community of all lakes was analyzed using ARISA. Sulfonamide resistance genes were detected in all investigated lakes (0.2-4%, sul1 and 0.01-0.3%, sul2), with highest levels in Lake Baldegger (21%). Lake Baldegger also contained all of the three tetracycline resistance genes, which were found in only 4 other lakes. None of the lakes was positive for qnrA. Important anthropogenic catchment activities linked to sul gene prevalence could not be identified based on our data and may require further analysis and an additional variables to complete our data set. However, our study demonstrates contamination of Swiss lakes with sulfonamide resistance genes and the potential of fresh water lakes preserve these genes, even remote from direct sources of pollution.

EPFL2013