COMPARING EFFLUENT QUALITY ACROSS MUNICIPAL AND ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

Wastewater effluent qualities from two study sites in central Texas were compared using whole effluent toxicity (WET) tests and chemical indicator parameters. Three of the effluents were collected from the City of Whitney Wastewater Treatment Facility in Whitney, TX; the remaining five effluents were collected at the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage System (WMARSS) and the Baylor Wastewater Research Program site near Waco, TX. It was hypothesized that the effluent water quality improves through a pond and wetland treatment system at the City of Whitney Wastewater Treatment Facility. It was hypothesized that there is no difference of effluent water qualities between two seasons. Both hypotheses were rejected with respect to WET and chemical parameter results. The Waco effluents hypothesis was that effluent qualities of four on-site systems are comparable to a centralized municipal wastewater treatment effluent: WMARSS. It was further hypothesized that there is no difference of effluent water qualities between two seasons. The first hypothesis was rejected regarding the chemical indicator parameters examined; however, with respect to the WET results, the first hypothesis was accepted for two of the on-site systems. The second hypothesis was rejected for all five effluents. These results will be useful to water managers in dealing with effectiveness of different treatment techniques in both municipal and on-site wastewater treatment systems.