Newman Lake Water Quality Background Information Megan Rounds - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Newman Lake Water Quality Background Information Megan Rounds Marianne Barrentine Colleen Little Ecology Spokane County Spokane County

Tonight’s agenda • Overview of Newman Lake Water Quality • Wastewater treatment pilot study • Benefits of a successful pilot study photo via newmanlake.com

Aspiration When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little better for having been there. ~Jim Henson ~Jim Henson

Findings • Algae blooms are caused by nutrient loading. • Phosphorus and • Phosphorus and nitrogen feed algae, causing rapid growth of algae blooms.

Recommendations Reduce loading to the lake from:

Newman Lake Drainage

Spokane County Parcel Map

What are we doing now? • Watershed management plan : Carried out by the District. • Public education : Resident associations formed to educate property owners. formed to educate property owners. • Septic system survey: Completed by Spokane Regional Health District in 1990.

Septic Survey Findings • Most residences constructed before 1940 as seasonal cabins • 307 lakefront homes • 550 total residences in watershed • 40% occupied year round • 40% occupied year round photo via newmanlake.com

Wastewater disposal system types • Outhouse • Cesspool • Septic tank with drain field • Leach bed or absorption pit • Holding tank • Holding tank • Portable toilet • Incinerator toilet • Drywell

How A Septic System Works

Spokane Regional Health District: “An improperly designed, located, constructed or maintained septic system can allow bacteria, viruses, household chemicals and other contaminants into groundwater, creating the potential for serious human illness.”

Water Cycle

Groundwater and surface water flow toward the lake

Groundwater Flow 40,000,000.00 35,000,000.00 30,000,000.00 25,000,000.00 CUBIC FEET/MONTH CUBIC FEET/MONTH 20,000,000.00 15,000,000.00 10,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 0.00 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -5,000,000.00 DATE

Phosphorus Test Results

Clarity Readings

Honeymoon Bay Pilot Project Lindsay Chutas Kennet Bertelsen Spokane Conservation District Morrison Maierle

Why a pilot? • Lake water quality improvements • Need for a new septic option • Proving new options satisfy requirements • Demonstrate costs to homeowners • Demonstrate costs to homeowners photo via newmanlake.com

Project locations

Honeymoon Bay Project Locations

Busse MBR Pilot Site

BioMicrobics MBR Pilot Site

Small-Scale Enhanced Wastewater Treatment Systems

Why Enhanced Treatment? • Significant increase in effluent quality • Does not rely on soil for treatment • Smaller physical footprint • Smaller physical footprint • Lower sludge production • Facilitates high level disinfection

Pilot Study Installation • Busse unit will be in a Conex type container • BioMicrobics will retrofit existing tankage • Plumbed inline with • Plumbed inline with Busse Packaged System existing system, monitoring valve • Utilize existing discharge location BioMicrobics Retrofit

Monitoring Program Coordinated with state DOH • Monitoring per WAC 173-219 • Limited disruption • Proposed sampling: • WK 1: 1 daily – WK 2: 3-4 WK 2: 3-4 – – WK 3-4: Weekly – MO 2: Biweekly – System Treatment Abilities • MO 3-9: Monthly – Nitrogen: 97.9% – Phosphorous: 98.1% – Fecal Coliforms: 99.99% –

System Costs (Estimate) • Units cost $30,000 - $40,000, installed with anticipated life of 25-35 years • Distribution and disposal • Distribution and disposal construction costs dictated by site conditions • Engineering and permitting costs vary by complexity

Pilot Project Outcomes Gary Garrett Sheila Pearman Megan Rounds Sacheen Lake resident Sacheen Lake resident Ecology

Sacheen Lake Newman Lake • 314-acre lake • 1,272-acre lake • Maximum depth 40 • Maximum depth feet 30 feet • High rate of algae • High rate of algae • High rate of algae • High rate of algae blooms blooms • Eastern Washington • WSU completed University lake studies in completed lake 1974, 1986 study in 1991

Sacheen Lake Lake

Water Cycle

What Does Success Look Like? • Potential for fewer algae blooms • Potential for higher clarity readings • Beautiful lake shore experience • Safe recreation

Questions & discussion Questions & discussion photo via newmanlake.com

Lake Clarity and Nutrients