“Use of Microbial Treatment (Bioremediation) in Ecosystem Restoration Projects.”
By: Ralph E. Elliott III
1Enviro Water Quality Restoration,., Jacksonville, Florida
The most common technologies currently utilized in the Ecosystem Restoration process in natural bodies of water that become polluted or begin to undergo eutrophication involve primarily some form of physical and or chemical treatment such as chemical oxidizers, flocculants, activated carbon and zeolites and mechanical treatments such as dredging.
The primary drawback to physical/chemical treatments is that the treatments are based on stoichiometry, or molecule to molecule interactions. As a result, they get very expensive when treating large volumes of water.
Likewise, dredging is also expensive because it is labor and capital equipment intensive. There are other issues with dredging such as final disposition of the dredge spoils, noise, disturbing of the site and surrounding areas, and risks associated with operating equipment in and around populated areas and, of course, the total disruption of all marine habitat.
Modern Microbiology
In recent years “novel bio-remediation technology” has been proven to be not only effective, but, in most cases, very economical, in treating bodies of water. This unique bio-remediation technology takes advantage of nature’s own processes for recycling of the basic elements of organic pollutants and organic sediments and its nutrient related materials back into the biosphere through what are known as the biogeochemical cycles. To accelerate these natural processes bio-augmentation may be utilized. Bio-augmentation is the purposeful inoculation of a system with additional microorganisms that have been specifically selected for their particular metabolic processes and pathways that include denitrification.
The technology has been successfully applied in a numerous natural and man-made water bodies to improve water quality and break down organic bottom sediments while eliminating to pollutants contained therein. A review of several applications worldwide including a river in China, a retention pond in Malaysia, four retention ponds in Jacksonville Fl in response to MS4 requirements and multiple lakes in the United States and Canada as well as a very nasty Swan Pond at the Jacksonville Zoo all with amazing results.
Bio-remediation effects
In these applications, substantial reductions in aqueous phase pollutants were observed including Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Nitrogen (TN), Nitrates & Nitrites and the near total elimination of Fecal Coliform and Enterococcus. In addition, reductions of up to 80% and more of the organic bottom solids were observed without the need for dredging and the associated disposal of dredge spoil problems in just 6 months. Additionally, projects demonstrating the bioremediation of hydrocarbons and Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) have been very impressive. No permits are required from the COE or EPA or FDEP to use natural products but some States may require an Environmental Resource Permit (ERP).
Supporting data
Many 3rd Party Studies are available that demonstrated the reduction of organic bottom sediment of as much as 1 to 3 feet during an 8-12 month period. CD’s of these studies will be available. In all cases where bioremediation has been successfully employed a large cost savings of 65% or more over conventional technologies have been realized.
Contact Information: Ralph Elliott, USACE retired, Enviro Water Restoration, LLC. 2725 Tanya Terrace, Jacksonville, Fl. 32223, phone 904-545-0377, Email: elliottriii@msn.com