• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.158-168
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• 2005

In this study, the discharging effluents from have been 9 municipal wastewater treatment plants surveyed for 1 year-period. Statistics including probability distribution, cumulative occurrence concentration and other statistical parameters were presented. In addition, treatment performance and its stability were also discussed. Most of the plants, have an operational problem of high soluble organic content in the secondary effluent which may be associated with the integrated treatment of human and livestock manures. Nitrogen concentration in the effluents were usually higher during the period of summer and winter. It was found that this is mainly due to lack of the proper C/N ratio during the summer, or/and the effects of low temperature and less dilution by dry weather during the winter. Phosphorus concentration is sharply increased in June. Discussion with plant operators told that it is due to the dissolution of phosphate from the sludge accumulated in the primary settling tanks from the early spring to june. During this period, usually, sludge treatment line is highly overloaded with flush-outs of the sediments also stored in the bottom of combined sewer due to the low flow during winter season. Most of the plants can meet new effluent discharge limits of the nitrogen and phosphorus, and total coliform without further treatment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.192-196
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• 2003

Objective of this study was to investigate the influences of harvest index and percolation water quality as irrigated the discharge waters from an industrial and a municipal wastewater treatment plants and seawater (1:5 seawater: tap water) as alternative water resources during tillering stage for drought stress. There were four different treatments such as the discharge water from an industrial (textile dyeing manufacture plant) wastewater treatment plant (DIWT), discharge water from the municipal wastewater treatment plant (DMWT), seawater (1:5) and groundwater as a control. For the initial chemical compositions of alternative waters, it appeared that higher concentrations of COD, $Mn^{2+}$, and $Ni^+$ in DIWT were observed than reused criteria of other country for irrigation, and concentrations of $EC_i$, Cl, and $SO_4$ in seawater were higher than that for irrigation. Harvest index was not significantly different between DIWT and DMWT with different irrigation periods in two soil types, but that of seawater (1:5) is decreased with irrigation periods in clay loam soil and not different between 10 days and 20 days of irrigation periods in sandy loam soil. For percolation water qualities, values of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) are increased with prolonging the irrigation periods of seawater (1:5) and DIWT, but those of DMWT were almost constant through the cultivation periods regardless of the irrigation period in both soil types. EG of percolation waters is eventually increased with prolonging days after irrigation regardless of irrigation periods in both soil types. Therefore, it might be concluded that there was potentially safe to irrigate the discharge water from municipal wastewater treatment plant relative to harvest index, SAR and $EC_i$ values of the ground water through the rice cultivation period at tillering stage for drought period.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2003

Objective of this study was to assess rice growth and percolation water salinity under the irrigation of the discharge waters from the municipal wastewater treatment plant and from the industrial wastewater treatment plant as alternative water resources during transplanting season. Three kinds of waters were irrigated; the discharge water from an industrial wastewater treatment plant (DIWT), the discharge water from the municipal wastewater treatment plant (DMWT), and groundwater. Concentrations of $COD_{er}$, $NH_4{^+}_-N$, $Mn^{2+}$, and $Ni^+$ in DIWT, SS content and $PO_4-P$ concentrations in DMWT were higher than those of reuse water criteria of other country for agricultural irrigation. The plant height in the irrigation of DMWT was shorter by 2 cm than the groundwater irrigation except for 10 days irrigation. However, the number of tillerings was not significantly different between DMWT and the groundwater. For the harvest index, there were no significant difference between DMWT and DIWT for 20 days irrigation, but slightly higher in DIWT than that of DMWT for 30 days irrigation regardless of soil types. The salinity of percolation water in the rhizosphere with irrigation of DIWT had more twofold than DMWT, but SAR value from DMWT had no significantly different from the groundwater irrigation. The average $EC_i$ values in the rooting zone irrigated with DIWT and DMWT for 30 days after rice transplanting were 4.7 and $3.4dS\;m^{-1}$ in clay loam soil, and were 3.5 and $2.5dS\;m^{-1}$ in sandy loam soil, respectively. There was dramatic decrease in $EC_i$ value at 30 days after rice transplanting even though $EC_i$ of DIWT had more twofold than DMWT. However, $EC_i$ from DMWT had no significant difference from the groundwater. Therefore, it might be considered that there was limited possibility to irrigate DMWT to overcome drought injury of rice transplanting season in paddy field.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2008

Objective of this study was to access the environmental impacts of the use of discharge water from municipal waste water treatment plant as alternative irrigation resources during drought season for rice cultivation. For the field experiments, it was observed that plant growth and yield characteristics at 20 days of alternative irrigation period with application of FAST (fertilizer application based on soil test) 50% were relatively the same as the control. For the surface water quality, it appeared that $EC_i$ (electrical conductivity of irrigation water) and SAR (sodium adsorption ratio) values of DMWT (discharge waters from municipal wastewater treatment plant) irrigation were twofold higher than those of ground water irrigation as the control regardless of fertilization levels. For the irrigation periods, there were not significantly difference between 10 and 20 days of treatments, but $EC_i$ and SAR values of surface water were highest at 30 days of irrigation periods at initial rice growing stages. Generally, $EC_i$ values of percolation water in all the treatments were gradually increasing until 30days after irrigation, and then decreasing to harvest stage. Overall, it might be considered that there was possibility to irrigate DMWT with application of FAST 50% for 20 days of drought periods at rice transplanting season. Furthermore, efficiency rate of alternative irrigation water for 20 days of drought period was 32.7% relative to the total annual irrigation water for rice cultivation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.205-214
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• 2007

Surface water and sediment samples collected from the Mokpo coast of Korea were analyzed for molecular markers of organic municipal wastewaters, i.e., 11 fecal sterols including coprostanol (Cop) and nonylphenolic compounds (NPs), to characterize the main routes of these wastewaters to the coast and to assess contamination levels. Concentrations of Cop ranged from 94 to 7,568 ng/L in surface water and from 43 to 38,108 ng/g dry weight in sediments. Concentrations of NPs [nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylates ($NP_{1-2}EOs$)] ranged from 123 to 4,729 ng/L in surface water and from 4 to 2,119 ng/ng dry weight in sediments. The levels of these compounds were much higher at stations near the rivers that pass through the urban center of Mokpo and the outfall of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The spatial distribution of Cop levels was statistically similar to that of NPs (r=0.809 and 0.982 in surface water and sediments, respectively), indicating that these compounds may have similar discharge points, transport, mixing, and deposition in the study area. These results suggest that considerable amounts of organic wastewater compounds are discharged through rivers and WWTP effluent to the Mokpo coast.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2010

This study was conducted to assess the validity of fecal coliforms to fecal streptococci ratio (FC/FS) for distinguishing the human from animal origin of fecal pollution in surface water. FC/FS ratio determined in effluent from municipal wastewater and human feces treatment plant (WWTP) and in downstream close to discharge of human feces was above 4 which indicates human origin. However FC/FS ratios determined seasonally in other water zones of the Nakdong River, even in the same sampling site, varied differently (above 4 or less than 0.7) due to different survival time of FC and FS and other environmental factors such as rainfall in watershed. Compared to other season, FC/FS ratios in winter were much lower regardless of the origin. It is concluded that the FC/FS ratio determined in surface water is not always valid for determining the origin of fecal pollution.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.105-126
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• 2003

In Korea most of annual rainfall is concentrated in several episodic heavy rains during the season of summer monsoon and typhoon. Because of uneven rainfall distribution many dams have been constructed in order to secure water supply in dry seasons. The Han River system has the most dams among Korean rivers, and the river is a series of dams now. Reservoirs need different strategy of water quality control from river water. Autochthonous organic matter and phosphorus should be the major target to be controlled in lakes. In this Paper some problems are discussed that makes efforts of water quality improvement ineffective in lakes of Korea, even after the substantial investment to wastewater treatment facilities.1) Phosphorus is the key factor controlling eutrophication of lakes and the reduction ofphosphors should be the major target of water treatment. However, water quality management strategy in Korea is still stream-oriented, and focused on BOD removal from sewage. Phosphorus removal efficiency remains as low as 10-30%, because biological treatment is adopted for both secondary treatment and advanced treatment. The standard for TP concentration of the sewage treatment plant effluent is 6 mgP/l in most of regions, and 2 mg/l in enforced region near metropolitan water intake point. TP in the effluents of sewage treatment plants are usually 1-2 mg/1, and most of plants meet the effluent regulation without a further phosphorus removal process. The generous TP standard for effluents discourages further efforts to improve phosphorus removal efficiency of sewage treatment. Considering that TP standard for the effluent is below 0.1 mg/l in some countries, it should be amended to below 0.1 mg/l in Korea, especially in the watershed of large lakes.2) Urban runoff and combined sewer overflow are not treated, even though their total loading into lakes can be comparable to municipal sewage discharges on dry days. Chemical coagulation and rapid settling might be the solution to urban runoff in regard of intermittent operation on only rainy days.3) Aggregated precipitation in Korea that is concentrated on several episodic heavyrains per year causes a large amount of nonpoint source pollution loading into lakes. It makes the treatment of nonpoint source discharge by methods of other countries of even rain pattern, such as retention pond or artificial wetland, impractical in Korea.4) The application rate of fertilizers in Korea is ten times as high as the average ofOECD countries. The total manure discharge from animal farming is thought to be over the capacity of soil treatment in Korea. Even though large portion of manure is composted for organic fertilizer, a lot of nutrients and organic matter emanates from organic compost. The reduction of application rate and discharge rate of phosphorus from agricultural fields should be encouraged by incentives and regulations.5) There is a lot of vegetable fields with high slopes in the upstream region of the HanRiver. Soil erosion is severe due to high slopes, and fertilizer is discharged in the form of adsorbed phosphorus on clay surface. The reduction of soil erosion in the upland area should be the major preventive policy for eutrophication. Uplands of high slope must be recovered to forest, and eroded gullies should be reformed into grass-buffered natural streams which are wider and resistant to bank erosion.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2007

Objective of this experiment was to investigate the growth effects of Chinese cabbage and soil salinity to alternative irrigation waters for drought periods. The treatments were consisted of the discharge water from industrial wastewater treatment plant (DIWT), the discharge water from municipal wastewater treatment plant (DMWT) and ground water as the control. For the chemical compositions of alternative water, it appeared that concentrations of the $Ni^+$ and SAR values in DIWT were over the reuse criteria of other countries for irrigation, but CODcr concentration in DMWT was higher than the reuse criteria for agricultural irrigation. According to classification of water by $EC_i$ value, DIWT and DMWT are ranged from 0.7 to $2.0dS\;m^{-1}$, slight salinity. Average harvest indexes were 0.64 for DIWT and 0.63 for DMWT as compared to 0.61 of the control regardless of irrigation periods. SAR value in soil was increased with prolonging the irrigation periods at head forming stage, but not much difference except for 30 days of irrigation period at harvesting time for DIWT. However, it was not much difference along with irrigation periods through the growth stages for DMWT as compared with the groundwater. At harvesting time, average $EC_e$ for the soil irrigated with alternative agricultural waters was $0.017dS\;m^{-1}$ for its DIMT and $0.036dS\;m^{-1}$ for its DMWT as compared to $0.013dS\;m^{-1}$ of its groundwater as the control. For $NH_4-N$ concentrations, it observed that there were no differences among the treatments with different irrigation periods at head forming stage in soil after irrigation. Also, $NO_3-N$ concentration in soil was increased up to 20 days after irrigation, and then decreased at 30 days after irrigation with DMWT at head forming stage. The $Ni^+$ concentration in upper layer soil (0-15 cm) irrigated with DIWT was increased with prolonging the irrigation period at head forming stage, but it was dramatically decreased and almost constant in all the treatments at harvesting time. Therefore, it might be concluded that there was potentially safe to irrigate the discharge water from municipal wastewater treatment plant for 20 days after transplanting to drought periods with cultivating the Chinese cabbage.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

In order to assess seasonal and geographical characteristics of pollutant Escherichia coli, we investigated its distribution in Nakdong River mouth and Busan coastal water from February 2013 to November 2015. The coastal area was divided into five different zones (I-V) based on the pollutant level and geographical characteristics. During the study periods, water temperature and salinity varied from 7.50 to 27.64℃ and 16.82 to 34.82 psu, respectively. The annual water temperature variation was characterized in temperate zone. The salinity was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in zone IV and zone III after heavy rain during summer season in 2014, resulting led to elevated E. coli biomass. The highest colony formation of E. coli was recorded at 6,000 cfu l^-1 during autumn at station 1 (zone I). On the other hands, during all seasons of 2015, E. coli abundances were kept to be low level in zone III. The E. coli was not significantly (p>0.05) correlated with water temperature. However, the salinity was significantly (r=-0.53, p<0.05) correlated with the E. coli, implying that salinity plays a crucial role in the proliferation of E. coli. Consequently, E. coli in western Busan coastal water might have been significantly promoted by pollutant sources from Nakdong Rive discharge during the spring and summer rainy seasons depending on annual rainfall variations. On the other hands, E. coli in station 1 (i.e., Suyeong Bay) was obviously high due to influences of discharge water from municipal wastewater treatment plant. However, there was no clear seasonality of E. coli.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.673-678
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• 2009

High-rate phosphorous removal by PAC (poly aluminum chloride) coagulation of A2O effluent was investigate to meet the stringent requirement of wastewater discharge from municipal wastewater treatment plant. A series of jar tests were conducted to find optimum coagulation condition and to enhance removal efficiency. The optimum volumetric concentration of PAC was 30 ppm (2.81mol Al/mol P by mol ratio). Only 17.2% of soluble P was removed for 30 minutes' settling without PAC addition, while this increased to 30.3% by dosing 10ppm PAC. It even increased conspicuously from 49.3% to 88.4% by increasing PAC dose from 20 ppm to 30 ppm. 92.4% of total P was removed by 30 ppm PAC, and the effluent concentration (0.3 mg/L) was acceptable for discharge. The optimum value of coagulation time, settling time, and pH were 4minutes, 20 minutes, and 7.0, respectively. It was not necessary to control pH of raw sample whose pH was 7.0. Soluble P removal was remarkably enhanced at pH 7.0. This implied that sweep floc formation by $Al(OH)_3$ was the main mechanism of coagulation for soluble P removal. Influent and effluent of secondary clarifier were tested for coagulation, and the effluent was better for high-rate P removal. It resulted in 0.18 mg/L of P and 95.4% of P removal by coagulation. It was favorable to recycle the treated water to coagulation tank and the optimum recycle ratio was 0.3.