• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.524-531
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• 2014

Korea has been trying to manage water quality of rivers and lakes in many ways. Ministry of Environment is making continuous efforts of operation control improvement such as strengthening effluent standards in sewage treatment plants and expanding Tele-Monitoring System (TMS). However, evaluation method for operations of sewage treatment plants and establishment system of effluent standards are inadequate. The objective of this study is to evaluate for operations of sewage treatment plants using statistics technique such as frequency analysis, percentile, normal distribution analysis. We used the effluent data (BOD, COD, SS) collected at 299 plants in 2012. The values were very low by comparison with standards. The Data followed a normal distribution. We think that distribution characteristics are closely related with effluent standards, especially T-P and BOD. Statistics technique attempted in this study can be used to evaluate for operations of sewage treatment plants and assess the appropriateness of effluent standards based on TBEL(Technology-based effluent limitation). And, this technique can be used to figure out the overall level of plants, the status of each plant and the favorable treatment process for each item (BOD, COD etc.). Data acquired through this method can be used to improve facilities and operation techniques and decide on a sewerage policy.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.203-217
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• 2013

This study looked at how to establish effluent limitation standards for formaldehyde, a toxic chemical widely used in industries. To this end, we reviewed Water Quality Based Effluent Limitation (WQBEL), Technology Based Effluent Limitation (TBEL), and water quality criteria for protection of human health and aquatic organism. Based on the results, we estimated formaldehyde effluent limitation standards appropriate to control water quality of industrial wastewater in Korea. However, this study has limits due to the lack of some data necessary in estimating formaldehyde effluent limitation. For example, although water quality criteria based on non-carcinogenic properties of formaldehyde were calculated, those based on carcinogenic properties were not be able to estimate because of the absence of applicable cancer potency factor q1. Without applicable factor, we calculated water quality standards for formaldehyde based on water quality criteria of advanced countries including the United States, while with no water quality standard we referred to applicable drinking water quality standards of other countries. For eco-toxicity based on water quality criteria, proper figures could not be calculated since there have been few reliable data.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.296-314
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• 2014

In recent years, Ministry of Environment (MOE) has been implementing a phased strengthening of the effluent standards for sewage treatment plants. In this regard, a comprehensive system should be developed to help check the appropriateness of such standards by specifying the grounds for standard-setting and investigating the current operation of sewage treatment plants clearly. It is necessary to establish a new standard-setting system for the effluent that is in a closer connection with the environmental criteria and rating systems. In the United States, the federal government provides guidelines on the least provisions and requirements for the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs). Local governments set the same or stricter guidelines that reflect the characteristics of each state. In Japan, the sewage treatment plants are subject to both the effluent standards and the discharge acceptable limits to pubic waters under the sewerage law. Specific requirements and limits are set in accordance with local government regulations. The European Union imposes sewage treatment plants with different provisions for effluent standards, depending on the sensitivity of public waters to eutrophication. The effluent standards for sewage treatment plants are classified by pollutant loads discharged to receiving waters. MOE also needs to introduce systems for setting new parameter standards on a POTW effluent by applying statistical means and treatment efficiencies or optimal treatment techniques, as seen in the cases of the US National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or the EU Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC).

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.523-532
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• 2011

In this study, from 2004 to 2008 influents and discharging effluents from 241 municipal public sewage treatment plants were surveyed. Statistics including average, Coefficient of Variation (CV) and Coefficient of Reliability (COR) for each season, time series analysis for removal efficiency and water quality of effluents, and a comparison of the effluent standards in Korea and other countries were presented. The average concentrations of TN and TP in influents. during winter season were 32.6 and 3.78 mg/L and during other season were 30.8 and 3.61 mg/L in 2008, respectively. The average TN concentration on the basis of the maximum monthly concentrations in the effluents during winter season ranged from 14.2~17.4 mg/L and during other season ranged from 12.2~14.8 mg/L. The TP concentration in the effluents depending on the each season was no big difference. TN removal efficiency decreased from Jan. to Feb. and TP removal efficiency decreased in Jan., Jun and July. Maximum COR during winter season were 0.61 but the COR for TN and TP during other season ranged from 0.96~1.48 and 1.09~1.81, respectively, due to big difference in the standard for TN and TP in effluents depending on the season. TN and TP standards for effluent of sewage treatment during winter season in Korea was much higher than those in other countries. Therefore the lower effluent standards during winter season is essential for the water quality improvement.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.124-129
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• 2018

Background: Effluent Concentration Limits (ECLs) were re-evaluated via direct calculation using dose coefficients based on radiation protection quantity introduced in Korea and the intrinsic breathing rates of Korean residents. Materials and Methods: The re-evaluated ECLs were compared with the domestic standards given in the Notice of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC), as well as with ECLs specified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Results and Discussion: The relative ratios of the re-evaluated ECLs to the currently applied domestic standards differed depending on the radionuclide type, but it was clearly shown that, for tritium ($^3H$) and radiocarbon ($^{14}C$), which significantly affect radiological dose to the public during the normal operation of nuclear power plants, the re-evaluated ECLs were higher than the domestic standards. This implies that Korean standards are relatively conservative. Conclusion: The re-evaluated results for each age group showed that $^{131}I$ (radioiodine), one of the significant radionuclides, had the lowest values, but nonetheless, the domestic standards for radioiodine were lower than the ECLs given in the CFR and the re-evaluated ECLs via a method given in the CFR.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.393-400
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomass production and dairy wastewater treatment using Chlorella vulgaris. The results indicated that the maximum percentages of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus removed were 85.61%, 80.62%, 29.10%, 85.47%, and 65.96%, respectively, in dairy effluent at 10 d. A maximum of 1.23 g/L dry biomass was obtained in 7 d. The biomass productivity was strongly influenced by the nutrient reduction in the dairy effluent. The biodiesel produced by the C. vulgaris in the dairy effluent was in good agreement with the American Society of Testing and Materials-D6751 and European Standards 14214 standards. Therefore, using dairy effluent for microalgal cultures could be a useful and practical strategy for an advanced, environmentally friendly treatment process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.131-139
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• 2012

Field experiment was performed from June 2010 to July 2011 to evaluate pollutants removal efficiency in the constructed wetland system for the treated wastewater and the river water. The wetland systems were constructed near Gyungan river. Two different systems with meandering shape were compared for seasonal base and operational period base. Several kinds of aquaculture are planted through the corridor of wetland system. Average removal rate of BOD, T-N and T-P for A system were 15.8%, 14.8% and 26.5%, respectively. Average removal rate of BOD, T-N and T-P for C system were 23.5%, 27.8% and 10.6%, respectively. The effluent from two wetland systems often exceeded effluent water quality standards for wastewater influent, however effluent water quality standards for river water. However, the wetland system can be useful to treat polluted river water and effluent from wastewater plant. Removal rate of pollutants in seasonal variation was the highest in summer for BOD and T-N, however the removal rates of T-P were higher in spring and autumn than in summer.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.216-225
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• 2018

Over the past 40 years, the public sector has continued to invest in the sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Korea. Currently, the domestic sewage treatment rate is over 90% with the enhancement of operating efficiency of the STPs, and water quality of major rivers has been continuously improved. However, COD and T-N indicators are stagnating or slightly worsening, and though advanced treatment facilities are installed in most of the STPs, there is a limit to the removal of nutrients. Since there are a lot of water pollution sources in the vicinity of the watershed because of high population density in Korea, it is essential to reduce the inflow of the nutrients in order to prevent the eutrophication of the rivers and lakes. While the effluent T-P standard in STPs has greatly strengthened since 2012, which results in the considerable investment for the improvement of treatment process in STPs for the last few years, it is necessary to strengthen the T-N standards, as the effluent standard of T-N has been maintained at 20 mg/L since 2002. In this study, based on the analysis of the effluent T-N standard status of major industrialized countries, and the domestic nitrogen load in public waters, the option of appropriate T-N standard level is reviewed, and the required investment costs and the effect of strengthening the standard are estimated.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2004

Acute aquatic toxicity of effluents discharged from five dyeing plants in Gyeong-gi province were evaluated to assess whether the current Korean water quality standards(KWQS) could protect aquatic life. Chemical analyses of all parameters regulated under KWQS, except for E-coli, were also carried out to determine regulation compliance of the samples. All the effluent samples were satisfied with KWQS except for the color in only one sample. In acute Daphnia magna toxicity tests, significant mortality was observed in one of five samples and EC50 was 12.1%(95% confidence interval 9.1-16.2), which was in compliance with KWQS. The result of the Microtox assay indicated that acute microbial toxicity existed in effluents from three out of five plants, two of which were in compliance with KWQS. The agreement between regulation compliance of chemical concentrations of effluent and observed toxicity from various biological toxicity tests was very poor to fair (kappa = 0.194~0.250). The data presented suggest that exposure to dyeing wastewater which were in compliance with Korean water quality standards may not be safe to aquatic biota, and multiple tropical levels should be considered in aquatic toxicity monitoring of dyeing industry.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.3660-3671
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• 2022

A new methodology to derive a dose constraint for radioactive effluent from a unit of nuclear power plant (NPP) through retrospective assessment was developed to reflect operational flexibility in line with international standards. The new dose constraint can retain the safety margin between the offsite dose and the past dose constraints. As case studies, the new approach was applied to 24 Korean NPPs to address the limitations of the existing seven dose constraints that do not fully comply with current international radiation protection standards. Therefore, an effective dose constraint for Korean NPPs was proposed as no less than 0.15 mSv/y, which is comparable to the international practices and previous studies (0.05-0.3 mSv/y). Although the lower bound of the equivalent dose constraint was calculated as 0.17 mSv/y, it is not proposed in this study since the compliance with the derived effective dose constraint can prevent accompanied equivalent doses to any organs from exceeding equivalent dose limits. The new framework and the case studies are expected to contribute toward and support the revision of existing dose constraints for radioactive effluent from NPPs, ensuring better compliance with the current international safety standards as well as reflect the operational flexibility in practice.