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
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